Israeli planes said to hit a chemical weapons site in Syria
Syrian reports said early Thursday that Israeli warplanes struck overnight a facility in northern Syria where the regime has allegedly been stockpiling chemical weapons.
Security
Hackers Gain ‘Switch-Flipping’ Access to US Power Grid Control Systems
In an era of hacker attacks on critical infrastructure, even a run-of-the-mill malware infection on an electric utility’s network is enough to raise alarm bells. But the latest collection of power grid penetrations went far deeper: Security firm Symantec is warning that a series of recent hacker attacks not only compromised energy companies in the US and Europe but also resulted in the intruders gaining hands-on access to power grid operations—enough control that they could have induced blackouts on American soil at will.
Trump declares Hurricane Irma emergencies as Florida worries megastorm could be worse than Harvey
As Hurricane Irma barreled toward the Caribbean on Tuesday — on a path that could send the Category 5 megastorm toward Florida — people up and down the state were starting to prepare for the worst.
PA arrests radio station chairman who publicly denounced Abbas
The Palestinian Authority Preventative Security arrested Ayman Qawasmeh, the chairman of the Minbar al-Huriyya radio station, in Hebron late Sunday evening, a senior PA security official said on Monday.
Russia threatened to veto UNIFIL mandate if Hezbollah mentioned
Russia reportedly threatened to use its veto at the United Nations last week if the Lebanon-based terror organization Hezbollah, its ally in the Syrian civil war, was named in a Security Council resolution to renew the mandate of peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon.
US seeks UN vote next week to punish North Korea for nuclear test
The Trump administration is pushing for a vote next week at the United Nations Security Council to punish North Korea for its nuclear test over the weekend.
UN Security Council to meet on North Korea nuclear test
The United States, Britain, France, Japan and South Korea requested the urgent meeting, to be held at 10 a.m., the US mission said in a statement.
Mother in Uganda Beaten, Driven from Home for Embracing Christianity
A woman in eastern Uganda who put her faith in Christ is in hiding after her husband beat her for leaving Islam, sources said.
Friedman to ‘Post’: US, Israel of ‘same mind’ on stopping Iran in Syria
The US and Israel are ‘of the same mind’ when it comes to opposition to any Iranian military presence in Syria, US Ambassador David Friedman told The Jerusalem Post in an exclusive interview this week.
UN said set to bolster peacekeeping force in south Lebanon
The United Nations will reportedly expand the mandate of its peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon following complaints from Israel over the international body’s failure to address Hezbollah’s weapons buildup in the area.
Legislation to limit smartphone encryption ‘may be necessary,’ deputy AG Rosenstein says
Legislation may be needed to solve the Justice Department’s ongoing problem with uncrackable digital encryption, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said Wednesday.
UN Security Council ‘strongly condemns’ NKorea missile test
The U.N. Security Council strongly condemned North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile over Japan on Tuesday, reiterating demands that Pyongyang halt its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs.
Head of Military Intelligence: Hezbollah is tightening grip on Lebanon
The head of the IDF Intelligence Directorate, Maj.- Gen. Herzi Halevi, told UN head Antonio Guterres in Jerusalem this week that Hezbollah is tightening its hold on Lebanon, citing serious and prolonged violations of Security Council Resolution 1701 by the terrorist group.
Trump ready for shutdown standoff over border wall: ‘We will build the wall’
President Trump stood firm Monday on his threat to shut down the government if congressional Democrats block funding for a wall on the border with Mexico, saying the wall was crucial to U.S. security and stopping the flow of illegal drugs.
Kushner Asks Abbas to Hold off on Anti-Israel Diplomatic Initiatives to Give Trump Administration Time to Formulate Peace Plan
U.S. President Donald Trump’s senior adviser Jared Kushner asked Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during their meeting in Ramallah on Thursday to freeze diplomatic initiatives against Israel for a period of some four months, in exchange for an American commitment to submit a comprehensive diplomatic plan within that time frame to kick-start the moribund peace process, a senior Palestinian official told Israel Hayom over the weekend.
Trump team, Netanyahu renew talks on US embassy move to Jerusalem
Senior members of the Trump administration and Israeli officials renewed talks over the possibility of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a promise repeatedly made by the president in the 2016 election campaign, during high-level meetings in Israel last week, the Times of Israel has learned.
Abbas to meet Erdogan in Ankara Monday
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet in Ankara on Monday to discuss Palestinian reconciliation, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced.
After more than yearlong ban, MKs permitted to visit Temple Mount
The Jerusalem District Police announced Wednesday that starting next week it will allow lawmakers to visit the Temple Mount. The decision comes more than 18 months after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu barred all MKs, Jewish and Arab alike, from visiting the volatile site.
Why Donald Trump was right about Barack Obama’s North Korea policy
When President-elect Donald Trump met President Barack Obama in the White House shortly before the former’s swearing-in, Obama reportedly told him that North Korea would be one of the most pressing issues he would face.
Egypt Closes One Church, Blocks Worship at Another
Authorities have closed a church that serves three villages in Upper Egypt on the pretext that area Muslims object to it – one of at least 15 Christian worship sites shuttered in the bishopric of Minya, sources said.