‘Good conversation’: Biden finally phones Netanyahu — a month into presidency
President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have spoken for the first time since Biden’s inauguration, almost a month into his term.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel asks Russia for humanitarian help in Syria
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.
In message to Hezbollah, IAF practices striking 3,000 targets in 24 hours
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.
Iran could deploy 200 missiles in Iraq to attack Israel
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 to require “Green Pass” proof of COVID-19 vaccine for access to many places
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 Reportedly Strikes Syria, Killing 6 Iranian-Backed Fighters
Israel fired several missiles near the Syrian capital of Damascus early Monday morning, Syrian state media reported.
IDF launches surprise air exercise, as it reportedly strikes sites in Syria
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.
Israel carries out first-ever worldwide drone test without GPS, succeeds
The first worldwide test of drone flights in GPS-denied environments was successfully carried out in Israel last week.
Israeli airstrikes said to hit targets near Damascus
Israeli airstrikes targeted a number of sites in southern Syria after midnight Sunday, the country’s state media reported, in the latest in a series of attacks attributed to the Jewish state.
Sa’ar says West Bank Annexation still a goal, even if not implemented now
New Hope rejects Palestinian statehood, has a goal of annexing West Bank settlements, but would uphold Israel’s pledge to suspend such sovereignty, party leader Gideon Sa’ar told the Washington Institute.
Senior IDF commander says Hamas has 30,000 men, 7,000 rockets, dozens of drones
The Hamas terrorist group ruling Gaza has replenished its arsenal since a 2014 war with Israel and now has a vast collection of rockets, guided missiles and drones, a senior Israeli military commander said Thursday.
In first, Israeli study indicates post-COVID immunity stays when antibodies fade
An Israeli study that found a robust immune response from recovered COVID-19 patients who were vaccinated provides “some of the first real-life evidence” that immunity lasts even if antibody levels appear to drop, a leading researcher said Thursday.
Report: Iranian nuke scientist was killed by Israeli 1-ton automated gun
Top Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated in November by a Mossad team using a one-ton automated weapon that had been smuggled into Iran in pieces, according to a Wednesday report in London’s Jewish Chronicle.
IDF intelligence: Iran at least two years from nuclear bomb
Iran is at an unprecedented “low point” due to actions carried out by Israel and the US, but it has not stopped investing in its nuclear project, OC IDF Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Tamir Heiman said this week.
Netanyahu, holding up vial of potential corona ‘miracle drug,’ says ‘inhale this and feel good’
Netanyahu was boasting about a new drug developed by Prof. Nadir Arber, director of the research project on developing an anti-coronavirus drug, with whom he had just met, together with Dr. Sharon Shapiro, director of the lab in which the drug is being tested, and Prof. Ronni Gamzu, director of Ichilov Hospital and former corona czar.
IDF: Hezbollah likely to initiate limited battles with Israel in 2021, not war
The Israel Defense Forces does not anticipate the outbreak of a large-scale war in the coming year, but does expect that Hezbollah and other terror groups will likely initiate more limited rounds of violence, according to its annual intelligence assessment.
New report exposes Hezbollah missile sites near Beirut charity-run schools
A new report has shed light on Hezbollah’s systematic use of civilian infrastructure to shield its missile storage and launch sites in Lebanon.
New Israeli political party “Rapeh” focussed only on Covid-19
Israel has a new political party committed solely to tackling what it says are “years of injustices” in the country’s Ministry of Health that have led to the current catastrophic handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, All Israel News reports. Offering policies that contradict the government’s extensive lockdown and other preventive measures, the “Rapeh” (Be Healthy) party is now listed for the March 2021 general election.
ICC has jurisdiction to probe Israel, Hamas for war crimes, pretrial judges rule
In a major decision released Friday, a pretrial chamber of the International Criminal Court determined that The Hague has jurisdiction to open a criminal investigation against Israel and the Palestinians for war crimes alleged to have taken place in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
Israeli hospital claims it developed drug to cure serious COVID cases
Researchers at Israel’s Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv claim that they have developed a drug that may cure serious cases of the coronavirus.