Iran points to foreign conspiracy of Israel, US, Saudis behind fuel protests
Members of Iran’s Basij militia made interesting claims in the wake of nationwide protests against fuel hikes over the weekend.
Israel
Nuclear watchdog calls on Iran to clear up origin of uranium traces
The International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran will discuss the discovery of uranium traces at an undeclared site in Tehran next week, the agency’s acting chief said on Thursday, adding that Iran had not provided any more information about the origin of the particles.
AG announces Netanyahu to stand trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust
In a decision that drastically shakes up Israeli politics amid already ongoing chaos, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be charged with criminal wrongdoing in three separate cases against him, including bribery in the far-reaching Bezeq corruption probe.
Netanyahu calls decision to indict him an ‘attempted coup’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday called a criminal indictment against him an attempt at a ‘government coup’ and he will continue to ‘lead Israel.’ It is the first time in the country’s history a sitting prime minister has been charged with a crime.
Israeli Knesset given power to form coalition as charges against Netanyahu announced
President Reuven Rivlin tasked the Knesset with forming a coalition government in an unprecedented move for the Israeli political process Thursday.
Trump evangelical base ‘thrilled’ by determination that West Bank settlements are legal
Prominent evangelical leaders are celebrating President Trump’s decision to recognize Israeli West Bank settlements as legal, a determination that reversed decades of official U.S. policy left in place by Democratic and Republican presidents.
Israel to enter 21-day period in which any Knesset member can become Prime Minister
Negotiations following Israeli elections in September have still not produced any clear leadership.
White House holding up $100M in Lebanon aid, official confirms
The United States is withholding security assistance to Lebanon to the tune of over $100 million, leaving lawmakers and policymakers in the dark, a senior State Department official confirmed on Tuesday.
UN Security Council members critical of US policy shift on Israeli settlements
United Nations Security Council members decried a United States policy shift on Israeli settlements on Wednesday during a meeting where they discussed recent developments in the Middle East, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s announcement two days before.
Arab League to meet on US shift on Israel settlements
The Arab League said it will hold an urgent meeting Monday on the US announcement that it no longer considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal.
Gantz concedes failure to form coalition, all but assuring new elections
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz on Wednesday night informed President Reuven Rivlin he had failed to form a governing coalition, paving the way to a shocking third round of elections in under a year.
Foreign Fighters Reported Killed In Israeli Strikes On ‘Iranian Targets’ In Syria
The Israeli military says it has struck Iranian targets in Syria in what it said was retaliation for rockets fired on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights region.
Netanyahu approves Jordan Valley annexation bill after U.S. changes policy
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave his approval on Tuesday to advance a bill that would have Israel apply sovereignty to the Jordan Valley, after the US State Department reversed its stance of viewing Israeli towns in Judea and Samaria as illegal.
Russia, Turkey reject US reversal of settlements stance
Russia and Turkey have rejected the United States declaration that it will no longer regard Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories as illegal.
Hezbollah calls US settlement policy shift ‘invalid and illegal’
Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group on Tuesday condemned the US announcement that it no longer necessarily views Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal.
Likud, Blue and White holding ‘serious’ talks amid efforts for last-minute deal
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White party chief Benny Gantz were set to meet Tuesday evening, as multiple reports said the leaders were having serious negotiations for the first time since the September elections amid intense efforts to form a unity government.
IDF attacks IRGC Quds targets in southern Damascus
A spokesperson for the IDF says that IAF fighter jets performed targeted airstrikes on dozens of military targets belonging to the Iranian Quds Force (IRGC) and the Syrian army on Tuesday night in Syria. The targets included air-to-ground missiles, headquarters, IDF warehouses, and military bases.
Reversing Obama Policy, US Will No Longer View Israeli Settlements as ‘Inconsistent with Int’l Law’
In another major reversal of the Obama administration’s policies on the Mideast dispute, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday the U.S. will no longer view the existence of Israeli communities (‘settlements’) in disputed territory as inherently illegal under international law, unleashing a wave of reaction, both positive and negative.
US cancels Iran nuclear cooperation waiver after Fordo restart
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday that he is canceling one of four sanctions waivers that had allowed foreign companies to work with Iran’s civilian nuclear program without US penalties. Pompeo also warned Iran’s leadership not to crack down on protests that recent fuel price increases have sparked.
Gantz and Liberman said to agree on civil marriage, other religion reforms
A Blue and White-led government would enact sweeping religion and state reforms, including easing the state-recognized process of converting to Judaism and legalizing civil marriages, according to a leaked document published Monday.