5/30/20

* Erdogan: Temple Mount is a “Red Line for all Muslims” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a video message posted on social media on Monday that “we will not allow Palestinian lands to be offered to anyone.”

* Netanyahu: We Have ‘Historic Opportunity’ to Annex West Bank in July Israel has a “historic opportunity” to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Israel must jump at the opportunity come July, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday.

* Hezbollah's Nasrallah warns of 'great war' on all fronts with Israel Nasrallah warned that any Israeli air strike on Lebanon would 'not pass without a response,' adding that the terror group has 'military capabilities that did not exist before 2006.'

* Moderate Arab countries to green light West Bank annexation plan: report Despite Muslim countries expressing staunch opposition to Israel’s West Bank annexation plan, behind the scenes, leaders of moderate Arab nations are signalling their approval of the Israeli move, Hebrew-language daily Israel Hayom reported on Wednesday.

* PA: Israel Expanding to Biblical Borders ‘from Nile to Euphrates’ Israel – “the greedy Zionist cancer” – is scheming to expand its territory to extend “from the Nile [River] to the Euphrates [River]” according to regular columnist Bassem Barhoum at the official PA daily.

* What Is Russia Doing in Libya? Pentagon Warns of Escalation As Putin Sends Fighter Jets The U.S. has accused Russia of upping the stakes in Libya by sending fighter jets to support Russian mercenaries fighting there, as rival factions struggle for control of the war-torn nation more than nine years after rebels first rose up against late dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

* Jordan Calls on World to Unite Against Israel Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told United Nations Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov on Wednesday that the Israeli plan to apply sovereignty to large parts of Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley must be shelved to “protect regional peace.”

* Iran: The Ayatollah, Amid Coronavirus, Calls for Jihad Against the Jewish State Instead of concentrating on assisting and improving the living standards of its citizens, the ruling mullahs of Iran seem to be prioritizing the advancement of their anti-Semitic agenda.

* Factbox: Who's involved in Libya's war and why The conflict between Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA), recognised by the United Nations, and the eastern-based forces of Khalifa Haftar has become a cauldron for foreign rivals.

* The Old and New Persian Empires | Opinion Iraq is invaded and its despot is deposed. Iran encroaches, amassing territory covering Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. 

* Why Did the U.S. Air Force Send B1 Bombers to Russia’s Doorstep? Earlier this month, a pair of Air Force B-1B Lancers flew from Anderson Air Force Base in Guam to Alaska and back. 

5/29/20

* Ali Khamenei reacts to George Floyd protests, tweets 'Black Lives Matter' "A human, for his black skin, has no reassurance to live in society, if indeed, a police officer can beat him to death because of his colored skin," Khamenei said.

* Iran says it will continue nuclear work despite US sanctions Nuclear officials say latest punitive measures against nuclear scientist only increase country’s determination to push forward with research.

* The Old and New Persian Empires Iraq is invaded and its despot is deposed. Iran encroaches, amassing territory covering Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Israel.

* ‘Cyber winter is coming,’ warns Israel cyber chief after attack on water systems Yigal Unna says attempted hacking into civilian systems, widely ascribed to Iran, marked a historic first, and could have resulted in disaster had it not been detected in time.

* Factbox: Who's involved in Libya's war and why The conflict between Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA), recognised by the United Nations, and the eastern-based forces of Khalifa Haftar has become a cauldron for foreign rivals.

* PA: Israel Expanding to Biblical Borders ‘from Nile to Euphrates’ Israel – “the greedy Zionist cancer” – is scheming to expand its territory to extend “from the Nile [River] to the Euphrates [River]” according to regular columnist Bassem Barhoum at the official PA daily.

* Foreign powers in Libya risk ever bloodier stalemate As Turkish drones helped drive eastern Libyan forces back from Tripoli this month, Russia was said to be reinforcing them with warplanes, raising the stakes in a stalemated civil war that has partitioned the country.

* Leading Israeli rabbis: 'Sovereignty has become the new excuse for tearing apart the Holy Land' Group of over 400 leading Israeli rabbis embarks on campaign to inform the public of shortcomings and dangers of the 'Deal of the Century.'

* Iran's president approves ban on use of all Israeli products Hassan Rouhani's order comes a week after Iranian parliament voted to in favor of a legislation prohibiting use of Israeli-made goods, to combat 'the hostile acts of the Zionist regime against peace and security'.

* A Society On The Brink Of Complete And Utter Chaos It is heartbreaking to watch the violence that is taking place on the streets of Minneapolis.

* For First Time: Disney Introduces Openly Gay Main Character Pixar, which is owned by Disney has released its first-ever film with an openly gay main character.

5/28/20

* IDF Radio: US tells Israel that annexation will also define final borders Israeli officials say Americans are pushing idea that application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria will be final borders between Israel and future State of Palestine.

* Jordan Calls on World to Unite Against Israel Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told United Nations Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov on Wednesday that the Israeli plan to apply sovereignty to large parts of Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley must be shelved to “protect regional peace.”

* Rouhani urges cooperation as newly elected Parliament convenes Opening session of new legislative body dominated by 220 conservatives takes places under strict health protocols.

* Coronavirus and the Middle East The coronavirus crisis has exposed Arab and Islamic notions of fraternity, mutual commitment, and solidarity as hollow rhetorical slogans.

* 'Jordan has a vested interest in Israeli sovereignty' Leader of Security Movement criticizes those who are attempting to prevent sovereignty. 'The security benefit would be very big.'

* DNA study supports Bible: Canaanites homogeneous group, lived in Israel The study analyzed individuals who lived over the course of a significant period of time, over 1,500 years.

* China Devours Hong Kong Beijing just imposed a raft of new security measures that will completely undermine the independence of Hong Kong's own legislature.

* Why America Has Misdiagnosed Russia’s Role in Syria Washington’s reading of the political map of the Middle East is fraught with erroneous assumptions similar to those that predicted the collapse of the Syrian regime during the initial months of the Syrian rebellion.

