| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Two Palestinian Authority police officers who trained in Qatar returned to Israel and murdered an Israeli |
| 2025-07-12 |
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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| 'Round Two': Netanyahu came to the US to drag Trump into a new war |
| 2025-07-08 |
| Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Leonid Tsukanov [REGNUM] On the morning of July 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington on a working visit. His agenda includes a meeting with President Donald Trump, as well as high-ranking officials and congressmen.  This is the Israeli Prime Minister's second trip to the United States since the Republicans won the election. However, unlike the previous summit, Netanyahu is bringing with him far fewer "trump cards" and far more problems that will have to be solved, including with the participation of the United States. TO SUM UP The main purpose of the trip is to discuss the situation around Iran. Netanyahu makes no secret of his intention to press Trump for “greater decisiveness” in responding to a hypothetical nuclear threat from Tehran. Moreover, according to Tel Aviv, Iran’s nuclear project has not suffered “irreparable damage,” and the country will be able to restore its previous rate of uranium enrichment within six months at the most. Of course, Netanyahu sees himself as the winner in this conflict, since he fulfilled the main promises made to the electorate and “dealt a crushing blow” to a strategic enemy. At the same time, the Israelis were unable to achieve all of their goals, underestimating the opponent's mobilization capabilities. This means that sooner or later the time for a "second round" will come. Tel Aviv expects Trump to agree with its concerns and give the green light to new preemptive operations against Tehran and its key allies in the region. Particularly against Yemen's Houthis, who remain the only Iranian proxy forces still systematically harassing the territory of the Jewish state. The Israeli General Staff had previously announced a series of large-scale air strikes on targets in Yemen, dubbed "Black Flag." However, the aircraft quickly returned to their permanent bases, deciding to limit themselves to "warning shots" until Netanyahu's trip was over. INTERNAL DISCORD Meanwhile, the situation inside Israel is heating up. Distracted by the external contour and the conflict with Iran, Netanyahu's cabinet stopped monitoring the domestic political situation for some time. Apparently, counting on a spiritual and patriotic upsurge after a quick victory over Tehran. However, the situation turned out to be the opposite - the “small victorious” war dragged on for almost two weeks, and at some point Israel even had to defend itself more actively than its opponents. It is not surprising that as soon as the guns fell silent, the public immediately began to look for an answer to the question: who is to blame? Although there is discord and a despondent mood in the camp of Netanyahu's opponents, provoked by the conflict between the "heavyweights" of the opposition camp - former Defense Minister Benny Gantz and former Chief of the General Staff Gadi Eisenkot - and they cannot bring any consolidated accusations against the Prime Minister, the ruling coalition has once again found itself on the verge of collapse. This time - due to the fault of yesterday's allies. In particular, the ultra-Orthodox wing of the Israeli government recently threatened to paralyze the work of the Knesset. This will happen if Netanyahu does not block the final adoption of a law related to the conscription of young Haredi believers, which was also developed and lobbied by representatives of his party. At one point, passions reached such a level that Netanyahu even had to reschedule his flight to Washington until late in the evening in order to hold a series of briefings and meetings with the Orthodox. He tried to persuade them not to destroy the legitimacy of the ruling cabinet and give legislators time to "finish off" the controversial bill. For a while, he managed to calm the conservative public, but the issue itself is still on the agenda. IMAGE LOSSES The Qatargate corruption scandal, which Israeli society had managed to forget, is also flaring up with renewed vigor. And Netanyahu himself reminded us of it. The day before flying to Washington, he fired his press secretary, Omer Dostri, who until recently was part of the prime minister’s inner circle and was even considered one of his “confidants.” As the office notes, the reason for the breakup is the “image losses” that Netanyahu allegedly suffered due to Dostri’s careless statements. In particular, at the initial stages of “Qatargate,” he misled the investigation several times, as a result of which law enforcement officers became convinced that the prime minister was also involved in corrupt deals. Netanyahu had to prove the opposite for almost six months, each time balancing on the brink of resignation. By shifting the focus of negativity to Dostri, Netanyahu was able to distance himself from the scandal with Qatari agents of influence, which threatened him with reputational costs and even the loss of his prime ministerial seat. Now, even if new high-ranking figures appear in the case, the prime minister will be treated as a witness at