6/29/19

* Trump: Israeli-Palestinian peace deal will be reached only when I am President The "Peace to Prosperity" economic portion of the peace plan was released exactly one week prior.

* Erekat blasts Greenblatt for remarks on Judea and Samaria PLO Secretary General condemns US envoy for calling Judea and Samaria communities "neighborhoods and cities" and not “settlements”.

* After US-Russia summit, Netanyahu says Israel won’t stop hitting Iran in Syria At air force graduation, PM also warns that war will break out if Israel does not maintain control of West Bank’s Jordan Valley

* Who's in the running for Juncker's post and other EU top jobs? EU leaders will head back to Brussels on Sunday night for a special meeting to try and agree on who should be the next president of the European Commission.

* Israeli F-35 fighter jets participated this week in an international exercise alongside F-35s from the United States and United Kingdom, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Wednesday. Kanyon drones equipped with port-blasting megaton warheads.

* Bahraini FM: Economic summit doesn't mean normalization After being criticized for speaking to Israeli media, Bahrain's Foreign Minister reaffirms his country's support for Palestinian state.

* Trump peace plan conference is blip on Israel's radar as political, Iran crises swirl A U.S.-led conference in Bahrain designed to drum up investment in the Palestinian economy and pave a path to peace with Israel has gone largely unremarked by Israelis preoccupied with a political crisis and their arch-foe Iran.

* ANALYSIS: Increasing Iranian Threat to Israel and World Peace What will come of a critical meeting between Israel, America and Russia following escalation of Iranian aggression?

* Bahrain FM: We Want Peace with Israel Bahrain views Israel as a country that is here to stay and one it wishes to make peace with, the Gulf state’s foreign minister said Wednesday on the sidelines of the U.S.-led economic peace workshop.

* Earthquake Hits Dead Sea: Is it the First ‘Pre-Messiah’ Quake that’ll Turn it Into a ‘Garden of Eden’? A minor 3.8 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday might have enormous aftershocks that will bring about seismic changes preparing the land of Israel for the Messianic era.

6/28/19

* After US-Russia summit, Netanyahu says Israel won't stop hitting Iran in Syria At air force graduation, PM also warns that war will break out if Israel does not maintain control of West Bank's Jordan Valley.

* 'A terrorist state is right around the corner' Massive increase in illegal Arab construction, watchdog group warns, with 28,000 illegal Arab buildings built since 2009.

* With its population set to double in 30 years, how will Israel cope? The government plans to build 1.5 million new homes by 2040, mostly in the crowded center, but critics say housing without infrastructure won't work, call to develop Negev, Galilee.

* Fires rage across southern Israel despite reported agreement with Hamas The balloons came despite Israel expanding the Gaza fishing zone up to 15 nautical miles starting at 10am and agreed to return 60 boats that had been confiscated from Gazans.

* Iranian Military Leaders Threaten 'Stronger' Response if U.S. Violates Its Borders Iran's "growing" military might has frightened enemies and served as a deterrent for Tehran's foes, the deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) indicated on Thursday amid skyrocketing tensions between the Iranian regime and the United States, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.

* Preparation for War?: Israel, US and UK Conduct First joint F-35 drills over Mediterranean (June 27, 2019 / JNS) Israeli F-35 fighter jets participated this week in an international exercise alongside F-35s from the United States and United Kingdom, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Wednesday.

* Huge crowd cheers Istanbul mayor inauguration Opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu wins re-run of mayoral vote in landslide victory seen as blow to Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

* How Does the European Union Work? The EU's authority has steadily expanded as its members have passed more and more decision-making power to the union.

* Jerusalem isn't Israel's capital, Palestinian official says after Bahrain Summit Kushner, Greenblatt are 'amateurs,' he told UN forum.

* Failed US cyber strike on Shiite rocket control systems in Lebanon stirs war fears in Israel The US Cyber Command on Sunday, June 23, conducted a cyberattack on the Lebanon-based logistical command centers of the Iraqi Shiite Kata'ib Hezbollah militia, one of Tehran's key proxies.

6/27/19

* Palestinians call for statehood during UN debate on Jerusalem "The Conference will address the issue of Israel's policies and measures aimed at changing the character of Jerusalem, which have significant political, legal and socio-economic ramifications."

* In trilateral Jerusalem summit, Russia sides with Iran, against Israel and US Senior Russian official stands by Tehran's claim that US drone was shot down in Iranian airspace, defends rights of foreign troops to remain in Syria despite Israeli opposition.

* Trump peace plan conference is blip on Israel's radar as political, Iran crises swirl A U.S.-led conference in Bahrain designed to drum up investment in the Palestinian economy and pave a path to peace with Israel has gone largely unremarked by Israelis preoccupied with a political crisis and their arch-foe Iran

* Kushner: Political plan will be released at 'right time' White House adviser says door still open for PA to engage in US peace plan, slamming PA for 'blaming Israel for all the people's problems.'

* ANALYSIS: Increasing Iranian Threat to Israel and World Peace What will come of a critical meeting between Israel, America and Russia following escalation of Iranian aggression?

* Straight Pride March set to take Place in Israel In an effort to counter the gay "pride" march, a group of Jewish Israelis from Haifa and the surrounding areas are embarking on something similar to the 'Straight Pride March' in Boston called Mitzad Hamishpacha (the Family March).

* Hezbollah sees U.S. war on Iran as unlikely The Iran-backed terror group's official hints at the possibility of opening a front against Israel in the event of an American attack on the Islamic Republic; adds Iran helped the Shi'ite organization achieve 'great accomplishments' in 'Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere'.

* U.N. looks for U.S.-Russia understanding to spur Syria peace process "A deeper understanding" between Russia and the United States is needed to move the Syrian peace process forward, U.N. Syria envoy Geir Pedersen said in an interview published on Thursday.

* Bahrain's FM tells Tol he hopes 'to visit when it's all open, peaceful' Even though we'd met several times, Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa had not agreed to an on-the-record interview until Wednesday, when I visited his country to cover the US-led economic peace workshop.