* Fearing coronavirus spike, some Arab Gulf states turn to a supposed enemy: Israel With fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections looming, some Arab Gulf nations have turned for help to an ostensible enemy and a country they don’t officially recognize: Israel.

* Chag Sameach from Israel! Shavuot holiday to begin in Israel. Arutz Sheva's North America desk will continue to update the site until it begins in New York.

5/27/20

* Hezbollah's Nasrallah warns of 'great war' on all fronts with Israel Nasrallah warned that any Israeli air strike on Lebanon would 'not pass without a response,' adding that the terror group has 'military capabilities that did not exist before 2006.'

* President Trump's Middle East peace plan One of the biggest barriers to peace in the Middle East is Israeli settlements in occupied territories. Martin Indyk, a former ambassador to Israel, explains to Ayman Mohyeldin the politics that goes with it.

* Settler leaders put out map they claim shows Trump plan for Palestinian state In effort to thwart deal, West Bank mayors lobby right-wing MKs with blown-up map showing proposal’s 15 envisioned enclave settlements surrounded by large red Palestinian state.

* Netanyahu: We Have ‘Historic Opportunity’ to Annex West Bank in July Israel has a “historic opportunity” to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Israel must jump at the opportunity come July, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday.

* What Is Russia Doing in Libya? Pentagon Warns of Escalation As Putin Sends Fighter Jets The U.S. has accused Russia of upping the stakes in Libya by sending fighter jets to support Russian mercenaries fighting there, as rival factions struggle for control of the war-torn nation more than nine years after rebels first rose up against late dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

* Moderate Arab countries to green light West Bank annexation plan: report Shared interests to thwart Iranian influence in Mideast sways Arab leaders from Palestinian cause.

* Look who's talking! PA accuses Israel of planning expansion “from the Nile to the Euphrates” Israel - “the greedy Zionist cancer” – is scheming to expand its territory to extend “from the Nile [River] to the Euphrates [River]” according to regular columnist Bassem Barhoum at the official PA daily.

* Regional power struggle threatens Syria flare-up The decades old Saudi-Iranian rivalry may dominate headlines, but a Turkish-Emirati battle for the future of the region is increasingly reverberating from North Africa to the Middle East.

* How Israel and the Arab World Are Making Peace Without a Peace Deal Turns out that solving the Palestinian question isn’t essential after all. And the Trump administration, Israel and a few of the Gulf Arabs seem fine with that.

* Bringing the Ethiopian Jews Home: The Inspirational Story of Operation Solomon 14,325 Ethiopian Jews. 2,540 miles. 34 planes. 1 dream. 29 years later – this is Operation Solomon.

5/26/20

* Erdogan: Temple Mount is a “Red Line for all Muslims” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a video message posted on social media on Monday that “we will not allow Palestinian lands to be offered to anyone.”

* Israel's Netanyahu says he won't miss West Bank annexation opportunity Israel will not miss a “historic opportunity” to extend its sovereignty to parts of the West Bank, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday, calling the move one of his new government’s top tasks.

* Iran: The Ayatollah, Amid Coronavirus, Calls for Jihad Against the Jewish State It is mystifying that Twitter, which wantonly censors so much, continues to allow... Iranian leaders to spread Nazi-inspired language and anti-Semitic sentiments on its platform.

* Netanyahu: We Have ‘Historic Opportunity’ to Annex West Bank in July Israel has a “historic opportunity” to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Israel must jump at the opportunity come July, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday.

* Idlib to Tripoli: Turkey moves to dominate eastern Mediterranean The first time Wael Amr got on a plane was not quite what he had hoped for.

* Iran's chief rabbi says Zionists 'do not represent Judaism' Leaders in the community have long been stressing the difference between Judaism and Zionism in order to distance themselves from Israel and prevent Iranian Jews from being considered pariahs.

* PA: Quran commands fighting and permits killing Israelis The radical Islamist ideology that one expects to hear from ISIS and Iran is taking over the Palestinian Authority’s religious ideology.

* Gantz’s Challenges and Agenda as Israel’s New Defense Minister Former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz officially took up his position as defense minister a week ago. His first challenges will be to wage a bitter struggle for a defense budget and promote a cautious approach to Donald Trump’s peace plan.

* Erdogan seeks to extend his Libya gains into a foothold in Algeria Turkey is cajoling Algeria into signing a defense pact with the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli after capturing the strategic Watiya air base from Gen. Khalifa Haftar’s (LNA) forces, DEBKAfile’s Mid East sources report.

* Annexations in the West Bank: Europeans Need to Step Up The EU has emphasized that the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains one of its strategic interests.

5/24/20

* Sanhedrin to Hold Shavuot (Pentecost) Offering in Samarian Hills The Sanhedrin is holding a reenactment of the Shavuot offering on Tuesday and will include a reenactment of the Thanksgiving offering in recognition of God’s mercy in ameliorating the coronavirus pandemic.

* How settler leaders may have scuttled a US plan for immediate annexation Israeli mayors flew to DC for Trump plan rollout, believing US would back sovereignty within days, but 1 of them says colleague’s press release blasting proposal changed everything.

* Erdogan vows: ‘We will not allow Palestinian lands to be offered to anyone else’ Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told U.S. Muslims that he will not allow Israeli annexation of “Palestinian lands” during a video message on Sunday.

* Khamenei: We will support any entity who fights Zionist regime Responding to outrage over a cartoon calling for a “Final Solution.” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei explained on Wednesday, May 20, that he seeks “only Israel’s destruction, not all the Jews.”

* Israel celebrates Jerusalem Day, though corona puts damper on festivities Jerusalem is marking the annual celebration of the unification of Israel’s capital city Thursday with the annual parade being replaced by a human chain around the famous Old City – with social distancing observed.

