Israel news summary

Israel News for 11-5-2021

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News Update

The Knesset approved a 2022 national budget on Friday by a vote of 59 to 56, in a big victory for PM Bennett’s coalition government. This is Israel’s first approved budget in 3 and a half years. The PM tweeted, “We’ve put Israel back on track.”

IDF soldiers arrested two suspects who infiltrated from Syria into Israeli territory in the southern Golan Heights this morning. It is unclear yet if the infiltrators were armed.

The US Senate has confirmed Thomas R. Nides of Minnesota to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel. Nides is the managing director and vice-chairman of Morgan Stanley. He previously served as deputy secretary of state for management and resources under Hillary Clinton from 2011 to 2013. Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Gilad Erdan tweeted, “I’m sure that you will further strengthen the special bond between Israel & the U.S.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Nides “cares very much about strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship, so this will be a good day for that relationship.”

The economic ministers of Israel and Jordan met in Jordan on Wednesday and signed an agreement to increase caps on Jordanian exports to the Palestinian Authority. The Foreign Ministry said that the meeting was aimed at “enhancing civilian ties between Israel and Jordan, strengthening neighborly relations, and promoting cooperation between the two countries.”

The Health Ministry reported 513 new Covid cases on Thursday, resulting in a .75% infection rate. Out of 6,676 active patients, 176 are in serious condition, with 112 connected to ventilators. The death toll since the start of the pandemic is 8,112.

Israeli journalists interviewed Egypt’s Head of Intelligence, considered to be the second most powerful man in the country. To read about what he said, click here.

The newest controversy in Israel [as if there aren’t enough already] is related to Shufersal, the largest supermarket chain in the country. It turns out that in addition to its main online shopping site, the supermarket has another website targeting the Haredi community called Yashir Lamehadrin [which implies a higher level of Kosher supervision]. The prices on that ultra-kosher website were found to be significantly cheaper than the prices for the same exact items on the regular site. When this was “discovered”, there was a massive outcry accusing Shufersal of discriminatory practices in favor of the Haredi community. So Shufersal has shut down the site — and now everyone has to pay full price. But now that everyone knows about it, why didn’t everyone just buy from the cheaper site and let things continue as normal? The only thing this quest for “justice” has achieved is deprived a poorer community of an affordable way to buy their food, and prevent anyone else from doing the same. But in the Jewish state, apparently a good controversy is worth spending a lot more on groceries. Go figure. To read more about the details of the controversy, click here.

Israel news summary

Israel News for 11-3-2021

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News Update

Syria’s military said that Israel carried out an air raid early today that hit a military post in the town of Zakia, on the outskirts of Damascus, causing material damage.

The IDF has begun deploying surveillance blimps along Israel’s northern border area. The Defense Ministry said the “Tel Shamayam” (Hebrew for Sky Dew) will assist security forces with the detection and tracking of both aerial and ground threats in the region. To read more, click here.

Thousands of Likud and Religious Zionist party supporters rallied in Tel Aviv yesterday to protest the government and call for the reinstallation of former PM Netanyahu’s government.

The IDF discovered an old Syrian army bunker, filled with ammunition, from the Yom Kippur War during a mine clearing operation in the western part of the Golan.

The government approved 3 new Bedouin towns in the Negev.

The Health Ministry reported 663 new Covid cases on Tuesday, resulting in a .86% infection rate. Out of 7,447 active patients, 201 are in serious condition, with 120 connected to ventilators. The death toll since the start of the pandemic is 8,106.

To read about how the Dead Sea is disappearing and leaving a landscape covered with craters and sink holes, click here.

 

Israel news summary

Israel News for 11-1-2021

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News Update

Security forces arrested a 29 year old Palestinian living illegally in Ramle on the suspicion that he was planning to cary out terror attacks including shooting and kidnapping Israelis. He entered the country in January 2020 with a humanitarian permit as an escort for his mother, who was being treated in the West Bank for a serious illness. After completing his mother’s treatment, Suleiman took advantage of the permit and remained in Israel illegally. The suspect, a member of Hamas, is alleged to have started a fire that burned a bus in Ramle and also to have burned down Sukkot in the city. To read more, click here.

IDF troops on the Egyptian border busted a drug smuggling operation and seized about 300kg (660 pounds) of drugs worth about NIS 6 million.

The IDF launched a surprise readiness exercise today, calling up reserve units as part a month-long series of drills in the Northern Command. The drill simulated a sudden outbreak of war on the Lebanese border.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said in an interview that his country would only normalize relations with Israel when a Palestinian state is created, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

PM Bennet is at the UN Climate Conference in Glascow, Scotland. It turns out that Israel’s climate is warming at twice the rate of other countries. To read more, click here.

The Health Ministry reported 472 new Covid cases on Sunday, resulting in a .68% infection rate. Out of 7,823 active patients, 219 are in serious condition, with 130 connected to ventilators. The death toll since the start of the pandemic is 8,100.

Israel opened to vaccinated tourists today.