Israel

Israel targets Gaza tunnels, Palestinian rocket attacks persist

Israel fired artillery and mounted extensive air strikes on Friday against a network of Palestinian militant tunnels under Gaza that it dubbed “the Metro”, amid persistent rocket attacks on Israeli…

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Netanyahu poised to gain political lifeline as violence flares

Civil unrest between Jews and Arabs in Israel dealt a strong blow on Thursday to efforts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main political rival Yair Lapid to form a new…

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Israel fires artillery into Gaza, Palestinian rocket attacks persist

Israel fired artillery and mounted more air strikes on Friday against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip amid constant rocket fire deep into Israel’s commercial centre. As hostilities entered their…

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Photo Story – Funeral of Israeli soldiers

Israeli soldiers and family members mourn during the funeral of Omer Tabib in the town of Elyakim, northern Israel, 13 May 2021. Israeli soldier Omar Tabib was killed in a…

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UPDATED: European airlines cancel Tel Aviv flights amid escalating conflict

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Iberia all cancelled flights to Tel Aviv as European carriers joined U.S. airlines in avoiding flying to Israel amid an escalating conflict there. "The safety…

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UPDATED: Israeli troops mass at Gaza border, hundreds of rockets hit Israel, its jets strike Gaza

Israeli troops massed at Gaza's border on Thursday and Palestinian militants pounded Israel with rockets in intense hostilities that have caused international concern and touched off clashes between Jews and…

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Biden predicts conflict’s end as Hamas hits deep in Israel, which pummels Gaza

Hamas launched rockets at Tel Aviv and toward Jerusalem early on Thursday and Israel vowed to keep pummelling the Islamist faction in Gaza despite a prediction by U.S. President Joe…

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Palestinian rocket fire, Israeli strikes in Gaza run into second day

Palestinians fired uninterrupted barrages of rockets into Israel, as its military pounded Gaza with air strikes through the early hours of Tuesday, in a dramatic escalation of clashes in Jerusalem.…

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UPDATED: U.N. chief urges Israel to exercise restraint in East Jerusalem

U.N. chief Antonio Guterres believes Israel "must exercise maximum restraint and respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly," a U.N. spokesman said on Sunday, as tensions rise in East…

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Erdogan calls Israel “terror state” over Palestinian clashes at Al-Aqsa

ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called Israel a "terror state" on Saturday after Israeli police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades towards rock-hurling Palestinian youth at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque…

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UPDATED: More than 200 injured in violent clashes in Jerusalem

The European Union urged calm on Saturday after Palestinian worshippers clashed with Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, leaving more than 200 wounded. "The European Union calls…

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Netanyahu opponent Lapid to try form new government

Israel's president chose Yair Lapid, a centrist politician and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strongest rival, to try to form a new government, but his path to success was still uncertain.…

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Data from Israel shows 95% protection from infection after two doses of Pfizer jab

Two doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine can provide more than 95% protection against infection, severe illness, and death, according to the first nationwide data from Israel. A single dose of…

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Netanyahu’s two main rivals seek chance to form government after he fails

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's two main political rivals each asked the president on Wednesday for the chance to try to form a government, after Netanyahu failed to meet an…

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Netanyahu’s deadline to form government set to expire, no sign of progress

A deadline for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a new government was set to expire at midnight in Israel with no sign on Tuesday that the country's longest-serving leader could break…

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Israel observes day of mourning for religious festival dead

Israel observed a day of mourning on Sunday for 45 people crushed to death at a Jewish religious festival, with flags lowered to half-staff and questions raised about accountability for…

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Israel mourns the death of 45 people following stampede during religious festival

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a full investigation into the stampede at a Jewish religious festival in northern Israel that left dozens dead. Sunday will be a national day of…

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Dozens killed in crush at religious festival in Israel

Dozens of people were crushed to death in a crowd at a religious bonfire festival in Israel on Friday, medics said, in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a…

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Israeli military says it shot down Hezbollah drone on Lebanon border

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli forces shot down a drone belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah group that crossed into northern Israel from Lebanon on Tuesday, the Israeli military said. In a statement,…