* Trump, Putin meet Friday to discuss 'issues of strategic stability' U.S. President Donald Trump will be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin this Friday on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Japan, Kremlin sources confirmed on Wednesday.

6/26/19

* Investors at Bahrain workshop say peace is the missing piece in US Mideast plan IMF chief believes major economic growth in Palestinian territories possible, but lasting political stability essential for prosperity.

* Mystic Rabbi Predicts: Second Round of Israeli Elections Will Fail: Gog and Magog War by High Holidays Rabbi Yekutiel Fish, an expert in Jewish mysticism who blogs in Hebrew under the title 'Sod Chashmal,' told Breaking Israel News that the final redemption is very close indeed.

* Israel rebukes Chile over president's visit to Temple Mount Israel orders Chile's ambassador in for dressing down after Chilean president visits Temple Mount with Palestinian Authority leader.

* Opinion: Erdogan's loss is Israel's gain Istanbul, home to 20 percent of the Turkish population, has been emboldened by the mayoral victory of Ekrem Imamoglu. It won't take long for other areas of the country to follow suit.

* Russia condemns Israeli strikes in Syria, attempts to isolate Iran During a three-way meeting between Israeli, American and Russian security advisers - focused primarily on Iran and Syria - Nikolai Patrushev calls attempts to demonize Islamic Republic 'unacceptable'; Bolton says 'all options remain on the table' if Tehran exceeds uranium enrichment limit.

* Chilean President apologizes for Temple Mount visit with Palestinians Israel had agreed that Pinera could go up to the Temple Mount, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif - but presumed he would do so, as is customary, together with Wakf officials.

* 'Everyone knows Israel's not leaving all of Judea and Samaria' 'Things heading in right direction at Bahrain peace summit,' says Ambassador David Friedman. 'No plans for annexation of Judea, Samaria.'

* Jerusalem's Tomb of the Kings to reopen for 1st time since 2010 France announces reopening of Tomb of the Kings grave site to the public, following 9-year closure for renovations.

* Religion dropping among many Arabs, says BBC poll On the issue of the threat posed by other countries, many were more afraid of Israel than the United States and Iran.

* Earthquake Hits Dead Sea: Is it the First 'Pre-Messiah' Quake that'll Turn it Into a 'Garden of Eden'? A minor 3.8 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday might have enormous aftershocks that will bring about seismic changes preparing the land of Israel for the Messianic era.

6/25/19

* Pompeo Arrives in Middle East to Build 'Global Coalition' Against Iran U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the Middle East this week to build a "global coalition" against Iran amid intensified tensions between Washington and Tehran.

* Putin Adviser: Israel's security important, Russian 'Countrymen' are here Patrushev said that he is in the country at the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

* Report: Iran Forming Terror Cells in Africa to Attack U.S. in Response to Sanctions Iran expanded its terrorist activities to Africa where it has recruited an estimated 300 militants to attack the United States and other Western targets in retaliation for American sanctions against Tehran, the Daily Telegraph reported Monday.

* 'We will not allow Iran to entrench on our border' PM Netanyahu meets Secretary of the Russian National Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, in Jerusalem.

* UN Israeli Ambassador Says Palestine's Refusal To Surrender For Peace Deal Is About 'Destroying Israel' Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said Palestine's refusal to surrender for a Middle Eastern peace deal is about "destroying Israel" in a Monday New York Times op-ed.

* Iraqis welcome Pope Francis' plan to visit in 2020 Iraqis have been looking at the announcement of Pope Francis' plan to visit to Iraq next year with various but positive outlooks.

* Russia Resurrects Mass Mobilization Mass mobilization saved the Russian state on many occasions in past centuries, proving effective against Charles XII, Napoleon I, and Hitler.

* Long line of Israeli-Palestinian peace bids precede Trump push Here is a list of the main plans and initiatives undertaken by the parties themselves and international mediators since the 1967 Middle East war.

* Russia insists it will counter new US sanctions on Iran (June 24, 2019 / JNS) Russia is going to counter new sanctions put on Iran by the Trump administration, said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov to reporters on Monday.

* Israel Prepares for War With Iran Israel on heightened alert as tension between Iran and US makes war more likely.

6/24/19

* Strength in numbers: Pompeo, Bolton and Hook straddle Mideast On Sunday Bolton was in Jerusalem meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

* Iran Is Very Close to the Nuclear Threshold Iran is threatening to resume its uranium enrichment effort to the point that it will be able to produce a nuclear bomb.

* Iran calls America's $50billion Middle East peace plan 'shameful' after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned he is certain it will fail Iranian foreign ministry spokesman has criticized the $50billion US peace plan.

* Leaked: Trump's Peace Plan will Lead to 'Full Palestinian Statehood' A top- ranking Saudi diplomat told Globes on Friday that Trump's 'Deal of the Century' includes a "clear path leading to complete Palestinian independence".

* US covert cyber war on Iran may prompt Russian, Chinese cyber aid for Tehran against America President Donald Trump is reported widely by US media to have embarked on a covert cyberwar on Iran.

* Iran and Iraq: Tehran envisions joint military exercises, missile defense and Mosul influence Iran and Iraq were once enemies when Saddam Hussein's regime was in charge, but after the US-led invasion in 2003 the countries have grown closer because of the rise of Shi'ite political parties.

* Turkey slams southern EU nations on drilling bid off Cyprus Turkey on Saturday criticized southern European Union nations for urging the EU to consider action against Turkey over its bid to drill for gas in waters where Cyprus has exclusive economic rights.

* Istanbul: 'Everything Is Coming Up Roses' The invincible Erdogan took a great risk: a second loss for the man who thinks "who wins Istanbul wins Turkey" would mean just more than just an embarrassing mayoral loss.

* Palestinians and the Bahrain Conference: Condemning Arabs While Asking for Arab Money The Palestinian strategy is clear: to incite the Arab masses against their leaders and governments.

* Hezbollah is now giving orders to Syria's army - and using it to spy on Israel In a reality once unthinkable, Assad's troops along Golan border are heeding commanders of the Iran-backed terror group, and helping it prepare for conflict with the Jewish state.

