After cough-filled speech, Israeli military hints Nasrallah may have COVID

Defense officials mock Hezbollah leader: Instead of being threatening, his televised address made him seem weak and infirm By Judah Ari Gross Today, 10:09 pm 0 Edit The Israeli military believes Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah may have contracted the coronavirus, following a speech on Tuesday in which the terrorist leader was seen coughing and occasionally […]

Blinken: Israel ‘took very significant steps’ to avoid hitting Gaza civilians

In interview with Israeli TV, top US diplomat laments Palestinian death toll, underlines Biden’s support for two-state solution and Iran deal By TOI staff Today, 11:18 pm   US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israel “took very significant steps” to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza during the recent fighting with Hamas, while underscoring the […]

Blinken faces hurdles in US plans to mend Palestinian ties and aid Gaza. Israel at odds with US on Jerusalem, Iran

May 26, 2021 @ 13:12 In the two days he spent in Israel – and a few hours in Ramallah – on Wednesday, May 26, visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a hard time pushing forward the big plans he arrived with. One is getting two billion dollars of reconstruction aid to the […]

IAEA chief: Iran’s uranium enrichment now at levels of ‘countries making bombs’

Head of UN nuclear watchdog urges tight monitoring, warns that even if 2015 pact is revived Iranian program cannot be rolled back to previous status By TOI staff and AP Today, 11:21 am The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has said Iran is enriching uranium to levels that only countries seeking to make […]

‘Historic step’ no more: Biden flips on backing Abraham Accords

Nothing ‘constructive’ in Trump’s Middle East breakthroughs, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says The White House is now dismissing President Trump’s Abraham Accords between Arab states and Israel — after candidate Joseph R. Biden in 2020 effusively praised the deals and took credit for laying the diplomatic groundwork. The normalization pacts between Israel and […]

Lack of ambassador to Israel fuels perception Biden isn’t interested in seeking a peace deal, experts say

Katherine Doyle  | May 25, 2021 11:45 AM As President Joe Biden weighed how far to press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in public for a ceasefire last week, he was missing an authoritative voice in the country, someone with a direct line to the White House who could advance Washington’s interests and spur a […]

Antisemitic acts in US soared 80% in a month, Jewish security group reports

Secure Community Network blames widespread disinformation and clear calls for violence against Jews, deliberately spread online, including from Iran Ron KampeasToday, 4:30 am JTA — The organization that advises US Jewish communities on security matters said it recorded an 80% spike in antisemitic acts in the last month amid Israel’s 11-day war with Hamas. One […]

Israel insists it’s emerged from Gaza fight with diplomatic ties largely intact

A clear pro-Israel bloc in Europe stood firm, Jerusalem argues, while Arab states that have no interest in seeing Hamas get stronger maintained their peace with Israel Lazar Berman26 May 2021, 1:50 am Israel was riding high. Countries around the world saw the Jewish state as an example to follow due to its successful national […]

In Ramallah, Blinken announces plans to reopen US consulate in Jerusalem

De facto mission to Palestinians was merged into embassy by Trump administration; secretary of state says he notified Netanyahu; move requires Israeli approval Jacob MagidAaron BoxermanToday, 10:12 pm US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Tuesday announced plans to reopen the US consulate in Jerusalem that had historically served as the de facto representative to […]

Nasrallah threatens Israel while coughing and appearing unwell

May 25, 2021 The Hezbollah leader appeared weak and seemed to have difficulty breathing in a video warning to Israel against any “violation of Jerusalem.” Appearing weak and unthreatening, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah coughed intermittently in a video address warning Israel that any “violation” of Jerusalem would bring an end to the Jewish State. “Israel […]