Israel

Fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose boosts antibodies five-fold in Israeli study

A fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine boosts antibodies five-fold a week after the shot is administered, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said, citing preliminary findings of an Israeli study. "A…

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Israel, in U.S. visa talks, eyes easing access for Palestinian-Americans

Israel is prepared to permit Palestinian-American dual nationals to transit its territory as part of an emerging U.S. visa waiver deal for its citizens, a top Israeli official said on…

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UPDATED: Israel to admit some foreigners with presumed COVID immunity as of Jan 9

Israel said on Monday it will admit foreigners with presumed COVID-19 immunity from countries deemed medium-risk as of Jan. 9, partially reversing a ban on entry by foreigners imposed in…

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Israel’s Jerusalem Post website hacked on Soleimani assassination anniversary

JERUSALEM, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Israel's Jerusalem Post newspaper said on Monday its website had been hacked, in what it said was an apparent threat to the country. Instead of…

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Omicron could lead Israel to herd immunity, health official says

Israel could reach herd immunity amid surging Omicron infections, its top health official said on Sunday, as the country approved the use of Merck & Co's molnupiravir anti-viral pill for…

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Palestinian rockets explode off Tel Aviv coast, military says

JERUSALEM, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Palestinian militants in Gaza fired two rockets toward the Mediterranean sea on Saturday, causing an explosion off the shore of Tel Aviv, Israel's military said.…

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Israel signs deal to buy $3.1 bln in U.S. helicopters, tankers

JERUSALEM, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Israel has signed a deal with the United States to buy 12 Lockheed Martin Corp CH-53K helicopters and two Boeing Co KC-46 refuelling planes, the…

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Israel extends 4th COVID vaccine to elderly in care facilities

Israel is extending its offer of a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose to elderly people in care facilities, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said on Friday, citing their high exposure and vulnerability…

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Palestinian president makes rare visit to Israel for talks with defence chief

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made a rare visit to Israel for talks on economic and security issues with Israel's defence chief, but with few prospects for any resumption…

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Israel open to ‘good’ Iran nuclear deal, but wants tougher Vienna terms

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday that Israel would not automatically oppose a nuclear deal with Iran but world powers must take a firmer position. "We are not the…

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Bird flu kills thousands of cranes in Israel, poultry also culled

An outbreak of avian flu has killed more than 5,000 migratory cranes in Israel, prompting authorities to declare a popular nature reserve off-limits to visitors and warn of a possible egg shortage as…

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Led by high-tech, Israel exports projected to reach record $140 bln in 2021

JERUSALEM, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Israel's exports are on course to hit a record high of as much as $140 billion in 2021, up 18% from last year, with the…

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Israel sets goal of doubling number of Jewish settlers on Golan Heights

Israel's government set a goal on Sunday of doubling the number of Jewish settlers in the Golan Heights within five years, a move that could tighten its hold on the…

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UPDATED: Israeli hospital launches first test of second COVID-19 booster

RAMAT GAN, Israel, Dec 27 (Reuters) - An Israeli hospital administered fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses to a test group of health workers on Monday, in what it called the first…

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25 Percent Spike in Serious Covid-19 Cases in Israel, PM Bennett Self-isolates

Israel's Health Ministry recorded 98 active serious COVID cases on Sunday, marking a 24 percent increase over the last eight days, as fears grow of an omicron wave overwhelming the…

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Israel orders Pfizer’s new COVID-19 pill

Israel has ordered 100,000 units of Pfizer Inc's anti-viral COVID 19 pill Paxlovid for people aged 12 and older at risk of severe illness, an Israeli official said, confirming a…

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Israeli hospital reports first death of patient with Omicron variant

JERUSALEM, Dec 21 (Reuters) - An Israeli hospital on Tuesday confirmed the first known death in the countryof a patient with the Omicron variant of COVID-19, but said he had…

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UPDATED: Ground-breaking meeting between Israeli and UAE leaders

ABU DHABI, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan hosted Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Monday in the first ever public meeting between…

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Photo Story: India wins Miss Universe 2021 contest in Eilat

Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu (L) is crowned Miss Universe 2021 by Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza (R) from Mexico during the Miss Universe 2021 pageant in Eilat, Israel, 13 December…

