Israeli PM reverses course on sacking defence minister
JerusalemReuters Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he would leave Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in place given an escalating security crisis, reversing a decision to fire the minister that triggered protests and raised alarm abroad. He said the two had resolved their disagreement over Gallant’s public call last month for a halt to […]
Thousands join Israeli judicial protests in shadow of attacks
Tel Aviv, Israel Reuters Tens of thousands of Israelis joined protests on Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to tighten controls on the Supreme Court, despite heightened security worries after two deadly attacks a day earlier. The latest in a series of protests against the plans, which were paused last month in the face […]
Israeli strikes target Hamas in Lebanon and Gaza after rocket attack
Jerusalem/Gaza Reuters Israel’s military hit sites in Lebanon and Gaza early on Friday, in retaliation for rocket attacks it blamed on the Islamist group Hamas, as tensions following police raids this week on the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem threatened to spiral out of control. Loud blasts rocked different areas of Gaza, as Israel said its […]
Israel President floats judicial compromise to prevent “constitutional collapse”
Jerusalem Reuters Israel’s President floated a compromise plan on Sunday to spare the country what he described as a “constitutional collapse” and possible violence, over a contested judicial overhaul sought by the hard-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The rare prime-time television speech by President Isaac Herzog, whose figurehead role is designed to unite […]
Israel’s Herzog tries to prevent “constitutional crisis” over judicial reforms
Jerusalem, Israel Reuters Israel’s President warned on Sunday that the country faced an “historic constitutional crisis” over a contested judicial reform plan, and said he was mediating between the relevant parties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now in his sixth term, wants to rein in the Supreme Court, which members of his religious-nationalist coalition accuse of […]
Israel and Hamas agree Gaza truce to end 11 days of conflict
Gaza/Jerusalem Reuters Israel and Hamas will cease fire across the Gaza Strip border as of Friday, the Palestinian Islamist faction and Egyptian state TV said, bringing a potentially tenuous halt to the fiercest fighting in years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said his security cabinet had voted unanimously in favour of a “mutual and […]
Gaza conflict intensifies with rocket barrages and air strikes
Gaza/JerusalemReuters Palestinian militants fired more rockets into Israel’s commercial heartland on Thursday as Israel kept up a punishing bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip and massed tanks and troops on the enclave’s border. Four days of cross-border fighting showed no sign of abating, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the campaign “will take more […]
Israeli election seen as referendum on divisive Netanyahu
Jerusalem, IsraelAP Israelis vote Tuesday in their fourth parliamentary election in just two years. Once again, the race boils down to a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu, who has served as prime minister for the past 12 years, hopes voters will reward him for leading the country’s successful coronavirus vaccine rollout and his diplomatic outreach to […]
Israel targets flights, religious scofflaws, as virus rages
Jerusalem, IsraelAP Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said Israel will be closing its international airport to nearly all flights, while Israeli police clashed with ultra-Orthodox protesters in several major cities and the government raced to bring a raging coronavirus outbreak under control. The entry of highly contagious variants of the virus, coupled with poor […]
Hundreds of Ethiopian immigrants get warm welcome in Israel
Ben-Gurion International Airport, IsraelAP Hundreds of Ethiopian immigrants on Thursday arrived to a festive ceremony at Israel’s international airport, as the government took a step toward carrying out its pledge to reunite hundreds of families split between the two countries. Some 300 people landed on the Ethiopian Airlines flight, with many waving flags or stopping […]