* Israel’s 35th government is sworn into office Binyamin Netanyahu Sunday, May 17, took the oath as prime minister of his 5th government and future alternative PM, while his partner Benny Gantz was sworn in in the reverse order, ready to take over the premiership on Nov. 17, 2021. Gantz also officiates as defense minister.

* Israel: Ashkenazi takes over Foreign Ministry, says Trump peace plan 'historic opportunity' Gabi Ashkenazhi, former Chief of Staff and a member of the Blue and White alliance, took over Israel's Foreign Ministry Monday as the country's new government settled in.

* Iran's Khamenei: Israel will not survive Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel will not survive and will "be eliminated" on Twitter Friday morning.

* Netanyahu to Khamenei: 'Those who threaten Israel face destruction' The war of words between Jerusalem and Tehran ratcheted up another several notches Wednesday as Israel responded to Iran's threats of annihilation with its own message of destruction.

* 20 years after IDF’s withdrawal from Lebanon, Israel and Hezbollah brace for war In recent weeks, tens of thousands of Israeli troops took part in a military drill to prepare for possible conflict with Iran-backed Lebanese terror group.

* P.L.O. Seeks Vatican Assistance in Dealing with Israel over West Bank The secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (P.L.O.) contacted the Vatican Wednesday to “inform” of their concerns over possible Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank.

* Israeli Experts Warn: America Leaving Middle East Could Pave Path for China Takeover Although Israel and Europe are coming out of the COVID-19 crisis (at least for now), the US is still deeply submerged in it, with 1.52 million confirmed cases, tens of thousands of new cases per day, 90,000 deaths and economic chaos.

* Germany Takes Back its Sovereignty from the European Union Germany's Constitutional Court has issued an unprecedented ruling that directly challenges the authority of both the European Central Bank and the European Court of Justice.

* Dr. Zelenko promises: Use of hydroxychloroquine with Zinc 'will end coronavirus plague' In interview with Arutz Sheva, Dr. Zelenko says treatment with hydroxychloroquine and Zinc within first 5 days reduces death rates by 85%.

* Watch: The liberation of Jerusalem On this day in the Hebrew calendar, we celebrate the liberation of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War.

5/23/20

* Israel celebrates Jerusalem Day, though corona puts damper on festivities Jerusalem is marking the annual celebration of the unification of Israel’s capital city Thursday with the annual parade being replaced by a human chain around the famous Old City – with social distancing observed.

* Israel’s 35th government is sworn into office Binyamin Netanyahu Sunday, May 17, took the oath as prime minister of his 5th government and future alternative PM, while his partner Benny Gantz was sworn in in the reverse order, ready to take over the premiership on Nov. 17, 2021. Gantz also officiates as defense minister.

* Israel: Ashkenazi takes over Foreign Ministry, says Trump peace plan 'historic opportunity' Gabi Ashkenazhi, former Chief of Staff and a member of the Blue and White alliance, took over Israel's Foreign Ministry Monday as the country's new government settled in.

* Iran's Khamenei: Israel will not survive Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel will not survive and will "be eliminated" on Twitter Friday morning.

* Netanyahu to Khamenei: 'Those who threaten Israel face destruction' The war of words between Jerusalem and Tehran ratcheted up another several notches Wednesday as Israel responded to Iran's threats of annihilation with its own message of destruction.

* 20 years after IDF’s withdrawal from Lebanon, Israel and Hezbollah brace for war In recent weeks, tens of thousands of Israeli troops took part in a military drill to prepare for possible conflict with Iran-backed Lebanese terror group.

* P.L.O. Seeks Vatican Assistance in Dealing with Israel over West Bank The secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (P.L.O.) contacted the Vatican Wednesday to “inform” of their concerns over possible Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank.

* Israeli Experts Warn: America Leaving Middle East Could Pave Path for China Takeover Although Israel and Europe are coming out of the COVID-19 crisis (at least for now), the US is still deeply submerged in it, with 1.52 million confirmed cases, tens of thousands of new cases per day, 90,000 deaths and economic chaos.

* Germany Takes Back its Sovereignty from the European Union Germany's Constitutional Court has issued an unprecedented ruling that directly challenges the authority of both the European Central Bank and the European Court of Justice.

* Dr. Zelenko promises: Use of hydroxychloroquine with Zinc 'will end coronavirus plague' In interview with Arutz Sheva, Dr. Zelenko says treatment with hydroxychloroquine and Zinc within first 5 days reduces death rates by 85%.

* Watch: The liberation of Jerusalem On this day in the Hebrew calendar, we celebrate the liberation of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War.

5/22/20

* Israel celebrates Jerusalem Day, though corona puts damper on festivities City is set to mark the 53rd anniversary of the liberation and unification of the capital.

* Iran's supreme leader calls for Israel's destruction in Twitter screed on anti-Israel holiday Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, launched into a lengthy anti-Israel diatribe on Twitter Friday as he marked Quds Day, a holiday held in Iran toward the end of the month of Ramadan meant to express support for Palestinians and opposition to Israel's existence.

* Hostile cyberattack on Israeli internet sites: “The countdown has begun” Israel’s national cyber authority warns users to avoid links to the websites disrupted on Thursday, May 21, by hostile hackers.

* Iran's Khamenei: Israel will not survive The ayatollah said Gaza can now defeat Israel with Iranian weapons.

* Watch: The liberation of Jerusalem On this day in the Hebrew calendar, we celebrate the liberation of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War.

* PA: All of Israel is “Palestine” and “ours” – in song on official PA TV LIVE Hardly a day goes by without PA leaders emphasizing to the Palestinian people that Israel has no right to exist, and that all of Israel is “Palestine.”

* U.S., Russia, EU and UN to discuss possible summit on Israel-Palestine Officials from the U.S., Russia, EU and UN will hold a video-conference today to discuss the possibility of an international meeting to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Western diplomats tell me.

