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.
Court challenge as prisoners readied for Shalit swap
Ruth Pollard JERUSALEM: As convoys of prison trucks transported 477 Palestinian inmates from jails across Israel to two prisons in preparation for their release today, the country's High Court began hearing a...
Court challenge late snag to prisoner swap
Ruth Pollard Israel's High Court begins a challenge to the deal that will free kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Anger in Israel over price paid for Shalit's freedom
Ruth Pollard JERUSALEM: There is pain on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide today, as the names of the 477 prisoners set to be released in the first stage of the deal for Gilad Shalit's freedom were...
Israel names prisoners to be freed
Ruth Pollard, Jerusalem Details on first stage of deal that will exchange 1027 Palestinian prisoners for one Israeli.
Egyptian military failure written in Coptic blood
Ruth Pollard Middle East Correspondent Cairo ''HIDE your cross,'' the cab driver told Vivian Meleka as he wound his way through the crowded streets of the Egyptian capital.
Military might has Christians fearing the worst
Ruth Pollard "Hide your cross,'' the cab driver told Vivian Meleka as he wound his way through the crowded streets of the Egyptian capital.
Deal to free Israeli soldier stirs joy, unease
Ruth Pollard His father described Gilad Shalit's ordeal as '1935 difficult days and 1935 long nights'.
One man for 1027 in prisoner swap as both sides claim win
Ruth Pollard His father described Gilad Shalit's ordeal as ''1935 difficult days and 1935 long nights''. Held somewhere in Gaza for the past five years without any contact with international human rights...
Gilad Shalit to be released after over five years in captivity
Ruth Pollard in Cairo After what negotiators have described as 64 long months of talks, the Israeli Government confirmed early on Wednesday that a deal has been reached with Hamas for the release of 25-year-old soldier...
Settler clashes with Palestinians reach boiling point
Ruth Pollard It is a battle that is fought on Palestinian-owned land and in Arab villages all over the occupied West Bank.
Fight over West Bank settlements
Ruth Pollard Mosques set alight and villagers attacked, Palestinians see a surge in settler violence.
Fears an excluded Israel may strike Iran's nuclear sites
Ruth Pollard JERUSALEM: There are growing fears Israel's increasing isolation in the region has led it to consider a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, prompting a flurry of diplomatic activity...
Israel warned over lone strike against Iran
Ruth Pollard Israel's increasing isolation may lead it to a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.
Palestinians angered by Blair's seeming 'bias'
Ruth Pollard JERUSALEM: Palestinian frustration at the actions of the Middle East envoy, Tony Blair, has spilled over into outright hostility, with officials saying they ''cannot trust anything'' the former...
Palestinians claim envoy Blair is 'pro-Israel'
Ruth Pollard, Jerusalem Palestinian frustration with Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair spills over into outright hostility, with officials saying they 'cannot trust anything' the former British prime minister says.
Israeli plan for homes upsets US and Europe
Ruth Pollard JERUSALEM: The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is determined to push ahead with the construction of more than 1000 new homes in a large settlement in East Jerusalem, despite Palestinian...
Israel told Jerusalem plan 'a provocation'
Ruth Pollard Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to press ahead a large settlement in East Jerusalem despite criticism.
Palestinian spring is under way, says Abbas
Ruth Pollard JERUSALEM: As the United Nations Security Council begins its first round of consultations on the Palestinian application for statehood, the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, is pressing ahead...
Palestinian Spring under way: Abbas
Ruth Pollard, Jerusalem Palestinian Authority President presses ahead with his demand for a total freeze on Israeli settlements before any peace talks can resume.
On the road to a two-state solution, Israelis head in different directions
Ruth Pollard JERUSALEM: As the United Nations vote on Palestinian statehood inches closer, polls suggest Israelis are coming to accept - as their government has so far refused to do - they cannot avoid...
