Naftali Bennett sworn in as head of 36th Israeli government
June 14, 2021 by JNS
Israel’s 36th government passed a vote of confidence at a special Knesset session on Sunday night with Yamina Party leader Naftali Bennett sworn in as the country’s 13th prime minister. Read more
Jordanian table-tennis player pulls out of match to avoid facing Israeli opponent
A Jordanian national table tennis player recently withdrew from the World Para Table Tennis Championships in Slovenia to avoid playing against an Israeli athlete, confirmed the Jordanian Paralympic Committee. Read more
UK correspondent under fire for blaming ‘Jew-hatred’ on Israeli ‘occupation’
June 11, 2021 by JNS
The Middle East correspondent for Sky News is being criticized for suggesting that “Jew-hatred” in the United Kingdom is a result of Israel’s “untenable occupation” and the “consequence of the current Israeli government’s policies,” reported the U.K. Jewish News. Read more
Toy Movement and Peres Centre distribute gifts to Arab and Jewish kids in Jaffa
June 9, 2021 by JNS
The Toy Movement, a philanthropic initiative founded by Canada’s largest children’s toy and entertainment company Spin Master, distributed toys this week to Arab and Jewish children at four nursery schools in Jaffa, in partnership with the Peres Centre for Peace and Innovation. Read more
Coalition agreements revealed as Israel prepares for new government
Just days before Israel’s 36th government is expected to be sworn in, the coalition agreements signed by its constituent parties were revealed on Monday night by Channel 12. Read more
Exclusive: Al-Qaeda calls on Muslims to attack Jewish, US interests worldwide
June 8, 2021 by JNS
Al-Qaeda’s main media outlet published a call on Muslims to carry out attacks against U.S. and Jewish interests, as well as urged individuals to support the mujahideen in Palestine financially, with men and weapons, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute’s Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (MEMRI-JTTM). Read more
Hamas releases new Shalit footage, audio recording of ‘captive Israeli soldier’
June 8, 2021 by JNS
As part of an interview with a senior Hamas commander aired by Al Jazeera on Sunday, the terror group released new footage of former Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was held captive by Hamas for five years following a cross-border raid in 2006. The interview also featured an audio recording of an unidentified “Israeli soldier” claiming to be in Hamas custody. Read more
Israeli right fumes as police appear to nix Jerusalem flag march
The Israel Police on Monday pulled the permit given to the annual flag parade in Jerusalem, set to take place on Thursday, citing safety concerns and refusing to approve the march’s planned route. Read more
Netanyahu: New Israeli government more dangerous than Oslo, Gaza disengagement
June 8, 2021 by JNS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly criticized his political rival, Yamina Party leader Naftali Bennett, on Sunday, calling him a “habitual liar” and saying that the government he is forming together with Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid constitutes a threat to Israel’s national security. Read more
UAE becomes first Arab Gulf country to open Holocaust-education exhibit
June 4, 2021 by JNS
In a continuing cultural relationship with Israel and the United Arab Emirates as part of the Abraham Accords, a museum in the United Arab Emirates debuted an exhibition about the Holocaust that also aims to raise awareness about antisemitism amid an increase in hate crimes against Jews worldwide. Read more
UNRWA Gaza chief to take leave of absence amid uproar over Israeli airstrike remarks
June 4, 2021 by JNS
The Gaza director of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) will be taking a “long leave of absence,” a spokesman for the agency said on Wednesday, according to Hebrew media reports. Read more
Gantz meets with Biden officials as US lawmakers encourage Iron Dome replenishment
June 4, 2021 by JNS
Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz arrived in Washington on Wednesday as part of his two-day trip to shore up support for Israel’s security and request $1 billion to help Israel replenish its Iron Dome interceptor rockets. Read more
BBC deletes ‘unbalanced and partisan’ videos about Israel, Palestinians from its website
June 3, 2021 by JNS
The BBC has removed a series of controversial videos about Israel and the Palestinians from its website following a complaint from the group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), the pro-Israel group said on Monday. Read more
Israeli researcher named National Geographic Society ‘Emerging Explorer’
June 2, 2021 by JNS
The National Geographic Society has named University of Haifa professor Dr Aviad Scheinin as one of its “Emerging Explorers” in 2021—one of 15 individuals it described as changing the world “one idea at a time.” Read more
