Daily News Surrounding Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by telephone Wednesday (11th) and discussed the volatile situation in Syria. Netanyahu’s and Putin’s conversation also focused on…

Events commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day began at sundown Wednesday (11th) throughout Israel. The state ceremony was held at Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum’s plaza, and hundreds of…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke reassuringly Monday (9th) to residents of Sderot, a town of about 25,000 people situated near the southern part of the Gaza Strip.  Having suffered many terror…

Russia and Syria’s military blamed Israel for a strike early Monday (9th) on a major air base in central Syria, saying Israeli fighter jets launched missiles from Lebanese airspace. A war-monitoring group said the…

Syrian activists, rescuers and medics said Sunday (8th) that a poison gas attack on a rebel-held town near the capital has killed at least 40 people, allegations denied by the Syrian government…

An armed Palestinian man was killed by an Israeli air strike as he approached the Gaza border fence on Thursday (5th), the Israel Defense Forces said.  Palestinians are expected to resume massing along…

Soldiers in the IDF’s Paratroopers Brigade Battalion 202 perform nightly operations and tours in order to ensure the safety of those living in or visiting Israel’s northern areas. The battalion is currently operating in the…

Israel and Saudi Arabia still have no official diplomatic relations, but the future monarch of the oil-rich kingdom appeared to unofficially recognize the Jewish state in remarks to American media this week…

Tens of thousands of Jewish pilgrims made their way to the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City on Monday (2nd) for a twice-annual mass blessing ceremony, held under heavy police guard. The blessing was recited…

U.S. President Donald Trump offered holiday greetings for Passover, Friday (3/30) saying: “During the sacred holiday of Passover, Jewish families around the world give thanks to God for liberating the Jewish people…

The IDF will impose a general closure on the West Bank, and close the crossings between Israel and Gaza during the holiday of Passover which begins Friday at sundown (3/30). The closures will be imposed on…

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation invited the public to take part in the mass blessing of the Kohanim (Jewish priests) that will take place on Monday (4/2) at the Western Wall Plaza, and join in the…

Religious Jewish factions say they are moving ever closer to the realization of the Third Temple in Jerusalem. The latest evidence of this is police authorization, granted on Sunday (25th), for a Passover…

The National Security Council’s Counter-terrorism Bureau cautioned Israelis against traveling to Sinai, Northern African countries, Turkey and south Thailand. The warning was issued on Sunday (25th) ahead of the…

The two terror attacks in the past seven days in Mevo Dotan and Jerusalem’s Old City, which claimed the lives of three Israelis in total, naturally put defense forces across the country on high alert…

The outgoing head of Military Intelligence issued a stern warning to Israel’s enemies against launching attacks on Israel during the upcoming holiday season, amid increasing tension on…

Ahead of the Passover holiday, workers from the Western Wall Heritage Foundation removed the prayer notes that were hidden by visitors over the past year…

The funeral of Adiel Kolman, the 32-year-old father of four who was killed in a terror attack on Sunday evening (18th) was held at 11 a.m. Monday morning (19th) in the Kokhav HaShahar cemetery…

The Israeli army destroyed a Hamas tunnel late Saturday night (17th), which crossed into Israeli territory, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced Sunday (18th)…

Several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were detonated adjacent to the Israel-Gaza border fence Thursday morning (15th).  No injuries were reported, and IDF tanks returned fire at Hamas targets inside the…

Americans’ stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is as strongly pro-Israel as at any time in Gallup’s three-decade trend. In a poll taken Feb. 1-10, 64% say their sympathies in the dispute lie more with the Israelis…

Israeli authorities this week exposed and seized two shipments of terror-related items bound for the Gaza Strip, presumably to be used by one of the terror organizations that operate there…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (11th) reported to the Israeli Cabinet on his visit to the U.S. last week: “The diplomatic talks focused mainly on Iran.  I said that the nuclear agreement…

Prime Minister Netanyahu on Thursday (9th) visited the Jerusalem Exhibition currently being presented at the UN building in New York.  The exhibit presents 3,000 years of Jewish continuity in Jerusalem…

In an interview in Washington on Wednesday (7th), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the Palestinian issue.  “I want a solution when they have all the powers they need to govern themselves, but none of the…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu followed his AIPAC speech Tuesday (6th) by holding a series of meetings on Capitol Hill. The Prime Minister met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R.-KY), Senate…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing a crowd of 18,000 at the annual AIPAC conference in Washington Tuesday (6th), stressed the Iranian threat and the need to…

US President Donald Trump said that he may visit Israel in May for the opening of a new US Embassy in Jerusalem. Trump commented during an Oval Office meeting…

The United States and Israel will cooperate to confront the Iranian regime, with or without help from the UN, a senior Israeli diplomat said Sunday (4th). Speaking at the 2018 American Israel Public…

Tens of thousands across Israel watched and participated Thursday morning (1st) in the festivities of Purim, transforming the country’s streets into a colorful and glistening parade of costumed enthusiasts…

On Thursday (1st) Jews celebrate Purim, the tale of the Jews narrow escape from extermination in the Persian Achaemenid Empire in the fifth century BCE, a millennium before the rise of Islam…

The family of an Israeli couple murdered along with three of their children in their West Bank home in 2012 filed suit Monday (26th) against the terrorists behind the attack…

The IDF has imposed a four-day closure of the West Bank and Gaza for Purim, the army announced. The closure is scheduled to be in effect from Tuesday (27th) through midnight Saturday (3/3)…

The Trump administration has confirmed that the U.S. embassy will be moved to Jerusalem this coming May, coinciding with Israel’s 70th Independence Day…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem on Wednesday (21st): “Most Arab countries now…

