Tunisian President Rejects Reshuffle, Escalating Political Crisis
The political paralysis comes as the COVID-19 crisis weakens an already battered economy, as both foreign lenders and Tunisia's powerful union urge fast reforms
Middle East News
Israeli Authorities Uproot Thousands of Olive Trees Despite Palestinians' Appeal
Israel claims the trees were planted on government-owned West Bank land, but the Palestinians appealed an eviction order prior to the removal of the trees, claiming that they own the land
Opinion Biden Has to Clean Up Trump's Mess in the Middle East. There's Plenty of It
From Iran to Israel, Damascus to Dubai, from exiting nuclear deals and withdrawing troops to brokering normalization and assassinations, Trump's four years have left deep scars. How will Biden engage with the region, and with Trump's legacy?
Coronavirus Israel Live: Tel Aviv Airport Shut; Health Ministry Seeks to Extend Lockdown by a Week
Israel will need to close skies for weeks, not days, Health Ministry official says ■ Over 1 million receive second vaccine dose ■ West Bank, Gaza have fewer than 5,000 active cases each
A Decade On, Splintered Coalition Reflects Fate of Egypt's Uprising
Ten years later, some former leading members of the Revolution Youth Coalition that drew together the uprising's disparate strands and social justice demands are in prison, others are in exile. Here are some of their stories
Israel Plans 2,000 Additional Hospital Beds for Jerusalem, None for Palestinian Neighborhoods
Master plan envisions a new hospital in Haredi town of Beit Shemesh, hundreds more beds in western Jerusalem – and leaves 30 percent of Jerusalem's residents dependent on overcrowded facilities
Turkey, Greece Resume Talks on Maritime Disputes After Five Years
Both sides have voiced optimism about the talks, but 60 attempts to sort out issues between the two NATO members have already collapsed since 2002
Opinion Why Biden Must Not Boycott Hamas
If Hamas wins significant representation in the May elections, the international community, including Israel and the Biden administration, must prioritize the welfare of Palestinians – by engaging with them
Analysis Arab States Ending Qatar Blockade Is Really About Biden
Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey intend to present the U.S. leader with a new diplomatic map of the Middle East and create a protective wall against any pro-Iranian slide
Israel Officially Opens Embassy in UAE
The temporary office in Abu Dhabi will be helmed by Eitan Na'eh, who previously served as Israel's ambassador to Turkey
Israel
Court Orders Israel Police to Draft Standards for IDing People Following Petition on Racial Profiling
The court ruling follows petitions filed with the backing of the Israel Bar Association by civil rights organizations, alleging improper ethnic profiling
Palestinian News
Israeli Official Recorded Threatening Palestinian if He Invites Journalists
Civil Administration employee recorded telling Palestinian complaining of settler harassment that he will be expelled from his home if he brings journalists or activists to area
ISIS
Six Years On: Yazidi Survivors See 'Only Empty Promises' in Aftermath of ISIS Massacre
On the anniversary of the Sinjar massacre perpetrated by ISIS in Iraq, human rights advocates called on the international community to help survivors and rescue those still missing
Security & Aviation
Analysis Trump's Erratic Last Days in Office Put the Middle East on High Alert
Although an escalation doesn't suit anybody, Iran and its proxies remain primed, while Israel is maintaining contact with the Pentagon over any unbidden moves
Fifty-seven Killed in Israeli Strikes in Syria Near Iraqi Border, Watchdog Says
The Israeli airstrikes in eastern Syria were carried out with intelligence provided by the United States, an American official says
Analysis Israel Exploiting Tactical Iranian Weakness to Ramp Up Syria Strikes
Although Israel's defense establishment prepared for a variety of scenarios, Iran is yet to follow through with threats of vengeance. With the Biden administration incoming, it may hold off altogether
Revealed: How Israel's Submarine Scandal Was Buried
As early as 2009, an inquiry was held into possible corruption in Israel's bid to buy submarines from Germany. The secret probe, triggered by an anonymous whistle-blower, took testimony from high-ranking officials about signs of bribery – but the powers-that-be covered it up
Ex-CIA Chief: Israel Helped Kill Bin Laden, Netanyahu Is Not an Ethical Man
As he publishes a dramatic memoir covering nearly 40 years of service to the U.S., former CIA chief John Brennan talks about Netanyahu, Biden – and voting Communist
Israeli, U.S. Militaries Step Up Coordination Ahead of Possible Iranian Retaliation
Coordination includes protocols for detecting missile launches toward Israel and U.S. targets in the region ■ Israel estimates that Iran’s response to nuke chief's assassination may come before month’s end
Analysis Killing Iran’s Nuke Chief May Hurt Israel More Than He Ever Did in His Life
There are two possible explanations to the timing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh’s killing. Both are tied to Biden’s inauguration on January 20, and both are extremely high-risk
Opinion How Saudi Arabia Is Pressuring Pakistan to Recognize Israel
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants Muslim Pakistan to 'normalize normalization,' the army wants open relations with Israel, the grassroots are shouting betrayal and Imran Khan could be the collateral damage
What Biden’s Top Defense Secretary Candidate Has to Say About Israel – and Iran Nuclear Deal
Michèle Flournoy has spoken out on everything from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to Iran and Syria during her decades in Washington
