Mideast anti-virus measures spark worries of setback in liberties
Armored vehicles in the streets, hundreds arrested, smartphone surveillance — sweeping measures to fight the coronavirus have raised concerns in the Middle East over the erosion of already threatened human rights. As the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 3 billion people are now ...
Netanyahu foe Gantz becomes Israel speaker, paving way for power-sharing
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's chief rival was chosen on Thursday as the new speaker of parliament, an unexpected step that could pave the way to a power-sharing deal between the two men as the country grapples with a worsening coronavirus crisis. The sudden turnabout ...
Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu offers to step down next year in unity deal
Israel's prime minister Saturday said he is ready to step down next year as part of a proposed power-sharing agreement with his chief rival that is meant to steer the country through the coronavirus crisis and end a yearlong political deadlock. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ...
Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet said Tuesday it has been mandated to collect information about citizens to fight the spread of the deadly coronavirus, a task it was undertaking with "immediate" effect. Involvement of the spy agency in tackling the pandemic has raised concerns ...
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 ...
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 ...
Iran's neighbors impose travel bans as nation's coronavirus toll rises and deaths reach eight
Iran's confirmed death toll from the new coronavirus rose to eight on Sunday, the highest outside China, sending neighboring countries scrambling to contain the outbreak. Four immediate neighbors of the Islamic republic — Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Armenia — said on Sunday they would close ...
An Israeli cycling team raced through Dubai on Sunday, taking part in the UAE Tour for the first time in the latest overture between the two countries, which have no diplomatic relations. Gulf Arab nations have made a number of recent moves hinting at warmer ...
Israel bans foreign visitors who traveled to Japan or South Korea as coronavirus fears surge
Israel says it will ban foreign nationals who have visited Japan or South Korea during the 14 days prior to their arrival amid fears of the new coronavirus outbreak.
Israeli woman from Diamond Princess tests positive after flying home
An Israeli woman who was a passenger aboard the coronavirus-hit cruise ship in Yokohama tested positive upon returning to her home country Friday, Israel's health ministry said. She was one of 11 Israeli passengers who were brought back to Israel after being aboard the cruise ...
The first offer is the best offer in negotiations
Japanese policymakers nee to pay continuous attention to the changing situation in the Middle East.
In wake of Soleimani's death, Tehran-backed Hezbollah steps in to guide Iraqi militias
Shortly after Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq, the Tehran-backed Lebanese organization Hezbollah urgently met with Iraqi militia leaders, seeking to unite them in the face of a huge void left by their powerful mentor's death, ...
