In protest over sovereignty, Palestinians refuse to accept $190 million in taxes collected by Israel
The Palestinian Authority on Wednesday refused to accept tax revenues for the month of May collected on its behalf by Israel, as part of what it says is its end of cooperation with the Jewish state over Jerusalem’s plan to extend Israeli law to parts of Judea and Samaria. Read more
Netanyahu criticises settlement leaders for anti-Trump comments
June 5, 2020 by JNS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly criticized settlement leaders on Wednesday for their comments regarding what they see as problems with U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Peace to Prosperity” vision, which they claim will leave many settlements isolated. Read more
Using DNA technology, Israeli researchers discern new clues to piece together Dead Sea Scrolls
June 4, 2020 by JNS
Using DNA technology, Israeli researchers have uncovered new clues about the origins of the Dead Sea Scrolls, providing a new glimpse into Jewish life during the final days of the Second Temple period. Read more
U.S.Supreme Court expected to rule on whether to hear case of Nazi-stolen art
June 4, 2020 by JNS
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on hearing a case about a German arts museum and whether or not a treasure trove, known as the “Guelph Treasure,” should be returned to the heirs of four Jewish art dealers in Germany. Read more
Israel successfully tests state-of-the-art LORA missile system
June 4, 2020 by JNS
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced on Tuesday that it had completed a successful test of its new, state-of-the-art ballistic missile system, which has a 400-kilometre range. Read more
Thousands call on Israel’s Army Radio to drop pop star Dua Lipa
June 4, 2020 by JNS
Holy smokes! Ancient Israelites burned cannabis, according to researchers
As part of getting spiritually high, ancient Israelites apparently burned cannabis on altars during rituals, the first proof of a mind-altering substance being used to attract worshippers, according to a study published on May 28 in the academic journal of Tel Aviv University’s Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv. Read more
UAE: Israel should not annex West Bank territory
June 2, 2020 by JNS
A senior United Arab Emirates official tweeted on Monday that Israel should not move to annex parts of West Bank since it would damage the future peace process. Read more
ICC gives Palestinians until June 10 to clarify status of Oslo Accords
May 30, 2020 by JNS
The International Criminal Court in The Hague is requesting clarification from the Palestinian Authority regarding its recent announcement that all agreements with Israel and the United States had been annulled. Read more
Yair Lapid officially appointed leader of Israel’s opposition
May 28, 2020 by JNS
Yesh Atid-Telem Party chairman and Knesset member Yair Lapid officially became the leader of the Israeli opposition on Wednesday. Read more
Report: European leaders call on Netanyahu to shelve sovereignty plan
May 28, 2020 by JNS
Leaders of major European countries have been urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to shelve his plan to apply sovereignty to large parts of Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley, Channel 13 News reported on Tuesday. Read more
Scott Morrison, Jacinda Adern and Benjamin Netanyahu in Zoom conference
May 28, 2020 by JNS
Prime Ministers Australia’s Scott Morrison, New Zealand’s Jacinda Adern and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu have participated in a conference call with several world leaders to discuss ways to resume safe flights between their countries and steps to return to a safe routine in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
Report: Mossad chief’s covert connections instrumental in war on COVID-19
May 28, 2020 by JNS
Israeli intelligence agency Mossad director Yossi Cohen used his international connections—some covert—to procure massive amounts of medical equipment and protective gear as part of the government’s efforts to compete in the global bidding war for supplies to contain COVID-19, Israeli media reported on Wednesday. Read more
6-year-old on stroll discovers rare Canaanite artifact
May 27, 2020 by JNS
An Israeli 6-year-old out on a hike with his family before the coronavirus lockdown in March is credited with discovering a very rare artifact attributed to the Canaanites 3,500 years ago. Read more
Court rules Netanyahu exempt from appearance at next hearing
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not have to attend the next session of his trial on July 19, the Jerusalem District Court ruled on Sunday. Read more
Iranian leader issues cartoon showing ‘final solution’ of Jewish state
May 22, 2020 by JNS