6/22/19

* High Court Relinquishes Messiah’s Gate to Muslim Authority Palestinians hold a prayer rally outside the “Gate of Mercy” on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City, on March 1, 2019.

* Bolton lands in Israel ahead of unprecedented security summit US national security adviser to meet with Netanyahu, discuss Iran with Russian and Israeli counterparts.

* Iran: New Terrorist Activity in Europe Iran is intensifying its efforts to build a global terror network as the ayatollahs come under increasing economic and political pressure resulting from US sanctions.

* Netanyahu, at major drill, warns: IDF has huge destructive power, don’t test us PM and IDF chief visit large-scale warfare exercise in northern Israel amid growing tensions with Iran and its proxy Hezbollah.

* Sanhedrin Mints King David Coin to Usher in Davidic Dynasty As the next stage in the Messianic process, the Sanhedrin of Israel released a new coin honoring King David in preparation for re-establishing the Davidic Dynasty.

* Kremlin says Russia-US-Israel meeting 'Very Important' Former Deputy NSC head: meeting is Russian ‘slap’ at Iran.

* Brexit Brief: “Feasible” that U.K. will leave EU by November, says leading PM hopeful Boris Johnson, front-runner to be the U.K.’s next prime minister, has insisted he wants to take the country out of the EU on October 31—but didn’t give a cast-iron guarantee.

* Israel, Palestinians eye smooth waters with historic cooperation on sewage For years, Jerusalem wastewater has been flowing as is to Dead Sea, with politics blocking a solution. Now one of the region’s worst environmental hazards can finally be treated.

* "The entire world will pay" if Muslims don't "act" to save Al-Aqsa from "the Israeli plot," threatens Abbas' advisor on Islam"The entire world will pay dearly," if the Muslim world doesn't "act" to save Jerusalem from Israel's plots - this is the warning from one of the most important religious figures in the Palestinian Authority on his Twitter account.

* Sanhedrin’s Plan For Global Train Network Could be the Key to Redemption, Third Temple The Sanhedrin has been working on plans for a high-speed rail system connecting Africa, Europe, and Asia for over two decades and conditions now seem ripe to make this vision a reality.

6/21/19

* NYT: Trump Ordered, Then Canceled Air and Naval Strikes Against Iran The New York Times reported Thursday evening that President Donald Trump ordered air and naval strikes against Iranian targets in response to the shooting down of a U.S. Navy drone earlier that day, but canceled them "abruptly."

* If there is a war: This is how U.S. and allies stack up to Iran If war breaks out between the US and Iran, and their respective allies, how will Iran and its proxies stack up?

* Israel could strike first as tensions with Iran flare Iran shot down a U.S. drone on June 19, further escalating tensions between Iran and its adversaries.

* No Peace as Long as Iran's Mullahs Enjoy Power Already eight years ago, the head of Iran's Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani boasted to the US General David Petraeus that: "You should know that I... control policy for Iran with respect to Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza and Afghanistan."

* Revealed: Iran's Top Secret weapon which will stop any US invasion attempt in its tracks Iran has a weapon that could be potentially catastrophic for the US should conflict break out between the two countries, an expert has stated.

* Trump sent message to Iran: Hold talks or we'll strike - report US president said to have urged Tehran to come to the table, warning of impending military action over drone's downing; Iranian officials say they conveyed matter to Khamenei.

* Ahead of the Bahrain Conference, Hamas Casts Its Lot with Iran A week and a half ago, Hamas organized its weekly confrontation on the Gaza fence in honor of World Jerusalem Day, an event inaugurated by Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 and celebrated since then primarily by Iran and its Hezbollah proxy.

* Prominent Israeli MK Cries out to his Nation: "God is my boss, not Netanyahu!" Betzalel Smotrich, the head of the right-wing Tkuma party, was appointed as an interim Minister of Transportation who will serve until the national elections that will be held September 17.

* EU leaders fail to agree top job candidates in Brussels talks A summit of 28 European Union leaders has failed to reach agreement on who should take on the bloc's top jobs.

* The race is on: Candidates vie for top EU jobs EU leaders on Thursday are seeking to fill up to five key jobs supervising the 28-nation bloc's policies that will be vacated in coming months.

6/20/19

* Sanhedrin's Plan For Global Train Network Could be the Key to Redemption, Third Temple The Sanhedrin has been working on plans for a high-speed rail system connecting Africa, Europe, and Asia for over two decades and conditions now seem ripe to make this vision a reality.

* Trump After Drone Downing: Iran made a very big mistake "It was shot down when it entered Iran's airspace near the Kouhmobarak district in the south," the Guards' website added.

* Kremlin says Russia-US-Israel meeting 'Very Important' The Kremlin on Wednesday added its voice to that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in building up the importance of the upcoming meeting in Jerusalem of national security advisers from the US, Russia and Israel.

* 'Palestinian-Israeli conflict inflames global extremism': Jordan's King Abdullah The Palestinian-Israeli conflict inflames radicalisation and extremism across the globe, Jordan's King Abdullah said on Wednesday.

* Iran determined to arm West Bank Palestinian factions Tehran is well aware that Israel has a weak spot when it comes to the winding West Bank border, making the West Bank a strategic location in the conflict between Iran and Israel.

* Downing of US drone a 'clear message' to Washington - Iran's IRGC commander The head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards says the downing of a US drone over its territory was a "clear message" to Washington, proving Tehran will react strongly to any military aggression.

* Hamas blasts Bahrain summit for 'normalizing' ties with Israel Gaza terror group vows to fight against US-led Bahrain summit both at home "and beyond".

* Putin says U.S. attack on Iran would be a catastrophe Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that a U.S. military attack on Iran would be a catastrophe for the Middle East that would trigger a surge in violence and a possible refugee exodus.

* Israel Lays Massive Water Line to Help Gaza New water line will significantly improve water supply to the Gaza Strip, despite ongoing violence emanating from there.

* Visitors Increasing as Israel Adds New Developments New data from the Israel Ministry of Tourism shows that the country is experiencing a substantial year over year increase in visitor numbers.