UNITED NATIONS – The United States is “ready to talk” Middle East peace with the Palestinians, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Tuesday…

Mohsen Rezael, secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council and former chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, said the Islamic Republic will “level Tel Aviv to the ground”…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to attack Iran in response to terror attacks on Israel’s soil. “Israel will not allow Iran’s regime to put a noose of terror around our neck…

On Thursday (15th) Israeli President Reuven Rivlin expressed his condolences via Twitter after a gunman shot dead 17 people and wounded more than a dozen others in an attack…

“Iran declared war on us long ago.  The highest echelons in Tehran want to erase the Zionist entity; they do not hide the fact that they want to wipe the State of Israel off the face of the earth,” Lieberman said…

A Syrian government official warned Israel on Tuesday (13th) of ‘more surprises’ in store for them in the wake of the downing of the F-16 jet that attacked Iranian positions in the country Saturday (10th)…

Security officials believe the downing of an Israeli Air Force jet over the weekend will make Iran more determined to bolster its military presence in Syria, surmising that additional clashes are just around the corner…

Israeli fighter planes conducted the largest strike on Syria since the First Lebanon War on Saturday morning (10th), hitting a mobile Iranian control center that had sent a drone into  Israeli airspace and then striking 12 targets in the country…

A Palestinian tried to stab an IDF soldier near Hebron Thursday (8th), but was apprehended by troops without causing any injuries, the army said. The suspect was transferred to security forces for further questioning…

An Israeli security guard sustained injuries Wednesday morning (7th) when a Palestinian terrorist stabbed him at the entrance to the Gush Etzion settlement of Carmel Tzur, near Hebron.  A second security guard shot and killed the terrorist…

The funeral of Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal took place one day after he was stabbed to death outside Ariel, Monday (5th).  He was a resident of the Har Bracha settlement where he…

An Arab terrorist stabbed an Israeli man to death in the city of Ariel in Samaria Monday afternoon (5th). The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Itamar Ben-Gal, a resident of the community of Har Bracha in Samaria…

Israel does not seek war with its neighbors but it will spare no effort to defend itself and its citizens if attacked, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday (4th)…

Four  Palestinians were caught Thursday evening (1st) by IDF forces trying to infiltrate through the Gaza border into Israel, carrying knives and grenades.  The security establishment is looking into…

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned the Iranian-backed Hizbullah militia that it can expect a punishing Israeli response in the next war with Israel. “No one is looking for adventure, but if we are already destined to do so, the goal…

It is now the season of Tu B’Shvat – a joyous day in Israel when it is customary for children – and adults – to go on tree planting and agricultural field trips.  Diaspora Jews and supporters of the Jewish state traditionally contribute funds towards planting trees in…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized his talks on Monday (29th) with Russian President Vladimir Putin as “very good and very in-depth.”  Speaking with reporters afterward, Netanyahu said he made it clear to Putin that…

As the world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Saturday (27th), a top European official said more action had to be taken to effectively combat anti-Semitism. EU Foreign Policy Chief Ferderica Hogherini has pledged to…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Thursday evening (25th) at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He criticized the nuclear deal with Iran and said…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland Wednesday (24th). After one of the meetings, the prime minister said…

With U.S. Vice President Mike Pence at his side Monday evening (22nd), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel agrees with the U.S. administration that the nuclear deal with Iran is “disastrous” and noted their…

Prior to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s Knesset address on Monday (22nd) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked him for standing up for the “truth” and supporting Israel at the United Nations…

Israel braced for U.S.Vice President Mike Pence’s two-day visit (21st-23rd), with thousands of police officers taking part in special security operations and residents preparing for wide-scale traffic disruptions, particularly in Jerusalem…

At least one member of the terrorist cell responsible for the death of Rabbi Raziel Shevach near the Samaria outpost of Havat Gilad last week was killed in an overnight gunfight with Israeli forces in Jenin Thursday morning (18th)…

When U.S. President Donald Trump publicly recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, both he and his administration said it would take several years to actually move the American Embassy there…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at a conference in India, called on democracies like Israel and India to unite together against threats like radical Islam. Netanyahu said that only democracies that value human rights can…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented Sunday evening (14th) on the IDF’s detonation of the terror tunnel running underneath Kerem Shalom the previous day (Saturday, 13th), and said “Even here in India my…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara arrived in Delhi Sunday (14th), where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to welcome them in person. The Minister of State for External Affairs was originally…

Security forces continued their operations Wednesday (10th) through Thursday (11th) in the wake of the shooting attack Tuesday night (9th) in which Raziel Shevach was murdered. The forces continued their roadblocks around…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the West Bank shooting attack that claimed the life of Havat Gilad resident and father of six, Raziel Shevah and said, “My deepest sympathy and condolences go out to the family of…

Rabbi Raziel Shevach, 35, the father of six children, was killed on Tuesday night (9th) close to the Havat Gilad outpost in central Samaria, in a drive-by shooting attack. The victim was shot in his neck and upper body and was taken to…

Israel’s security cabinet has convened several times in recent days, holding ‘extremely significant’ meetings to discuss developments on the northern border and Iran’s presence in Syria. According to a…

IDF issued a report chronicling operational incidents of 2017. Some 35 rockets and mortar shells were fired at Israel during 2017, the largest number of projectiles fired at the country since the conclusion of…

65% of Israeli Jews believe President Trump’s declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel contributed to Israel’s interests, according to a Peace Index poll conducted on Dec. 26-27, 2017, and released…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Facebook video wishing luck to the Iranian people in their struggle for liberty reverberated positively on social media sites Tuesday (2nd)…