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a cartoon this week showing the “final solution” of the State of Israel, or annihilation similar to what the Nazis attempted to do to the European Jewish population during World War II and the Holocaust. Read more
Israeli military DNA testing murder weapon to ID Amit Ben Ygal’s killer
May 22, 2020 by JNS
As part of an ongoing investigation into the May 12 killing of Israel Defense Forces Staff Sgt. Amit Ben Ygal by Palestinian terrorists, Israeli security forces are using suspects’ DNA samples to locate the murder weapon. Read more
Biden: West Bank annexation ‘will choke off hope for peace’
May 20, 2020 by JNS
Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, the 2020 presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said on Tuesday that if Israel applies sovereignty to parts of the West Bank, it would “choke off any hope for peace,” according to audio obtained by JNS. Read more
UAE’s Etihad Airways makes first-known flight to Tel Aviv to deliver aid for Palestinians
May 20, 2020 by JNS
The United Arab Emirates’ Etihad Airways announced that it will fly to Israel to deliver coronavirus aid for the Palestinians, marking the first-known direct commercial flight between the two nations. Read more
Billy Crystal, FBI director to join ‘Virtual L’Chaim’ to first responders amid pandemic
May 20, 2020 by JNS
Actor Billy Crystal and FBI director Christopher Wray will be among those who will raise a glass during a Zoom cocktail event on tomorrow (Thursday) at 10 am AEST in salute to those on the front lines in combating the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
Ashkenazi: Trump Middle East peace plan a ‘historic opportunity’ for Israel
May 19, 2020 by JNS
Newly-appointed Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi called U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mideast peace plan a “historic opportunity.” Read more
Jordan’s Abdullah warns of ‘massive conflict’ if Israel proceeds with annexation
Jordan’s King Abdullah warned of “massive conflict” between his country and Israel if the Jewish state proceeds with annexing territory this summer in Judea and Samaria. Read more
UK chief rabbi: ‘Synagogues will not open for a long time’
May 15, 2020 by JNS
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis projected on Thursday that all houses of worship affiliated with the United Synagogue—the largest network of Orthodox communities in the United Kingdom—“will not open for a long time” and urged “extreme caution” against synagogues doing so otherwise in that it would enable a “hub for the virus to reappear.” Read more
Hamas threatens more kidnappings if prisoner deal not reached with Israel
May 15, 2020 by JNS
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has threatened to kidnap more Israelis if a prisoner deal is not reached. Read more
Facebook names ex-member of Muslim Brotherhood-linked party to new board
May 15, 2020 by JNS
Among the first 20 members Facebook announced last week to its new and independent oversight board is Peace Prize Nobel laureate Tawakkol Karman, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood-linked Al Islah Party in Yemen. Read more
In Israel visit, Pompeo urges progress on Trump’s Mideast peace plan, blasts Iranian aggression
May 14, 2020 by JNS
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Israel on Wednesday morning for a six-hour visit to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discuss the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration’s Mideast peace plan and Iranian aggression. Read more
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University develop one-minute coronavirus test
May 14, 2020 by JNS
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed a one-minute coronavirus test they hope will be used to help authorities more quickly track and identify the spread of the virus at a significantly lower cost than current testing. Read more
Search continues for IDF soldier’s killers amid clashes
May 14, 2020 by JNS
Arab rioters hurled stones at Israel Defense Forces’ soldiers in the Palestinian Authority-controlled Hebron region on Wednesday morning during operations to apprehend terror suspects, according to IDF reports. Read more
Report: Ben-Gurion airport expected to reopen by June
May 14, 2020 by JNS
Israel is weighing opening Ben-Gurion International Airport at the beginning of June as the coronavirus outbreak continues to level off in Israel. Read more
Girlfriend of fallen IDF soldier calls for revenge, as father laments only son
May 13, 2020 by JNS
In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, the girlfriend of an Israel Defense Forces’ soldier killed during an arrest operation near Jenin when a resident threw a cinder block at his head, recalled his love for his country and demanded that the government avenge the death of her boyfriend. Read more