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Israel imposing travel ban for Britain, Denmark, Belgium over Omicron spread – official

JERUSALEM, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Israel on Sunday announced it was adding Britain, Denmark and Belgium to its "red" list of countries that Israelis are forbidden to visit, citing concern…

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Iran warns of “heavy price” after report of U.S.-Israeli military drill plans

A top Iranian military official warned of a "heavy price" for aggressors, state media said, after a report of U.S. and Israeli plans for possible military drills to prepare for…

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Israeli study finds Pfizer COVID-19 booster protects against Omicron

Israeli researchers said they found that a three-shot course of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine provided significant protection against the new Omicron variant. The findings were similar to those presented by…

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As diplomacy stutters, U.S., Israel to discuss military drills for Iran scenario -U.S. official

U.S. and Israeli defense chiefs are expected on Thursday to discuss possible military exercises that would prepare for a worst-case scenario to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities should diplomacy fail and…

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Photo Story: Miss Malta and other Miss Universe beauty pageant contestants visit the Dead Sea

Contestants of the 2021 Miss Universe beauty pageant enjoy themselves at the Dead Sea, Israel, 04 December 2021. The 70th Miss Universe beauty contest takes place at the Dead Sea…

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Photo Story: Miss Malta and other Miss Universe contestants tour Jerusalem’s Old City

Miss Cambodia Ngin Marady (L), Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira (C), and Miss Malta Jade Cini (R) pose as members of the Miss Universe beauty pageant tour Jerusalem's Old, ahead of…

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Israel’s Supreme Court clears return of of kidnapped boy to Italy

A six-year-old boy, the sole survivor of an Italian cable car disaster who was kidnapped and taken to Israel by his grandfather, will be returned to Italy no later than Dec. 12, Israel's Supreme Court ruled…

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Israel will host Miss Universe contest next month despite Omicron, minister says

JERUSALEM, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Israel will host the Miss Universe beauty pageant on Dec 12 despite imposing travel restrictions in a bid to stave off the Omicron strain of…

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Israel’s Bennett “very worried” world powers will ease Iran sanctions in atom talks

JERUSALEM, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Israel is "very worried" that world powers will remove sanctions on Iran in exchange for insufficient caps on its nuclear programme, Prime Minister Naftali Naftali…

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Israel to ban entry of foreigners from all countries over Omicron

Israel said it would ban the entry of all foreigners into the country, making it the first country to shut its borders completely in response to a new and potentially…

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UPDATED: Israeli PM warns of state of emergency due to new coronavirus variant

JERUSALEM, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met health experts on Friday to discuss how best to respond to a new variant of the coronavirus that has…

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Morocco and Israel sign defence MOU in Rabat, Israeli spokesperson says

Morocco and Israel signed a defence memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Rabat on Wednesday, opening the way for possible military sales and cooperation after the countries upgraded diplomatic ties last…

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UPDATED: Israeli attack in Syria’s central region kills 2 civilians – state media

An Israeli air strike in Syria killed two people and wounded seven others including six soldiers on Wednesday, Syrian state media said, in the fourth Israeli attack reported by Syria…

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Israel signals readiness to escalate Iran confrontation amid nuclear talks

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett signalled readiness on Tuesday to step up Israel's confrontation with Iran and reiterated that his country would not be bound by any new Iranian nuclear deal with world powers. Indirect…

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Israel to provide up to $44 mln in state aid to COVID-hit airlines

JERUSALEM, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Israeli cabinet members approved an additional bailout plan for airlines further harmed over the by the COVID-19's Delta strain, the finance and transportation ministries said…

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Vaccine passports would allow infections to be missed

“Vaccine passports” that exempt vaccinated people from regular COVID-19 testing would allow many infections to be missed, Israeli data suggest. Researchers analyzed infection rates in citizens returning to Israel through…

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Netanyahu makes rare appearance at his corruption trial

Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a rare appearance at his corruption trial on Tuesday but an expected courtroom encounter with an ex-aide who has turned state's witness never happened as…

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Photo Story: Christmas greetings from Jerusalem Santa

Issa Annis Kassissieh, known as Jerusalem Santa, looks over the Sea of Galilee as he takes part in a pre-Christmas greetings event for the holiday season in the Golan Heights.…

