Israel, Bahrain formalise ties
Bahrain and Israel signed a joint communique to formalise nascent ties during a visit by an Israeli and U.S. delegation to Manama on Sunday to broaden cooperation that Washington has…
Israel sends treaty delegation to Bahrain
An Israeli delegation accompanied by the U.S. treasury secretary flew to Bahrain on Sunday to formalise nascent relations and broaden Gulf cooperation that Washington has promoted as an anti-Iran bulwark…
Photo Story: Marked Iron age limestone weight excavated in Jerusalem
Handout photos made available by the Israel Antiquities Authority in Jerusalem on 13 October 2020 shows an ancient limestone-made weight, dating back to the Iron age (the First Temple period),…
FBI says it has reached no conclusion on cause of Beirut blast
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation said it has reached no firm conclusion about what caused the Aug. 4 explosion in the port of Beirut that killed nearly 200 people…
Lebanon, Israel to meet again October 28 after brief border talks
Israeli and Lebanese negotiators met briefly on Wednesday for talks on their disputed maritime border, ending their meeting after only an hour and agreeing to meet again on Oct. 28,…
Al-Hariri calls for restoration of French plan for Lebanon
Lebanon's leading Sunni Muslim politician, former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, called for the restoration of a French plan to lift the nation out of its worst financial crisis since its…
Israel finance minister pledges budget by December
Israel's finance minister promised on Sunday the long awaited 2021 state budget would be ready in December amid accusations the government was dragging its heels for political reasons and after…
EPA’s Eye in the Sky: The Dead Sea, Israel
People on salt formations in the Ein Bokek beach at the hotels resort of one of Israel's major tourist attractions, the Dead Sea, Israel. Via EPA-EFE/ABIR SULTAN
Palestinian negotiator Erekat facing ‘difficult’ coronavirus symptoms
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said he was suffering “difficult” symptoms after contracting coronavirus, but that things were “under control”. Erekat, 65, a lawmaker from Jericho in the occupied West…
UPDATED: Beirut hit by another tragedy
Four people were killed and several more were wounded when a fuel tank exploded in a Beirut building on Friday, the Lebanese Red Cross said. The explosion caused a large…
Fears of civil strife in Lebanon as financial crisis hardens
Lebanon’s leading Sunni Muslim politician, former premier Saad al-Hariri, said he feared civil strife as the country sinks into its worst financial crisis since a 1975-1990 civil war. “I fear…
Amman in full lockdown
Jordan security forces check the ID of a man, during the lockdown at a checkpoint in Amman, Jordan, 09 October 2020. After a sharp rise in Covid19 cases in Jordan…
Israel and UAE foreign ministers to meet in Germany
The foreign ministers of Israel and the United Arab Emirates will meet in Germany on Tuesday to discuss further steps in normalizing relations, officials said on Monday. Israel and the…
Syria’s Assad says Russian bases in his country keep balance of power in region
Syrian President Bashar al Assad said the continued presence of Russia’s major naval and air bases in his country help counter the influence of Western powers in the region as…
Photo Story: Sukkot holiday during a lockdown in Jerusalem
An orthodox Jew covers his heads with a prayer shawl and holds the 'four species' while reciting the Priestly Blessing on the high holiday of Sukkot, the Feast of the…
Jordan’s King Abdullah accept PM’s resignation
Jordan's King Abdullah on Saturday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Omar al Razzaz but asked him to stay on as a caretaker premier until he designates a successor to…
Life in the West Bank
A Palestinian man talking with Israeli security forces in the West Bank City of Hebron, 02 October 2020. EPA-EFE/ABED AL HASHLAMOUN EPA-EFE/ABED AL HASHLAMOUN
The real ‘picture’ of Coronavirus
Medical personnel wearing a full protective suit rests at the coronavirus COVID-19 department at the Galilee Hospital, in the northern city of Nahariya as family members mourn the loss of…
Lebanon asks Interpol to arrest Russian ship captain, owner over port explosion
Lebanon has asked Interpol to issue arrest warrants for the Russian captain and owner of the ship that brought the explosive material that detonated at Beirut port in August, killing…
Israel limits protests in new coronavirus lockdown law