* Middle East on edge again ahead of 2020 election, here's why Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas announced on Tuesday night that he has severed security cooperation agreements with the U.S. and Israel, over the Israeli government's plan to vote on a proposal to annex contested parts of the West Bank.

* In Stunning Reversal, Turkey Emerges as Libya Kingmaker With a succession of quick victories, Turkish-supported forces in Libya have rolled back the gains of a would-be strongman whose allies, Russia and the United Arab Emirates, now face tough choices.

* Annexation will be a game-changer for Europe’s role in the Middle East Annexation will be the greatest challenge that Europe has faced in the conflict since the oil crisis after the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

5/21/20

* Netanyahu to Khamenei: 'Those who threaten Israel face destruction' Israel's prime minister responded to series of provocations, including a poster threatening a Final Solution.

* Israeli websites hacked in cyberattack: ‘Be ready for a big surprise’ 300 sites defaced with clip of Tel Aviv burning; while security agencies are bracing for Iran-linked attack for Quds Day, after port hack blamed on Israel, expert sees no Iran role.

* 1 in 10 Israelis now call Jerusalem home Israel’s capital, Jerusalem, is also the nation’s most populous city, with 924,800 residents, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics ahead of Jerusalem Day 2020.

* Netanyahu: Iran will face destruction if it attempts a ‘final solution’ “Any regime that threatens the destruction of the State of Israel faces a similar danger,” Netanyahu said.

* Tonight Israel Celebrates the Anniversary of Liberating Jerusalem: But there’s Still Work to Do Thousands of Israeli high school students from all over the country converge on Jerusalem to celebrate Yom herut Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Liberation Day), beginning this year on Thursday night, May 21.

* Iran’s Top General Says End of Israel Imminent Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, says the Palestinian intifada has entered a new critical phase and the end of the Israeli occupation is very close.

* Iran's Mullahs Advancing Anti-Israel Agenda Despite Coronavirus Recently, Iran's parliament, the Islamic Consultative Assembly, unanimously approved an "urgent bill" directed against Israel.

* Hints of settlement evacuations in Trump's peace plan - settlers "If the result of this agreement is the creation of a terror state in Judea and Samaria, then we are ready to give up on sovereignty" – Yesha Council head David Elhayani.

* China voices concern over Israel’s West Bank annexation plan Chinese ambassador to the UN says two-state solution the only way forward.

* 'Har Habayit Beyadenu' - The Temple Mount is in our hands! The League of Nations did not grant the Jews a homeland, it recognized a pre-existing right. Israel realized it in 1948 and 1967. Op-ed.

5/20/20

* 20 years after IDF’s withdrawal from Lebanon, Israel and Hezbollah brace for war In recent weeks, tens of thousands of Israeli troops took part in a military drill to prepare for possible conflict with Iran-backed Lebanese terror group.

* IDF chief says army 'will not hesitate' to go after enemy after Iran reportedly hit by cyberattack 'The IDF has a moral obligation to protect the citizens of the country from terrorist armies around us.'

* Ayatollah Khamenei Issues Poster Calling for ‘Final Solution’ Against Israel Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office released a poster on May 19 calling for the “Final Solution” against Israel.

* Iran Refutes Reports of Syria Withdrawal, Wants to Partner With Iraq to Expel U.S. From Middle East Iran is refuting reports that it's reducing its presence in Syria and said it is seeking to bolster its ties with neighboring Iraq as the Islamic Republic pushes forward with a plan to expel the United States from the Middle East.

* Why Russia is losing its hold on Syria Putin and Assad are pursuing different policies and endgames, a disconnect that has put their alliance in doubt.

* P.L.O. Seeks Vatican Assistance in Dealing with Israel over West Bank The secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (P.L.O.) contacted the Vatican Wednesday to “inform” of their concerns over possible Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank.

* Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas ends security agreement with Israel and US Declaration follows the creation of a new Israeli government which is officially contemplating annexation of some areas of the West Bank.

* Turkey vs. Egypt, UAE and Russia in Libya, who is winning? Turkish media is celebrating this a great victory. Turkey has recruited poor Syrian rebels to fight in Libya and violates an arms embargo.

* UN: Israel must abandon 'annexation' plans The UN's special Mideast envoy called Wednesday on Israel to drop plans to apply its sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria, joining a growing international chorus of opposition.

* ‘Shabbat’ revealed: UK’s ‘blank’ Dead Sea Scroll fragments yield a holy surprise The University of Manchester’s Reed Collection was just a pile of 2,000-year-old leather scraps from Qumran — until Prof. Joan Taylor spotted one ghostly letter, then another.

5/19/20

* Israeli Experts Warn: America Leaving Middle East Could Pave Path for China Takeover Although Israel and Europe are coming out of the COVID-19 crisis (at least for now), the US is still deeply submerged in it, with 1.52 million confirmed cases, tens of thousands of new cases per day, 90,000 deaths and economic chaos.

* Defense Min. Gantz pledges to 'seek peace,' advance Trump's Mideast initiative Outgoing minister Bennett urges next government to 'finish job' in Syria.

* Israel: The Settlements Are Not Illegal Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired (Art. 26.1) and that the exercise of these rights shall be free from discrimination of any kind (Art. 2). — UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007.

* 'Regrettable that EU ignored the threats Israel faces' 'Regrettable that EU ignored threats Israel faces,' says Israeli Foreign Ministry, after EU 'strongly urges' Israel not to apply sovereignty.

* Has Russia grown tired of Syria's Bashar al-Assad? In April, a series of articles were published by a Russian media outlet criticising Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the corruption of his regime.

* Iran's Khamenei: 'West Bank must be armed, just as Gaza' Supreme leader fumes against Trump's Middle East peace plan amid uptick in West Bank violence.

* Germany Takes Back its Sovereignty from the European Union The seemingly obscure ruling... has called into question the legitimacy of the EU's supranational legal and political order.... The German court's ruling marks a new phase in the debate over the balance between national and supranational sovereignty.

