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Israel and the crisis in the Middle East

Israel's war in Gaza has exacerbated regional tensions in the Middle East.

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A Palestinian miltant from Hamas fires his weapon

A Palestinian miltant from Hamas fires his weapon

Humanitarian Projects Halted

As violence spirals in Gaza, the EU has suspended its relief operations due to the lack of security.

Merkel in Lebanon

German Chancellor Merkel stressed her continued support for a Lebanon free from outside influence.

Ties Not in Danger

Steinmeier said warrants issued for 13 CIA agents will not put the German-US relationship on ice.

Money Isn't Everthing

Foreign money alone won't be enough to solve Lebanon's problems, says DW's Peter Philipp.

Arms smuggled to Gaza with Israelian help

Isreal's Hareetz Newspaper reports that arms have been smuggled to Fatah fighters in Gaza in cooperation with the Israelian military.

Middle East Peace

Violence has returned to Gaza, yet there's hope Germany can restart the Middle East peace process.

Germany Meets Syria

DW's Nina Werkhäuser said Monday's meeting was a polite exchange between Germany and Syria.

Road to Damascus

German Foreign Minister Steinmeier will meet President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus in Monday.

Unrest in Lebanon

Germany Foreign Minister Steinmeier's visit to Beirut is in doubt after pro-Syria demonstrations.

Reactions to Gaza Strip Attack

The U.N. Security Council has scheduled an open meeting on Thursday in response to a Palestinian call for an emergency session to condemn an Israeli air attack on the Gaza Strip.

A Further Incident

Israeli jets once more confronted the German navy along Lebanon's coast, officials confirmed.

German Navy Blocked?

Germany denies that the Lebanese government is hampering its navy's peacekeeping efforts.

Mission Impossible?

A peacekeeping mission in the Middle East is good, but may not be enough, says DW's Peter Philipp.

German Navy in Command

The German navy took over control of Lebanese waters from its Italian UNIFIL counterpart Sunday.

Q&A Amnesty Int. & Hezbollah

In the aftermath of the Israeli-Hezbollah war, Amnesty International says both sides committed serious violations of the international humanitarian law.

Opinion: It's Time to Formulate the Lebanon Mission Clearly

The German cabinet has agreed to send 2,400 troops to patrol the waters along Lebanon's coast. But going there is easier than coming back, according to Deutsche Welle's Nina Werkhäuser.

German Cabinet Gives Green Light to Lebanon Mission

Germany's cabinet authorized the deployment of ships to the Middle East as part of the UN force in Lebanon. Parliament now must approve the measure before launching its first mission in the Mideast since WW II.

US Embassy Attack Foiled in Damascus

Three assailants were killed Tuesday in a thwarted car-bomb attack on the US Embassy in the Syrian capital Damascas, highlighting the continuing threat to US interests around the globe.

Opinion: "Germany Should Make No Compromises in Lebanon"

Germany should deploy its navy in the Middle East only if the Lebanese government agrees to a clear and robust mandate for German soldiers, says DW's Anderas Noll.

UNIFIL Deployment Boosted by Italy's Arrival in Lebanon

Italian troops landed in south Lebanon Saturday in the first major reinforcement of the UN mission monitoring a truce between Israel and the Shiite militant group Hezbollah.

German Spy Chief Denies Negotiations Behind Trip to Beirut

The head of Germany's foreign intelligence service landed in Lebanon Friday for what he called "a normal working visit" among speculation that Germany could be involved in talks regarding a possible prisoner exchanged.

Donor Pledges for Lebanon Far Exceed Targets

Donors gathered at a meeting in Stockholm on Thursday have pledged at least $940 million (734 million euros) in immediate aid for war-torn Lebanon, almost doubling the targeted amount.

Israeli FM Calls for Action on Middle East Issues in Germany

Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni completed a round of talks in Germany Tuesday by calling for international assistance in the hostage crisis in Lebanon, a solid arms embargo on Hezbollah and sanctions against Iran.

Report: Germany to Send 1,200 Troops to Middle East

Germany will deploy over 1,200 soldiers in the Middle East as part of the UN force aimed at keeping the peace between Israel and Hezbollah, according to a news report.

French Troops Arrive in Lebanon as Part of UNIFIL Deployment

Following an initial deployment of engineers, more French troops arrived in Lebanon Friday as part of the pledged 2,000-strong contingent which would form part of a UN force to maintain the current ceasefire.

Opinion: Israel Deserved "War Crime" Label

DW's Peter Philipp says Amnesty International's criticism of Israel's actions in Lebanon was well deserved -- and overdue. Now, he hopes Hezbollah gets its due.

Italy Asked by Israel to Lead Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has asked Italy to lead the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon to enforce a fragile ceasefire, which is entering its second week.

