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Witnesses said several Hamas security headquarters and ministries were hit, and the strikes destroyed some roads and houses. He said Hamas would execute an Israeli captive for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning. There was no immediate response from the Israeli military to that threat. [1/5]Flames and smoke billow during Israeli strikes in Gaza, October 9, 2023. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan called on Hamas and Israel to immediately end violence and protect civilians, the Egyptian presidency said.

Persons: Fighting, Witnesses, Abu Ubaida, Eli Cohen, Daniel Hagari, James, Joe Biden, Biden, Mohammed Salem, Israel, Yoav Gallant, Omar Shakir, Khan Younis, Antonio Guterres, Abdel Fattah al, Tayyip Erdogan, Emily Rose, Maayan Lubell, Ari Rabinovitch, Nidal, Ammar Anwar, Henriette Chacar, Dan Williams, Ali Sawafta, Steven Scheer, Patricia Zengerle, Howard Goller Organizations: Israel, Gaza's Health, Palestinian Telecommunication Co, Israeli, BBC, United, REUTERS, Palestine, Human Rights, Reuters, U.S, Thomson Locations: JERUSALEM, GAZA, Israel, Gaza, Israeli, Jihad, Italy, Thailand, Ukraine, Washington, United States, Beit Lahia, Khan, U.S, Lebanon, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Sderot, Ramallah, Modiin

LUZIT, Israel, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Soon after Hamas gunmen invaded Israel's villages videos began to emerge of seized Israelis being dragged away into Gaza. One showed an elderly woman, a defiant expression on her face, driven on a golf cart into the Palestinian enclave. The family of the bespectacled grey-haired woman, wrapped in a pink blanket and later identified as 85-year-old Yafa Adar, recognized her instantly. "I can't even start to understand how people think it makes sense to kidnap an 85 years old lady, kidnap babies, kidnap kids," said Adva. And you can see there, she's sitting trying to show them, she's not afraid and she's not hurt.

Persons: That's, Adva Adar, Nir, Yaffa's, Israel, Adva, she's, Maayan Lubell, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: LUZIT, Israel, Gaza, Luzit, Adva's

In addition, thousands of troops have been deployed in southern Israel next to Gaza, which Israeli forces withdrew from in 2005. Trying to rescue all those Hamas said were now held in different locations could jeopardise their lives. Yet, protracted negotiations with Hamas over a prisoner swap would be a huge win for an arch foe of Israel. Within 24 hours, 11 Israelis, five Palestinians and a German policeman were dead after a rescue effort erupted into gunfire. Netanyahu could follow a more familiar strategy of assassinating Hamas leaders with air strikes and bombs.

Persons: Noa Argamani, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Israel, David Saranga, Gilad Shalit, Aaron David Miller, Col Yonatan, Yoni, Mahmoud Abbas, Ariel Sharon, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Saleh al, Arouri, Al, Mohanad Hage Ali, Maayan Lubell, Nidal, Michael Georgy, Tom Perry, Edmund Blair Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS Acquire, Hamas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israeli, Carnegie Endowment, International, Israeli Foreign Ministry, Air, Israeli Olympic, Palestinian, West Bank, Israel, Palestinian Prisoners Association, Carnegie Middle East Center, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, JERUSALEM, DUBAI, Entebbe, Uganda, Air France, Palestinian, Munich, Europe, Al Jazeera, Jerusalem, Dubai

Hamas fighters killed at least 250 Israelis in clashes through the day and escaped back into Gaza with dozens of hostages. More than 230 Gazans were killed when Israel responded with one of its most devastating days of retaliatory strikes. Israeli troops battled Hamas gunmen through the night in parts of southern Israel. The West Bank has seen stepped-up Israeli raids, Palestinian street attacks and assaults by Jewish settlers on Palestinian villages. Hamas said the attack was driven by what it called escalated Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, Jerusalem and against Palestinians in Israeli prisons.