* Iran’s DM Warns of Crushing Response to Aggressors Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami has warned the enemies that any threat to the Islamic Republic’s national interests and security will draw a rapid and crushing response, making a reference to the January missile attack on the US airbase of Ain al-Assad in Iraq.

* US asking Israel to eliminate China ties in sensitive areas Israel’s ‘polite deflection won’t cut it anymore’ on China ties, US official says; academic tech research among areas in which US seeking to have Israel cut cooperation.

* Jerusalem's population rises, more Arabs and ultra-Orthodox join workforce Israel's capital is also its largest city, in which its population and industry continued to grow in 2019.

5/18/20

* The Man Just Appointed to Head Israel’s Police Wants to Make the Temple Mount Jewish Again A newly appointed minister may seem at first glance to be an unlikely choice for Public Security Minister but a closer look, bolstered by some insider information in the form of old videos, shows that Amir Ohana may be the key to seeing an Israeli flag finally flying over Judaism’s holiest site: the Temple Mount.

* Israel’s 35th government is sworn into office Binyamin Netanyahu Sunday, May 17, took the oath as prime minister of his 5th government and future alternative PM, while his partner Benny Gantz was sworn in in the reverse order, ready to take over the premiership on Nov. 17, 2021.

* Israel: Ashkenazi takes over Foreign Ministry, says Trump peace plan 'historic opportunity' Ashkenazi: 'President Trump presents us historic opportunity to shape Israel's future for decades to come'.

* Israeli Sovereignty, Not Appeasement, is the Key to Lasting Peace In the coming months, Israel is expected to apply its civilian law and administration to the 30 percent of Judea and Samaria (or the "West Bank") that President Donald Trump's recently unveiled peace plan anticipates remaining with Israel after a final peace agreement.

* Israel's Supreme Court to hear Temple Mount access petition Two applicants are requesting access for Jews to ascend to the holy ground, denied since the lockdown started.

* Iran's Security Forces Have Dedicated Their Existence To Fighting America Hezbollah’s utility to Iran has increasingly gone beyond traditional terrorist attacks.

* Iranian Lawmakers Endorse Anti-Israel Motion ahead of Quds Day The Iranian Parliament has endorsed an anti-Israel motion which outlines the manner of confrontation on the national and international scale with the Tel Aviv regime’s “atrocities”.

* Iran's Khamenei Calls Israel 'Rabid, Predatory Dog' as Jewish State Swears in New Government The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Khamenei railed against Israel this weekend as the Jewish state's parliament approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new unity government.

* Iran, Russia Dismiss Reports of Deal on Removal of Assad The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation have separately rejected the reports of an agreement on removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power.

* Pope’s words on interfaith prayer against coronavirus sparks controversy among Catholics Pope Francis is being accused of "blasphemy" and "sacrilege" by some Catholics for participating in an interfaith prayer Thursday with Muslims, Jews and Christians, calling on God to end the coronavirus pandemic.

5/16/20

* Iran Urges Int’l Support for Palestine Liberation on ‘Nakba Day’ Iran has condemned the Israeli regime’s occupation of the Palestinian land and voiced its support for Palestinian people.

* Jordan’s king warns of ‘massive conflict’ if Israel annexes land in West Bank Abdullah does not rule out suspending peace deal with the Jewish state, insists two-state solution ‘the only way forward’.

* The Jordan Valley Annexation Dilemma: A Realistic Approach The declared intention of the new Israeli government to pave the way for the implementation of sovereignty in certain parts of the West Bank, with the blessing of the Trump administration, is prompting vigorous debate.

* European nations ratchet up pressure on Israel over proposed annexation plans EU states considering limiting Israel's access to preferential markets if it pushes annexation through.

* Israel Remains Focused On Iran Rivalry Despite Virus Comments last week from an unnamed Israeli defence official that Iran was reducing its presence in Syria sparked fierce debate about Tehran's next moves and how the Jewish state should respond.

* Iran progresses anti-Israel bill, plans to establish embassy in Jerusalem The Iranian parliament approved a bill on Tuesday including a list of measures against the State of Israel, such as the establishment of an Iranian consulate or embassy in Jerusalem to 'Palestine,' boycott measures and bans on contact and agreements between Iran and Israel.

* While world focuses on pandemic, ISIS eyes comeback The forces that drove ISIS to the brink are now passing up the opportunity to deliver the coup de grace.

* Hassan Nasrallah: Israel targeting missile sites in Syria Hezbollah chief also denies presence of Iranian troops in Syria beyond 'military advisers and experts'.

* Christian, Jewish Leaders Respond to God TV’s Attempted Proselytization in Israel In the midst of the controversy over God TV’s plan to broadcast evangelical messages in Hebrew on Israeli cable television, Breaking Israel News asked a number of Christian and Jewish leaders to weigh in.

* Israel considers shutting down evangelical Christian God TV's channel “There are 9 million people in Israel who need to hear the gospel of Jesus," channel CEO Ward Simpson said.

* On budget eve, EU defence money at risk from coronavirus European Union plans for a multi-billion euro defence fund have been thrown into doubt by the economic shock of the coronavirus, officials and diplomats say, potentially threatening three years of unprecedented military cooperation.

* Horowitz on Newsmax TV: Churches are an Essential American Institution In his recent appearance on Newsmax TV, Freedom Center founder discussed with "Greg Kelly Reports" how Democrats are using socialist attitudes to stifle Christian values in the United States.

5/15/20

* Jordan’s king warns of ‘massive conflict’ if Israel annexes land in West Bank Abdullah does not rule out suspending peace deal with the Jewish state, insists two-state solution ‘the only way forward’.

* King of Jordan threatens confrontation with Israel over annexation King Abdullah II of Jordan said that if Israel fulfills its promise to annex the Jordan Valley, it will lead to a 'massive' confrontation.

* What Netanyahu does in the next few months will seal his legacy Political Affairs: What the PM decides to do in Judea and Samaria will determine how he will be remembered.

