Israel News

The Knesset gave final approval on Wednesday to controversial legislation allowing the Health Ministry to give local authorities personal details of residents who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The Palestinian Authority paid more than NIS 512 million ($157m.) in salaries to incarcerated or released terrorists in 2020, Palestinian Media Watch reported Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to send a message to both Iran and the White House on Tuesday, pledging that Israel will prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons even if Iran concludes a deal with the US.

Israel’s Health Ministry revoked the medical license Tuesday of (now former) Dr. Aryeh Avni, an anti-vaccination doctor and current political candidate running as head of the Rapeh Party, according to Health Ministry statement.

Schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) reportedly continue to teach hatred against Israel despite a pledge to end such incitement, according to a new report released by the IMPACT-se research institute last week.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Israeli counterpart on Monday that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was best for the future of Israel, the US State Department said.

In a scathing attack on Israel and its supporters, Rev. Frank Chikane, a leader of the World Council of Churches (WCC) told activists on a zoom call this month that “blood will be sought” from people who “support Israel to brutalize Palestinians,” Algemeiner reports. The list of participants to the February 6 call included highly influential activists such as Naim Ateek, founder of Sabeel, anti-Zionist authors Gary Burge and Don Wagner, Brian Grieves formerly a staffer with the Episcopal Church and Tom Getman, formerly of World Vision.

The Israel Defense Forces and Nature and Parks Authority on Saturday said the military will assist in cleaning up a major tar spill off of Israel’s coast, which an expert warned could be one of Israel’s worst-ever environmental disasters.

Arutz Sheva has received testimonies from doctors, nurses and medical staff who refuse to be vaccinated for fear that the vaccine has effects that have not yet been tested.

Israel’s first nanosatellite to be completely designed, developed, assembled and tested by an Israeli university launched into space on Saturday night, Tel Aviv University shared.
TAU-SAT1 took off right on time at 7:36 p.m. Israel time from the NASA launch facility in Virginia.

Amid tensions with Iran and the ongoing volatility of the Middle East, Israel and the US are developing the Arrow 4 upgraded generation of anti-ballistic missiles that are central to Israel’s defense system, the Times of Israel reports. The Arrow 4 generation is expected to replace the Arrow 2 ballistic missiles in the next 10 years.

The Health Ministry on Thursday launched the long-awaited “Green Pass” certificate which will enable those vaccinated or recovered from the coronavirus to take part in various activities. At the same time, the ministry warned of serious legal penalties for those who falsify the passes.

An IMPACT-se research institute report highlights that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians’ (UNRWA) educational materials continue to promote jihad and still glorify violence, despite the humanitarian agency’s assertions to the contrary.

President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have spoken for the first time since Biden’s inauguration, almost a month into his term.

According to multiple media outlets, Israel has asked for Russia’s help with a humanitarian issue in Syria, the Jerusalem Post reports. The request for assistance was reportedly made during an urgent ZOOM call between cabinet ministers on Tuesday evening; the subject of the meeting has been kept secret.

A Hezbollah missile hits an IAF fighter jet. In response, the entire air force is scrambled to participate in a broad offensive against Lebanon, including attacks against infrastructure such as bridges, power plants and airports spanning 24 hours. That scenario was the focus of an IDF exercise that began on Sunday morning and ended on Tuesday at noon.

With tensions rising with Iran, Israel is concerned that the Islamic Republic could deploy up to 200 long-range missiles in Iraq that could be used to attack the Jewish state. Iran is already believed to have hundreds of missiles that can reach Israel.

Israel announced Monday that its citizens will have to show a “green pass” – proof they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, or have recovered from the virus – in order to enter many public spaces, the Times of Israel reports. The announcement was made as Israel begins to reopen after severe lockdown measures were imposed to slow the high virus infection rate.

Israel fired several missiles near the Syrian capital of Damascus early Monday morning, Syrian state media reported.

The Israeli military launched a surprise air force exercise simulating war in the north late Sunday night, as Israeli jets reportedly struck Iran-linked sites in Syria.