Persons: Mohammed Salem, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Peacemaking, YOU, Ismail Haniyeh, Gazans, Jerusalem's Al, BIDEN, Joe Biden, Osama Hamdan, Saleh al, Arouri, Al, Maayan Lubell, Nidal, Ammar Anwar, Henriette Chacar, Emily Rose, Dan Williams, Ali Sawafta, Patricia Zengerle, Robert Birsel, Lisa Shumaker, William Mallard Organizations: Rockets, REUTERS, Hamas, Palestinian, West Bank, Jerusalem, Senior, Islamic, NETANYAHU, White, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Israel JERUSALEM, GAZA, SDEROT, U.S, Iran, Israeli, Aqsa, Sderot, United States, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Al Jazeera, Jerusalem, Ramallah

In southern Israel, Hamas gunmen were still fighting Israeli security forces in several places 24 hours after their incursion in the early hours of Saturday, both sides said, as more rockets were fired from Gaza, sparking air raid sirens. More than 300 Gazans were killed when Israel responded with one of its most devastating days of retaliatory strikes. [1/23]Palestinian inspect a mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, October 8, 2023. Bodies of Israeli civilians surrounded by broken glass were strewn across the streets of Sderot in southern Israel near Gaza in the aftermath of Saturday's assault. Senior military officers were among those killed in fighting near Gaza, the Israeli military said.

Persons: Israel, Israel Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, DAWN, Gunmen, Al Hadath, Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Peacemaking, YOU, Ismail Haniyeh, Gazans, Jerusalem's Al, Joe Biden, Osama Hamdan, Maayan Lubell, Nidal, Ammar Anwar, Henriette Chacar, Emily Rose, Dan Williams, Ali Sawafta, James Mackenzie, Angus McDowall, Robert Birsel, Lisa Shumaker, William Mallard, Alex Richardson Organizations: Hamas, Gaza, Jets, Palestinian, West Bank, REUTERS, Jerusalem, Senior, Islamic, BIDEN, NETANYAHU, White, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Lebanon JERUSALEM, GAZA, SDEROT, Gaza, Lebanon, Israeli, Egypt, Syria, Yom, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Gaza's Beit Hanoun district, Aqsa, Sderot, United States, Iraq, Yemen, Jerusalem, Ramallah

[1/3] A view of a junction shows the aftermath of a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in the Sderot area, southern Israel October 7. A resident reported seeing multiple bodies and bullet-scarred vehicles in the southern Israeli town of Sderot where groups of Hamas gunmen were still fighting Israeli troops 12 hours after the attack was launched. A sea of bodies, inside Sderot along the road, other places, loads of bodies," said Shlomi from Sderot. In one incident, young Israelis told of fleeing a dance party in the early hours of Saturday as Hamas gunmen backed by rocket barrages entered towns and villages by the border. Israeli TV stations carried telephone calls from terrified residents of towns and kibbutzes speaking even as gunmen were trying to break into their shelters.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Ortal, Esther Borochov, Magen David, Ella, I've, Maayan, Ros Russell Organizations: REUTERS, Hamas, Reuters, N12, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Sderot, Israel, SDEROT, Palestinian, Reim, Israeli, Be'eri

Saturday's incident marked an unprecedented infiltration by Hamas gunmen into Israel from Gaza, and was the most serious escalation since Israel and Hamas fought a 10-day war in 2021. Israeli media reported gunbattles between bands of Palestinian fighters and security forces in towns in southern Israel. Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif announced the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media, calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. The Israeli military was aware of reports of captives, a security source said, but provided no further details. Israel's ambulance service said teams had been dispatched to areas in southern Israel near Gaza and residents were warned to stay inside.

