World / Politics May 18, 2020
Israel swears in unity government as Netanyahu insists on West Bank annexation
After more than 500 days without a stable government and three inconclusive elections, lawmakers have approved a three-year coalition.
World / Politics Mar 1, 2020
Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu pledges 'immediate' annexation steps if re-elected
A day ahead of Israel's third election in a year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged Sunday that if re-elected he would annex swathes of the occupied West Bank within weeks. In an interview with Israeli public radio, Netanyahu said annexation of the Jordan Valley and ...
Asia Pacific / Science & Health Feb 24, 2020
Israel orders pupils to self-quarantine over coronavirus fears
Israel ordered nearly 200 pupils into home quarantine Sunday after they were in proximity to South Korean tourists carrying the coronavirus, as the prime minister announced a task force to manage the threat. "Today, I will appoint a ministerial team to convene on a daily ...
World / Social Issues Feb 6, 2020
Trump plan for Mideast will die before he does, says Iran leader
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, predicted Wednesday that Donald Trump would outlive the U.S. president's controversial proposals for Israeli-Palestinian peace. "This plan will certainly not work and it will die before Trump," Khamenei told a gathering in Tehran to mark the February 1979 Islamic ...
World Feb 2, 2020
Palestinians announce cutting of all ties with Israel and U.S.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas announced Saturday a cut of all ties with Israel and the United States, including security cooperation, after Washington unveiled a controversial Middle East plan seen as favoring Israel. Abbas has made similar declarations before and it was not immediately clear what ...
World / Politics Jan 31, 2020
Jared Kushner says he hopes Israel waits on sovereignty steps in West Bank till after polls
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner said Washington wants Israel to wait until after its March 2 election before making any moves toward settlement annexation in the West Bank, following the announcement of a U.S. peace plan. Kushner, an architect of the peace proposal hailed ...
World / Social Issues Jan 30, 2020
The Israeli army announced an increased presence in the West Bank and near Gaza Wednesday evening, as U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial peace plan sparked outrage among Palestinians. The plan, seen as overwhelmingly supportive of Israeli goals and drafted with no Palestinian input, gives the ...
World / Crime & Legal Jan 29, 2020
Netanyahu formally charged with graft after dropping immunity bid
by Alexandra Vardi
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was Tuesday formally charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust, the justice ministry said, shortly after the embattled politician dropped his request for parliamentary immunity. The indictment came as Netanyahu was in Washington for a meeting with President Donald ...
World Jan 16, 2020
First Gaza rockets fired against Israel since Qassem Soleimani killing
The Israeli military said four rockets were fired Wednesday from Hamas-controlled Gaza, the first since Israel's ally the U.S. killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. "Four rockets were just fired from Gaza at Israel. Two rockets were intercepted mid-air by the Iron Dome aerial defence ...
World / Social Issues Jan 9, 2020
Hawkish Israeli defense minister seeks 'million' settlers in West Bank
Israel's defense minister on Wednesday said he aimed to boost the number of Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank to 1 million within a decade, from around 400,000 at present. Naftali Bennett, a hawk who draws much of his support from settlers, is leading ...
World Jan 9, 2020
World leaders condemn Iran missile attack targeting U.S. troops
World leaders on Wednesday condemned Iran's missile attack on Iraqi bases housing U.S. and other foreign troops and urged an end to the escalating confrontation between Tehran and Washington. Iran said it had acted to avenge the U.S. killing of top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani ...
World / Politics Jan 6, 2020
Israel's opposition seeks swift end to Netanyahu immunity bid
The Israeli opposition pushed Sunday for parliament to swiftly address Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's immunity request, potentially speeding up the embattled leader's appearance in court. Netanyahu announced his bid for immunity just two months before the March 2 general election, with opponents slamming the move ...