* Why Hamas Loves Human Rights Watch The HRW report focuses on only three Arab towns in Israel – Jisr al-Zarqa, Qalansawa and Ein Mahel, with a total population of 50,000. It deliberately ignores the other two million or so Arab Israelis.

* PICTURES: Iran Building Large Weapons Facility in Syria Iran is building a new weapons storage facility in eastern Syria at a military base near the Iraqi border, Fox News reported Wednesday citing a private Israeli intelligence firm.

* Coronavirus: IS could exploit COVID-19 pandemic to carry out terror attacks, EU warns Islamic militants and right-wing extremists "could view attacks on medical personnel and facilities as highly effective".

* Jordan warns Israel of 'massive conflict' over annexation Jordan’s king is warning Israel of a “massive conflict” if it proceeds with plans to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank.

* How Coronavirus Revealed the Weakness of Europe Coronavirus has underlined the frailty of the “European project” and deepened anxiety about its future.

* China’s Heavily Defended Fortress Near The Middle East And Indian Ocean The Chinese Navy is building a string of overseas bases. So far the largest and furthest afield is in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa.

* Horowitz on Newsmax TV: Churches are an Essential American Institution In his recent appearance on Newsmax TV, Freedom Center founder discussed with "Greg Kelly Reports" how Democrats are using socialist attitudes to stifle Christian values in the United States.

5/14/20

* Netanyahu Refuses to Divulge Secret Agreement with Jordan over Temple Mount The Israeli government does not deny that there is a secret agreement with Jordan over the Temple Mount reports Galatz journalist Yuval Segev.

* Israel Finally Has A New Government — So What Comes Next? After three elections and 18 months of political deadlock, on Wednesday Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that he had formed a unity government.

* European nations ratchet up pressure on Israel over proposed annexation plans EU states considering limiting Israel's access to preferential markets if it pushes annexation through.

* US State Dept.: Israel decision on annexation may 'take a while' US State Department officials predicted on Wednesday that Israel's new government will likely refrain from immediately declaring sovereignty over West Bank territory a day after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an official state visit to Jerusalem.

* Iran Urges Int’l Support for Palestine Liberation on ‘Nakba Day’ Iran has condemned the Israeli regime’s occupation of the Palestinian land and voiced its support for Palestinian people.

* Hassan Nasrallah: Israel targeting missile sites in Syria  Hezbollah chief also denies presence of Iranian troops in Syria beyond 'military advisers and experts'.

* A world in crisis even without the pandemic: Five looming problems Perhaps understandably, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced many other international stories off the news agenda.

* While world focuses on pandemic, ISIS eyes comeback The forces that drove ISIS to the brink are now passing up the opportunity to deliver the coup de grace.

* The Chinese View of Western-Russia Competition The ongoing competition between Russia and the West is likely to continue unabated for years to come.

* Evangelicalism and US Politics: Trump Using Religion to Prop Up Israel Mohammad Masjed-Jamei, a scholar of religion and a former diplomat, has weighed in on the impact of evangelical Christianity on the US politics and the country’s foreign policy, especially during the tenure of President Donald Trump.

5/13/20

* Pompeo says Iran is attempting to ‘foment terror’ amid coronavirus outbreak Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that Iran is trying to “foment terror” while the world struggles to get a grip on the coronavirus pandemic, a report said.

* Watch: Netanyahu meets US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo 'Killing of IDF soldier highlights importance of preserving Israel's right to self defense,' says Pompeo during meeting with Netanyahu.

* Report: Abbas to hold meeting with Hamas, Islamic Jihad over annexation plans 'Abbas wants to show that there is a consensus among the Palestinians regarding annexation.'

* Poll: Most east Jerusalem residents prefer having Palestinian citizenship According to a new poll conducted by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, there has been a dramatic change in the political preferences of Palestinian residents living in eastern Jerusalem.

* Report: Talks over reopening Ben Gurion airport by June 1 underway The plan will reportedly allow tourism to and from so-called 'green countries'.

* Israel considers shutting down evangelical Christian God TV's channel “There are 9 million people in Israel who need to hear the gospel of Jesus," channel CEO Ward Simpson said.

* Turkey: Erdogan's "Leftovers of the Sword" "Leftover of the sword" (kılıç artığı in Turkish) is a commonly used insult in Turkey that often refers to the survivors of the Christian massacres that mainly targeted Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians in the Ottoman Empire and its successor, Turkey.

* Russia slams U.S. assertion at U.N. that it remains party to Iran nuclear deal Russia’s U.N. ambassador slammed the United States on Tuesday as “ridiculous” for arguing it was still a member of the Iran nuclear deal two years after it quit, so Washington could trigger a return of all United Nations sanctions on Tehran.

* The Jordan Valley Annexation Dilemma: A Realistic Approach The declared intention of the new Israeli government to pave the way for the implementation of sovereignty in certain parts of the West Bank, with the blessing of the Trump administration, is prompting vigorous debate.

* UK should answer Israeli annexation with harsh economic sanctions, MPs say House of Lords committee asks government to weigh limiting Jewish state’s preferential access to British markets if it applies sovereignty in West Bank.

5/12/20

* Iran progresses anti-Israel bill, plans to establish embassy in Jerusalem Iranian MPs chanted "down with Israel" after the bill was approved.

* A Golden Opportunity to Develop the West Bank Communities A comprehensive planning blueprint is needed for the western Land of Israel from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

* 'No single cure': Anti-Semitic incidents in US hit record high in 2019, ADL says 2,107 anti-Semitic incidents recorded in 2019, including 61 physical assault cases, 1,127 instances of harassment and 919 acts of vandalism, Anti-Defamation League reports.

* What Israel's Wars in Gaza Show America About Future Conflicts A report shows what America's own forces can learn. It appears that even a high-tech nation may be forced to send ground troops into a costly land war.