Persons: Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mohammad Deif, Amir Cohen, Yoav Gallant, Khan Younis, Abu Hamza, ”, Henriette Chacar, Dan Williams, Nidal Al, James Mackenzie, William Mallard, Robert Birsel, Alex Richardson Organizations: Israel Hamas, Hamas, Israeli Army Radio, REUTERS, Islamic, Qassam, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, JERUSALEM, GAZA, Palestinian, Jerusalem, Sderot, Beeri, Ashkelon, Khan, Syria, Egypt, Mughrabi

☆ Israeli troops kill two Palestinian gunmen, suspected shooter, in West Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A Palestinian protestor kicks a tear-gas canister during clashes with the Israeli forces, near Tulkarm, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 5, 2023. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta Acquire Licensing RightsTULKARM, West Bank, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Two Palestinian gunmen were killed and five Israeli soldiers were wounded in occupied West Bank clashes on Thursday and Israeli troops killed the suspect in a later shooting attack on Israeli motorists. It said a pursuit and gunfight ensued, and soldiers killed the two men before recovering an assault rifle from their car. Hours later, a suspected Palestinian gunman shot at an Israeli vehicle driving through the village of Huwara, emergency services said. The West Bank, among the territories where Palestinians seek statehood, has experienced a surge of violence in recent months amid an almost decade-old impasse in U.S.-sponsored peacemaking.

Persons: Raneen, Jihad, Ali Sawafta, Nidal, Bernadette Baum, Howard Goller Organizations: West Bank, REUTERS, Hamas, Reuters, Palestinian Health Ministry, Thomson Locations: Palestinian, Tulkarm, TULKARM, West, Huwara

☆ Analysis: Amid Israel turmoil, markets want continuity at central bank helm
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Steven Scheer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] The Bank of Israel building is seen in Jerusalem June 16, 2020. "Therefore, markets and credit rating agencies are reading more into the question of 'yes' or 'no' to a second term. "Who will be governor is a major concern for investors abroad," said Leader Capital Markets Chief Economist Jonathan Katz. A few years earlier in 2010, Stanley Fischer accepted a second term and helped Israel weather the global financial crisis. Reporting by Steven Scheer Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell Editing by Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ronen, Amir Yaron's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Yaron, Yaron, Netanyahu, Flug, Fitch, Jonathan Katz, Katz, Nadine Baudot, Jacob Frenkel, Frenkel, Netanyahu's, Stanley Fischer, Fischer, Efraim Benmelech, Benmelech, Andrew Abir, Steven Scheer, Maayan, Christina Fincher Organizations: Bank of, REUTERS, Bank, Israel, Netanyahu's, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Reuters, Capital Markets, Bank of Israel, Israel Democracy Institute, U.S . Federal Reserve, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Thomson Locations: Bank of Israel, Jerusalem, JERUSALEM, Israeli, United States, Ukraine, Russia, Israel

☆ Israeli leaders presented with judicial compromise, president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Netanyahu's nationalist-religious coalition in January launched a campaign to overhaul Israel's judiciary, sparking unprecedented protests, sending the shekel down and stirring concern among allies for Israel's democratic health. President Isaac Herzog did not provide details of the new compromise proposal, saying only that it provides the basis for immediate understandings that will keep Israel "a stable democracy." Netanyahu says the judicial changes are meant to balance out branches of government by reining in a court that has become too interventionist. Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges he denies, has said that he has already scrapped some of the original judicial proposals while he works to reach agreements on reforms. Successive surveys have shown the overhaul to be unpopular among Israelis and Netanyahu's coalition, which won a decisive victory in a November vote, losing an election were it to be held.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Israel, Isaac Herzog, Herzog, Herzog's, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Maayan Lubell, William Maclean Organizations: Netanyahu's, Israel's, reining, Thomson Locations: JERUSALEM, Israel, Latrun

☆ Israel Supreme Court set for historic judicial overhaul session
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun Acquire Licensing RightsJERUSALEM, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Israel's Supreme Court is set on Tuesday to hear arguments against a bid by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition to curb bench powers, in a historic session that has already inflamed a crisis which has gripped the country for months. The legislation removed one, but not all, of the tools the Supreme Court had for voiding government and ministers' decisions if it deemed them "unreasonable". In its legal response to the petitions, the government has said the Supreme Court has no authority to even review amendments to a quasi-constitutional Basic Law, and said the debate could "lead to anarchy". Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges he denies, says the judicial changes are meant to balance a Supreme Court that has become too interventionist. However, with two more appeals scheduled this month, a court ruling could come as late as January, leaving time for the sides to agree on reforms.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Ronen, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Maayan, Grant McCool Organizations: Israeli, REUTERS, Rights, Netanyahu's, Thomson Locations: Jerusalem

