4/30/19

* New York Times Prints Another Anti-Israel Cartoon Amid Antisemitism Scandal Rocking Newspaper The New York Times printed a second anti-Israel cartoon on Saturday in its international edition, a development that comes in the wake of the newspaper having run an antisemitic cartoon on Thursday, retracting it on Saturday, and then, later on Sunday, apologizing for running it.

* Five Things You Need to Know About ISIS Leader's Video ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi re-appeared in a video at the end of April to show that he is still alive and that he is tracking current events and urging ISIS on after its defeat in Syria.

* U.S. working to designate Muslim brotherhood as terror group Sisi, who ousted President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 and was elected president the following year, has overseen a crackdown on Islamists as well as liberal opposition in Egypt.

* Report: Religious Freedom Conditions Worsening in China New regulations ban 'unauthorized' religious teachings in effort to 'sinicize' beliefs.

* Turkey and the EU: A Doomed Engagement The March 31 elections, which blended victory with defeat for Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, put a further brake on Turkey's stalled membership talks with the EU.

* Concluding Knesset term, Yehuda Glick ascends Temple Mount 'Three years ago, I came here and asked G-d to accompany me all along the way. Today, I thank him for the close escort.'

* Saudi Arabia offered Abbas $10 Billion to accept Trump's Peace Plan - Report A senior Palestinian official in Ramallah refused to comment on the report.

* Iran designates all U.S. Troops in Middle East as Terrorists The law specifically labels as a terrorist organization the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for U.S. military operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

* Israel should prepare for the day China will rule the Middle East Israeli government has so far been dangerously indifferent to Chinese plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Syria over the next 30 years, effectively cementing their presence in the war-battered, neighboring state.

* 21st Knesset officially begins President Rivlin quotes Menachem Begin in calling for civility between the coalition and the opposition in the new Knesset.

4/29/19

* Trump condemns New York Times anti-Semitic cartoon US President calls on New York Times to apologize for 'fake news' against him as it apologized for anti-Semitic cartoon.

* Erdogan will give up the S-400 on one condition Erdogan wants American's to move out of the way in Syria so he can have his way with the Kurds, with an intent to slaughter them.

* ISIS Leader Al-Baghdadi Makes First Appearance in Five Years A man believed to be the leader of the Islamic State group has made a rare camera appearance vowing to seek revenge for its loss of territory.

* Palestinians Launch Bid to Foil 'Deal of the Century' Fatah urges Hamas to join effort against Trump's plan.

* Iran, Russia to Hold Joint Maritime Drills in Persian Gulf Two countries discussed increased military and defense ties during the Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS).

* White House Proclaims Holocaust Remembrance Week Holocaust Remembrance Day will be commemorated in Israel and the Jewish world over Wednesday night and Thursday.

* 'Nobody Will Go Back': Christians Flee Middle East After Fall of Islamic State The number of Christians in the birthplace of their faith, the greater Middle East, continues to plummet months after the Islamic State, which waged a genocidal campaign against Christians, lost its "caliphate" in Iraq and Syria, Breitbart News learned from various experts, including an archbishop.

* The PA is begging Europe for money - but it doesn't need a penny more in aid The annual meeting in Europe of the "International donor group for Palestine" comes tomorrow as the Palestinian Authority is experiencing a major financial crisis.

* The Palestinians' Own Goals "We reject normalization and adopt the approach of resistance until the liberation of the entire Palestinian territory." - Statement rejecting job offers, issued by Progressive Democratic Student Pole, affiliated with the radical PLO group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

* The contest over the Strait of Hormuz's closure has begun at... Libya's Ras Lanuf Five of Iran's top leaders have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic.

4/27/19

* USS Abraham Lincoln deploys opposite Syria, US envoy to Russia aboard Accompanied by 10 warships, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier on Wednesday, April 24, deployed opposite the Syrian coast in a dramatic show of strength against Russia and Iran.

* Why Putin is a better match for Kim Jong Un than Trump is When North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s special armored railcar pulled into Russia’s Vladivostok Station on April 24 after a nine-hour journey, a red carpet was rolled out and high-level Kremlin officials greeted the young North Korean dictator as he arrived for his first summit with his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin.

* Russia not alone in Syria's West, China and Iran are also moving in near sea Russia looks set to expand its presence on Syria's west coast, with rumors of an imminent signing of a near-quarter-century lease on a lucrative seaport, but other major players were also moving in on the war-torn Mediterranean country.

* Sri Lanka didn’t heed foreign intelligence warnings before attacks — minister Agencies alerted country to threat several times, starting on April 4; political dysfunction blamed for keeping PM, ministers in dark.

* Russia Reveals New Sub Carrying Nuclear-Tipped Drone Kanyon drones equipped with port-blasting megaton warheads.

* Tens of thousands gather at Western Wall for priestly blessing Throngs of Jewish worshipers make traditional Passover pilgrimage to Jerusalem for semiannual ceremony held under heavy security.

* Putting together the puzzle: Netanyahu and the art of coalition formation Netanyahu and horse-trading, or the art of coalition formation.

* Does Russia have a better plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Putin has something Trump doesn’t have and apparently doesn’t want: influence with the Palestinians.

* Lebanon's Minister threatens to strike Ben-Gurion Airport in future war The disputes over the border have elevated tensions between the two enemy countries.

* Get ready for the end of the EU as we know it, says Ivan Krastev Ahead of the European elections in May, the EU is in the midst of its most radical crisis ever, warns Bulgarian political scientist Ivan Krastev. 

4/26/19

* Putin Says Russia Will Host Summit In August With Presidents Of Iran, Azerbaijan Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Iranian President Hassan Rohani at a summit in Russia during August.

* Does Russia Have a Better Plan for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict? Putin has something Trump doesn't have and apparently doesn't want: influence with the Palestinians.

* Analysis: Are Iran and the United States heading for war? Reports of US Naval buildup near Middle East as Iran threatens shipping lanes in response to US sanctions.

