Billionaires’ share of global wealth soars as pandemic widens inequality gap
The share of global wealth of the world’s richest people soared at a record pace during the COVID pandemic, a report on inequality showed Tuesday.
Israel
58% of Israeli Jews back striking Iran’s nuke program without US consent
A significant majority of Jewish Israelis, 58%, would support a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities even without a green light from Washington, according to an Israel Democracy Institute report published Wednesday.
Iran, Syria to take center stage when Russian FM arrives in Israel next week
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to visit Israel on Sunday, marking the official’s first such excursion in three years.
Report: Israel to launch major exercise this spring simulating strike on Iran
The Israel Defense Forces will hold a large-scale exercise over the Mediterranean in the spring with dozens of aircraft simulating a strike against Iran’s nuclear program, according to a report Wednesday.
Mossad chief, Gantz in DC to urge tougher stance on Iran
Mossad head David Barnea and Defense Minister Benny Gantz took rearguard action in Washington to try to change the West’s approach to negotiations with Iran, as they were set to resume in Vienna on Thursday.
Israel Completes Massive High-Tech Fence Along Gaza Border
Israel on Tuesday announced the completion of its new 40-mile-long concrete security barrier along the Gaza border designed to confront threats from above and below.
US, Israel to discuss military drills for Iran scenario
US and Israeli defense chiefs are expected on Thursday to discuss possible military exercises that would prepare for a worst-case scenario to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities should diplomacy fail, a senior US official said.
US reveals its largest-ever grab of weapons shipment by Iran’s Guards
The US Navy made its largest-ever seizure of weaponry from Iran in a haul that included surface-to-air missiles as well as cruise missile parts, the US Justice Department revealed Tuesday.
Judge blocks Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors
A U.S. district court judge blocked the Biden administration on Tuesday from enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on employees of government contractors across the nation. This conservative win adds to a string of losses for President Joe Biden in federal courts.
US hits Iran with new sanctions over rights abuses as nuclear talks flounder
The United States slapped fresh sanctions on a dozen Iranian officials and entities for “serious” human rights abuses Tuesday, days after nuclear talks with Tehran halted with no sign of progress.
Fourth COVID shot for all Israelis a possibility, health minister says
Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said Tuesday that it is possible Israelis will soon become eligible for a fourth shot of the COVID vaccine.
Israel Has Struck 75% of Iran’s Weapons in Syria: Security Sources
Israel has struck some three quarters of Iran’s weapons supply in Syria, sources within Israel’s security establishment told Israeli media Tuesday.
Thousands rally in Tel Aviv in protest of government policies
Thousands rallied in Tel Aviv Tuesday night against government policies they deemed “dangerous” to Israel’s Jewish character.
Iranian reports: Nuclear negotiations to resume Dec. 9
Indirect US-Iranian talks on saving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal will resume on Thursday in Vienna, Iranian news agencies reported on Tuesday.
In rare strike, Israeli warplanes said to attack Latakia port
Syria’s military said Israeli warplanes fired missiles on the port of the coastal city of Latakia early Tuesday without inflicting any human losses.
Israel to urge US to act militarily against Iran amid stalled nuke talks
Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Mossad chief David Barnea will push during their meetings this week in Washington with senior Biden administration officials for the United States to carry out a military strike on Iranian targets, Israel’s three main TV news broadcasts reported Sunday night.
US official: Iran backtracked on all compromises; we’re preparing for no deal
A US official said Saturday that Iran had backed away from all its previous compromises on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal and that the US would not allow Iran to “slow walk” the international negotiations while at the same time ramping up its atomic activities.
Blast heard near Iran’s Natanz nuclear site; officials cite air defense test
A blast was reported Saturday in the vicinity of a nuclear site in Natanz, Iran, according to preliminary reports.
Israel to urge US to act militarily against Iran amid stalled nuke talks
Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Mossad chief David Barnea will push during their meetings this week in Washington with senior Biden administration officials for the United States to carry out a military strike on Iranian targets, Israel’s three main TV news broadcasts reported Sunday night.
Bennett: Pause in nuclear talks ‘window of opportunity for different toolkit’ against Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Sunday that his government’s goal is to “utilize the window of opportunity” between rounds of the nuclear talks in Vienna to tell Washington that the time has come for a “different toolkit” against Iran’s progress in uranium enrichment.