☆ Protests grip Israel ahead of historic Supreme Court session
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Forming a sea of blue and white Israeli flags, the protesters chanted "democracy" in a show of support for the Supreme Court, which on Tuesday will convene its entire 15-judge bench for the first time in Israeli history. The judges will hear appeals against a judicial amendment that was passed by Netanyahu's national-religious coalition in July and which sparked uproar for what critics say is an attempt to weaken the court. 'ANARCHY'The appellants in Tuesday's hearing - opposition lawmakers and watchdog groups - say the amendment removes vital democratic checks and balances and invites abuses of power. In its legal response to the petitions, the government has said the Supreme Court has no authority to even review the so-called "reasonableness" amendment to a quasi-constitutional Basic Law, and said the debate could "lead to anarchy". Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges he denies, says the judicial changes are meant to balance a Supreme Court that has become too interventionist.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Israel, David Leshem, Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Isaac Herzog, Benny Gantz, Maayan Lubell, Angus MacSwan, Mark Potter Organizations: Supreme, Netanyahu's, reining, Israeli, Jewish, Thomson Locations: JERUSALEM, Jerusalem

☆ Israel president urges leaders to seize moment to end judicial crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Israeli President Isaac Herzog meets with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in her ceremonial offices at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, U.S., July 19, 2023. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJERUSALEM, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Israel's President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political rivals to reach a compromise that would end the judicial crisis just a week ahead of a crunch court hearing. "There are moments in such a crisis when leadership must seize the rare opportunity in order to reach out and come to an agreement. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the driving force behind the judicial overhaul, dismissed the reports as "trial balloons", in an interview to Army Radio and said it would be wrong for the Supreme Court to intervene in the judicial legislation. The Supreme Court is set to hear a series of appeals this month by lawmakers and watchdogs that challenge some of the government's judicial measures.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Kamala Harris, Nathan Howard, Benjamin Netanyahu, Herzog, Netanyahu, Yariv Levin, Maayan Lubell, Alison Williams Organizations: U.S, Eisenhower, REUTERS, Rights, Tuesday, Netanyahu's, Likud, Army Radio, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ Papua New Guinea Opens Embassy in Jerusalem
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Dan WilliamsJERUSALEM (Reuters) - Papua New Guinea opened its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem on Tuesday, becoming only the fifth country with a full diplomatic mission in a city whose status is one of the most sensitive issues in the Middle East. Political Cartoons on World Leaders View All 226 ImagesIsrael will pay for the embassy, located in a high-rise opposite Jerusalem's biggest mall, for the first two years, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape was quoted in the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier newspaper. "Many nations choose not to open their embassies in Jerusalem, but we have made a conscious choice," Marape said at the embassy's inauguration ceremony. "For us to call ourselves Christian, paying respect to God will not be complete without recognizing that Jerusalem is the universal capital of the people and the nation of Israel," Marape said. Papua New Guinea, which occupies the eastern half of the West Pacific Island of New Guinea, has an economy based on agriculture and mining.

Persons: Dan Williams JERUSALEM, Israel, James Marape, Marape, Benjamin Netanyahu, Wassel Abu Youssef, Netanyahu, Kirsty Needham, Maayan Lubell, Ali Sawafta, Dan Williams, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Israel, Papua New Guinea, Papua New, Courier, United Nations, Washington, Palestine Liberation Organisation, West Locations: Papua New Guinea, Israel, Jerusalem, United States, Kosovo, Guatemala, Honduras, Tel Aviv, Papua New, Papua, New Guinea

☆ Arab towns in Israel strike in protest at funding freeze
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Arab local councils in Israel held a strike on Monday in protest at the finance minister's freeze earlier this month on hundreds of millions of shekels to their municipalities, a decision that has prompted accusations of racism. That the finance minister was casting Arabs as thieves and criminals was "ridiculous" and "false", the mayor of the Arab city of Umm al-Fahm, Samir Mahameed, told Israeli Army Radio. The ultra-nationalist Smotrich's move drew accusations of racism from Arab and Jewish lawmakers, including opposition leader Yair Lapid, as well as Arab mayors. Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel urged Smotrich to release the funds and voiced support for the municipal strike. Videos circulating on social media showed police pushing some of the demonstrators, including Arab lawmaker Ayman Odeh.

