JERUSALEM (JTA) –Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about regional developments and about the case of an American-Israeli woman jailed for drug smuggling. “The conversation was warm and to the point and strengthened the Prime Minister’s optimism that the issue of the release of Naama Issachar is advancing […]

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli authorities demolished homes in Palestinian areas of east Jerusalem at a significantly higher rate in 2019 than the previous year, according to an Israeli advocacy group. In a new report, Ir Amim said 104 housing units were demolished in 2019, compared() to 72 units in 2018. The 44% spike also ends […]

JERUSALEM (AP) — Religious-nationalist parties in Israel joined forces late Wednesday ahead of the country’s unprecedented third straight election in one year. The parties came together after weeks of jockeying and shut out the fringe Jewish Power party which said it would run independently. It did so in the previous elections and did not garner […]

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli court heard a case Thursday calling for restrictions to be slapped on NSO Group, an Israeli company that makes surveillance software that is said to have been used to target journalists and dissidents around the world. The case, brought by Amnesty International, calls for Israel to revoke the […]

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s military carried out airstrikes on terror group installations in Gaza on Wednesday after terrorists launched rocket attacks on southern Israel. Four rockets launched in the afternoon sent Israelis in Gaza border communities running to bomb shelters. Two of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system, the Israel […]

JERUSALEM (Israel Hayom) — In recent months, Israel and Russia have been forging a unique partnership at the United Nations. Amid the backdrop of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon and his Russian counterpart, Vasily Nebenzya, decided to join forces and convene a historic event to mark the […]

JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli race car driver has become the first national to break into Formula One racing. Roy Nissany, 25, was named the official test driver for the UK-based Williams Group, a top Formula One team. The announcement was made Wednesday at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation by the group’s president, […]

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel announced Wednesday that it had started exporting natural gas to Egypt as part of an agreement reached between the two countries in December. Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said in a video released on Twitter that it was “a moment for celebration, in which Israel turns into a regional energy power.” The […]

MOSCOW (JNS) — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Ivanov said on Tuesday that a prisoner exchange deal for an Israeli-American woman being held in Russia on drug charges is not being considered. “As far as I know, an exchange option is not being looked at,” he said, according to Russia’s Tass news agency. “[Naama Issachar] […]

JERUSALEM (JNS) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party made a last-ditch effort on Wednesday to unite the country’s right-wing parties ahead of the country’s March 2 election. Parties failing to clear the 3.25 percent electoral threshold in March will result in votes being wasted, potentially making the difference between a Blue and White […]