6/19/19

* Sanhedrin Mints King David Coin to Usher in Davidic Dynasty As the next stage in the Messianic process, the Sanhedrin of Israel released a new coin honoring King David in preparation for re-establishing the Davidic Dynasty.

* Thousands of ISIS sleeper cells 'could attack Britain' in revenge for the fall of the 'caliphate' in Syria Fears rising over fighters who are still loyal to ISIS following destruction in Syria.

* Iran Could Close the Strait of Hormuz. America Needs to Be Prepared. Did Iran attack two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman?

* 'Russia seeks to revise the world order' not the US, Pentagon says after Moscow rebuke The U.S. Department of Defense hit back at Russian officials who have criticized a U.S. plan to deploy more troops to the Middle East.

* Netanyahu, at major drill, warns: IDF has huge destructive power, don't test us PM and IDF chief visit large-scale warfare exercise in northern Israel amid growing tensions with Iran and its proxy Hezbollah.

* The Six-Day War and the 2019 Israeli Elections The Six-Day War, or Al-Naksa, was the brief and bloody war fought between Israel, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan.

* US intel: Iranian strike at major Saudi oil target imminent. Another 1,000 US troops for region DEBKAfile Exclusive: US intelligence learns from a highly credible source that Iran's Revolutionary Guards have completed preparations for a large-scale assault on an important Saudi oil facility within days.

* Iran: New Terrorist Activity in Europe One of the more disturbing discoveries regarding Iran's ever-expanding terrorism horizons has emerged in London where it was revealed by the Daily Telegraph earlier this month that a terrorist cell with links to Iran had been caught stockpiling tonnes of explosive materials on the outskirts of London at a secret bomb factory.

* Iran says there will be no war with the U.S. Iran said on Monday it would breach curbs on its stock of low-enriched uranium in 10 days.

* Hamas: Israel implementing Gaza ceasefire agreement Terror group's assurances that the truce is still in place comes amid reports of delays in Qatar transferring funds to needy families in the Strip.

6/18/19

* More troops and photos: America's message to Tehran The photos and the request for troops are a message to Tehran and the region that the US is serious about defending its interests and proving Tehran's involvement.

* Gulf crisis: US sends more troops amid tanker tension with Iran The US military will send an additional 1,000 troops to the Middle East as tensions build with Iran.

* Trump:'I would certainly go to war over Iranian nuclear weapons' Trump would use force if necessary to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons, but downplays suspected Iranian attacks on oil tankers.

* Russia to Washington: Drop Middle East troop plan and stop provoking Iran Russia told the United States on Tuesday to drop what it called provocative plans to deploy more troops to the Middle East and to cease actions that looked like a conscious attempt to provoke war with Iran.

* Muslim Brotherhood brands Morsi's death 'murder' & calls for mass actions The Muslim Brotherhood said the death of former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi was "full-fledged murder," and called for a nationwide event to mark his passing.

* Thousands of Brotherhood supporters in Turkey mourn Egypt's Mursi Thousands of supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Turkey took to the streets of capital Ankara and Istanbul on Tuesday to mourn former Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi, with some chanting slogans blaming Cairo authorities for his death.

* Magnitude 6.5 earthquake strikes off coast of Japan -USGS June 18 (Reuters) - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 struck off the coast of Japan on Tuesday, the United States Geological Survey said.

* Lying Politicians Leading U.K. to No-Deal Brexit, Ex-Envoy Says The U.K.'s former ambassador to the European Union blasted the "denial, delusion-mongering and deception" in British politics, which he predicts is leading the country to a damaging no-deal Brexit.

* Facebook Wants Its Cryptocurrency to One Day Rival the Greenback Social-media giant says Libra will be better than Bitcoin. But the company is late to the party and other payment initiatives have stumbled.

* Facebook announces entry into cryptocurrency market with Libra Facebook has announced its intention to make cryptocurrency mainstream with the launch of its own digital currency, Libra, which will be overseen by new financial services subsidiary Calibra.

6/17/19

* "The entire world will pay" if Muslims don't "act" to save Al-Aqsa from "the Israeli plot," threatens Abbas' advisor on Islam Abbas' advisor Al-Habbash: Conflict with Israel is "between good and evil".

* Atomic Threat: Iran reveals it will break America's uranium stockpile limits within 10 DAYS dramatically ramping up tensions with Trump Iran announced today it intends to smash the strict uranium stockpile limits set under the nuclear deal it struck with the world's leading powers.

* Netanyahu: World Must Sanction Iran if it Enriches More Uranium Than Allowed  "Israel is standing on the same front with the United States, moderate Arab states, and with other countries in its opposition to Iranian aggression," Netanyhau said.

* Arab League head warns no Mideast peace deal without Palestinian state The head of the Arab League warned on Monday that attempts to solve the Israel-Palestinian conflict will be in vain without the establishment of a Palestinian state on all territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.

* Militants open fire on IDF troops entering Gaza - Report There were no reported injuries or casualties.

* Why haven't more Embassies moved to Jerusalem? - Analysis Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's push, few countries have emulated the US move.

* Netanyahu appoints extreme right leaders as ministers in interim government Netanyahu is at odds with Smotrich over his intention to halt all transportation-related work on Saturdays.

* Liberman: We'll force gov't with Likud, Blue and White to block ultra-Orthodox Yisrael Beytenu leader promises 'liberal-national' coalition after elections; Likud: Cat is out the bag - Liberman wants leftist government; Blue and White: Better late than never.

* Global Christian Persecution Remains High, Media Interest Remains Low While you might have seen a decrease in mainstream media reporting regarding Christian persecution, there has only been an increase in the persecution taking place against Christians around the world.

* Three Mistakes The U.K. Government Made In The Brexit Negotiations It is often claimed that politics is the art of the possible.

6/15/19

* The Quick Read About… Turkey’s Troubling Russian Shopping Spree Back in 2017, Turkey agreed to purchase Russia’s advanced S-400 air defense missile system over the strong objections of both the US and NATO, of which Turkey is a member.

