IDF: Iron Dome shoots down rocket from Lebanon; another lands in open area
Israel’s Iron Dome aerial defense system shot down a rocket from Lebanon after two were fired at Israel Tuesday morning, the Israeli military said.
Israel
Likud seeks to convince Gantz to bolt government, replace Bennett as PM
Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party renewed on Monday its public efforts to persuade Blue and White’s Benny Gantz to leave the government and form an alternate coalition with right-wing parties.
Abdullah seeks to revive two-state solution, bury ‘Jordan is Palestine’
Jordan is hoping that King Abdullah’s meeting with US President Joe Biden will pave the way for the kingdom to return to center stage in regional developments, particularly the Israeli-Arab conflict.
Israel pressures U.S. lawmakers to halt Biden’s bid to restore Iran nuclear deal
Israel put pressure on U.S. lawmakers to reject initiatives to restore the Iran nuclear deal during a recent bipartisan congressional trip taken to the Middle East.
US drone strikes truck in Syria used by Iran-backed militia
A United States drone attack targeted a truck of an Iran-backed militia in eastern Syria on Sunday, destroying the vehicle without causing any casualties, two Iraqi militia officials said.
On Tisha B’Av, Bennett speaks of ‘freedom of worship’ for Jews on Temple Mount
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett asserted on Sunday that both Jews and Muslims have “freedom of worship” on the Temple Mount, potentially hinting at a change in policy at the most contentious site in Israel.
Ra’am: Al-Aqsa Mosque ‘is solely the property of Muslims’
The Islamist Ra’am party condemned the ascent of hundreds of what it called Jewish “settlers” to the Temple Mount on Sunday morning, during the observance of the Tisha B’Av fast.
Yet again Israel delays reopening to individual vaccinated tourists; No new date set
Permission for Individual tourists to enter Israel has been delayed yet again with no new date set and, now, even Israelis may be barred from flying out of their own country as the government weighs limiting all non-essential travel in order to keep out the much-vaunted Delta variant of the coronavirus.
Israeli Lawmakers Discuss Preparation for Access to 3rd Temple
On Tuesday, Member of Knesset Itamar Ben Gvir, head of the Religious Zionist Party, held a session in the Knesset concerning the dire condition of the Mughrabi Bridge used by Jews to ascend to the Temple Mount. The meeting went on to discuss how Jewish visitation to the site could be encouraged. The meeting came one week before Tisha B’Av (the ninth day of the month of Av), the day commemorating the destruction of the Jewish Temples.
IDF requests funding for a potential strike on Iran, reports say
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is reported to have requested major budget increases to the tune of billions to make ready for a potential strike on Iran’s nuclear program.
Israel rolls out new, toned down vaccine passport called the ‘Happy Pass’ while health director warns of possible fourth lockdown
On Thursday, the Cabinet approved a new vaccine passport – the “happy pass” – which will be put into effect at events such as weddings and bar mitzvahs with 100 people or more required proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID or a negative test.
Rouhani warns Iran could enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels
Iran’s outgoing president on Wednesday warned his country could enrich uranium at weapons-grade levels of 90 percent if it chose, though it still wanted to save its tattered nuclear deal with world powers.
15 years on, IDF girds for a potentially devastating war against Hezbollah
In a future war with Hezbollah, more rockets and missiles would be fired at Israel from Lebanon in the span of less than two days than were fired during the entire 11-day battle between Israel and Palestinian terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip in May, according to fresh Israeli military assessments.
‘Just the beginning’: UAE opens Tel Aviv embassy as sides hail ties
The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday formally inaugurated its embassy in Israel, capping a process that began with an agreement to normalize diplomatic relations nearly a year ago.
‘Down with dictatorship’: 19K protest, clash with cops over France COVID rules
Police in Paris fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators on Wednesday, as 19,000 people protested throughout France over new coronavirus restrictions.
Israel: Archaeologists find 2,000-year-old coins inscribed with references to freedom of Jerusalem and Zion
Israeli archaeologists in the Binyamin region of the West Bank recently found two 2,000-year-old coins which are inscribed with references to the freedom of Jerusalem and Zion, the Times of Israel reports. The coins date back to the times of the Jewish wars against the Romans.
Iranian commander said to encourage escalation against US forces in Iraq
Visiting Baghdad last week, a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander urged Iraqi Shi’ite militias to increase their attacks on United States targets, Reuters reported Tuesday, quoting multiple Iraqi sources.
Israel: Archaeologists unearth jug which may have belonged to Biblical judge Gideon
Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed a jug that dates back 3,100 years to the Biblical time of Judges, and which may have belonged to the Israelite judge Gideon, All Israel News reports. Discovered in southern Israel near Kiryat Gat, the jug has an inscription that reads “Jerubbaal,” a name found only in the Bible and by which Gideon is referred.
Hezbollah in tight spot as Lebanon veers on brink of collapse
While Lebanon suffers from the worst economic crisis in its history, the Iranian terror proxy Hezbollah, which has such a heavy influence in the country, is doing everything it can to safeguard its interests during the turmoil. Still, it is in no position right now to provoke conflict with Israel, according to Israeli experts.
Bennett, Netanyahu bash each other over Iran, COVID in first Knesset showdown
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett mocked opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu as a ham-fisted showman, and the two traded barbs over their respective governments’ handling of Iranian tensions in dueling speeches to the Knesset plenum on Monday.