Israel’s parliament approved a government-backed edict on Wednesday likely to stifle protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged corruption and his handling of the coronavirus crisis. The legislation, ratified…
Jordan’s parliament dissolved in preparation for November election – official
Jordan's King Abdullah dissolved parliament on Sunday, officials said, paving the way for an election in November. Under constitutional rules, the government must resign within a week. In July, Jordan's…
Macron says he won’t give up on Lebanon
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he would not give up on an initiative to save Lebanon from collapse, but said he was "ashamed" of the country's leaders and…
Two members of Lebanese security forces killed in armed clashes
Two members of the Lebanese Security Forces were killed in an exchange of gunfire with militants in the north of the country late on Saturday, the army said. They were…
Syria accuses U.S. using sanctions to suffocate Syrians ‘like George Floyd’
Syria's foreign minister accused U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Saturday of attempting to suffocate Syrians with sanctions "just like George Floyd and others were cruelly suffocated in the United…
France will not let Lebanon down – source close to Macron
France will not let Lebanon down, a source close to French president Emmanuel Macron told Reuters on Saturday, following the decision of its prime minister-designate to quit after trying for…
Lebanon’s prime minister-designate steps down after failing to form cabinet
Lebanon's prime minister-designate quit on Saturday after trying for almost a month to line up a non-partisan cabinet, failing despite French pressure on sectarian leaders to rally together to deal…
Israel tightens coronavirus lockdown as infections rise
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet decided on Thursday to tighten Israel's coronavirus lockdown after he voiced alarm that a surge in infections was pushing the nation to "the edge of…
Arms depot of Iran-backed Hezbollah explodes in south Lebanon, source says
An arms depot of the Iran-backed Shi'ite Muslim group Hezbollah exploded in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, a security source said, injuring several people and sending a new shockwave across a…
Chelsea owner Abramovich funded Israeli settlers in occupied territory
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been embroiled in a scandal on the international media after leaked documents have shown that companies in which he had majority shareholding donated tens of…
Lebanese PM urges efforts to make French initiative succeed
Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib said on Monday all parties should cooperate to facilitate the formation of a new government and urged everyone to work so that a French initiative…
Beirut-born singer Mika to live-stream concert to raise funds for victims of Beirut’s blast
Beirut-born pop star Mika will livestream a concert this weekend to raise funds for victims of the Aug. 4 port blast in the Lebanese capital, and Mexican actress Salma Hayek…
Form government without delay, France tells Lebanese politicians
France's foreign ministry said on Friday that Lebanon's political forces need to assume their responsibilities and immediately form a government under the auspices of Prime Minister Mustapha Adib. "As Lebanon…
Israel, Dubai diamond exchanges begin strategic collaboration
The Israel and Dubai diamond exchanges said on Thursday they have signed a strategic agreement to promote cooperation and dialogue between the two bourses. The agreement was announced two days…
Israel’s El Al to resume some passenger flights in October
El Al Israel Airlines said on Thursday it would resume some passenger flights in October, a day after the cash-strapped carrier raised $148 million in a state-mandated share offering. Israel's…
French initiative is last chance to save Lebanon, Jumblatt says
Leading Lebanese politician Walid Jumblatt said on Wednesday it seemed some people did not understand that French-led efforts to lift Lebanon out of crisis were the last chance to save…
Israeli aircraft strike in Gaza, sirens in southern Israel
Israeli aircraft attacked in Gaza on Wednesday, witnesses said, and sirens warning of rocket fire from the Palestinian territory sounded in southern Israel. The witnesses said a training base run…
Pompeo says Hezbollah weapons risk torpedoing French efforts in Lebanon
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday warned France that its efforts to resolve the crisis in Lebanon would be in vain without immediately tackling the issue of Iran-backed…