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Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of ‘apartheid’ crimes against Palestinians

An international rights watchdog accused Israel on Tuesday of pursuing policies of apartheid and persecution against Palestinians - and against its own Arab minority - that amount to crimes against humanity. New York-based Human Rights Watch…

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Israel examining heart inflammation cases in people who received Pfizer COVID shot

JERUSALEM, April 25 (Reuters) - Israel's Health Ministry said on Sunday it is examining a small number of cases of heartinflammation in people who had received Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, though it has not yet drawn any conclusions. Pfizer said it has not observed a…

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Israeli police clash with Palestinians as East Jerusalem tensions flare during Ramadan

East Jerusalem was on edge just after midnight on Saturday as Palestinians faced off with Israeli police in nightly Ramadan clashes that sparked rocket fire by militants in the Gaza…

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Israel records no daily deaths from Covid-19 for the first time in 10 months

Israel has recorded no new daily Covid-19 deaths for the first time in 10 months, as the country pushes ahead with its speedy vaccination drive. The country's coronavirus death toll…

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Pfizer COVID-19 shot effective for people with chronic diseases- Israel study

The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech is effective at preventing symptomatic and severe disease in people with some chronic illnesses, like diabetes and heart disease, the biggest real-world…

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UPDATED: Israel retaliates after Syrian missile lands near nuclear reactor

A Syrian missile exploded in southern Israel on Thursday, the Israeli military said, in an incident that triggered warning sirens near the secretive Dimona nuclear reactor and an Israeli strike…

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Israel sees some vaccine efficacy against Indian COVID-19 variant

Israel has registered eight cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in India and believes that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is at least partially effective against it, an Israeli health official…

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Photo Story – Coronavirus in Israel

Israel ends obligatory use of face masks outdoors starting from 18 April following a successful vaccination campaign, but it is still required to wear them indoors. VIA EPA-EFE/ABIR SULTAN

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Israel, Britain mull ‘green travel corridor’ after vaccine success

Israel and Britain are exploring the possibility of opening a "green travel corridor" between them, Israel's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, citing the success of the two countries' vaccination drives. The issue…

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Israeli study says South African variant may evade protection from Pfizer vaccine

The coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa may evade the protection provided by Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine to some extent, a real-world data study in Israel found, though its prevalence in…

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Israel rescinds outdoor coronavirus mask requirement

Israel rescinded the mandatory wearing of face masks outdoors and fully reopened schools on Sunday in the latest return to relative normality, boosted by a mass-vaccination campaign against the COVID-19…

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Israel and Greece sign record defence deal

Israel and Greece have signed their biggest ever defence procurement deal, which Israel said on Sunday would strengthen political and economic ties between the countries. The agreement includes a $1.65…

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Photo Story: Israel celebrates 73rd Independence Day

Israeli Air Force aerobatic team perform during the Independence Day celebrations over the beach of Tel Aviv, Israel, 15 April 2021. Israeli Independence Day marks the 73th anniversary of the…

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Israel may be reaching herd immunity

A leading Israeli doctor believes the country may be close to reaching "herd immunity". This happens when enough of a population has protection against an infection that it stops being…

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Ship owned by Israeli firm attacked off UAE coast

A commercial vessel owned by an Israeli firm was attacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in Gulf waters, pro-Iran media and an Israeli television channel said. Israel’s…

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Study suggests that the Pfizer vaccine is less effective against the South African variant

JERUSALEM, April 10 (Reuters) - The coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa can "break through" Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine to some extent, a real-world data study in Israel found, though its…

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Vaccinating adults appears to protect children as well

New data from Israel, where health officials moved quickly to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech SE, suggests that the vaccination of adults also protects unvaccinated…

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Israel to tell ICC it does not recognise court’s authority

Israel will tell the International Criminal Court it does not recognise the authority of the tribunal, which is planning to investigate possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories, Prime Minister…

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Photo Story – Holocaust Remembrance Day