worst, and as a victim at best. PALESTINIAN "EXCHANGE" At the upcoming talks in Washington, the conversation will certainly turn to the situation in the Gaza Strip and the negotiations, which have once again reached a dead end. The Israeli establishment is not too happy with Hamas's new counter-proposals, which came after Tel Aviv and Washington announced an imminent deal for a 60-day ceasefire in the enclave. And while Trump continues to boast about the imminent conclusion of a new “comprehensive agreement,” which will include, among other things, the “expulsion” of Hamas leaders from the enclave, the viability of such statements, given the realities on the ground, is doubted in both Israel and Palestine. Against this backdrop, attempts are being made to destabilize the situation in the West Bank, within the borders of internationally recognized Palestine. In particular, the Israeli side supports separatist sentiments in the city of Hebron, where a group of high-ranking sheikhs is trying to achieve the transformation of the city into a “microstate” with subsequent normalization of relations with Israel. Tel Aviv is still cautious and does not support the rebel sheikhs too much, although it works with them through an intermediary, Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat. However, Israel may well move to more decisive action, especially if the deal with Hamas fails again. In this case, the creation of a “buffer emirate” will become one of the ways to further divide Palestine, and at the same time create an obstacle between the Palestinian territories on the West Bank and the rest of Israel. And a little later, the Israelis may also conduct a “political exchange” with the Palestinian Authority, gaining control over Gaza in exchange for an obligation not to expand into the West Bank and not to support tribal separatism. But for this scheme to work as Tel Aviv intends, the US, as the main guarantor of the current deals between the Palestinians and the Israelis, must be brought into the loop. And no one is better suited to this task than Netanyahu. |
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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| In a signed letter to Israel's government, the sheikhs of Hebron pledged Full recognition of Israel as the JEWISH state |
| 2025-07-07 |
[X] Expanding on this story from yesterday.
…ZERO tolerance for terror ✅ Breaking away from the corrupt Palestinian Authority ✅ Joining the Abraham Accords for peace, jobs, and prosperity These sheikhs theoretically represent half a million people! “The people are with us. Nobody respects the PA. Nobody wants them.” Don't be confused. This is not going to revive the fantasies of the "two state solution" Rather, it might be a step towards a sort of UAE composed of the different clans that will have their autonomous areas within Israel
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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Two Palestinians said killed by Israeli fire in village near Nablus; no immediate comment from IDF |
| 2025-07-07 |
| [IsraelTimes] The Palestinian Authority health ministry says that two men were shot dead by Israeli forces near the city of Nablus, in the West Bank, earlier today. Qusai Nasser Mahmud Nassar, 23, and Wissam Ghassan Hassan Shtayyeh, 37, “were shot and killed by the occupation forces on Sunday afternoon in the village of Salem, east of Nablus,” the ministry says in a statement. According to WAFA, the PA’s official news agency, a 62-year-old man was also injured by the gunfire and was evacuated for medical treatment by the Palestinian Red Crescent. It says that the Palestinian Red Crescent received Nassar’s body after the incident, but that the IDF has not yet handed over the body of Shtayyeh. There is no immediate comment from the IDF. Related: Nablus: 2025-07-05 IDF says troops arrested 10 Palestinians Thursday, seized firearms in overnight West Bank raids Nablus: 2025-06-13 Good Morning Nablus: 2025-06-13 Troops kill two terrorists during extended raid in central Nablus — IDF Related: Village of Salem: 2025-03-15 Israeli forces gun down Palestinian in Occupied West Bank Village of Salem: 2023-03-16 IDF suspects Hezbollah behind bombing attack on northern highway; terrorist killed Village of Salem: 2023-03-14 Man seriously wounded in car explosion in north; terror motive suspected |
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| Report: Removing Hamas From Power A Condition For Saudi Normalization | |
| 2025-07-02 | |
| [IsraelNationalNews] Saudi Arabia is insisting that Israel finish the job in Gaza by removing Hamas from power completely in the coastal enclave as a precondition for a normalization agreement with the Jewish State, a Saudi source told i24NEWS. The source, who is reportedly close to the royal court, told Middle East correspondent Ariel Oseran that, "Without removing Hamas, there will be no peace." According to the report, the Saudi government hopes the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas, will be restored to power in Gaza after the fall of the Hamas government. The report is the first indication that ending the war now instead of continuing until Hamas is completely defeated may jeopardize efforts to secure normalization accords with Arab and Muslim nations and the Trump Administration's efforts to expand the Abraham Accords.