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Israel pandemic advisory panel backs COVID vaccine for young children

Israel's pandemic advisory board backed administering Pfizer's and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine to children age 5-11, health officials said, as a fourth wave of infections subsides nationwide. The Health Ministry is…

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U.S. blacklists Israeli hacking tool vendor NSO Group

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department added Israel's NSO Group and Candiru to its trade blacklist, saying they sold spyware to foreign governments that used the equipment to target…

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Palestinians facing Jerusalem evictions reject deal with Israeli settlers

Palestinians facing eviction from the flashpoint East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah rejected a deal on Tuesday that would have seen them accept the temporary ownership of their homes by an…

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Thailand, Australia, Israel ease travel curbs as lockdowns bite elsewhere

Thailand, Australia and Israel eased international border restrictions significantly on Monday for the first time in 18 months, offering a broad test of demand for travel worldwide amid the coronavirus pandemic. The…

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Israel opens to solo tourists for 1st time since pandemic

Israel on Monday began welcoming individual tourists for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities hope that opening the country’s gates to solo travelers will breathe…

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Syrian air defences intercept Israeli missiles aimed at Damascus area -state media

Oct 30 (Reuters) - Syrian air defences on Saturday intercepted Israeli missiles targeted at sites in countryside around the capital Damascus and downed some of them, state media said, citing…

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U.S. considering adding Israel, Romania, Bulgaria to visa waiver program

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the United States is considering adding four countries to its visa waiver program that allows citizens to come to America without a visa…

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Israel designates Palestinian civil society groups as terrorists

Israel on Friday designated six Palestinian civil society groups as terrorist organisations and accused them of funnelling donor aid to militants, a move that drew criticism from the United Nations…

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Pfizer vaccine very effective against Delta variant in adolescents in Israel – study

JERUSALEM, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection and symptomatic disease from the Delta variant among 12- to 18-year-olds, research conducted in Israel…

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One Syrian soldier killed, three wounded in Israeli air attack

One Syrian soldier was killed and three others wounded in an Israeli air attack on Syria's Palmyra area in the province of Homs on Wednesday evening, the Syrian defense ministry…

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In a rocky Israeli crater, scientists simulate life on Mars

RAMON CRATER, Israel (Reuters) - From the door of the expedition base, a few small steps to the left an autonomous rover passes by. A few giant leaps to the…

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UPDATE – Merkel vows German commitment to Israel in farewell visit

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged on Sunday that her country would preserve its post-Holocaust commitment to Israel, which hailed her as a "moral compass" for Europeans at…

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Israeli rightist seeks to outlaw opening of U.S. Palestinian mission in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli right-wing opposition legislator is seeking to outlaw the planned reopening of a U.S. mission in Jerusalem that has traditionally been a base for diplomatic outreach…

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Lebanon can’t dictate terms in sea border talks with Israel – minister

Israel is ready to renew efforts to solve its dispute with Lebanon over the delineation of their territorial waters in the Mediterranean, but it will not accept that Beirut dictates the terms…

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Israel requires COVID-19 booster shots for stricter “green pass”

Israel piled pressure on its vaccinated citizens to get a booster shot by making only those who received their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine eligible for a "green pass"…

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Israel accuses Iran of Cyprus attack plot

Israel accused Iran on Monday of orchestrating an attempted attack on Israelis in Cyprus after police on the Mediterranean island said an armed individual had been arrested. "This was a…

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Israel reports very few myocarditis heart inflammation cases after Pfizer boosters

Israel’s Health Ministry has identified fewer than 10 cases of heart inflammation following a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine among millions administered, according to recently released data. Israel began…

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Israeli foreign minister flies to Bahrain to inaugurate embassy

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid flew to Bahrain on Thursday on the highest-level official Israeli visit to the Gulf state since the countries established formal relations last year. Lapid will…

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Israeli PM says Iran has crossed nuclear ‘red lines’; Tehran calls it ‘full of lies’

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Monday that Iran had crossed "all red lines" in its nuclear program and vowed that Israel would not allow Tehran to acquire a…

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Israeli troops kill five Hamas gunmen in West Bank raids: military

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Israeli troops killed five Hamas militants in gun battles during raids on Sunday against one of the group's cells in the occupied West Bank,…

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