Persons: Bezalel Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Samir Mahameed, Netanyahu, Smotrich, Yair Lapid, Moshe Arbel, Ayman Odeh, Henriette Chacar, Maayan, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Finance, Israeli Army Radio, Police, Thomson Locations: Israel, Umm

☆ Suspected Palestinian gunmen kill Israeli woman in West Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Israeli troops stand guard, at the scene of a shooting, near Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank August 21, 2023. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma Acquire Licensing RightsNEAR HEBRON, West Bank, Aug 21 (Reuters) - An Israeli woman was killed in a suspected Palestinian shooting attack near the occupied West Bank city of Hebron on Monday, the Israeli military said. Violence in the West Bank has surged over the past 15 months with stepped up military raids, Israeli settler rampages, and Palestinian street attacks. U.S.-brokered peace talks aimed at establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, collapsed in 2014 and show no sign of revival. Its growing settlements in the West Bank, where Palestinian have limited self-rule, are considered by most countries as illegal, a view that Israel disputes.

Persons: Mussa, Hazem Qassem, rampages, Yoav Gallant, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gallant, Jerusalem's, Israel, Yosri al, Jamal, Maayan Lubell, Nidal, Ali Sawfta, Ari Rabinovitch, Henriette Chacar, Angus MacSwan, Bill Berkrot, Mark Potter Organizations: West Bank, REUTERS, West, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Hebron, HEBRON, West, Israeli, West Bank, Gaza, Israel, Iran, Tehran, Nablus, Jerusalem's Al, Aqsa, U.S, East Jerusalem

☆ Two Israelis shot dead in West Bank by suspected Palestinian gunman
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEAR HUWARA, West Bank, Aug 19 (Reuters) - A suspected Palestinian gunman shot dead two Israelis in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, the Israeli military said, in a flashpoint area that has seen escalating violence for months. The two men, a father and son, were shot at close range at a car wash in the Palestinian village of Huwara, according to Israel's public broadcaster Kan. The Israeli military said it was searching the area for the assailant and had set up roadblocks in the vicinity of the attack. Violence in the West Bank has worsened over the past 15 months with frequent Israeli raids and Palestinian street attacks. Prospects of reviving U.S.-brokered peace talks that aimed to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, remain dim almost a decade after their collapse.

Persons: Maayan Lubell, Raneen, Nidal, Toby Chopra, David Holmes Organizations: West Bank, Kan, West, Thomson Locations: HUWARA, West, Palestinian, Huwara, West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Israel, Jerusalem

"We are sons of Jenin," said one of the Islamic Jihad fighters, who identified himself as Abu Salah. Islamic Jihad is a Palestinian faction sworn to destroying Israel and replacing it with an Islamic state. Many of the Palestinian attackers who have killed Israelis in Israel and the West Bank came from the area. Sometimes the transfers involve criminals and sometimes legitimate or semi-legitimate businesses help to move funds to the West Bank, the militant sources said. Much of the weaponry used by the Jenin fighters comes from Israel itself, stolen and sold on through criminal gangs, Israeli officials say.