* How Turkey's Democracy Went From Insanity to 'Beyond Insanity' "Bad economic management, among others, brought him [Erdogan] to power ... It may remove him power, too." -- International banker who asked not to be named.

* Putting Together the Puzzle: Netanyahu and the Art of Coalition Formation Netanyahu and horse-trading, or the art of coalition formation.

* A Professor's Sins and the Temple Mount In an op-ed by Mick Dumper, a professor of Middle East politics at the University of Exeter and author of a book on Jerusalem, we read this prognosis...

* Factbox - Brexit delayed: What happens next? Britain's exit from the European Union was postponed by an agreement in Brussels this month that gave Prime Minister Theresa May until Oct. 31 to persuade parliament to approve the departure terms.

* How Palestinian Leaders Encourage Terrorism Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's remarks at the Arab League gathering in Cairo demonstrate his preference for the well-being of terrorists over the ability of hard-working employees to put bread on the table for their families.

* The Most Pro-Israel President Ever If an American president and his administration wanted to guarantee Israel's future as a country under constant assault, there are a few things he could do to make Israel's daily existence as fraught as possible.

* Islamist preachers in Sudan call for pro-military rally Islamists in Sudan long allied with ousted president Omar al-Bashir's regime called Friday for a rally to support military-backed Islamic rule in the face of alleged attempts by protesters to abolish it.

4/25/19

* Lebanon's Minister Threatens to Strike Ben-Gurion Airport in Future War The disputes over the border have elevated tensions between the two enemy countries.

* Russia, Iran, Turkey discuss post-war scenario in Syria talks | Al Jazeera English Video: Russia, Iran, Turkey discuss post-war scenario in Syria talks.

* 359 'People Were in Pieces!': Sri Lanka: Islamist Terror on Easter "We are a peace-loving community in this small city, we had never hurt anyone, but we don't know from where this amount of hate is coming."

* 'Rivers of Unclean Blood' Sri Lanka bombings - Sick ISIS supporters celebrate deadliest-ever attack with poster of burning Pope and Buddha Warped extremists online have celebrated the Easter Sunday massacre which left at least 359 dead.

* Get ready for the end of the EU as we know it, says Ivan Krastev Ahead of the European elections in May, the EU is in the midst of its most radical crisis ever, warns Bulgarian political scientist Ivan Krastev.

* Greenblatt: Upcoming Peace Plan Doesn't Include Confederation with Jordan The upcoming peace plan will not include a confederation between Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian authority, Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt tweeted on Wednesday.

* Trump's Foreign Policy Is Not Chaotic Though politicians and scholars harshly criticize President Donald Trump's foreign policy as chaotic, his policymaking seems to be based upon a sound and consistent political approach, contrary to that of his predecessor in the White House.

* USS Abraham Lincoln deploys opposite Syria, US envoy to Russia aboard Accompanied by 10 warships, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier on Wednesday, April 24, deployed opposite the Syrian coast in a dramatic show of strength against Russia and Iran.

* 'Jesus was a Palestinian' Platform; Islam's Plot to Rewrite World History Rep. Ilhan Omar's (D-Minn.) history of egregious antisemitic remarks and dismissal of the Islamist 9-11 attacks as "some people who did something" pale in comparison to her most recent comment which, in a subtle but horrific manner, threatens all of Judeo-Christian Western society.

* Born in the Golan Heights? You're Israeli! A US State Department manual was amended during the Passover festival to authorize US citizens born in the Golan Heights to have "Israel" given as their place of birth, according to CNSNews.com.

4/24/19

* Hezbollah Chief Claims Israel Unprepared for War Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Monday said the IDF was unprepared for a ground offensive in Lebanon and that the Israeli military could not rely solely on its air force to achieve victory.

* Kushner: Middle East peace plan to be unveiled after Ramadan The White House is planning to release its long-awaited Middle East peace plan in the next few months.

* Libya: EU officials hope Trump will pull support for Haftar European officials are hoping Donald Trump's surprise expression of support for the Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar can be reversed amid division in Washington over US policy on the north African country.

* Russia not alone in Syria's West, China and Iran are also moving in near sea Russia looks set to expand its presence on Syria's west coast, with rumors of an imminent signing of a near-quarter-century lease on a lucrative seaport, but other major players were also moving in on the war-torn Mediterranean country.

* Egypt, Iran Power Struggle Played Out in Gaza At the start of April, Hebrew media reports quoted unnamed Israeli security officials as saying that the Iranian-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist faction, whose rocket arsenal is larger than even that of Hamas, was planning a significant attack on Israeli targets.

* US severs Iran's oil export lifeline. A hawkish new Revolutionary Guards chief prepares payback The US placed its Middle East forces on high alert on Monday, April 22, before announcing the cancellation of waivers that allowed 8 countries to buy embargoed Iranian oil.

* Cracks Are Deepening in Erdogan's Ruling Party "If we lose Istanbul, we lose Turkey," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly said in 2017-and his party recently lost Istanbul's mayoral election.

* Will the Second Arab Spring Go the Way of the First? A repeat of the Egyptian scenario is possible for both Algeria and Sudan.

* The European Union: Nurturing Instability and Terrorism in the Middle East The apparent objective of the Palestinian Authority (PA) is to annex these areas and bring them under PA control as part of its larger plan for the unilateral creation of a Palestinian state.

* Is there an unprecedented build-up of US Naval power in the Middle East? A massive amount of air power and US naval assets were suddenly in the same place at the same time.

4/23/19

* 3 Challenges in Europe America Must Pay Attention to Now When it comes to European geopolitics, most U.S. policymakers focus on the big issues: Brexit, the future of NATO, a looming trade war between the United States and the European Union, Russia's war with Ukraine.

* N.Korea's Kim Jong Un to meet Putin in Russia on Thursday-Kremlin North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet on Thursday in the Russian Pacific port of Vladivostok to discuss the international standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear programme, a Kremlin official said.