Trump willing to sell arms systems to other countries in Middle East
US President Donald Trump said he would be willing to sell other countries in the Middle East the same weapons systems sold to Israel, noting the region's wealth and saying…
UAE and Bahrain to sign ‘normalisation’ agreement with Israel
The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on Tuesday will become the latest Arab states to break a longstanding taboo when they sign agreements toward normalizing relations with Israel in a…
Israel to lock down nationwide in main holiday season amid COVID-19 surge
Israel will enter a three-week nationwide lockdown starting on Friday to contain the spread of the coronavirus after a second- wave surge of new cases, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said…
Fire briefly erupts in central Beirut commercial district
A fire erupted in a landmark building in central Beirut's commercial district on Tuesday before being put out, a civil defence official and Reuters witness said. The fire erupted in…
Palestinians protest against Arab normalisation ties with Israel
Palestinians in Gaza burnt pictures of Israeli, U.S., Bahraini and United Arab Emirates leaders on Saturday in protest over the two Gulf countries' moves to normalize ties with Israel. Bahrain…
Thousands of Israelis protest against Netanyahu
Thousands of Israelis protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Saturday over his alleged corruption and the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The crowd rallied outside Netanyahu's…
Lebanese firefighters douse remains of Beirut port fire
Lebanese firefighters and army helicopters on Friday put out the remains of a huge fire at Beirut's port that had flared up a day earlier, barely a month after a…
Huge explosions rock military facility in Jordan
Jordan said a series of massive explosions that rocked the city of Zarqa early on Friday was likely caused by an electric short circuit at a nearby army munitions depot.…
Massive fire erupts in Beirut port area
A massive fire is raging at the port of Lebanon's capital, Beirut, a little more than a month since a huge explosion devastated the port facilities and surrounding area. There…
Israel sees trade with UAE at $4 billion a year
Annual trade between Israel and the United Arab Emirates is expected to reach $4 billion, an Israeli minister said. Israel and the UAE announced in August they would normalise diplomatic…
Photo Story: Selfie Masks against the coronavirus in Tel Aviv
'Selfie masks' - custom made protective face masks printed from face photos - with a slogan (in Hebrew) reading: 'Follow the instructions and also the look' at a shopping stand…
Jordan resumes regular commercial flights
Jordan resumed regular international flights on Tuesday after being suspended for nearly six months because of the novel coronavirus epidemic, officials said. They said Queen Alia international airport would initially…
Italy adds to European calls for change in Lebanon amid crisis
Italy's prime minister said it was time for Lebanon to rebuild trust between the people and its institutions, joining France's call for change in a nation devastated by a year-long…
Lebanese patriarch says new cabinet must spurn old, corrupt ways
Lebanon's top Christian cleric said on Sunday a new government must deliver urgent economic and other reforms in the national interest, rather than returning to past corrupt ways that have…
‘No signs of life’ in Beirut rubble after search for blast survivors
Rescue workers digging through the rubble of a Beirut building for the third day on Saturday said there was no longer hope of finding someone alive more than a month…
Hope – Rescue workers searching for life in Beirut’s rubble
Rescuers on Saturday morning continued digging through the rubble of a building in Beirut after sensors detected possible signs of life, despite hopes of finding anyone fading. "The search has…
Israel announces partial national lockdown after coronavirus surge
Israel will impose a partial national lockdown next week to battle a coronavirus infection surge, the head of its pandemic task force said on Thursday, shouting his exasperation in an…
Frantic search in Beirut as rescuers detect ‘heartbeat in the rubble’
Rescuers in Beirut are continuing to search through the rubble of a building amid reports a person could be alive, one month after a massive blast devastated the Lebanese capital.…
Macron sees Lebanon’s support and aid as a ‘risky bet’ worth taking
Emmanuel Macron says he’s making a “risky bet” by working to avoid a political collapse in Lebanon, but is limited in what he can achieve. "It's the last chance for…