Persons: Raneen, Tzachi Hanegbi, Abu Salah, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Mahmoud Al, Saadi, Tamir Hayman, Daoud Shehab, Yasser Arafat, Ali Sawafta, James Mackenzie, Suleiman al, Khalidi, Raneen Sawafta, Maayan Lubell, Jonathan Saul, Jerusalem, Nidal, Michelle Nichols, Leila Bassam, David Clarke Organizations: Bank, REUTERS, West Bank, Islamic, Israel's National, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, HIT, Palestinian Authority, Palestinian, Israel's Institute for National Security, United Nations, Palestinian Center, Policy, Survey Research, Jenin Brigade, Gulf, Aqsa Brigades, Fatah, Thomson Locations: Jenin, JENIN, West, Islamic Jihad, Iran, Jihad, Lebanon, Israel, Oslo, Crescent, Tel Aviv, New York, Nablus, Palestinian Territories, China, Jordanian, Al, Aqsa, Amman, Maayan, Gaza, Beirut, Parisa, Dubai

☆ Palestinians accept first Saudi ambassador
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

At a ceremony in Jordan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's diplomatic adviser Majdi al-Khalidi received a copy of the credentials of Ambassador Nayef Al-Sudairi as a non-resident envoy, official Palestinian news agency Wafa said. Palestinian analyst Talal Okal said the diplomatic appointment was a half-step toward an official Saudi representation office in the occupied West Bank. "It is also a message Saudi Arabia was committed to the rights of the Palestinians in a fully sovereign state," he added. PALESTINIAN CONCERNPalestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said last week that Abbas's Western-backed Palestinian Authority is hoping to engage with Saudi Arabia over their concerns about the potential normalisation with Israel. Saudi Arabia has quietly accepted the so-called Abraham Accords that have normalised ties between Israel and Gulf states United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas's, Majdi al, Khalidi, Nayef Al, Wafa, al, Talal Okal, Riyad al, Maliki, Abraham, Benjamin Netanyahu, Nidal al, Ali Swafta, Maayan Lubell, Hatem Maher, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: West Bank, Palestinian, Saudi, Abraham Accords, United, NBC, Thomson Locations: RAMALLAH, West, Saudi Arabian, Israel, Saudi Arabia, U.S, Saudi, Jordan, Palestinian, Gulf, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Gaza, Ramallah, Maayan, Jerusalem, Cairo

REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File PhotoSummary Funds were meant to narrow socio-economic gapsSmotrich says money would go to criminals, militantsLawmakers, colleges criticise decision as racistJERUSALEM, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has frozen funds for Arab towns and Palestinian education programmes in East Jerusalem, citing crime and safety fears and prompting accusations of racism. "Arab citizens are entitled to those funds, which were meant to close the gaps between Arab and Jewish communities," he told Reuters. 'HATRED AND RACISM'Smotrich said a separate 200 million shekels for encouraging academic studies among Palestinians from East Jerusalem would also be frozen until what he described as "extremist Islamic activity" on campus was eradicated. Smotrich said the new East Jerusalem plan would have a total increased budget but that although encouraging academic studies among the city's Palestinians was a worthy cause, this also had unwelcome consequences. Reporting by Henriette Chacar and Maayan Lubell; Editing by James Mackenzie and Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Bezalel Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Kan, Moshe Arbel, Mansour Abbas, Yair Lapid, Smotrich, Ameer Bisharat, Israel, Netanyahu, Henriette Chacar, James Mackenzie, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, Israeli, Reuters, National Committee of, Facebook, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Thomson Locations: Rahat, Israel, JERUSALEM, East Jerusalem, Smotrich, Arab, Jerusalem, Gaza

☆ Netanyahu judicial overhaul faces showdown in Israeli Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

CONSTITUTIONAL QUAGMIREThe reasonableness amendment is part of Israel's so-called "Basic Laws" that the court so far has refrained from quashing. Striking down a basic law or an amendment to one has been described in Israel as the Supreme Court using a legal doomsday weapon. As Israel has no written constitution, it relies instead on these Basic Laws which enshrine some rights and liberties and establish rules of governance. In its legal response ahead of Tuesday's hearing, the government argued that the Supreme Court does not have legal authority to review basic laws. From mid-October those vacancies will include the chief justice and another Supreme Court justice.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Israel, Esther Hayut, Aryeh Deri, Ronen, NETANYAHU, Yariv Levin, Levin, Maayan Lubell, James Mackenzie, Howard Goller, Michael Perry Organizations: reining, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Israel, Israel's, Jerusalem