* ANALYSIS: Jewish Sages on the Global Islamist War Against Christians The world just witnessed one of the most deadly terror attacks in the history of mankind and again Christians were the target.

* Iran to Increase Naval Ties with China Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi met with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing.

* Palestinian to Iranian Media: Israel is Stronger, Future Unpredictable Soltan-Shahi was described by MEMRI in 2018 as secretary-general of the Organization for Aiding the Islamic Revolution of the Palestinian People in the Office of the Iranian Presidency.

* The Omer Barley Harvest: The Temple Ritual Battling Poverty and Socialism On Saturday night, while most of Israel was cleaning up from the Seder ritual, a few families went out to the fields near Ruhama in the Negev to harvest the barley to be used in the Omer wave offering.

* EU parliamentary elections and the Brexit headache With the Brexit deadline delayed until autumn, Britain will still be an EU member when elections for the EU Parliament begin May 23 and thus obligated to elect its own MEPs.

* Arab League pledges $100M per month to Palestinian Authority The Arab League has pledged $100 million per month to the Palestinian Authority to make up for funds withheld by Israel because of payments made to the families of Palestinian attackers and prisoners.

* A New Era in Israel-Gulf State Relations? Many in the Gulf are beginning to grasp that their support for the Palestinians is detrimental to their own interests.

* Italy's 'perma-recession' could trigger a €2 trillion financial crisis that threatens the eurozone itself Italy has entered a "perma-recession" and there is no obvious way out, analysts told Business Insider.

4/22/19

* Tens of thousands gather at Western Wall for priestly blessing Throngs of Jewish worshipers make traditional Passover pilgrimage to Jerusalem for semiannual ceremony held under heavy security.

* Report: Trump's Peace Plan Will Be (Almost) Everything Israel Wants It To Be There were those who were concerned that after recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, moving the US Embassy here, and giving a thumbs-up to Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, President Donald Trump was going to require some pretty big concessions of the Jewish state in his soon-to-be-released scheme for Middle East peace.

* Report: Saudis Pressuring Abbas to Accept Trump's Mideast Plan According to a report on the website Alkhaleej Online, a member of Fatah's central committee revealed on April 20 that heavy Arab pressure was being applied to the Palestinian Authority leadership with regard to U.S. President Donald Trump's Mideast peace plan-the so-called "deal of the century"- that the White House is expected to unveil in June.

* Sri Lanka didn't heed foreign intelligence warnings before attacks -minister Agencies alerted country to threat several times, starting on April 4; political dysfunction blamed for keeping PM, ministers in dark.

* Priests Sacrifice Passover Lamb in Jerusalem In accordance with the biblical commandment, priests from the Temple Institute sacrificed a Passover Lamb this year overlooking the Temple Mount in the ancient City of Jerusalem.

* The Burning of Notre Dame and the Destruction of Christian Europe Barely an hour after the flames began to rise above Notre Dame -- at a time when no explanation could be provided by anyone -- the French authorities rushed to say that the fire was an "accident" and that "arson has been ruled out."

* 'Arab leaders pressuring Palestinians to accept Trump plan' Despite PA opposition, Arab world, especially Saudis, pressuring PA leaders to accept US peace plan, says Fatah leader.

* MKs to Macron: Don't Lecture US - Tell The PA to Stop Paying Terrorists France asked Israel to "change the decision to freeze the transfer of funds to the PA." MKs are calling it preposterous to allow tax revenue to filter down to terrorists.

* David J. Bercuson: In cozying up to Russia, Turkey's Erdogan is taking a huge gamble The United States is not alone in rejecting Turkey's recent decision to buy Russian missiles; other NATO countries are also uneasy.

* WATCH: Syrian Christians Sing "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today" As Christians gather together around the world today to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it's important to remember that Christians in many countries risk their lives to practice their faith openly.

4/20/19

* Kushner: Peace Plan Will Be Revealed After Ramadan The long-anticipated U.S. peace proposal for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not be unveiled before the Muslim holiday of Ramadan is over in June, President Donald Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner confirmed.

* ‘Declare war on Lebanon, take out Syria’s S-300s’: Outgoing Israeli general on handling neighbors Israel has the full arsenal needed to take on Hezbollah in Lebanon and eliminate the Iranian threat in Syria, the outgoing IDF Northern Command chief boasted, warning Damascus against using S-300s to protect its sovereignty.

* Russia’s largest yeshiva attacked with arson and swastikas ahead of Passover No one reported injured in fire at Torat Chaim in eastern Moscow, hours before 60 people gathered for traditional seder meal.

* Greenblatt: Peace plan doesn't include giving Sinai to Gaza US envoy rejects reports that peace plan will include giving a portion of the Sinai Peninsula to Gaza: Don't believe everything you read.

* Abbas seeks Arab backing to foil Trump's plan "Any plan not based on two-state solution is doomed to fail."

* Passover and Easter: Food for Thought The Spring festivals of Passover on Friday evening, April 19 and Easter on Sunday, April 21, are upon us again, a time to retell the stories of faith and courage that give our lives meaning and hope.

* Libya crisis: Trump speaks to insurgent General Haftar The White House says President Trump has spoken to Libyan eastern commander General Khalifa Haftar, whose forces are attacking the capital Tripoli.

* Riding the tides: Jordan sits at a crossroads of Middle Eastern dilemmas  Jordan still cares about the two-state solution and continues to push for it and is very worried about any annexation plans Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might have.

* Juncker: EU cannot keep extending Brexit deadline for UK European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has warned Britain that the country's departure from the European Union cannot be put off "indefinitely."

* Syria's Assad discusses peace talks, Tartus port with Russians Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met senior officials from his strongest ally Russia in Damascus on Friday and Saturday to discuss upcoming peace talks, renting out Tartus port and trade between the two countries, state media in Syria reported.

4/19/19

* Netanyahu Salutes Israel's 'Freedom and Independence' in Passover Message Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his social media platforms in the hours before the start of the Jewish festival of Passover to salute Israel's burgeoning place in the world.