* Israel Remains Focused On Iran Rivalry Despite Virus Comments last week from an unnamed Israeli defence official that Iran was reducing its presence in Syria sparked fierce debate about Tehran's next moves and how the Jewish state should respond.

* Report: Israeli officials say Iranian cyberattack on water supply crossed major red line Sustained cyberattack on civilian infrastructure targets prompts fury in Jerusalem.

* What the EU's Kowtowing to China Means for the World So much for a "geopolitical" European Commission (EC). The EU has long labored under critiques of being toothless and feeble on the world stage, but Ursula von der Leyen's use of the phrase to mark her new term at the EC's helm in December seemed to presage a change of tack.

* On budget eve, EU defence money at risk from coronavirus European Union plans for a multi-billion euro defence fund have been thrown into doubt by the economic shock of the coronavirus, officials and diplomats say, potentially threatening three years of unprecedented military cooperation.

* Coronavirus: Lockdown for Europeans, Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants While Europe is experiencing an economic shock without precedent, and tens of millions of Europeans have lost their livelihoods, migrants in Europe illegally are being showered with free housing and healthcare.

* Christian, Jewish Leaders Respond to God TV's Attempted Proselytization in Israel In the midst of the controversy over God TV's plan to broadcast evangelical messages in Hebrew on Israeli cable television, Breaking Israel News asked a number of Christian and Jewish leaders to weigh in.

5/11/20

* It's Final: Israel's new government to be sworn in on Thursday Israel delays swearing in of unity government to Thursday, due to upcoming visit by US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo.

* Pompeo visits Israel on the day its new government is sworn in US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is to pay a short visit to Israel on May 13, ending a pause in his international travels due to coronavirus.

* EU Looks to 'Penalize' Jerusalem if Judea and Samaria Liberated The European Union's Foreign Affairs Commission is reportedly debating punitive measures against Israel should it push forward with its plans to annex parts of Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley in accordance with the Trump administration's Middle East peace plan.

* Is a cyber war brewing in the Middle East? In the Middle East there has been an increased role of cyber war and cyber security, much as the region is also at the forefront of experiments with new weapon systems.

* Where is the Ark of the Covenant? How holy relic could be hidden below Jerusalem The Ark of the Covenant has been lost for more than 2,000 years but one expert believes the holy relic could be lurking deep beneath Jerusalem.

* Mufti of Jerusalem warns of 'hasty' reopening of Al-Aqsa mosque It is the first time since 1967 that the third holiest site in Islam has been closed to the faithful.

* PA: Blow up Israeli civilians in Haifa and Atlit - TV song urges suicide-terror against Israel Even the Coronavirus crisis is not enough to cause the Palestinian Authority stop indoctrinating Palestinians that nothing surpasses dying as a "Martyr" while murdering Israeli civilians.

* Poll: Eastern Jerusalem Arabs say they want to be part of 'Palestine' The poll found that only 15 percent of eastern Jerusalem Arab residents surveyed said they would pick Israeli citizenship.

* Experimental drilling starts for controversial train route to Jerusalem Old City Infrastructure panel initially rejected plan to extend fast rail, approved it under pressure from Transportation Minister Smotrich; involves excavating for 2 miles under Jerusalem.

* As Nations Amass Against Israel, the IDF Troops Need God Now More than Ever In a recent interview, Defense Minister Naftali Bennett said that there's "no reason" for Iran to set up military installations in Syria noting that the Islamic Republic doesn't even share a border with them.

5/9/20

* In triumph for Netanyahu, 72 MKs endorse him as PM, paving way for new coalition After 16-month crisis, large Knesset majority — including rival-turned-ally Gantz — asks president to task Likud incumbent with setting up government; swearing-in set for May 13.

* Trump’s Israeli-Palestinian Peace Plan: Dead on Arrival For critics of the president, the Trump administration’s Israeli-Palestinian peace plan was dead long before any deal even materialized.

* Defense officials: Iran pulling out of Syria as Israel pummels its forces there Amid increased reports of IDF strikes on Tehran-linked bases, security officials say Israel wants to make clear to Damascus that Iran is a burden, not an ally.

* 'We'll never allow a missionary channel to broadcast in Israel' Communications Minister and cable broadcasting authority vow to investigate new Christian TV channel over concerns of missionary activity.

* Israel plans thousands of new settler homes ahead of Pompeo visit Israel announced a plan for thousands of new Jewish settlement homes in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday as Washington voiced readiness to back de facto Israeli annexations there.

* Will Turkey's Army Once Again Punish Assad For Breaking A Syrian Ceasefire? Assad's forces have often not lived up to their military commitments.

* ‘China, Russia Prioritize Own Interests in Friendship with Iran’ An expert on international relations says China and Russia give priority to their own interests in their relationship with Iran, and Tehran should not count on them.

* Russian group's 1,200 mercenaries fighting in Libya: UN report Report says private contractor Wagner Group deployed forces in specialized military tasks, including sniper teams.

* Democracy At Risk In Central And Eastern Europe, Report Finds Democracy is weakening across Central and Eastern Europe as well as Eurasia amid the rise of Chinese and Russian influence, according to a new report by Freedom House, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C.

* Coronavirus: European Leaders Cower in the Face of China Australia and the United States are leading a campaign for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

* Pope Francis bombshell: Benedict's plot to cause Vatican chief 'misery' exposed POPE BENEDICT is "making Francis' life a misery" as rumours of a major row between the two Vatican titans continue to boil, an expert has warned.

5/8/20

* High Court Orders Netanyahu to Reveal if he Made a Secret Deal with Jordan over Temple Mount Following an emergency request to allow Jewish access to the Temple Mount, Israeli Supreme Court Justice Dafna Barak ordered the legislative branch of the government to respond to a petition filed by Temple Mount activists.

* Netanyahu gets nod from Rivlin to form government, seemingly cementing rule Move comes after large Knesset majority - including rival-turned-ally Gantz - tells president it endorses Likud incumbent as prime minister; government to be sworn in next week.

