Incendiary balloons from Gaza spark fires in south for second day in a row
Firefighters battled four blazes in southern Israel Wednesday that were sparked by balloon-borne incendiary devices launched from the Gaza Strip for the second day in a row.
Israel
Israeli Supreme Court rules Messianic Jewish ministry is allowed religious tax breaks
Israel’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Messianic Jewish organization Tuesday, when it overturned a Knesset (Parliament) Finance Committee decision to refuse tax-exempt status to Maoz Israel Ministries (officially known as Yachad Ramat HaSharon), World Israel News reports.
Israeli Army Bombs Gaza After Terror Balloons Reach Israel
Israel’s new government ordered airstrikes against militants in the Gaza Strip early Wednesday in response to incendiary balloons that crossed into the country from the Palestinian territory.
IDF hits Gaza terror targets after arson attacks, in first raids since ceasefire
The IDF carried out a series of airstrikes throughout the Gaza Strip early Wednesday morning in response to over two dozen fires in southern Israel caused by incendiary devices launched from the coastal enclave.
Israel’s new government upholds long-standing opposition to Iran nuclear deal
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid have made clear that Israel will continue the Netanyahu government’s opposition to the Iran nuclear agreement, as international efforts continued to revive the pact abandoned by former U.S. president Donald Trump.
Israeli oral COVID-19 booster shot may be ready by 2022
Israeli scientists are developing an oral COVID-19 vaccine that may be ready as a booster shot for humans within nine months, the Times of Israel reports. The vaccine has so far worked well on rats, whose antibody levels increased with no side effects.
Hamas Calls for ‘Day of Rage’ Could Be First Test for New Israeli Government
Israel’s brand new government may already be tested less than two days after being sworn into office. Hamas and other Palestinian groups are calling for a ‘Day of Rage’ on Tuesday if the planned ‘Flag March’ takes place through Jerusalem’s Old City.
Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu Ousted
Israel’s longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was ousted from power Sunday by parliament, the Knesset, which approved a new coalition government.
In speech before swearing-in, Ra’am leader vows to ‘reclaim expropriated lands’
Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas, whose support provided the key backing needed for the incoming change government’s majority, vowed to reclaim land in Israel that was “expropriated” from Arab Israelis.
Bennett-Lapid government wins Knesset majority; Netanyahu is out after 12 years
The Knesset swears in the 36th government, appointing the right-wing Naftali Bennett the next prime minister and removing Benjamin Netanyahu from power after 12 consecutive years.
US-funded Palestinian NGOs introduced children to convicted terrorists
USAID-funded Palestinian NGOs introduced children to released convicted terrorists, Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor wrote in a report released Thursday.
Israel says Gaza AP building housed Hamas anti-Iron Dome tech unit
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN and US Gilad Erdan has told Associated Press President Gary Pruitt that the building in which the news agency had its Gaza bureau was destroyed in Israeli strikes last month because that edifice housed a tech unit from which Hamas was working to jam the IDF’s Iron Dome defense system, the Jerusalem Post reports. Following an advanced warning from the IDF, the building was evacuated before it was bombed during May’s 11 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas.
Satellite images show activity at Iran site exposed in Mossad-seized nuke files
Satellite images taken last year appear to show concealment activity at an Iranian facility previously identified as a site where Tehran was accused of manufacturing a key component for its nuclear program.
11 fighters said killed in alleged Israeli strikes in Syria
At least 11 people were reportedly killed overnight Wednesday in Israeli airstrikes in Syria.
Biden to depart for jam-packed first foreign trip, including Putin meeting
Joe Biden will fight what he calls a “defining” battle for democracy on his first foreign presidential trip, meeting top US allies in Europe ahead of a tricky summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Alleged Israeli airstrike targets Syria from Lebanese airspace
An alleged Israeli airstrike targeted Syrian territory from Lebanese airspace on Tuesday night, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA.
UN nuclear watchdog head: Iran has failed to answer questions about uranium discovered at three sites
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi announced Monday that the Iranian government has failed to answer questions about the discovery of uranium particles at three sites that may have been connected to Iran’s nuclear program, the Times of Israel reports. Grossi called on Iran to provide the required information without further delay.
Knesset to meet on setting date for vote on new government, likely June 14
Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin will on Monday bring to the Knesset Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid’s statement that he can form a government, setting in motion the process of holding a vote of confidence in the new, eight-party coalition that would oust the current transition government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Blinken: Iran may cut nuclear breakout time to weeks if it keeps breaching deal
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Monday that the “breakout time” Iran needs to assemble an atomic bomb could be reduced to just weeks, if Tehran keeps violating the 2015 accord limiting its nuclear program.
UK health chief: Indian strain ‘around 40%’ more infectious than British variant
Britain’s health secretary on Sunday said a coronavirus variant first detected in India was roughly 40 percent more transmissible than the so-called UK strain blamed for a severe COVID-19 outbreak over the winter.