Europe Sends Mixed Signals on UN Force in Lebanon

Even as the first French soldiers arrived in Lebanon Saturday, concrete pledges by European nations to a UN peacekeeping force fall far short of the appeal for 3,500 troops by the end of August.

Opinion: Germany's New Vulnerability in the Middle East

The Germany correspondent for the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronot, Eldad Beck, welcomes Germany's involvement in the Middle East conflict. But, he warns, the price for that could be high.

Opinion: "It's a Long Way to Peace"

In accordance with UN Resolution 1701, a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon came into effect on Monday morning. But it's still a long way to peace, says DW's Peter Philipp.

Israel/ Hezbollah ceasefire

In the mideast, Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah have more or less agreed to submit to a UN Security Council resolution, allowing a ceasefire to go into effect on Monday morning.

Germany Debates Sending Soldiers to Middle East

As a ceasefire to the fighting in Lebanon begins to look more likely, the debate over whether Germany should take part in international peacekeeping there has divided the country's politicians.

Germany Welcomes UN Resolution on Lebanon

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday welcomed a UN resolution calling for an end to the bloodshed in the Middle East and urged its "swift and consistent" implementation.

Germany's Steinmeier Calls for Swift UN Resolution on Lebanon

After meeting with his Israeli counterpart on Wednesday, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that Hezbollah's presence near the Israeli border could no longer be tolerated.

"A War Is Always Lost Because a War Is Loss of Life"

European special envoy to the Middle East Marc Otte told Deutsche Welle that without a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah there will be no possibility for peace in the Middle East.

UN Working on Resolutions for Ceasefire, Peace-Keeping Force

The UN Security Council was working on draft resolutions Sunday to end hostilities in the Middle East and for the deployment of international troops in Lebanon, which the White House said would be ready "in days".

Opinion: Germans Expect Higher Moral Standards from Israel

Germans are increasingly disenchanted with Israel's response to Hezbollah's terrorist acts. DW-WORLD's Peter Stützle says that the country's mood may soon see itself reflected in the government's policies as well.

Israel Pushes Deep Into Lebanon as EU Envoy Arrives for Talks

In its deepest incursion since hostilities erupted 22 days ago, the Israeli Defense Force hit Hezbollah positions and captured prisoners in Lebanon as Spain's foreign minister held crisis talks with officials in Beirut.

EU Fails to Agree on Immediate Mideast Ceasefire Call

The European Union failed Tuesday to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, preferring instead to demand an "immediate cessation of hostilities," the bloc's presidency said.

Israel Suspends Air Strikes for 48-Hours But Says War Goes On

Israel has agreed to a limited ceasefire in Lebanon with a 48-hour suspension of air strikes, but Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon said it didn't mean that the Jewish state was ending its war against Hezbollah.

Ceasefire and Troops on the Table at Rome Conference

World leaders are converging on Rome before an emergency conference aimed at stopping nearly two weeks of Israeli-Lebanese violence.

Emergency Middle East Conference Will Push Peace Plan

As fighting in Israel and Lebanon moves into its 13th day, European, US and Middle Eastern foreign ministers have agreed to meet in Rome Wednesday to try to move a ceasefire plan forward.

Germany Has Mixed Record as Mediator in the Middle East

Germany has begun playing an active role in pursuing a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. It's not the first time German diplomats have gotten involved in the region and this conflict.

Minister: Middle East Violence Increases Risk in Germany

As the crisis in the Middle East continues, German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said the risk of a terrorist attack outside the region, including in Germany, increases.

Diplomatic Initiatives Moving Forward in Middle East

After days of diplomatic efforts, the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to the Middle East looks increasingly likely.

Fears of Escalation Rise as Syria Issues Warning to Israel

Israeli jets blitzed Lebanon Sunday and Hezbollah fired off more deadly rockets in a new bout of tit-for-tat attacks as the conflict continued to spiral despite international efforts for a ceasefire.

Rice Enters Middle East Arena With Few Friends for Company

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice embarks on a high-stakes Middle East mission Sunday, with the United States increasingly estranged from European and Arab allies over the crisis.

Israel Gears up for Massive Ground Assault as World Dithers

In what would be a major escalation in the current Middle East conflict, Israel is massing land forces on the border with Lebanon in a move seen as a prelude to invasion.

Cyprus Feeling the Strain as Thousands Arrive from Lebanon

Cyprus complained Friday it felt "left alone" by the international community over the unprecedented evacuation of foreign nationals from Lebanon to the tiny holiday island.

European Press Review: "No Way Out"

Would a European intervention in the Middle East be a collective or national effort? The European press continues to ask questions, critique European leaders and propose courses of action in Israel's war on Lebanon.