* Oil tanker attacks: did Iran’s ties with China just go up in smoke? When Shinzo Abe headed to Tehran this week for the first visit by a sitting Japanese prime minister in four decades, some in the diplomatic world imagined he could be the man to bring Iran back to the negotiating table with the United States.

* 'Deal of Century' now has one goal, saving Netanyahu - Analysis White House is expected to redirect the American peace plan to ensure the political survival of Netnayahu in an attempt to appeal to US evangelicals.

* Jerusalem municipality removed Dome of Rock from backdrop to Netanyahu speech According to report, mural depicting landmarks on Temple Mount and Old City removes the iconic golden dome from its base.

* Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast: Bringing the Power of Prayer into Politics This week, Christian leaders from around the world met with Israeli officials in the Knesset to pray for Israel at the third annual Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast.

* 'Next war will be worst in Israel's history' IDF Major General Yitzhak Brick: 'Every day 1,000 - 2,000 missiles could hit us in the next war - God help us.'

* Britain will NOT leave the EU this year even with No Deal, Brussels warns amid claims Boris Johnson will U-turn on his promise to leave on October 31 Britain is unlikely to leave the European Union this year – even in the event of No Deal, Brussels said last night.

* The Mullahs Promise "Demise of Israel" and American Civilization The Iranian government continues to defy international standards, as it refuses to act as a rational and constructive state, even apart from its repeated malign behavior in the Gulf of Oman this week.

* UK politicians more interested in ousting Theresa May than solving Brexit, EU president Juncker says The president of the European Commission has criticised the British political class for being more interested in ousting Theresa May than finding a solution to Brexit.

* Did the US Ambassador Misspeak or Was He Hinting at a Trump Plan for Israel to Annex Judea and Samaria? Though there are currently almost half-a-million Jews living in Judea and Samaria (excluding Jerusalem), Israel has never annexed the areas.

6/14/19

* 'Next war will be worst in Israel's history' IDF Major General Yitzhak Brick: 'Every day 1,000 - 2,000 missiles could hit us in the next war - God help us.'

* Tremors across Jordan as Trump Mideast peace plan revives old fears Jordan's King Abdullah reacts angrily to any suggestion that he might accept a U.S. deal to end the Arab-Israeli conflict that would make his country a homeland for Palestinians.

* Russian-Iranian Strains Raise Possibility of US-Israel-Russia Deal on Syria With Israel set to host an unprecedented meeting of the national security advisors of the US, Russia, and Israel, this week's efforts by German FM Heiko Maas and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe to mediate between the US and Iran could prove to be but a sideshow.

* White House admits Palestinian economic growth depends on peace deal Ahead of Bahrain conference, which the PA is boycotting, administration official touts 'exciting roadmap'; Jordan implies it hasn't decided to attend.

* Mercy Gate Illegally Being Turned into Mosque by Waqf, State looks on The police has contradicted the state's reported comments specifying that "the Waqf has installed a loudspeaker for the muezzin and inserted prayer mats into the compound."

* AJC Survey: 3/4 of US Jews say Israel is vital to 'long-term Jewish future' Seventy-two percent of American Jews polled in a survey this month said that "a thriving State of Israel is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people."

* Arabs' Nightmare: Absorbing Palestinians Lebanon says it fully supports the Palestinians in their fight against Israel -- but would like to see them leave the country as soon as possible.

* Sudan Crisis News: What is the crisis and how did it start? Sudan is currently facing a major issue between the local people and the government backed by military forces.

* Amid increased tensions, Hamas calls on mediators to save Gaza truce Holding Israel responsible for failing to fully implement the understandings, Khalil al-Haya, a senior Hamas official, warned that Hamas may be forced to respond to the alleged foot-dragging.

* 'Many horrible people have been popular': Tory Muslim chief compares Boris Johnson to Hitler Mohammed Amin, the Conservative Party's Muslim chief, says he'll quit after 36 years if Boris Johnson becomes prime minister, as he believes the former foreign secretary doesn't have the "basic morality and integrity" for the job.

6/13/19

* Key events raising tensions in the Persian Gulf Tensions between the United States and Iran have soared in recent weeks, with Washington dispatching warships and bombers around the Persian Gulf, and Tehran threatening to resume higher uranium enrichment.

* Gulf of Oman incident and Iran's dangerous game - Analysis Four tankers off the UAE port of Fujairah had been struck on May 12, a month before the incident on June 13. The most recent incident is much more serious. The US navy has been sent to assist.

* EU calls for 'maximum restraint' after Gulf of Oman incident The European Union (EU) called for "maximum restraint" to avoid escalation after two tankers were reportedly attacked in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, forcing their crews to evacuate the vessels.

* EU slams Turkey in its annual report // Saudi Arabia's Emergency Arab Summit  In its annual report on Turkey, the European Union says the country is 'backsliding' on a number of legal and economic fronts.

* Did the US Ambassador Misspeak or Was He Hinting at a Trump Plan for Israel to Annex Judea and Samaria? Though there are currently almost half-a-million Jews living in Judea and Samaria (excluding Jerusalem), Israel has never annexed the areas.

* The Six-Day War and the Israeli Dream The Six-Day War was a decisive turning point in the Zionist enterprise.

* Turkey to get Russian S-400 missile system 'in July' amid row over US jets Turkey's President Erdogan says he hopes a Russian missile system that Washington sees as a threat to US jets will be delivered in July.

* Boris Johnson has one foot in No10 after landslide victory in Tory leadership election as Leadsom, McVey and Harper are Out The Brexiteer big beast won more than twice as many votes as nearest rival Jeremy Hunt - with Michael Gove and Dominic Raab trailing behind.

* Macron's EU ambitions slipping away after top ally's bizarre rant Emmanuel Macron's EU ambitions were dealt a huge blow this week after his party's leader in Brussels unceremoniously alienated practically all her allies with a bizarre rant.

* Leaked documents reveal Russian effort to exert influence in Africa Russia is seeking to bolster its presence in at least 13 countries across Africa by building relations with existing rulers, striking military deals, and grooming a new generation of "leaders" and undercover "agents", leaked documents reveal.