What You Need to Know About Netanyahu’s Controversial New ‘Air Force One’
Long delayed and over budget, Israel's PM is about to receive a VIP-configured Boeing 767 to fly him around the world. The plane had been grounded out of fear of criticism due to an economic crisis and a global pandemic, but has since resumed test flights ■ Take an interactive tour
As Coronavirus Cools Defense Spending, Israeli Firm Elbit Underperforms Nasdaq
A drop in demand for commercial aviation goods and services has affected Elbit, which in recent years was outperforming the Nasdaq
Israel Still Opposes F-35 Sale to UAE, Despite Normalization Deal, Senior Officials Say
Israel had pressured the U.S. to block the sale of the advanced fighter planes in the past, but Israeli sources fear that Netanyahu and his confidants may have made a secret agreement without consulting defense officials
Netanyahu's Office Puts a Hold on Lavish 'Air Force One' Project
The Prime Minister's Office suspends conversion of the Boeing 767 amid a surge in coronavirus infections and overall cuts in air travel, blogger Uri Misgav writes
Grounded: How Coronavirus Decimated Israel-U.S. Flights
Then and now: See COVID-19's impact on air traffic to and from Israel
Coronavirus in Israel: Lufthansa Freezes Flights to Tel Aviv
German carrier and its Swiss and Austrian subsidiaries cancel flights for three weeks from Sunday over coronavirus
Boeing Eyes Developing Israeli Tech for Light Aircraft
Company clinches agreement with Israel-based Tactical Robots to explore development of technology with potential uses for piloted and autonomous aircraft
Israeli Judge Slams Shin Bet for Using Sleep Deprivation Against Jewish Terror Suspects
After suspects interrogated all night with only brief breaks, district court judge says 'abusive manner of interrogation' is unacceptable
How the Open Skies Reform Taught Israelis to Love Flying
In a decade of booming tourism, EU aviation pact was the pivotal event in cutting airfares, boosting competition
Bye Bye, Queen of the Sky: How El Al's 747 Connected Israel and the Jewish World
El Al was among the first to buy the gigantic jumbo with its iconic hump, and went on to break the record for most people on a flight, bringing 1,088 Ethiopian Jews to Israel. This is the story of El Al 001, the flight that made the Jewish world smaller
Drone Boats: Next Big Thing for Israel’s Defense Sector?
Elbit’s Seagull hunts down submarines and mines with nary a sailor on board
Israel’s Spacecom Looks to Rebound With Africa Satellite
Amos 17 due to be put into orbit this weekend after a series of major setbacks
Israel Startup UVeye Raises $31m for Car ‘Ultra-sound’ System
Tech originally designed to detect bombs can spot oil and water leaks, cracks and rust
Israeli Firm to Launch First of Fleet of Low-cost Satellites
Hundreds will eventually be put into orbit to bring internet to remote parts of the world
Israeli Army Inks $127-million Deal With Elbit to Develop Next Generation of Artillery Cannons
The cannons are expected to improve the effectiveness of the army’s artillery, requiring fewer soldiers to operate them and cutting maintenance costs
Months After Issuing Tender, Israeli Military Still Has No Answer to Aerial Arson From Gaza
The IDF acknowledges it was slow to grasp the effect of the aerial threat on the sense of security in border communities; Laser-based weapon in development by defense establishment not yet operational
A Bumpy Ride to the Moon: Israeli Spacecraft Hits Technical Snag
The Genesis spacecraft restarted on its own, cancelling a maneuver that would have advanced its course toward the moon
The Explosion That Blew the Israeli Satellite Industry to Smithereens
The government wants its communications satellites made in Israel - but making that happen is a long, expensive battle
LISTEN: Israeli F-15 Loses Canopy at 30,000 Feet, Pilots Make Emergency Landing
Army releases sound recordings of the incident
Israeli Defense Firm Elbit Snags $112 Million Contract in Asia
The electronics company did not name the country it has signed the deal with, but said the contract will be carried out over the next six years
Pakistan's President Says the Country Will Not Establish Ties With Israel
President Arif Alvi says Pakistan support Palestinians because they have faced 'unprecedented atrocities' like Kashmir
Wow Air Resuming Service to Israel With U.S., Canada Flights Under $500 Round-trip
Airline to offer round-trip service via its Reykjavik hub to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Boston and Montreal
Analysis Putin Has Little Choice but to Allow Israel to Continue Operating in Syria
Putin is an expert dancer in the delicate balance of feeding anti-Semitic conspiracy theories to his public while maintaining personal relations with Israel. The public contradictions serve him - and are central to his Syria strategy
Israel Denies Reports Saudi Arabia Purchased Iron Dome Missile Defense Systems
London-based Al-Khaleej Online cites diplomatic sources saying Israel agreed to sale after pressure from Washington. Saudi officials have not confirmed the report
Secret Dossier Warns: The Israeli Army Is Unprepared for War
Defying chief of staff, Israeli general makes unprecedented call for independent inquiry
Iran Pivots Toward China as U.S. Sanctions Bite
First among China's wants likely is Iran's energy supply, as other U.S. allies cut off their purchases by a November deadline. Nearly a quarter of all of Iran's oil exports went to China in 2017
Iran News
'Revenge Is Certain': Khamenei Tweets Image of Trump-like Golfer Targeted by Drone
'Those who ordered the murder of General Soleimani should be punished,' Iran's supreme leader tweets