* Macron congratulates Netanyahu on election win, says he hopes PM will seek peace French president: Next Israeli government should 'make it possible to decisively revive the Middle East peace process and to achieve a two-state solution'.

* Kushner: No Middle East Peace Plan Till Early June White House senior adviser Jared Kushner reportedly told a group of ambassadors on Wednesday that the highly anticipated Mideast peace plan for the Israelis and Palestinians will be released after Israel forms a new government and after the Islamic holiday of Ramadan, which starts on May 5 and concludes on June 4.

* As Turkey drifts away from the US, will Russia give it what it wants? President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's reliance on Russia is growing as Turkey's ties with the United States deteriorate and move toward what might be a breakup of historic proportions.

* Could Russia Be the Broker of an Israeli-Palestinian Deal? The Palestinians are unwilling to negotiate a deal with Israel under the auspices of the United States, but could Russia step in to fill that role?

* Poll: US synagogue membership stable, as number of churchgoers plummets Slightly over half of American Jews are members of a place of worship, Gallup finds; for Christian worshipers, biggest drops are seen among Democrats and Hispanics.

* Explainer: How the EU will vote and why it matters A poll for the European Parliament showed that last-minute British participation in next month's elections to the European Union's legislature means eurosceptic groups will gain ground but pro-EU parties will keep a majority.

* Report: Senior Israeli, Lebanese officials meet in Moscow Lebanese source says meeting mediated by Russia included discussion on maritime border, Assad regime, Hezbollah and Iran.

* Russia and Arabs agree on US, spar over Iran On April 16, Moscow hosted the fifth ministerial session of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum, which was attended by an unprecedented number of top Arab diplomats.

* WATCH: Iran threatens to act 'only against the Zionists' How should Israel respond to Iran's threat against the Jewish state?

4/18/19

* Netanyahu Begins Building His Coalition Benjamin Netanyahu has been officially tapped to establish Israel's next government.

* There Is No End in Sight for Turmoil in the Middle East In this edition of the Interview, Fair Observer talks to Gilbert Achcar, professor of international relations at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.

* Iran's Rouhani Anti-Israel Attack: Urges 'Righteous' Muslim Nations to 'Rid the Region' of 'Zionism' Iranian President Hassan Rouhani used an address at an Army Day parade in Tehran on Thursday to call on "righteous" Muslim countries across the Middle East to unite against Israel and the United States.

* Israel will win any conflict against enemies to the north, says departing IDF commander General Yoel Strick warns Lebanon will pay for Hezbollah cross-border incursions; threatens Israel will take out Russian S-300 system if used by Syria against IAF warplanes.

* Activists, journalists detained over Passover sacrifice attempt at Temple Mount Haaretz editor blasts police for arrests, calls on force to release seized cameras and other equipment.

* Hamas & Hizballah set up new March of Return militia on Lebanese-Israeli border The relative calm prevailing on Israel's border with Hamas-ruled Gaza is deceptive.

* IDF general: Hezbollah still planning Galilee invasion, despite anti-tunnel op Commander of Ground Forces predicts decisive Israeli victory in a future war with Hezbollah and Lebanon, vows to destroy Syria's Russian-made S-300s if used to repel Israeli raids.

* Will Trump be first President to support West Bank Settlement Annexation? Israel has long held that settlement activity is irrelevant to any peace or diplomatic process.

* EU leaders look beyond Brexit to Europe's future European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker says the European Union can focus unhindered on building its own future now that Britain has a longer delay to work out its exit from the bloc.

* Russia envisions a multipolar 'New World Order' as sun sets on America's unipolar moment Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that new centers of global power are working to build a multipolar system to replace US-led Western hegemony.

4/17/19

* Rivlin to designate candidate to form new government He added that in the hours ahead, he will designate the candidate the MKs recommended to form a new government.

* Netanyahu to be formally tapped for premiership today President Rivlin receives final results of Knesset election, will formally task Netanyahu with forming 35th Israeli government.

* EU rejects Israeli annexation talk, warns of Middle East chaos "If it is not going to be a two-state solution than it is not going to be a solution."

* Russia Says 'New World Order' Being Formed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared today that the Western, liberal model of society is dying, and a new world order is taking its place.

* BIN Exclusive: Secret Story of the Prayer for Redemption Taking Over the World A prayer to hasten the Messiah is circling the globe, with millions of copies transferred from hand to hand, one copy at a time.

* ANALYSIS: How Israel and the US are Preparing for War With Iran You probably didn't know this but normalizing relations with Israel is against the Quran and Islamic faith.

* Palestinians Urge Russia to Help Them Bypass Trump Peace Plan The Palestinians are turning to Russia for help in bypassing the long-anticipated U.S. "deal of the century" for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Palestinian officials said on Tuesday.

* Brexit chaos drags European Parliament elections into legal confusion Britain's departure from the European Union (EU) could paralyse law-making in Brussels for at least 5 years.

* A European Parliament for Eurosceptics? The upcoming European Parliament elections will be a test for the European Union's commitment to democracy as previously fringe political movements threaten to take over the helm of the EU.

* U.S. Publishes Official Map with Golan Heights as Part of Israel The US has for the first time published an international map showing the Golan Heights as part of Israel, three weeks after President Donald Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the territory captured from Syria in 1967.

4/16/19

* Passover Paschal lamb ceremony in Jerusalem draws hundreds, but not without controversy Hundreds gathered on Monday to reenact the ancient Passover ritual, including the eating of the Paschal lamb, which in the days of the Jewish Temple was brought to Jerusalem as a sacrifice on the eve of the Jewish holiday.

* PA FM: 'Abbas Ready to Meet Netanyahu With No Preconditions' The invitation to meet would have to come from Putin, "the one who will create the best conditions for a meeting to take place and for a meeting to be successful," according to Al-Malki.