6/12/19

* Outrage in PA over Israeli flag on Temple Mount Palestinian Arab TV channel furious at the raising of a blue and white flag, similar to the Israeli flag, on the Temple Mount.

* Israeli missile attack claimed by Syria hit Iranian-held Tel Al Harrah radar overlooking Golan The Israel missile strike that Syrian military sources claimed took place early Wednesday, June 12, struck Iranian radars situated at Tel Al-Harrah, a hill overlooking the Golan, Galilee and the Sea of Galilee, DEBKAfile reports.

* Who's to Blame for Middle East Instability? Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in a joint press conference with his German counterpart Heiko Maas, asks a number of questions in response to the West's claim that Iran is behind the ongoing instability in the Middle East.

* Palestinians Urge Egypt, Jordan to Reconsider Going to U.S. - Led Conference Egypt, Jordan will attend the conference on the Palestinian economy, Palestinians afraid the US will kill its dream of statehood.

* Iran Increases Production of Low-Enriched Uranium, According to IAEA Iran has increased its uranium enrichment since U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, warned the International Atomic Energy Agency on Monday.

* Amid unrest, Moldova says it will move its embassy to Jerusalem Announcement comes as political turmoil rocks the nation, which would become the only European country with embassy in capital.

* Iran's Has the Most Ballistic Missiles in the Middle East The Fateh-series missiles are the solid-fueled counterparts of Shahab missiles.

* The Rise and Fall of ISIS ISIS is now defeated, and this timeline highlights the terror groups' rise, its fearful reign, and its powerful collapse.

* France's Macron backs Merkel for EU post - if she wants it French President Emmanuel Macron says he would support German Chancellor Angela Merkel if she wanted to be the head of the European Union's executive body.

* IDF General: Lebanon to pay heavy price in next Israel-Hezbollah war Head of IDF's Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram says Beirut "cooperating" with Shi'ite terror group.

6/11/19

* Ateret Cohanim Wins Major Court Victory in Re-Establishing Jewish Presence in Jerusalem On Monday, the Jerusalem District Court ruled in favor of real-estate companies working with Ateret Cohanim concerning three large areas in Jerusalem.

* The Difference Between 'Retaining' and 'Annexing' Territory "You can retain territory without annexing it," Baker said. "That is what we did in the [Oslo accord] interim agreement, we retained Area C...we haven't annexed it."

* ISIS reborn: Terror group forming new caliphate extending to India - shock report The horrific development was interrogated by former Pentagon official Michael Maloof on RT this morning.

* Egypt, Jordan and Morocco to attend U.S. peace plan conference in Bahrain Egypt and Morocco have informed the White House they will attend the conference in Bahrain at which the Trump administration will launch the economic portion of its Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, U.S. official tells me.

* What Hiding One's Kippa Says About Europe Germany's national antisemitism commissioner, Felix Klein, recently said, "I cannot advise Jews to wear kippot everywhere all the time in Germany."

* Francis wants first papal visit to Iraq Pope Francis said on Monday he wants to travel to Iraq next year, which would be the first ever papal trip there.

* IAEA chief worried about rising tension over Iran nuclear issue The U.N. atomic watchdog's chief said on Monday he was worried about rising tensions over Iran's nuclear program and called for de-escalation through dialogue, departing from his usual guarded language on the country.

* "Europe Will Not Be Europe" In the United Kingdom, the Brexit Party victory at 31.6% of the vote was a remarkable achievement that showed the persistent willingness of millions of Britons to leave the European Union.

* UK politicians more interested in ousting Theresa May than solving Brexit, EU president Juncker says The president of the European Commission has criticised the British political class for being more interested in ousting Theresa May than finding a solution to Brexit.

* Who will replace European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker? It is all change at the heart of the EU, and the key role of Commission president is up for grabs as Jean-Claude Juncker prepares to pass the baton at the end of October.

6/10/19

* Next stop, annexation station: 7 things to know for June 10 Both the Trump administration and the Wall Street Journal are accused of trolling the Palestinians, as annexation and one-state become the talk of the town.

* U.S. ambassador: Israel can annex part of West Bank U.S. Ambassador David Friedman told the New York Times on Saturday that Israel has the right to annex some, but "unlikely all" of the Palestinian West Bank.

* Iran Warns U.S. Navy and 'Zionist' Military: Prepare to Be Crushed U.S. Navy forces now gathered in the Persian Gulf region will be hit with "unimaginable reciprocal blows" if any attack is made on Iran, a top military aide to the country's leadership said Sunday.

* Iran's foreign minister: Netanyahu wants to destroy us, and we will respond Zarif hosts German counterpart Heiko Maas in Tehran, calls for end to US 'economic war' on his country; says Trump peace plan is 'crime against Middle East'.

* MK Yehuda Glick participates in "Passover sacrifice" ritual on the foot of the Temple Mount See video.

* Hamas-Gaza amasses 10,000 rockets, plans a new Iran-sponsored militia in Syria Israel's Chief of Staff Lt, Gen. Aviv Kochavi said on Friday, June 8: "The slowdown of Hamas-instigated violence on the Gaza border, including the incendiary balloons, is the outcome of an equation reached with Hamas on the operational level and we have decided to give it a chance."

* Palestinians Announce 'Popular Uprising' Against Trump Peace Plan A "popular Palestinian uprising" against U.S. President Donald Trump's Mideast peace plan was announced Sunday following a meeting of PLO faction representatives, Palestinian civil society organizations and private individuals in the West Bank city of el-Bireh.

* Syrian Opposition Documents Iranian Missile Caches in Country - Report Israel has warned Tehran against stockpiling weapons in Syria, says it's a redline.

* Are the ultra-Orthodox Israel's new kingmakers? Battle between secular forces within Israel's right and the ultra-Orthodox likely to dominate Israel's snap elections.

* Russia vs. Israel: The War That Could Become a Nuclear Disaster There are deconfliction mechanisms in place, including a hotline between the Israeli and Russian militaries.

