Ruth Pollard
Ruth Pollard is the Middle East Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Her job takes her throughout the Middle East and North Africa, reporting on the Arab revolutions from Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Tunisia and on the conflict in Israel and Palestine.
Damning new report on EU's inaction over Israel
Ruth Pollard The European Union had failed to hold the Israeli government to account over its continuing human rights violations against Palestinians, including the demolition of houses, water systems and...
High stakes, hidden foes in Israel's intervention
Ruth Pollard It is just under seven years since the skies over Lebanon roared with the sound of Israeli fighter jets and missiles rained down on both sides in a furious 34-day war.
Israel, Syrian army exchange gunfire
Ruth Pollard Tensions have risen along Syria’s now-volatile southern border with Israel after an exchange of artillery fire in the Golan Heights.
Israel attacks military sites in Syria
Ruth Pollard Israeli jets have attacked a military centre on the outskirts of Damascus, the second strike inside Syria in the past three days.
Obama arrives in Israel, this time as president
Ruth Pollard Barack Obama landed in Israel on Wednesday for the first time as US President, on a mission to ease past tensions with his hosts but facing scepticism about his plans to thwart Iran's nuclear threat.
Obama urges Israel to make peace with Palestine
Ruth Pollard Appealing to Israel's younger generation, US President Barack Obama urged them to look at the world through Palestinian eyes and push their political leaders to take a risk and make peace with their...
Israel apologises to Turkey
Ruth Pollard Israel has apologised to Turkey for the deaths of nine of its citizens during a 2010 Israeli naval raid on a Turkish aid flotilla that was headed for Gaza.
Israel dresses up for Obama's visit but expectations are rock-bottom
Ruth Pollard The flowerbeds along King David Street in downtown Jerusalem are blooming and the road markings have been freshly painted as the city continues its meticulous sprucing in preparation for the visit of...
Israel rejects torture claims in Zygier case
Ruth Pollard Israel has defended its actions in the case of Ben Zygier, the Australian citizen who died in its custody, rejecting allegations he was tortured and committing to releasing a judge's report into his...
Israel denies 'Prisoner X' Zygier was in contact with ASIO
Ruth Pollard in Jerusalem Seeking to put an end to speculation that the Australian suspected of spying for Mossad was arrested for also passing information to ASIO, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied Ben...
Israel admits suicide of Prisoner X
Ruth Pollard After more than two years of silence, the Israeli Government has admitted a prisoner it held in detention for "security reasons" – believed to be the Australian Ben Zygier – committed suicide in...
Labor's star rises in Israel after giving ground on Palestinian peace
Ruth Pollard ''THE left was dying,'' says Stav Shaffir matter-of-factly.
Israel's rising star a partner for Netanyahu's coalition
Ruth Pollard As Benjamin Netanyahu scrambled to form a stable coalition, Israel's new political star rejected the idea of forming a centrist ''blocking majority'' to put the brakes on the right-wing Prime...
Israel criticised over Palestinian deaths
Ruth Pollard Israel's army has been criticised for its use of live fire against Palestinians, as concern mounts among human rights organisations over the civilian death toll since the start of the year.
Israel accused of torturing prisoner
Ruth Pollard JERUSALEM: The Palestinian man who died in custody in an Israeli jail on Saturday showed obvious signs of torture, a senior Palestinian government minister said, calling for an independent,...
Israel 'torture' victim's funeral focuses anger
Ruth Pollard SAAER, West Bank: As the men carrying her husband's body drew closer and the sounds of anguish from the thousands of mourners outside grew louder, Dalal Jaradat, three months pregnant with their...
Israel attacks Syria-Lebanon border: report
Ruth Pollard Israeli forces have reportedly attacked a convoy on the Syria-Lebanon border, unnamed security sources say, as tension mounts inside Israel about the possible movement of chemical and other weapons...
Syrians accuse Israel of raid on military site
Ruth Pollard JERUSALEM: The Syrian regime has confirmed Israeli jets bombed a military research centre north of the capital, Damascus, as tension mounts inside Israel about the possible movement of chemical and...
Israel strikes Syria as tensions rise on weapons
Ruth Pollard, Jerusalem Syrian regime confirms Israeli jets bombed a military research centre north of the capital, Damascus, as tension mounts inside Israel about the possible movement of chemical and other weapons from...
Hopes of truce fail as Israel and Hamas remain defiant
Ruth Pollard The boom of mortar fire and air strikes rocked both sides of the Israel-Gaza border well into the night, as air raid sirens sounded in Israel's largest city, Tel Aviv for the first time in 20 years.