* Friedman to 'Post': We need to strengthen Israel-US ties with peace plan Diplomatic Affairs: Marking two years since the move of the embassy to Jerusalem, David Friedman talks about annexation, the peace process and rapprochement in the Gulf.

* Poll shows majority of Israeli Jews against West Bank annexation Only 13% said they are satisfied with the current status quo.

* Second Passover Reenactment Cancelled, Protest Held Against Possible Secret Deal Banishing Jews From Temple Mount While Muslims have free and exclusive access to the Temple Mount, a second attempt to hold a reenactment of the holiest Temple service of the year was canceled.

* Have Russian Ambitions been Dented by Setbacks in Syria and Libya? April hasn't been a good month for Russia in the Middle East. In Libya, General Khalifa Haftar has been on the defensive following the UN-backed Tripoli government's advances, including the capture of several cities as well as hitting Haftar's armories and supply lines.

* Does Turkey Need NATO's Help To Fight Off Russia In Syria? "The correlation of forces is decidedly against Russia in Syria."

* China's Massive Trade Imbalance: The Rope with Which They Would Hang Us China's communist leadership quickly recognized that if the U.S. continued to demand economic reciprocity, China could easily lose its ability to claim solo superpower status for the remaining decades of the 21st Century.

* Too early to tell if EU will continue to exist as it does today, historian says Kiran Klaus Patel, author of "Project Europe: A History," discusses the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the European Union.

* Iraq will be hit harder by the oil price drop than by coronavirus or Isis The threat is so acute because the country's 38 million people are only just emerging from 40 years of crisis and war.

5/7/20

* In triumph for Netanyahu, 72 MKs endorse him as PM, paving way for new coalition After 16-month crisis, large Knesset majority - including rival-turned-ally Gantz - asks president to task Likud incumbent with setting up government; swearing-in set for May 13.

* Gantz asks president to entrust Netanyahu with premiership The Netanyahu-Gantz coalition government is scheduled to be sworn in next Wednesday, May 13, as legislation goes through.

* Russian group's 1,200 mercenaries fighting in Libya: UN report Report says private contractor Wagner Group deployed forces in specialised military tasks, including sniper teams.

* Is Iran really leaving Syria? Earlier this week senior defense officials in Israel announced that after years of Israel's war-between-war campaign to drive Iran out of Syria, the Islamic Republic was finally withdrawing from the war-torn country.

* Why Trump's Plan for Middle East Peace Will Fail The path to peace remains blocked by an obstacle that only the most wrenching - and, therefore, the most improbable - concession by one of the two parties to the conflict can remove: Israel's surrender of its identity as a Jewish state or the Palestinians' surrender of the right of return.

* Bible breakthrough: How 3,000-year-old inscription proves existence of House of David KING DAVID's story is central to the Bible and the Jews' determination of their identity and roots - though difficult to prove, an expert claimed that one significant discovery in 1993 revealed how the House of David was indeed real.

* New Iraq prime minister after five months of deadlock Iraq's parliament has approved a new government, ending months of deadlock as the country battles an economic crisis and the coronavirus pandemic.

* Democracy At Risk In Central And Eastern Europe, Report Finds Democracy is weakening across Central and Eastern Europe as well as Eurasia amid the rise of Chinese and Russian influence, according to a new report by Freedom House, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C.

* Coronavirus: European Leaders Cower in the Face of China The equivocation of European leaders is a reflection not only of Europe's geopolitical weakness and economic overdependence on China, but also of a moral vacuum in which they refuse to stand up for Western values.

* Netanyahu's Son Foretells End of EU: Europe will become 'Christian and Free' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's eldest son, Yair, blasted the European Union on Tuesday for supporting a joint Israeli-Arab Memorial Day event.

5/6/20

* Israel Has No Time To Prepare For A Land War With Hezbollah Sometimes - as with Russia in 1941 - a nation has sufficient time and strategic depth to remedy logistical shortfalls.

* Netanyahu-Gantz unity government takes shape amid 11th hour wrangling The nervous distrust marking the maneuvers leading up to the May 7 deadline for 61 MKs to present a government is unlikely to derail the Netanyahu-Gantz government coalition deal.

* Friedman to 'Post': To annex, Netanyahu must tell Abbas he'll negotiate state Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must offer Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to negotiate, based on the establishment of a Palestinian State in 70% of the West Bank, for the US to support Israel moving forward with annexing the other 30%, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told The Jerusalem Post.

* Pandemic boosts Palestinian PM as potential Abbas successor One man has become the face of the Palestinians' response to the COVID-19 crisis, and it's not President Mahmoud Abbas.

* Israel plans thousands of new settler homes ahead of Pompeo visit Israel announced a plan for thousands of new Jewish settlement homes in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday as Washington voiced readiness to back de facto Israeli annexations there.

* When Judges Rule: A Comparison between the US and Israel Were the Supreme Court of Israel to decide that Benjamin Netanyahu is legally prohibited from forming a government in which he served as prime minister because he is under indictment, it would be usurping the role of the Knesset (which has not enacted such a prohibition) and the electorate...

* Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the US: A Slippery Oil Triangle Oil relationships are as unstable and volatile as romantic ones. Following a deadlocked OPEC summit in February, Moscow and Riyadh announced they would ramp up production, sending already low prices tumbling.

* Will Turkey's Army Once Again Punish Assad For Breaking A Syrian Ceasefire? Assad's forces have often not lived up to their military commitments.

* US ambassador says Washington 'ready to recognize annexation' within weeks David Friedman tells newspaper that applying sovereignty in parts of West Bank is up to Israel, as long as it's done within framework of Trump peace plan.

* Rare Astronomic Occurrence: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower, Super 'Flower' Moon to Happen Simultaneously On Wednesday night, the annual Eta Aquarids meteor shower will be visible around the world.