* Bombshell Report: Deal of the Century Won't Include Palestinian State The long-anticipated details of the Trump Administration's "Deal of the Century" is likely to stop short of giving the Palestinians a state, according to sources close to the White House cited by The Washington Post.

* Abbas Spokesman: If Jerusalem is off the table, Trump is off the table Abu Rudeineh added, "the Americans are not working in an honest way. They are biased and this situation is not going to lead anywhere."

* Nine US Jewish Groups Call on Netanyahu to Not Annex Judea and Samaria Nine Jewish groups have called on U.S. President Donald Trump to stop Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, newly re-elected to a record fifth term, from carrying out his campaign promise to annex parts of the West Bank.

* Syrian military officials' first criticism of Russia, alleging Moscow's collusion with Israel Russia comes under fire from Damascus for the first time, since its 2015 intervention on behalf of the Assad regime, on the charge of collaborating with Israel.

* Belarus Could Be Russia's Next Big Geopolitical Target Russia's geopolitical projection has shifted over the past two decades.

* Iran Says World Must Respect Syria's Sovereignty Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the world must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.

* Libyan PM: Siege of Tripoli Could Drive 800,000 More Migrants into Europe Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), warned on Tuesday that 800,000 more migrants could be driven into Europe unless the assault on Tripoli by warlord Khalifa Haftar ends soon.

* Turkey's ruling party wants Istanbul election voided, redone Turkey's ruling party on Tuesday asked that a recent municipal election it lost in Istanbul be invalidated, as partial vote recounts in the city and the fight for the country's commercial hub continued.

* Former European leaders urge EU to reject Trump plan if no Palestinian state Letter signed by 37 high-ranking ex-officials comes after election promise by Netanyahu to extend Israeli law over West Bank settlements.

4/15/19

* Belarusian, North Korean missile engineers killed or injured in Israel's air raid of Masyaf The Israeli air strike on the Scientific Studies and Research Center in the Syrian town of Masyaf on Saturday, April 13, is reported by Western intelligence sources to have killed and wounded in addition to Iranian and Syrian military officers, a number foreign missile experts hired to upgrade their missiles.

* Netanyahu: We Will Continue to Act on All Fronts, Including in North "Power is the guarantee of our existence, and it is the essential and fundamental condition for achieving peace with our neighbors," he said.

* President Rivlin Begins Consultations to Form New Coalition Government Israel's President Reuven Rivlin has begun consultations with the heads of the country's political factions, in an attempt to expedite the formation of the government.

* 'Deal of the century' will not include Palestinian Statehood - Report According to "The Washington Post," comments from Kushner and other US officials suggest that "the plan does away with statehood as the starting premise of peace efforts."

* In the Trump era, evangelicals take center stage on Israel policy Analysis: The president likes to talk about Jews becoming Republicans, but the heart of his Israel agenda is keyed to a more critical, reliably conservative constituency.

* One-third of Americans don't believe 6 million Jews murdered According to survey, 31% of US adults believe 2 million or less Jews killed in Holocaust. 66% of millennials didn't know what Auschwitz was.

* Provoking the Iranian Revolutionary Guard makes us less safe Donald Trump's move to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation is part of a larger campaign to isolate and weaken Iran while strengthening Israel's position in the region.

* The Silent War For Shiloah and Jerusalem Ateret Cohanim (Crown of Priests) is an organization with one of the holiest missions: they are actively working toward creating a Jewish majority in sections of Jerusalem that currently have a Muslim majority.

* Germany: Talk of 'European Army' was Meant 'Allegorically' Since taking office in 2013, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen has done little to alleviate the problems in the military.

* Western Sanctions Are Driving Russia's Focus on the Middle East With the MENA region quickly becoming Russia's most profitable destination in terms of exporting arms, the correlation of foreign policy interests is clear.

4/13/19

* WATCH: After Netanyahu’s victory, will Israel annex towns in Judea and Samaria? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to annex Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria if he won reelection, but with the elections over, will he be able to fulfill this campaign promise?

* Benjamin Netanyahu's re-election may doom the two-state solution Analysis: "Israeli sovereignty over all the Israeli settlements would make it impossible to create a Palestinian state," one expert said.

* Pompeo denies Netanyahu's promise to annex West Bank will hurt ‘peace plan’ US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said he doesn’t think Benjamin Netanyahu's election vow to annex the West Bank will have a negative impact on a two-state peace plan, despite the removal of a large part of one state.

* For Palestinians the two-state solution was dead long before Netanyahu win Analysts say the prospect of establishing an independent Palestinian state was consistently frustrated by Israel while the solution failed to address key grievances.

* Trump warns Putin of US umbrella over Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in Syria Tehran had no reason to expect Russian Pantsir, S-300 or S-400 air defense missiles to begin knocking out the Israeli aircraft targeting Iranian military sites in Syria.

* 'Death to Israel' shouted as Iranians protest IRGC blacklist Thousands chant “death to America” and “death to Israel” as they protest US decision to blacklist Revolutionary Guards.

* An Arab NATO in the making Saudi Arabia plays host to high-level officials from US, Gulf states and Jordan as it prepares to launch Middle East Strategic Alliance - a new body designed to counter Iran's influence in the region.

* What is next for Turkey after the local elections? The economy, the Syrian crisis and air defence will be among the top priorities of the Erdogan administration.

* Shame, sadness in UK as Brexit reveals Parliament's flaws The hidden flaws in Britain's political system have been laid bare and even televised worldwide since voters chose to leave the European Union three years ago.

* How Iran can solve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Iran has openly stated its goal of eliminating Israel.

4/12/19

* Gantz calls Netanyahu to congratulate him; PM: We'll restore calm to Israel With results finalized, Blue and White leader, in extremely short conversation, tells Likud head 'we will continue to serve the citizens of Israel'.

* Report: Rivlin to ask Netanyahu, Gantz, to form unity government Before meeting with party heads, Rivlin to ask PM Netanyahu, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, to form unity government, source says.

* Kotel Politics The Western Wall, outside Judaism's holiest site the Temple Mount, has long been held hostage by the intersection of political interests.

