European, Arab diplomats try to revive Mideast peace efforts
Leading European and Arab world diplomats announced potential “small steps” Thursday toward reviving Mideast peace efforts after upcoming Israeli and Palestinian elections.
Israel
Rivlin, IDF chief to visit 3 European countries to discuss Iran threat
President Reuven Rivlin will travel to Germany, France, and Austria next week to speak to their presidents about the growing threat from Iran’s nuclear program and the International Criminal Court’s decision to open a probe into alleged war crimes by Israel and Palestinian terror groups.
Erdogan confidant calls for ‘re-normalized’ ties with Israel
A close associated of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Admiral Cihat Yayci, said in an interview Wednesday to the Turkish Jewish newspaper Şalom that “it is in the interests of both Turkey and Israel to re-normalize relations.”
Likud, Yesh Atid see boost in latest poll, New Hope plunges to under 10 seats
With exactly two weeks until election day, a poll released Tuesday showed the Likud and Yesh Atid parties enjoying a boost in support as Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope plunged to below 10 seats in the Knesset for the first time.
Rights groups: Iran uses internet shutdowns to hide human rights violations
Rights groups have said Iran appears to be using internet shutdowns to hide government violations of human rights – and even extra-judicial killings, the Times of Israel reports.
Israeli jets escort American B-52s during flyby, in show of force to Iran
Israeli F-15 fighter jets escorted two American B-52 bombers through Israeli airspace on Sunday in a new show of force by the United States against Iran — with an Israeli element — amid rising tensions in the region.
Iran will “raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground” if Israel attacks nuclear program
Responding to Israel’s recent announcement that it will strike Iran’s nuclear program on its own if the world does nothing, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said Sunday that his country would “raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground” if Israel should attack, the Times of Israel reports.
Israel Reopens Amid Controversy
Israel reopened most of its economy Sunday as it removed many of its coronavirus lockdown restrictions introduced a year ago, after a controversial vaccination campaign.
IDF completes underground anti-tunnel barrier surrounding Gaza
After four years of work, the Israel Defense Forces has completed the sophisticated new underground barrier on the Gaza border which is used to detect and prevent tunnel-digging by terror groups into Israeli territory.
U.S. deploys B-52 bombers to Middle East in warning to Iran
The U.S. military on Sunday delivered a pair of clear warnings to Iran, with the Air Force dispatching two B-52H “Stratofortress” bombers to the Middle East while Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin vowed to “hold people accountable for their acts” if Americans are targeted.
Will Israel, Saudi Arabia form the NATO of the Middle East?
Answering questions from his audience on Zoom at a Likud event on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of two reasons four Arab states normalized ties with Israel in the past year, and more want to join them: the economic advantages of cooperating, and shared security aims.
Gantz: IDF updating military plans for potential strike on Iran nuclear sites
Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Thursday said the Israel Defense Forces is continuously updating its plans for a prospective military strike on Iranian nuclear sites.
Israel has identified ship that caused oil spill
Israel has identified the ship that recently caused a massive Mediterranean oil spill that has been described as the worst environmental disaster to affect Israeli beaches in decades, the Times of Israel reports. No details about the ship were given.
Biden admin: International Criminal Court ‘unfairly’ targeting Israel
The Biden administration opposes and is disappointed with the decision by the International Criminal Court to pursue an investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes in the Palestinian territories, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday.
Israel, U.S. reach behind-the-scenes agreement on Iran, FM says
Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said on Tuesday that Israel and the United States have agreed that neither nation will make decisions pertaining to Iran and the Iran nuclear deal without informing the other first.
FBI chief says US Capitol riot was domestic terrorism, defends handling of intel
FBI Director Chris Wray condemned the January riot at the US Capitol as “domestic terrorism” Tuesday as he defended the bureau’s handling of intelligence indicating the prospect for violence.
Israel in talks with Saudi, UAE, Bahrain for defense alliance against Iran
Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have discussed expanding cooperation in facing common enemies, an Israeli official familiar with the matter said Monday.
In bombshell ruling, court instructs state to recognize non-Orthodox conversions
The High Court of Justice handed down a landmark decision on Monday after 15 years of deliberations on the hot-button issue of non-Orthodox conversion, ruling that the state could no longer abide by only one stream when it comes to the immigration of Jews under the Law of Return.
Israel Blames Iran For Ship Blast Near Hormuz, Shortly After US Bombed Iran-Backed Militias in Syria
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has pointed a finger at the Iranian regime after an Israeli-owned cargo vessel was damaged in an explosion near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, an incident recalling a series of maritime blasts in the region in 2019 which the U.S. blamed on Iran.
Satellite images of oil slicks off coast show recent spill far from a one-off
The environmental organization Greenpeace on Sunday published images from the European Sentinel satellite showing 12 apparent oil slicks at various distances from Israel’s shores in the days before a storm washed tons of tar onto 160 kilometers (99 miles) of Israel’s coastline.