Trump further stated that he would be "very firm" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the issue of ending the war in Gaza when the two leaders meet in Washington next week. | |
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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Palestinian family said deported from Argentina as Milei toughens immigration stance |
| 2025-07-02 |
Ann odd little tale. What are we not being told? [IsraelTimes] A Palestinian family of five were detained for more than 24 hours at Ezeiza airport in Buenos Aires before being deported, despite traveling with tourist visas issued by the Argentine embassy in Herzliya, a letter of invitation, certificates of good conduct, medical insurances, hotel reservations and return tickets, according to reports in left-leaning local newspaper Pagina 12 and Tiempo Argentino.According to the newspapers, the family arrived in Buenos Aires on June 16 after having been delayed leaving the West Bank for Jordan, from where they travelled to Istanbul and then Brazil before arriving in Argentina. The family says they were tricked into signing documents entirely in Spanish at the airport stating they were “false tourists,” thus allowing them to be deported. The newspapers also reported that the Palestinian Authority ambassador in Argentina tried to intervene on their behalf but did not help. Argentine Attorny Uriel Biondi filed a writ of habeas corpus with the Federal Criminal and Correctional Court of Lomas de Zamora for violation of their constitutional rights and international human rights treaties. The family, which has boarded a plane to Istanbul, claims their rights were violated and they were mistreated by being detained inhumanly. This incident came as pro-Israel President Javier Milei’s has toughened his stance on immigration with increased deportations, restrictions on citizenship and charging foreigners for using public healthcare and universities. Milei seemingly has modeled his reforms on US President Donald Trump. Perhaps the family looked like they planned on overstaying their visa. Related: Argentina: 2025-06-30 Argentina accuses Iran of threatening IAEA head Grossi Argentina: 2025-06-29 Argentina: Judge OKs Putting Former Iranian Officials on Trial for Terrorism Argentina: 2025-06-12 Milei, visiting Knesset, says Argentina to move its embassy to Jerusalem in 2026 Related: Javier Milei 06/29/2025 Argentina: Judge OKs Putting Former Iranian Officials on Trial for Terrorism Javier Milei 06/12/2025 Milei, visiting Knesset, says Argentina to move its embassy to Jerusalem in 2026 Javier Milei 05/11/2025 Why Argentina's President Declassified Secrets of Escaped Nazis |
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| Trump and Bibi Working on a Super Duper 8 Party Deal | |
| 2025-06-27 | |
| [IsraelTimes] After the US strike on Iran earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump agreed on a rapid end to the war in Gaza and expansion of the Abraham Accords, Israel Hayom reports, citing "a source familiar with the conversation." According to the outlet, Trump and Netanyahu agreed in a phone call that the war in Gaza would end within two weeks. Four Arab states, including the UAE and Egypt, would jointly govern the Gaza Strip in place of Hamas. The terror group’s leadership would be exiled, and all hostages would be released. ----------- by my count the parties in the deal would include Israel, US, Egypt, UAE, Saudi A, Syria, Hamas and PA - I probably have left some others out
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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Responding to UK-led sanctions, Smotrich cancels waiver allowing Israel-PA bank ties |
| 2025-06-11 |
| [IsraelTimes] Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has directed his office to cancel a critical agreement for sustaining the Palestinian economy in retaliation for the decision by five Western countries to sanction him and fellow far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Smotrich’s office says in a statement that he directed the Finance Ministry’s accountant-general, Yali Rotenberg, to waive the indemnity that Israeli banks have been given to correspond with Palestinian banks. Smotrich earlier in the day reportedly pledged to collapse the PA in response to the sanctions, even though Ramallah was not known to have any involvement in the joint decision by the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway. The Palestinian economy relies heavily on the banks’ relationships with their Israeli counterparts to process transactions made in shekels, as the