6 countries block EU resolution that would have condemned Trump plan, annexation

Italy, Hungary, Czech Republic among members said to have torpedoed statement, which required unanimity, leading EU foreign policy chief Borrell to issue sharp statement on his own TOI staff 4 February 2020, 8:21 pm The European Union foreign policy chief’s unusually strident warning Tuesday that an Israeli annexation in the West Bank won’t pass “unchallenged” […]

IDF strikes Hamas targets in southern Gaza

  Israeli aircraft target weapons production site used by Hamas’ military wing in retaliation for rocket fire on Netivot.   Elad Benari, 05/02/20 02:20 IAF air strikes in Gaza Kobi Richter/TPS The Israel Air Force attacked Hamas terrorist targets in southern Gaza on Tuesday night. According to an IDF statement, a weapons production site used […]

Three rockets fired at southern Israel

Sirens sounded in Netivot and other communities near Gaza border. IDF confirms three rockets fired. Elad Benari, 05/02/20 Red Color sirens were sounded on Tuesday night, shortly after midnight, in Netivot and in other communities near the Gaza border. The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed that three rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israeli territory. The […]

Iran’s Zarif phones Abbas to voice opposition to Trump plan

Iranian FM says Tehran working to forge ‘an international consensus’ against US proposal for Israeli-Palestinian peace, calls for Fatah-Hamas reconcilliation By TOI staff and Agencies 4 February 2020, 9:54 pm Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday to reiterate Tehran’s opposition to US President Donald Trump’s Israeli-Palestinian peace […]

Greece to send Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia

Greece will send some of its Patriot defense missiles to Saudi Arabia under a program involving the US, Britain and France, the government spokesman said Tuesday. Athens will deploy the missiles at Saudi cost “to protect critical energy infrastructure,” government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters. “The deployment contributes to energy security, promotes our country as […]

Rivlin calls for resumption of direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks

President hails Trump plan for recognizing Israel’s ‘need to retain security responsibility’ west of the Jordan River, says ‘vision of peace… is a realistic one’ By TOI staff and Agencies Today, 7:35 pm 2 Edit President Reuven Rivlin called Tuesday for the resumption of direction peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, following the release of […]

Netanyahu: If Israelis Want Annexation, Vote Likud to Make It So

Hana Levi Julian10 Shevat 5780 – February 4, 2020 Photo Credit: Kobi Gideon / GPO   US President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chat in the Oval Office prior to the more serious discussion about the president’s “Deal of the Century” on Jan. 27 2020     Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said […]

US supports Turkey’s attack against Syrian military in Idlib: Pompeo

The United States supports Turkey’s military action against the Syrian army in Idlib, seeing it as an act of self-defence, US State Secretary Mike Pompeo said in a statement. “We stand by our NATO Ally Turkey in the aftermath of the attack, which resulted in the death of multiple Turkish personnel serving at an observation […]

Does Trump’s peace plan make the EU less relevant?

epa06382358 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Federica Mogherini (R) the EU High representative for foreign policy shake hands at a press briefing prior to the meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Belgium, 11 December 2017. The meeting, shortly after US President Donald J. Trump recognized Jerusalem as a capital of Israel, will […]

Russia and Turkey attempt to ease tensions in Syria

Ankara and Russia are taking steps to ease tensions in the Syrian province of Idlib, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday. “We seek to put an end to these conflicts together with Russia, like we did within the Astana and Sochi processes. We cannot put up with attacks on our forces, so we […]

EU’s top diplomat warns against Trump Middle Eeast peace plan, annexation

FEBRUARY 4, 2020 14:25 The European Union’s top diplomat on Tuesday rejected parts of a U.S. peace plan that would see Israel keep its settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying President Donald Trump’s proposals broke with “internationally agreed parameters.” EU governments reject Israeli settlements on land Israel has occupied since a 1967 war, including […]