PM orders to restrict Israeli lawmakers’ visits to Temple Mount
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered that visits to Temple Mount by Israeli MKs be significantly restricted for the next three months.
Security
Israel deploys 100 sharpshooters on Gaza border for Palestinian protests
The Israeli military has deployed more than 100 sharpshooters on the Gaza border ahead of a planned mass Palestinian demonstration near the frontier, Israel’s top general said in an interview published on Wednesday.
Senior minister: US-Iran clash could prompt Hezbollah action vs. Israel
Jerusalem must prepare for the possibility that Iran will deploy Hezbollah against Israel in case there is a US-Iran military confrontation, Construction Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday.
European powers press for Iran sanctions to buttress nuclear deal
France, Britain and Germany sought on Wednesday to persuade their EU partners to back new sanctions on Iran to preserve a nuclear deal with Tehran that U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to pull out of in May, diplomats said.
Iran Shielding Military Facilities in Syria By Building Them Near Russian Assets
According to reports, citing Israeli security officials, Iran is attempting to shield military facilities in Syria from attack by building them in close proximity to Russian assets.
Overhaul of U.S. Telecoms Database Sparks Fear of Catastrophic Failure
An impending overhaul of the national U.S. telecommunications database is prompting fears the transition could spark a catastrophic failure, crippling emergency communications networks across the United States, according to industry insiders who told the Washington Free Beacon the foreign firm handling the upcoming transition may not be prepared to initiate the switch.
Trump moves to limit transgender individuals from military service
President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on Friday that bans some transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military, but gives the armed forces latitude in implementing policies.
Germany and France promise new Russia sanctions
Germany and France are to impose new sanctions on Russia over the UK gas attack, with some measures due as early as Monday (26 March).
Britain, EU make significant progress in Brexit talks: May
Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday Britain and the European Union had made significant progress in Brexit talks and that she was looking forward to talks on their future economic partnership.
John Bolton to Replace McMaster as National Security Advisor
The White House announced Thursday that former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton will replace Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster as President Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor.
Israel to deploy tear gas-dropping drones on planned Gaza border protests
Border Police are planning to deploy a newly developed drone that can drop tear gas canisters against Palestinian demonstrators expected to march on the border fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip in the coming weeks, according to a report Wednesday.
Arab League aims to stop Israel from gaining UN Security Council seat
Arab League nations will meet in Riyadh on April 15 to work to prevent Israel from gaining a seat on the U.N. Security Council, Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit said in a statement on Tuesday.
White House national security team fingered in Trump’s Putin call leak
The White House national security team, already facing calls for the ouster of top adviser H.R. McMaster, was tagged by a key lawmaker with leaking confidential notes ordering President Trump not to congratulate Russian President Vladimir Putin for his election win.
Congress introduces $1.3 trillion, 2,232-page funding bill, hopes for passage this week
House and Senate lawmakers introduced a $1.3 trillion fiscal 2018 spending bill late Wednesday night, and hope lawmakers can pass it all in the next day or two.
Israeli red tape may hold up US embassy move to Jerusalem – report
The planned move of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel declaring independence, may be delayed due to Israeli bureaucracy, according to a Tuesday report.
Austin bombing suspect kills self with explosive as police close in: report
Police in Austin, Texas, were preparing to stage a media briefing early Wednesday about an officer-involved shooting, amid local media reports that the Austin bombing suspect had killed himself with an explosive device.
IDF seizes weapons in W. Bank raid following Friday’s car ramming attack
The IDF seized illegal weapons, including an improvised rifle, in overnight raids in the West Bank on Saturday night, one day after two soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack near the West Bank settlement of Mevo Dotan. According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, units from the Menashe Brigade continued to operate in the Barta’a area following the car ramming attack near the village of Yabed, in which Captain Ziv Daus, 21, and Sergeant Netanel Kahalani, 20, were killed.
Top FBI official warned James Comey in 2014 of inefficiencies in warrantless phone surveillance program: Report
A retired FBI official who supervised the bureau’s warrantless phone surveillance program said then-Director James Comey took no action in response to his warnings about the inefficiencies of the program back in 2014.
TV report: Netanyahu tells cabinet Trump is likely to exit Iran deal by May
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told members of his cabinet this week that US President Donald Trump will likely walk away from the Iran nuclear deal this May, Channel 10 news reported Thursday.
US, Germany and France blame Russia for nerve agent attack
The leaders of the US, France, Germany have joined Britain’s prime minister in blaming Russia for the attempted murder of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in a nerve agent attack earlier this month.