IDF launches first-of-its-kind international drone exercise
The Israeli Air Force launched a first-of-its-kind international drone exercise on Monday, hosting pilots from five other countries, the military said.
Israel
Israel becomes first country to give 3rd vaccination to at-risk adults
Israel became the first country in the world to begin giving third vaccinations to at-risk individuals on Monday.
Lapid Declares Support for Two-State Solution Before EU Foreign Ministers
Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid addressed his 26 European counterparts during a speech to the EU Foreign Affairs Council, a first for a member of the Israeli government since Tzipi Livni in 2008.
Israel’s Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Same-Sex Couple Surrogacy Rights
Israel’s Supreme Court on Sunday ruled that current legal restrictions barring same-sex couples from becoming parents through surrogacy were unlawful and must be lifted within six months.
Israel recommends third shot – ahead of Pfizer approval for emergency use
Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz has already recommended that people with a compromised immune system get a third COVID shot. His decision comes ahead of approval for Pfizer’s request from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency authorization as a booster for protection against the delta variant.
Noah’s ark theme park in Kentucky to build ‘Tower of Babel’
A Bible-themed attraction in Kentucky that features a 510-foot-long (155-meter-long) wooden Noah’s ark is planning to begin fundraising for an expansion.
Opulent 2,000-year-old ‘city hall’ unearthed near Western Wall in Jerusalem
Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists have unearthed what may have been a 2,000-year-old city council building — a few hundred meters from its modern counterpart — during continuing excavations under Jerusalem’s Old City.
Bennett secretly met with King Abdullah at his palace in Amman
According to Israeli media, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett secretly met with Jordan’s King Abdullah in Amman this week, a further sign that the two countries are looking to improve relations and reverse years of tension.
Supreme Court upholds law recognizing Israel as ‘nation-state’ of Jewish people
Israel’s Supreme Court rejected 15 petitions aimed at repealing the nation-state law on Thursday afternoon, effectively upholding the law.
Israel pushing US to keep Trump sanctions on Iran, even if nuke deal resurrected
Recognizing that the Biden administration is intent on returning to the Iran nuclear agreement in its original form, Israel has focused on convincing the US to leave in place sanctions instituted by former president Donald Trump after the 2015 accord was signed, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel on Wednesday.
World Bank: $480M needed for short-term Gaza recovery
A World Bank report estimates that it will cost $485 million in recovery for damage caused in the Gaza Strip during 11 days of fighting between Israel and Palestinian terror groups in May.
Knesset fails to renew family reunification law as opposition MKs vote against government
After opposition MKs and a member of PM Naftali Bennet’s Yamina party voted against the new coalition government Tuesday, the Knesset failed to renew the temporary family reunification law which blocks the automatic granting of Israeli citizenship or residency to Palestinians who are married to Israeli citizens, the Times of Israel reports. Considered necessary to Israel’s security, the law has been renewed every year since its inception in 2003: that opposition MKs voted against its re-extension this time is understood as a political move to signal no confidence in the government.
Biden Admin Deletes References to Palestinian Terror Incitement From Congressional Report
The State Department deleted references to the Palestinian government’s terror incitement in a report sent last week to Congress, highlighting what some see as an effort by the Biden administration to downplay Palestinian violence as it restarts U.S. taxpayer aid to the government.
US, Europeans warn nuclear talks in danger as Iran plans enrichment boost
The United States and Europe warned Iran to stop nuclear “brinksmanship” and European powers expressed “grave concern” over Iran’s latest moves to enrich uranium, saying it would complicate its return to talks aimed at restarting the 2015 nuclear accord.
Haifa Researchers Use Laser ‘Tweezers’ to Study Structure and Dynamics of DNA Packaging in All Cells
Each one of the cells in our bodies contains DNA, which dictates the instructions needed for living things to develop and function. Incredibly, a total of two meters of DNA is packaged in each tiny cell’s nucleus, which is just tens of microns in size. This is made possible to packaging the DNA into a compact structure called chromatin.
Iran accuses Israel of June attack on alleged centrifuge plant
Iran on Tuesday accused Israel of a sabotage attack in June that reportedly targeted a nuclear facility near Tehran, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Bennett: If infection rate keeps rising, we will consider reinstating ‘Green Pass’
At the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that due to the recent spike in coronavirus infections, the government was considering reinstating some aspects of the so-called Green Pass system that differentiates between vaccinated and unvaccinated Israelis in terms of access to certain venues and activities.
Israel confirms vaccine less effective against Delta variant, eyes third dose
Israel’s Health Ministry released data on Monday showing that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine appears to largely prevent hospitalization and serious cases, but is significantly less effective against preventing the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus.
‘New Iran nuclear deal must be secured before window of opportunity closes’
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed there is “a window of opportunity” now for talks aimed at reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the French presidency said.
IDF launches overnight airstrike on Gaza Strip for incendiary balloons
The Israeli military launched an airstrike late on Saturday against Hamas facilities after the group launched incendiary balloons from the Gaza Strip.