☆ Israel PM adviser says road to deal on Saudi ties is 'still long'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

JERUSALEM, July 31 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's national security adviser on Monday said the road to normalising ties with Saudi Arabia was "still long" while members of his hard-right cabinet ruled out concessions to Palestinians as part of any deal. U.S. President Joe Biden last week dispatched his national security adviser to Riyadh to discuss a possible deal, and on Friday said a rapprochement was "maybe under way". PALESTINIAN CONCESSIONSThe idea of Israel and Saudi Arabia formally cementing ties has been under discussion since the Saudis gave their quiet assent to Gulf neighbours United Arab Emirates and Bahrain establishing ties with Israel in 2020. "We certainly won't agree to such a thing," National Missions Minister Orit Strock told Kan."We are done with withdrawals. Her remarks were echoed by the head of another government member, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir who heads the far-right Jewish Power party.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Tzachi Hanegbi, Eli Cohen, Minister Orit Strock, Kan, Strock, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Cohen, Maayan Lubell, Ari Rabinovitch, Henriette Chacar, Conor Humphries, Grant McCool Organizations: Monday, U.S, United, Kan, U.S ., Israel, National, Minister, West Bank, Jewish, Army Radio, Authority, Netanyahu's, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, U.S, Riyadh, Israel, Saudi, Gulf, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Judea, Samaria, East Jerusalem, Gaza

☆ Israel's Netanyahu takes heat in polls as judicial crisis deepens
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM, July 26 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suffered a hit in the polls over a judicial law his hard-right coalition has championed as he attempts to navigate his gravest domestic crisis. Seats held by Netanyahu's Likud party would fall from 32 to 28, according to N12 News, and to as low as 25 seats in a survey by broadcaster Reshet 13. Israel's close ally the United States called the Knesset vote "unfortunate" and urged work toward a broad consensus. "There has been an increase in requests to halt reserve duty," Brigadier General Daniel Hagari told Israeli reporters in remarks confirmed by a military spokesman. Protest leaders said growing numbers of military reservists would no longer report for duty if the government pressed ahead with its plans.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's, Joe Biden’s, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Maayan Lubell, Michael Georgy, Robert Birsel Organizations: Netanyahu's, Netanyahu's Likud, N12, Reshet, Reuters, Thomson Locations: United States, Histadrut

It was a paid ad by a group of high-tech companies protesting against Netanyahu's judicial policies, which analysts say have unleashed a slew of risks, both for Israel's economy and for his own political future. Israel's shekel moved on every twist and turn in parliament as efforts to reach a judicial compromise intensified and finally crashed. For now, Israel's economy is relatively robust, with growth forecast at 3% this year and unemployment at a 3.5% rate. Even if Netanyahu chooses to scrap plans for further judicial changes, damage will be hard to fix. The tech sector has a lot to lose if more controversial judicial changes come because firms need a trusted legal system to protect their intellectual property.

Persons: Netanyahu, Moody's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's shekel, Morgan Stanley, Itzchak Raz, Netanyahu's, They're, Raz, Avi Hasson, Nicholas Farr, Amir Yaron, Amotz Asa, Asa, Shalom Hartman, Maayan Lubell, William Maclean Organizations: Government, Hebrew University, Israel Innovation Authority, Nation Central, Capital Economics, Analysts, Bank, Thomson Locations: JERUSALEM, Israel, Jerusalem

☆ Israel judicial overhaul: What is the new law and why is it causing upheaval?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

JERUSALEM, July 25 (Reuters) - Israel's parliament ratified new legislation this week that rolls back some Supreme Court powers, despite mass protests and U.S. misgivings. In the longer term, a weaker judiciary could be bad for business and harm Israel's legal defences abroad. So the Supreme Court is seen as crucial for protecting civil rights and the rule of law. His critics fear that he will try to use judicial changes to void his case or influence its outcome. Netanyahu has strongly denied any connection between his trial and an overhaul he says will only serve Israel's democracy.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, NETANYAHU'S, Maayan Lubell, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: NEXT, U.S, Thomson Locations: Israel

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