Results for: Israel

President Biden’s COVID-19 diagnosis may delay a scheduled meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, D.C. The meeting was originally planned for Tuesday but has been postponed as Biden recovers from the virus. Netanyahu is still in Washington, D.C., for meetings with US officials, including a scheduled address to Congress on Wednesday. This development comes amidst reports that Biden has ended his bid for reelection in 2024, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency.

Israeli athletes participating in the Paris Olympics have received death threats, prompting the Israeli government to deploy armed agents for their protection. The threats, reminiscent of the Munich Olympics massacre in 1972, have raised serious security concerns.

Israel has begun calling up 1,000 ultra-Orthodox men for military service, a move that could escalate tensions between religious and secular Israelis. This comes after a Supreme Court ruling last month that ended blanket exemptions for Jewish seminary students. The new policy has faced resistance from religious parties, adding strain to the already fragile coalition government during the ongoing Gaza war. Some Haredi leaders oppose the call-ups, fearing they undermine their religious identity, while others are willing to serve but prefer a compromise solution.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will deliver a landmark speech to the US Congress this week, facing pressure to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza war while navigating growing tensions with the US over the conflict. His visit comes as a deal for a six-week ceasefire, involving a prisoner exchange, remains elusive. Despite public support for Israel, President Biden has expressed concern about the civilian casualties in Gaza and the escalating conflict.

Adidas has removed supermodel Bella Hadid from its retro shoe campaign linked to the 1972 Munich Olympics after facing criticism from Israel. Hadid, who is half-Palestinian and has been an active supporter of Palestine, was accused of hostility by Israel, referencing the killing of Israeli athletes at the Munich Games. Adidas apologized and revised the campaign, while Hadid previously donated to Gaza relief efforts.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen’s Al Hudaydah Port in retaliation for a drone attack on Tel Aviv that killed a civilian. The Houthi-controlled media reported casualties and damage to storage facilities, while health officials in Yemen confirmed deaths and injuries. The drone attack in Tel Aviv came hours after Israel confirmed the killing of a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon, highlighting the escalating tensions in the region.

Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opposition to a Palestinian state, the European Union’s Middle East peace envoy remains committed to a two-state solution. Sven Koopmans emphasizes the importance of dialogue and highlights the EU’s role as a key player in the region, advocating for the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians.

The Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for a drone strike on Tel Aviv, Israel, early Friday morning. The attack resulted in one fatality and 10 injuries. This marks the first attack on Tel Aviv to cause casualties since a rocket strike from Gaza in May. The Israeli army confirmed an explosion caused by a falling aerial target.

Israeli officials are exploring the possibility of handing over control of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing to the European Union and Palestinian authorities, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opposition. The move is seen as a potential step towards resolving the conflict between Israel and Hamas and facilitating aid delivery to Gaza. While the EU has long advocated for a ceasefire, its influence over Israel has been limited. The crossing has become a point of contention between Israel and Palestinian authorities, as well as Egypt, following its closure by Israeli forces in May.

A powerful explosion shook a building in Tel Aviv on Friday morning, injuring at least two people. The Israeli military is investigating whether the blast was caused by a drone attack, while authorities are working to determine the extent of the damage and the circumstances surrounding the incident.