Palestinian Authority to hold first elections in 15 years
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday announced that parliamentary and presidential elections will take place in the country for the first time in 15 years.
Jerusalem
Israel: Jerusalem authorities approve plan for permanent US embassy
A key Jerusalem panel has approved the plans to expand the US diplomatic presence in the Israeli capital on Wednesday.
Germany, France call for 2-states at 67-line, prior to Biden presidency
The United States has an important role to play in relaunching an Israeli-Palestinian peace process that would create a two-state resolution to the conflict at the pre-1967 lines, the Munich Group said in advance of US President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20.
Egypt, Germany, France, Jordan discuss Israeli-Palestinian talks ahead of Biden inauguration
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Germany, France, and Jordan met in Cairo Monday to discuss reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks as US President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office on January 20, the Times of Israel reports.
Alleged Israeli airstrike reported in southern Syria
An alleged Israeli airstrike targeted locations in southern Syria as explosions were heard in the skies over Damascus on Wednesday night, according to Syrian state media SANA.
Health Ministry releases demo of COVID-19 green passport app
A demo of the proposed design for the green passport app was presented today by coronavirus commissioner Prof. Nachman Ash at a meeting of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on Monday.
Former Mossad chiefs: Iran unlikely to avenge Soleimani assassination until after Biden inauguration
Two former Mossad directors and a former Israeli National Security Council director have each stated that Iran will likely wait until after American President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on January 20 to seek revenge for the US assassination of Quds Force Chief Qasem Soleimani a year ago, the Jerusalem Post reported Sunday.
Abbas announces agreement with Hamas to hold elections
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Saturday that he had reached agreement with the rival Hamas movement to hold presidential and parliamentary elections. Hamas did not immediately comment on Abbas’s announcement.
Jerusalem: Ancient Jewish ritual bath unearthed near Garden of Gethsemane
Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) archaeologists recently unearthed an ancient Jewish mikveh (ritual bath) near the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, Christian Headlines reports.
Israel, Saudi Arabia reportedly pressuring Trump to strike Iran in final days
Israel and Saudi Arabia are pressuring the Trump administration to carry out a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities before President-elect Joe Biden takes office, the Arabic-language newspaper Dar Al-Hayat reported on Thursday.
IDF reveals it attacked 50 targets in Syria throughout 2020
The Israel Air Force carried out 50 strikes against targets in Syria throughout 2020, the IDF revealed in its annual statistics report released on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia-Israel normalization deal estimated within one year
There are expectations among some of Israel’s highest echelons that there will be normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia by the end of 2021, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
Tel Aviv research: 99.9% of COVID-19 virus dead in 30 seconds with UV LEDs
Ultraviolet radiation is a common method of killing bacteria and viruses. Now, researchers from Tel Aviv University have proven that the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, can be killed efficiently, quickly and cheaply using ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) at specific frequencies.
Israel expects Iranian attacks may come through Iraq and Yemen
According to an Israeli military spokesman, Israel anticipates that an Iranian attack may come from Iraq and Yemen – two countries that are considered Iran’s proxies in its conflict with the Jewish State, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Portugal will move embassy to Jerusalem if it is the capital of two states
Portugal’s Foreign Minister Santos Silva has stated his country will move its embassy to Jerusalem if the city becomes the capital of both Israel and a Palestinian state, All Israel News (AIN) reports. Silva made his statement in an interview with the Jerusalem Post Monday, during a two-day official visit to Israel.
Israel Using US Military Chief To Reach Biden
Israel reportedly uses the top U.S. military chief to send sensitive messages to declared President-elect Joe Biden about Iran and other Middle East tension.
Israel bans foreigners from Dec. 23 for at least 10 days
Israel’s COVID-19 cabinet approved a decision Monday to ban all foreigners, including those with current visas, from entering the country starting December 23, the Jerusalem Post reports. Aimed at slowing Israel’s current surge in coronavirus cases, the ban will be in place for at least 10 days, with the option to extend as needed.
Election prevention bill fails, Israel headed to elections on March 23
A bill proposed to avoid Knesset dispersal and the fourth elections over the last two years has failed to pass on Monday night, sealing Israel’s fate.
PA, Jordan and Egypt call for resumption of peace talks
The Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Jordan on Saturday stressed the need to urge Israel to return to negotiations in order to reach a final settlement on the basis of a two-state solution to ensure the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state along the pre-1967 lines, with east Jerusalem as its capital.
Bethlehem To Celebrate Christmas Despite Coronavirus Crisis
Church leaders and local authorities say they are preparing Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, the Biblical birthplace of Jesus, despite a reported increase in coronavirus cases. “Bethlehem is going to celebrate Christmas. And Christmas will not be canceled,” pledged Mayor Anton Salman.