Protesters launch nationwide ‘day of disruption’ against justice overhaul
The protest movement against the government’s justice overhaul plan was set to escalate its tactics on Wednesday in a “national day of disruption.”
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Papua New Guinea will open embassy in Jerusalem
Predominantly Christian Papua New Guinea has announced plans to establish its embassy mission to Israel in Jerusalem, recognizing that the ancient Biblical city is the true capital of Israel, the Jerusalem Post reports. Israel and Papua New Guinea established diplomatic relations in 1978, but this will be the first embassy the south-east Asian island country has opened in Israel.
UN Security Council to hold 3rd emergency meet on West Bank violence since new gov’t
The UN Security Council will convene an emergency session on Tuesday, in light of the deadly violence that took place over the weekend in the northern West Bank town of Huwara, a senior diplomat for a country on the panel told The Times of Israel.
Israel’s coalition set to pass Override Law in Knesset this week
The law that severely restricts the High Court of Justice’s ability to strike down regular Knesset laws is set to pass a vote in the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on Wednesday.
In escalation, 21 arrested at 100,000-strong Tel Aviv anti-judicial reform rally
Tens of thousands of demonstrators in Tel Aviv and elsewhere throughout Israel gathered on Saturday evening to protest the plan for judicial overhaul put forward by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan condemn Israel’s military raid on Nablus
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan have issued statements condemning Israel for yesterday’s IDF raid in Palestinian Authority-controlled Nablus, which resulted in 11 Palestinians being killed and 102 wounded, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.
US Marines hold joint 10-day-long drill with Israeli military
Troops from the United States Marines are holding a 10-day-long joint exercise with the Israel Defense Forces in Israel that started this week. The drill, dubbed Intrepid Maven, began Sunday and is slated to last through March 1.
Israel: Opposition leader Lapid rejects Netanyahu’s call to negotiate on controversial judicial reform bills
Amid heated public and parliamentary controversy over the Israeli government’s plans for judicial reform, opposition leader Yair Lapid on Tuesday rejected an offer by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate the issue without preconditions, Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) reports.
Israel advances plans for 7,000 new settler homes, places E1 project back on docket
Israel is seeking to once again advance the highly controversial E1 settlement project that would bisect Palestinian contiguity in the West Bank, as it also green-lit plans Thursday for more than 7,000 new settlement homes, the largest number ever authorized in one sitting.
Israeli scientists cure Alzheimer’s disease in mice, “optimistic” about future cure for humans
In ground-breaking research that may prove vital to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s in humans, Israeli neuroscientists have been able to completely cure 30 mice with the disease by giving them a synthetic molecule that might eventually be developed into a drug for people, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.
Israel Destroys Hamas Site After Rocket Attacks
Israel’s military said Thursday it struck a “weapons manufacturing site” after Palestinian Islamist “terrorists” hit southern Israel with rockets.
Israel bombs Hamas sites in Gaza, hours after rockets shot toward Ashkelon, Sderot
Israeli warplanes carried out bombing raids against the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip early Thursday morning, the military said, hours after Palestinians fired six rockets into southern Israel in an apparent revenge attack for a deadly Israeli incursion into Nablus a day earlier.
Israeli strike on Damascus targeted Iranian and Syrian drone experts — report
An airstrike in Damascus over the weekend that was attributed to Israel targeted a meeting of Syrian and Iranian experts in producing drones, according to a report Wednesday.
Palestinians say 11 killed, 102 hurt in Nablus clashes between gunmen, Israeli forces
Eleven Palestinians were killed as heavy gun battles broke out between Israeli forces and gunmen Wednesday in Nablus after the military entered the northern West Bank city to arrest a number of terror suspects.
Knesset shoots down opposition bill to enable adoption for same sex couples
The Knesset rejected on Wednesday an opposition lawmaker’s bill that sought to officially enable same-sex couples and single people to adopt children.
4.5-magnitude tremor felt in Israel amid uptick in seismic activity
The Israel Geological Institute said a 4.5-magnitude tremor was recorded in the country on Wednesday morning, for the second time this week.
Netanyahu said to huddle repeatedly with military brass over possible attack on Iran
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly held a series of secret high-level meetings with top military officials aimed at upping preparations for a possible confrontation with Iran.
Israel: Tens of thousands protest government bill to restrict Supreme Court power
An estimated 70,000 Israeli citizens took to the streets of Jerusalem Monday in protest at the controversial right-wing government bill that would curtail the Supreme Court’s ability to rule on Israel’s Basic Laws and would place the selection of judges in the hands of politicians, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. Despite the protests, however, the bill passed its first reading by 63-47 votes in the Knesset on Tuesday.
Israel passes several judicial reforms on first reading
Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, passed on first reading of several reforms to Israel’s judiciary early Tuesday, with 63 votes for the bill and 47 votes against it.
Senior Boeing official in Israel to push sale of advanced F-15 jets for Iran strike
The chief of the Boeing aircraft manufacturer’s defense wing was in Israel on Sunday and Monday to advance the supply of new, long-awaited refueling planes and fighter jets for the Israeli Air Force looking to boost its capabilities to strike Iran.