Netanyahu slams Bennett for joining opposition: ‘Scam of the century’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply attacked Yamina Party chairman Naftali Bennett on Sunday, condemning the right-wing leader’s decision to join with opposition parties in forming a government. Read more
Franz Kafka Collection now accessible online through National Library of Israel
May 31, 2021 by JNS
The National Library of Israel’s Franz Kafka Collection is now online for the first time, following an intensive years’-long process of conservation and restoration work, cataloguing and digitization. Read more
WHO resolution accuses Israel of violating health rights of Palestinians
May 28, 2021 by JNS
The World Health Organization held a special session on Tuesday singling out and passing a resolution against Israel for allegedly violating the health rights of Palestinians. Read more
Israeli media call on Facebook, Twitter to stop incitement against reporters
May 28, 2021 by JNS
The top 14 media outlets in Israel have demanded that Facebook and Twitter take action in curbing the increase in online threats and incitement to violence against journalists, Reuters reported. Read more
UN Human Rights Council approves measure to permanently investigate Israel over war crimes
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) approved a measure on Thursday to permanently investigate Israel for war crimes, while also calling for an embargo against it. Read more
Qatar offers Hamas-ruled Gaza $500 million to rebuild
May 28, 2021 by JNS
Qatar’s foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, announced on Wednesday that the Gulf state would give $500 million to help rebuild the Gaza Strip after an 11-day conflict with Israel. Read more
Report: Hamas leader’s niece receiving medical treatment in Tel Aviv hospital
May 28, 2021 by JNS
The niece of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has reportedly been receiving treatment at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Ichilov Hospital for more than a month, according to a report by Channel 12 on Thursday. Read more
Chief rabbi calls out South Africa’s president over Israel ‘apartheid’ allegations
May 27, 2021 by JNS
South Africa’s Sunday Times published an open letter by Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who compared Israel to South Africa under apartheid. Read more
Simon Cowell drops planned appearance as judge on ‘X Factor Israel’
May 27, 2021 by JNS
British media mogul and veteran music producer Simon Cowell has cancelled his planned appearance as a judge on the new season of “The X Factor Israel”. Read more
UNRWA Gaza director backtracks on interview about Israeli war actions
May 27, 2021 by JNS
Gaza director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Matthias Schmale accused NGO UN Watch and the press on Wednesday of “blatantly manipulating” comments he made in an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 two days earlier. Read more
Blinken underscores US role in rebuilding Gaza, talks regional issues with Netanyahu
May 26, 2021 by JNS
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday in Jerusalem on the first leg of a regional tour that will include stops in Ramallah, Jordan and Egypt. Read more
Senior Hamas leader says on British TV: Israel has no right to exist
May 25, 2021 by JNS
Senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar told Britain’s Sky News on Monday that Hamas is open to talking with U.S. President Joe Biden. Read more
Netanyahu names new head of Mossad intelligence agency
May 25, 2021 by JNS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that David Barnea has been selected to serve as the next director of the Mossad intelligence agency, following outgoing head Yossi Cohen. Read more
Member of Palestinian security forces: ‘We will trample the heads of settlers’
May 23, 2021 by JNS
A member of the Palestinian Security Forces warned Israel in a video that appeared on various Palestinian online outlets on May 18 that it would pay a “very steep price,” according to a report by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). Read more
‘It’s terrifying to be a Jew,’ says woman after threats from pro-Palestinians in London
May 23, 2021 by JNS
A Jewish woman called the British radio station LBC earlier this week and spoke live on air about an antisemitic incident she witnessed in North London on Sunday. Read more
Biden appoints acting ambassador to Israel with ties to 2015 US taxpayer-funded anti-Netanyahu campaign
May 23, 2021 by JNS
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is reportedly tapping former Obama administration official Michael Ratney to serve as acting U.S. ambassador to Israel until a new one is picked and confirmed by the Senate. Read more