* ANALYSIS: Turkey's Erdogan is in real trouble Erdogan, whose party lost Turkey's internal elections, insists on purchase of Russian S-400 missiles, may find itself eased out of NATO.

* We'll go to RUSSIA! Turkey issues Trump with DIRE fighter jet warning Turkey has threatened to buy even more Russian jets if President Donald Trump continues his pledge to halt the sale of US-made F-35 stealth fighters.

* US lets 3 NATO allies use Russian SAMs, but why is it so spooked over Turkey's S-400 deal? For years, three NATO states have had no trouble using Russian air defense systems, but Turkey's S-400 deal is a special case as it's a risk to the US grip on Ankara and inflicts losses on its military industry, analysts told RT.

* Brexit black hole: Divorce implosion, deal, or election? The United Kingdom now has until Oct. 31 to leave the European Union but the British political elite is still squabbling over how, when or if to Brexit.

* Iran Restarts Advanced Nuclear Work Iranian leaders have authorized and begun spinning a set of advanced nuclear centrifuges to mark the country's Iran National Nuclear Day, which leaders said is in honor "of all the jihadi efforts of our country's nuclear industrialists."

* Qatar: 'A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing' "We have been reporting Doha's ideological and religious penetration for years. In the form of investments and financial operations, Qatar extends its proselytizing network every day, with serious damage to European societies..." - Souad Sbai, the Moroccan-born president of Italy's Averroes Studies Center.

* Beresheet may have crashed, but for a moment we raised our eyes to the heavens While the Israeli spacecraft didn't land on the moon, it did remind us to look beyond the borders of our own small worlds and let our imaginations soar.

4/11/19

* Were Elections a Referendum on Trump's Peace Plan? Then What Did We Learn? It's expected that the peace plan will be rolled out once Israel's new government has been formally sworn in, but a date has yet to be set.

* Brexit: UK and EU agree delay to 31 October European Union leaders have granted the UK a six-month extension to Brexit, after late-night talks in Brussels.

* EU may offer a Brexit extension, but political complexities remain With the United Kingdom's initial extension for Brexit expiring Friday, the pressure is on for a gathering of European Union officials to come up with an alternative.

* Sudan Crisis Impacts Whole Middle East Mass protests in Algeria and Sudan forced the 82 and 75 year old men from power. They had both been in power since the 1990s.

* Pete Hegseth: The real story of Jerusalem and why it matters If you think you know the story of Jerusalem, think again. There are the stories in the newspapers, there are the stories politicians will tell you, and then there's the real story.

* It's Complicated: From the Roman Empire to Brexit, Britain Has Always Struggled to Define Its Relationship With Europe Britain today is consumed by its relationship with Europe.

* An Arab NATO in the Making "It would serve as a bulwark against Iranian aggression, terrorism, extremism and will bring stability," said a spokesperson for the White House's National Security Council.

* Ukrainian Prosecutor Reopens Corruption Case Involving Biden The chief prosecutor in Ukraine recently revealed that he's reopening a corruption probe into Ukraine's largest private gas company that could have profound implications for the presidential aspirations of former Vice President Joe Biden.

* Report: Putin Trying to 'Reintegrate' Returning Islamic State Jihadis into Society Russia, considered one of the countries with the highest number of foreign fighters joining the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) and other terrorist groups abroad, is trying to "reintegrate" those jihadis "into society, by way of shorter stints in jail and close monitoring," the Washington Post reported this week.

* Hidden Holy Men Reveal Final Key to Open Redemption This Passover Rabbi Yosef Berger cites a 1,000-year-old collection of teachings from Elijah the Prophet as well as proclamations from hidden righteous men in Jerusalem to reveal how the redemption was brought in Egypt and how that can be replayed next week during the Passover holiday.

4/10/19

* With almost all votes in, Netanyahu-led right wins decisively Right-wing bloc's success gives PM clear path to form new government, despite Likud tying in seats with Gantz's Blue and White; New Right and Zehut fail to cross threshold.

* Israel's Netanyahu Wins Reelection With Parliamentary Majority: Tally Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured a clear path to reelection on Wednesday, with religious-rightist parties set to hand him a parliamentary majority despite a close contest against his main centrist challenger, a vote tally showed.

* Palestinians: Israelis Voted to Maintain Status Quo, Apartheid PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi said that Israelis have voted for candidates "who are unequivocally committed to entrenching the status quo of oppression."

* Trump: Netanyahu's victory - good sign for peace US president congratulates PM on election victory. Bolton says peace plan to be published 'in very near future.'

* Bolton: Trump's 'Deal of Century' to be published 'in very near future' A day after the Knesset election, U.S. national security adviser John Bolton has told ABC that  "I think Trump's peace plan will be published in the very near future."

* Israel needs a unity government now Putting the pathetic election campaign and its rhetoric behind us, the Blue and White Party's proclamations they will not join a Netanyahu government, if fulfilled, would be the worst disservice to the country.

* First ever black hole image released Astronomers have taken the first ever image of a black hole, which is located in a distant galaxy.

* Next Israeli Gov't To Be Plagued by Even More Religious Coercion Benjamin Netanyahu has once again emerged as the man destined to lead Israel into the near future, but he wasn't the biggest winner as the votes for the 21st Knesset were counted overnight.

* EU set to offer Theresa May one-year 'flexible' delay to Brexit Theresa May is set to be offered a year-long "flexible" delay to Brexit at next week's emergency summit in Brussels, EU officials have said.

* 'China is biggest threat to WORLD!' US rattled by Beijing's presence in Venezuela The US has warned China is the "biggest threat to democracy and the way of life around the world" as Beijing's presence during the escalating crisis in Venezuela heightens global tensions.

* Jewish, Pro-Israel Groups React Positively to Designating IRGC as Terrorist Group Prominent Jewish and pro-Israel organizations reacted positively to the Trump administration announcing on Monday that the United States will officially designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including its Quds Force, as a terrorist group-the first time that a part of a foreign state has been officially designated a terrorist group by the United States.