6/8/19

* Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach! Arutz Sheva news updates will be back on Sunday night, with the conclusion of the festival of Shavuot.

* EU mini-summit set to discuss top jobs succession European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker arrives at a European Union leaders summit after European Parliament elections to discuss who should run the EU executive for the next five years, in Brussels, Belgium May 28, 2019.

* Putin hails 'UNPRECEDENTED relationship' with China as US relations sour VLADIMIR Putin said ties between Russia and China stand at “an unprecedented level" after the two countries blocked a UN bid to condemn the massacre of civilians in Sudan.

* Ex-IAEA Deputy General Warns Iran Could Have Nuclear Bomb in Six Months Iran could have a nuclear bomb in six to eight months, the former deputy head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog has warned.

* Shavuot: A Surprising Friendship On Shavuot, we hold on to the Torah with love and friendship, while expressing complete faith in its words that bring joy to our hearts.

* Temple Mount Sifting Project reboots, aims to salvage ancient temple artifacts At Jerusalem Day event, minister vows funds for project in which 500,000 artifacts from all eras of J’lem settlement have already been found in dirt illegally dumped by Muslim Waqf

* Why Jared Kushner's approach to Middle East 'peace' is doomed to fail From the beginning, it appeared farcical that a group of ideologically driven men with personal ties to the U.S. president and Israel, no experience in world politics and no interest in international law or the universality of human rights could deliver peace to the Middle East.

* Putin’s Turkish Gambit The first-ever NATO member state to shoot down a Russian military jet has willingly fallen in line with Vladimir Putin’s “Turkish Gambit,” a strategy designed to drive a deep crack into the NATO alliance.

* The Priorities of Palestinian Leaders Some 18 Palestinian journalists, political and social activists, and academics have been killed in Syria in recent years, while dozens of others have been arrested.

* The Transatlantic Relationship on the 75th Anniversary of D-Day US President Donald Trump's attendance at this week's commemorations to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in northern France comes at a time when the future of the transatlantic relationship between the US and Europe is under unprecedented strain.

6/7/19

* Temple Mount Sifting Project reboots, aims to salvage ancient temple artifacts At Jerusalem Day event, minister vows funds for project in which 500,000 artifacts from all eras of J'lem settlement have already been found in dirt illegally dumped by Muslim Waqf.

* Religious Affairs: How close are we to a 'Jewish Republic' of Israel? A look into the heavy political clout of the haredi parties that could eventually impact the nation's tenuous religious-secular balance.

* Netanyahu rebukes MK who said Israel should be governed by Jewish law Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday publicly rebuked an MK and potential government minister who called for Israel to be governed by Jewish law, the Hebrew news site Mako reported.

* Oh, When the LGBTs Go Marching In As the annual Jerusalem Gay Parade grows in size, so, too, does opposition from conservative residents of the Holy City.

* Shavuot: A surprising friendship On Shavuot, we hold on to the Torah with love and friendship, while expressing complete faith in its words that bring joy to our hearts.

* Iranian threat on U.S. forces 'imminent,' Middle East commander says "I think we're still in the period of what I would call tactical warning," the general added. "The threat is very real."

* Ex-IAEA Deputy General Warns Iran Could Have Nuclear Bomb in Six Months Iran could have a nuclear bomb in six to eight months, the former deputy head of the UN's nuclear watchdog has warned.

* Religion vs. state may become central issue in Israeli election campaign The conflict over the draft law is just one of several deep disagreements over the role of religion in Israeli society.

* Syria's New Assad Statues Send a Sinister Message: 'We Are Back' The rebuilding of monuments honoring Bashar al-Assad's family taunts the opposition he brutally crushed.

* Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast: Bringing the Power of Prayer into Politics This week, Christian leaders from around the world met with Israeli officials in the Knesset to pray for Israel at the third annual Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast.

6/6/19

* Reclaiming Jerusalem for the Jewish people This project brings redemption to the here and now, replete with miracles.

* Likud says no way to religious MK who sought justice ministry after talk of Torah law Chances of the religious MK receiving the ministry he desires plummet after his statements about his desire for Israel to be run by Jewish law.

* 54% of religious Jews support gay marriage, partnership The survey was conducted over the phone, with 500 Israelis being questioned to represent the Israeli public with an error margin of 4.5%±.

* Is the Temple Mount ours? Perhaps, but not under our control What really matters on the Temple Mount? Why do Muslims not allow anyone to pray there?

* With nod from Jordan and Gulf, Israel upgrades section near Temple Mount The project cost NIS 6 million and was budgeted through a cabinet decision that passed in May 2017.

* The Transatlantic Relationship on the 75th Anniversary of D-Day US officials were shocked when Angela Merkel said she had no intention of meeting the target [of minimum defence spending of 2 percent of GDP] by 2024, but that Germany might be able to reach it by 2030.

* Trump/Netanyahu Effigies Executed at Gaza Protests Violent riots held weekly on Israel's southern took a decidedly anti-American twist on Friday when Palestinians hung life-sized effigies of U.S. President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman.

* The Latest: Sudan official disputes protesters' death toll A Sudan Health Ministry official says 61 people have been killed across the country since the military launched a deadly crackdown on protesters earlier this week, disputing the death toll of 108 announced earlier by protesters.

* The big picture continues: The War of Gog and Magog Anyone who knows Tanach knows about the War of Gog and Magog. What they may not know though is what it means in modern-day terms.

* Gaza's Past and Gaza's Present Israel's difficulties with Gaza have long historical antecedents. Philistia, an ancient geographical area that contained modern-day Gaza in its southern portion, was a trouble spot for the inhabitants of the Land of Israel as long ago as the time of Judges.

6/5/19

* Iran 'is six months away from having NUCLEAR WEAPONS' and 'Israelis need to be worried', warns former deputy director general of International Atomic Energy Agency Olli Heinonen, ex-head of IAEA's security team, warned of Iran's nuke ambitions.