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin attends a wreath-laying ceremony marking the Holocaust Remembrance Day at Warsaw Ghetto Square in Jerusalem's Yad Vashem memorial on 08 April 2021. VIA EPA-EFE/EMMANUEL DUNAND /…

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Netanyahu’s favours were ‘currency’, prosecutor says as corruption trial starts

An Israeli prosecutor told a court on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had helped a business couple to clinch deals worth hundred of millions of shekels in exchange for…

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Israel’s Netanyahu in court for corruption trial

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's legal and political troubles will play out simultaneously on Monday, at his corruption trial and in the president's residence. Judges ordered Netanyahu to be in…

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Photo Story: Easter preparations in Jerusalem

A Franciscan monk lights the candles next to the tomb of Jesus during the Holy Wednesday 'Passion' mass and regular procession in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, in Jerusalem’s…

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How Israel voted and who matters now

Israel’s fourth election in two years has produced yet another stalemate, with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor those seeking to topple him reaching a majority in parliament. A final…

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Israeli-owned ship hit by missile in suspected Iranian attack

A cargo ship owned by an Israeli company was damaged by a missile in the Arabian Sea on Thursday in what was suspected to be an Iranian attack, an Israeli…

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More than half of Israelis receive both COVID-19 vaccine doses

Israel has administered two doses of COVID-19 vaccine to more than half its 9.3 million population, a health official said on Thursday, a rapid roll-out that has helped the country…

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Exit polls forecast stalemate in Israel’s election

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s prospects for retaining power were uncertain on Wednesday after exit polls in Israel’s fourth national election in two years projected yet another stalemate. With final results…

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Israel’s election: array of contenders seek to topple Netanyahu

Israelis began voting in their fourth election in two years on Tuesday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes the country's world-leading coronavirus vaccine rollout will finally push him through an era…

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Israel’s election: An array of contenders seek to topple Netanyahu

Israel holds its fourth election in two years on Tuesday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes the country's world-leading coronavirus vaccine rollout will finally push him through an era of unprecedented…

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Babies born to vaccinated moms have COVID-fighting antibodies – Israeli Study

Times of Israel reports that a study has shown that when pregnant women get COVID vaccines, their babies are born with ready-made COVID-fighting antibodies. The report refers to a study…

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In Pictures – Ancient biblical scroll fragments found in West Bank cave

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli archaeologists racing against treasure hunters to search caves near the Dead Sea have discovered a trove of artefacts, including fragments of a biblical text, the like…

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Palestinians, Arab League, condemn Czech Jerusalem office

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - The Palestinian Authority and the Arab League on Saturday condemned the Czech Republic's opening of a diplomatic office in Jerusalem, calling it a violation of…

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Iranian investigator says Israel likely behind attack on IRISL container ship

DUBAI (Reuters) - Israel is highly likely to have been behind an attack in the Mediterranean this week that damaged an Iranian container ship, an Iranian investigator was quoted as…

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UPDATED: Netanyahu cancels planned UAE visit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed media reports he had been due to visit the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, saying in a statement the trip was postponed due to…

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Israel says 600 children given Covid vaccine had no serious side-effects

Hundreds of children between the ages of 12 and 16 who have been given the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccination in Israel experienced no serious side-effects, a senior official has told the Guardian,…

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Israel, Cyprus and Greece agree to link power grids via subsea cable

Cyprus, Greece and Israel on Monday signed an initial agreement to build the world's longest and deepest underwater power cable that will traverse the Mediterranean seabed at a cost of…

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Israel in final phase of easing of lockdown

Israel has almost emerged from its COVID-19 closures, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on the campaign trail, said on Sunday as restaurants reopened under an exit plan fuelled by…

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Netanyahu says Israel, Austria and Denmark will set up vaccine alliance

JERUSALEM, March 4 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel, Austria and Denmark will establish a joint fund for research and development of COVID-19 vaccines.…

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Israel accuses Iran of link to oil spill off its shores

Israel accused Iran of being linked to a recent oil spill off its shores that caused major ecological damage, calling the incident environmental terrorism. The spill was caused by an…

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