4/9/19

* Gantz VS. Netanyahu: Both claim victory Amid split exit polls Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party finished second with 33 seats, according to Channel 12. Blue and White takes 37.

* Israelis take election holiday before waking up to changed Mid-East realities For a month, Israelis and their media were too steeped in ferocious electioneering, among bidders to lead the next government in the April 9 vote, to notice the critical realities unfolding in the region.

* Top Jordanian politician: We hope Israel's elections mark the end of Netanyahu Faisal al-Fayez, speaker of the Senate and a former prime minister, says his nation wants to see Gantz make peace efforts if he becomes Israel's next leader.

* Netanyahu: There Will Be No Palestinian State The U.S. is fully aware of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's flat rejection of the creation of a Palestinian state along with his plans to extend Israeli law to West Bank settlements, the Israeli premier said on Monday.

* In West Bank, settlers say sovereignty pledge isn't what's driving them to polls Voters in three Israeli communities over the Green Line arrive to vote thinking about security and religion, not annexation.

* Palestinian Nationalism's Nazi Roots It is undeniable that during World War II, many Muslims allied with Germany and hundreds of thousands of them fought for the Nazis.

* Endless Brexit: Britain & Europe face potential disaster After Brexit negotiations limped along for two years with everyone expecting there would be some fudgy deal there's now a risk of Britain leaving the EU without a deal in just a few days.

* Brexit: Theresa May meets Angela Merkel for delay request Theresa May is holding last-minute Brexit talks with the leaders of Germany and France, with the UK due to leave the EU in three days time.

* When Will Iran's Regime Finally Cave In? "Yes, the accused fled from a country where virtual bullies push against science, knowledge and expertise and resort to conspiracy theories to find a scapegoat for all the problems because they know well that finding an enemy, spy or someone to blame is much easier than accepting responsibility and complicity in a problem". - Kaveh Madani, one of Iran's leading environmentalists, who recently fled to London.

* How Putin benefits from the Israeli-Iranian struggle in Syria Russia holds the cards in Syria. Jerusalem and Tehran must spell out their desires for the Syrian arena to Moscow, who in turn must find a way to leave each side with "half its desires."

* Netanyahu says Trump designated Iran Guards a terror group at his request PM takes credit for dramatic US move to further isolate Tehran, announced a day before Israelis go to the polls.

4/8/19

* As Israel Goes to the Polls Tomorrow Israelis go to the polls this Tuesday, April 9, electing a new national government.

* PA Warns of 'Chaos' and 'Violence' if Netanyahu Annexes West Bank "If Netanyahu wants to declare Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, then you know [that] he will face a real problem," said PA Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki.

* Brexit: EU weighs risks of going into extra time The UK impasse over Brexit casts a cloud of uncertainty over EU leaders meeting for emergency talks in Brussels on Wednesday.

* Turkey's Erdogan to Discuss Possible Operation in Syria With Putin - RIA Erdogan has vowed to crush US-backed Kurdish fighters east of the Euphrates in Syria and said last year that preparations were complete for an operation.

* Did The Pope Just Evoke the Prophetic Alliance Between Esau and Ishmael Against Jerusalem? It is a well-known Jewish idea that the clashes among Jacob, Esau and Ishmael that began in the book of Genesis continue throughout history.

* Why Israel's Military Could Crush Anyone: Think Nuclear Weapons It is unlikely, but hardly impossible, that Israel could decide to use nuclear weapons first in a future conflict.

* Israel PM vows to annex West Bank settlements if re-elected Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank if he is re-elected.

* Temple Mount Sifting Project to Relaunch for Jerusalem Day A third of the removed Temple Mount soil remained unsifted and is in danger of being lost by erosion.

* COMMENTARY: Israel Sacrificed for Oil The secret is out. Britain has been locked into an anti-Israel agreement ever since we first entered Europe in the early 1970s - a policy likely to consign us to the dust of history.

* Netanyahu: Trump Peace Plan 'Coming from a Friend' Benjamin Netanyahu says 'coming from a friend' he expects Trump's plan will take Israel's interests into consideration.

4/6/19

* Trump’s blacklisting of Iran’s Guards bodes tougher US oil sanctions, more IDF air strikes in W. Iraq as well as Syria President Donald Trump’s planned designation of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization on Monday, April 8 , will add to US steps for maximizing the economic pressure on Iran in the coming two months.

* Hamas leader: ‘If there is a war, Israel will need to evacuate Tel Aviv’ Amid ceasefire talks, Yahya Sinwar says he is grateful for efforts by Egypt to ease the blockade on Gaza, but warns Hamas will be the ‘sword and shield’ for its people.

* When is Trump going to roll out his Middle East Peace Plan? Dateline Washington: Between peace, Washington and Israel’s elections.

* Experts: Russia, China Expanding Influence in Middle East as U.S. Steps Back America’s strategic adversaries Russia and China are trying to fill the power and security vacuum in the Middle East left behind by the United States by “exploiting the real and imagined U.S. absence for their own gains,” analysts testified before a House panel Wednesday.

* Too much religion in the Knesset? The best estimate is that the religious and haredim will account for nearly a third (!) of the next Knesset. Should we be concerned that the Knesset is getting more religious?

* '1 million Palestinians to settle in Jordan under Trump plan' Report says Trump peace plan includes Jordan ceding territory to Israel, settling 1 million Palestinians, forming confederation with PA.

* What Is Behind the Opposition to Peace with Israel? Peace with Israel is purportedly a form of surrender and submission that will harm the dignity of Arabs and Muslims.

* Germany Blames ‘Silver Spoon’ U.K. Elite for Brexit Chaos Erdogan: S-400 purchase from Russia will go ahead.

* Israeli Attitudes Towards American Jews EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: As the Israeli elections approach, cleavages are revealing themselves in Israeli attitudes towards American Jews.