* Iran Is Too Smart to Go to War If the Iranians have their way and are able to control the level of the flames, they will make sure that tensions with the US fall short of war due to the massive disparity in military capability and lack of mutual vulnerability.

* Iran's Khamenei on Eid al-Fitr: 'Deal of the century' will never happen This is typical language of the Iranian regime and its allies, especially Hezbollah.

* EU urges US to respect both sides in Mideast peace moves European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is urging the United States to respect the needs of both Israelis and the Palestinians in any future Mideast peace moves.

* Hamas: We Confused Iron Dome System During Fighting Last Month Hamas attempted to confuse Israel's Iron Dome missile defense batteries during the recent round of fighting between Israel and terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip, a commander in Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades told the organization's Al Qassam website on Tuesday.

* The United States Cannot Isolate Iran Without Turkey A smart doctrine for U.S. strategy in the Middle East is "do not confront Turkey and Iran at the same time."

* Netanyahu: Arab States 'Moving Faster' than the Palestinians Toward Peace Sunni Arab states are moving faster than the Palestinians toward normalizing ties with Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.

* Making Real Arab-Israeli Peace at the Bahrain Conference Bahrain allows the Arab states to reach back, meet their obligations under UN Resolution 242 and restart the process the way the United Nations intended....

* Left-Wing Protesters in Times Square Call for Total Destruction of Israel, Label US "Racist War Machine" A Quds Day rally was held in Times Square, New York last week.

* Shavuot Will Be Celebrated This Coming Saturday Night! This weekend, from Saturday night to Sunday night, Shavuot - The Feast of Weeks - will be celebrated in Israel.

6/4/19

* Report: Hamas Replenished Rocket Supply, 10,000 Rockets Stockpiled A media report cited Israeli security officials as saying that terrorist groups in Gaza have replenished their supplies of rockets and now have approximately 10,000 rockets ready to be fired at Israel.

* Netanyahu Warns Iran: Hurt Us and Get Hurt Far Worse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday warned Iran that Israel would continue to hit back hard just as it had done earlier in the day with strikes on Iranian targets in Syria.

* Syria: Iran is not leaving, despite U.S. and Israeli pressure The report seeks to downplay rumors that an upcoming US, Israel and Russia trilateral meeting in Israel would examine Iran's presence in Syria.

* Kushner heads to Brussels to brief EU officials on peace plan US president's Mideast peace adviser to meet EU's Juncker amid widespread doubts, including within Trump administration, about proposal's feasibility.

* Archeology and Gemology Combined at Israeli University Lab Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, according to Marilyn Monroe, but precious and semi-precious stones were used thousands of years before to make amulets, impression seals and objects in the Temple and to beautify the robes of the High Priest.

* New Israeli election highlights tense ties to ultra-Orthodox The trigger for Israel's unprecedented repeat election touches upon one of the major fault lines in Israeli society - the role of the growing ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in modern life.

* Trump Allies Want to Put Jared Kushner's Peace Plan on Hold: Report Portions of Jared Kushner's Middle East peace plan are expected to be announced around June 25, and as the deadline approaches, the administration's confidence in the White House senior adviser appears to be waning.

* Trump discovers that Middle East peace isn't as easy as he thought Just three months into his presidency, Donald Trump declared with confidence, "I want to see peace with Israel and the Palestinians."

* UK to leave EU on October 31, deal or no deal, Boris Johnson says as he launches leadership bid Boris Johnson, the frontrunner to be Britain's next prime minister, promised on Monday to lead the country out of the European Union on October 31, launching his leadership bid in a campaign video.

* Nasrallah: Trump's peace plan is unjust and it is our duty to oppose it Hezbollah Secretary-General delivered speech on International Jerusalem Day, referring to the American administration's plan "I have hope that we will be able to prevent the historic crime."

6/3/19

* The Battle for the Temple Mount That Took Place This Jerusalem Day A battle was fought on the Temple Mount on Sunday morning between Palestinians who resorted to violence and the Israeli police who stood firm, protecting the rights of Jews to visit their holiest site on a special day.

* Fatah calls for violence in order to prevent the Jerusalem Day Parade to the Western Wall Fatah calls to come to the Damascus Gate of the Old City at 5:00 p.m., the exact same time at which the traditional flag parade will pass the spot on its way to the Western Wall.

* At the UN, the battle for Jerusalem is eternally waged - Analysis At the United Nations, the diplomatic battle for a united Jerusalem is eternally waged on almost a monthly basis, whether it is in UN forums in Geneva, Paris or the UN headquarters in New York.

* The Prospect of an Iran-Israel Escalation The recent rise in military tensions in the Persian Gulf between the US and Iran introduces a heightened possibility that Iran will activate proxies against Israel.

* Smotrich: Israel will be governed as in the days of King David and King Solomon "Why is a state of law in which the person who determines the laws is Aharon Barak, and small group of people who were not elected, ok?" he asked.

* Tens of thousands join Flag March to mark unification of Jerusalem Annual parade wends through Muslim Quarter of Old City; Waqf reports several Palestinians arrested, dozens injured in clashes with police on Temple Mount.

* A Call to Slaughter Jews at Toronto's Al Quds Day March Khaybar - (or Khaibar) is an oasis lying about 95 miles (150 km) north of Medina (ancient Yathrib), Saudi Arabia.

* Israeli politics likely to delay key part of Trump admin's peace plan President Trump said on Sunday he is unhappy that Israel will be embroiled in a new election campaign, as his administration prepares to launch its long-awaited Israeli-Palestinian peace plan - the full release of which will likely now be delayed.

* Making Sense of the European Elections The election results reflect a generational shift and suggest that European politics increasingly will be dominated by ideological clashes over two competing mega-issues: the fight against climate change championed by the pro-EU globalists; and the opposition to mass migration and multiculturalism led by the anti-EU national populists.

* The Miraculous Story of How Hebron Was Taken 52 Years ago without Firing a Single Shot While the holiday of "Jerusalem Day" was marked with great fanfare on Sunday, June 2nd, today marks the 52nd anniversary of "Hebron Day" when the IDF liberated Judaism's second holiest city in a thrilling military conquest.