* Inside the Chaos Surrounding Britain's Brexit Boondoggle Members of Parliament can’t even succeed at making up Brexit as they go along.

4/5/19

* Israeli Candidate Calls to Build Temple Now For the first time ever, an Israeli politician has had the temerity to publicly declare what, for more than 2,000 years, the Jewish people have prayed for: build the Temple now.

* Experts: Russia, China Expanding Influence in Middle East as U.S. Steps Back America's strategic adversaries Russia and China are trying to fill the power and security vacuum in the Middle East left behind by the United States by "exploiting the real and imagined U.S. absence for their own gains," analysts testified before a House panel Wednesday.

* 'Security risk & lawbreaker': German MP says 70yo NATO should retire German lawmaker Alexander Neu lambasted NATO for conducting aggressive wars and raking up defense spending, suggesting Germany should quit its military command, and the bloc be dissolved altogether.

* Turkey's Elections: What Do They Mean for Turkey and Erdogan? The election results in Istanbul, now disputed by the AKP, put the opposition candidate into the lead by a margin of 23,000 votes in a city with 10.5 million voters.

* The Importance of the Golan Heights Analysis: Jerusalem is likely to keep treating Syria as an extension of Iranian territory.

* Iraq fears bevy of levees will mean parched years ahead Although water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have been rising as torrential rains fill some of the largest dams in Iraq, the threat of drought persists.

* Israeli polls see Netanyahu ahead, but many still undecided Last authorised opinion polls suggest PM Benjamin Netanyahu heading for next term in office.

* Report: 'Deal of the Century' to be presented on May 15 Arab site reports that US diplomatic plan will be presented on May 15. Participating countries: Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

* Brexit: UK asks EU for further extension until 30 June Theresa May has written to the European Union to request a further delay to Brexit until 30 June.

* Moscow Positions Itself as 'Final Judge' in Syria Amid Israel-Iran Tensions Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been engaged in a flurry of discussions recently, at least some of which are likely tied to Iranian activities in Syria.

4/4/19

* ANALYSIS: Israel and US Working Against Growing Iranian Missile Threat While the international community continues issuing condemnations about the American recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights it becomes increasingly clear that the measure is related to Iran's activities in Syria.

* Iran 'a significant threat to Middle East peace', warns Israeli expert IRAN's "significant" threat to stability in the Middle East should not be under-estimated - while Israel's deep commitment to "rolling back" the Islamic Republic's influence in Syria and elsewhere mean tensions between the two countries are unlikely to recede any time soon, an Israeli-based expert has said.

* Encountering Peace: The Birth of the State of Palestine in Gaza Now we are witnessing the final stages of the implementation of the plan devised by Sharon, and likely to be completed if Netanyahu wins the elections on April 9.

* US issues warning to Turkey over Syria invasion amid Middle East tensions - 'DEVASTATING' Mike Pompeo issued a stark warning to Turkey against any military in Syria after meeting the country's foreign minister.

* Syria vows to recapture Golan from Israel 'by all means' As protests against US recognition of Israeli sovereignty continue across war-torn country, FM Muallem promises to 'liberate every inch' of its territories.

* 2,000-year-old Jewish settlement uncovered in Beer Sheva Excavations reveal, among other things, sherd of rare oil lamp depicting menorah, one of the earliest depictions of menorah discovered.

* Garden of Eden FOUND? How archaeologist discovered 'true location' after Jerusalem find The Garden of Eden's location may have finally been found thanks to a discovery by an archaeologist in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, a documentary claimed.

* Handing Gaza to Abbas Will Solve Nothing Overthrowing Hamas and handing rule in Gaza to Mahmoud Abbas will not bring about a solution to the Gaza problem.

* How Putin Built a Ragtag Empire of Tyrants and Failing States Even in the worst of times, Russia had been a reliable friend to the Sudan of Omar al-Bashir.

* Caroline Glick: Egypt and Middle East Peace, Positive and Negative Next week, Egyptian President Sisi will arrive in Washington for a critical meeting with President Donald Trump.

4/3/19

* Zehut's Feiglin says he wants to build Third Temple right away Chairman of far-right party, which is enjoying growing popularity, is a longtime advocate of Jews' rights on Temple Mount and has called for increased Israeli control over site.

* Report: Hamas, Islamic Jihad order end to Gaza border attacks Haniyeh says 'no reason' why Hamas cannot discuss prisoner swap, likely involving fallen IDF soldiers, captive civilians; Hamas boss hints that Egypt-mediated talks with Israel progressing well.

* Analysis: Netanyahu Meets Putin Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow, April 4th, in Moscow for talks on regional conflicts. The two leaders have spoken on the phone in the past few days to discuss Israel's concerns over Russia's approach to Iran's military buildup in Syria.

* Israel's far-right PM candidate seeks to annex Gaza, West Bank With six days to go before Israel's general election, attention is focused on the battle for re-election by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

* ANALYSIS: Why the world got Israel's Golan sovereignty all wrong Israel and the US agree that the transfer of the plateau is no longer negotiable due to the changed situation in Syria.

* Should Israel Seize the Gaza Strip? In 2005, Israel left the rest of the Gaza Strip. Israel therefore has already captured and ruled the Gaza Strip twice. The third time is not likely to be a charm.

* Cultural obstacles are the real barriers to Israeli-Palestinian peace "The attacks on civilians, breaking their arms, and beating them, constitute humiliation, disgrace, and injustice," Nasser Al-Laham, the editor-in-chief of the Palestinian Authority's Maan News Agency, said about Palestinian rule in the territories.

* Israeli elections and the coming of Moshiach Ancient Temple discoveries, Red Heifers, and the Golan Heights.

* China's Han Superstate: The New Third Reich China's ruler, Xi Jinping, demands that the five recognized religions - official recognition is a control mechanism - "Sinicize."

* NATO at 70: Why NATO and the EU must work hand in hand After Brexit, eighty percent of NATO's spending will be delivered by non-EU countries.