PA does not have its own currency. Some NIS 53 billion ($14 billion) were exchanged at Palestinian banks in 2023, according to official data. The overwhelming majority of exchanges in the West Bank are in shekels, Israel’s national currency, because the Palestinian Authority is prevented from having a central bank that would allow it to print its own currency. The so-called corresponding banking agreement requires periodic extensions by Israel to remain in effect, and the Biden administration exhausted significant efforts in urging Israel not to allow its expiration. The administration warned that failing to maintain the banking relations between Israel and the Palestinians would turn the West Bank into a “cash economy,” which would benefit terrorist organizations in the territory and make it harder for the already-weakened PA to fight such groups. The Israeli security establishment also pushed back against the move, and Smotrich ultimately agreed to grant a one-year extension to the banking deal last November. |
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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Head of Gaza militia cited denying Israel support, demanding Hamas cede power |
| 2025-06-09 |
| [IsraelTimes] In unverified quotes, anti-Hamas militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab says coordination with Israel would only take place through mediators and for humanitarian purposes The head of an anti-Hamas militia in Gaza was quoted on Sunday giving comments to an Israeli media outlet and a US nonprofit on his group’s operations in the enclave, in which he denied ties to Israel. Defense sources confirmed on Thursday that Israel has been arming a criminal gang in the Strip as part of an effort to strengthen opposition to Hamas in the enclave. The group in question is led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a member of a large clan in southern Gaza. It has been linked in the past to smuggling operations with Egyptian jihadist groups. The revelation led to intense criticism within Israel. Ostensibly speaking to Army Radio in a series of text messages, the veracity of which has not been confirmed, Abu Shabab said: “We do not work with Israel. Our goal is to protect the Palestinians from Hamas terror. Our weapons are not from Israel — they are simple arms we collected from the local population.” He added that “these rumors are meant to harm our reputation and create hostility between us, Israel, and Arab states.” Abu Shabab denied having any meetings with Israeli officials, while saying that “if any coordination takes place it will be humanitarian, for the benefit of our people in eastern Rafah, and will be carried out through mediation channels.” Meanwhile, the Center for Peace Communications, which bills itself as an organization committed to revealing the plight of those living under the rule of Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, published what it called an “exclusive first public statement” from Abu Shabab. It is not clear how it obtained the audio clip, which also could not be verified. In it, the person identifying himself as Abu Shabab also denied “working with the occupation,” while calling on Hamas to “step down from government.” He asserted, “We have hundreds of families heading to the areas we control daily.” Abu Shabab’s gang has been documented in recent days operating in an area near the Kerem Shalom border crossing, which is under Israeli military control. In the footage, published online by Abu Shabab, members of the group can be seen wearing military-style uniforms with the Palestinian flag and the words “Counter-Terrorism Mechanism” emblazoned on them. Sources have confirmed that Israel has been arming the gang with Kalashnikov rifles, including some that were seized from Hamas during the ongoing war. The decision to start arming the group was made without the approval of Israel’s security cabinet, forgoing normal procedure. It was instead led by Israeli security bodies, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval, the defense sources said. The militia has been operating in Rafah, in an area under Israeli military control. Abu Shabab has claimed to be securing the humanitarian aid convoys entering Israel through the southern border crossings, although others have accused his gang of looting them. According to Hamas sources who spoke with the Lebanese Al-Akhbar outlet, the militia comprises some 300 people, of whom Abu Shabab personally recruited around 50. They alleged that the remaining 250 members were recruited through the Palestinian Authority’s intelligence service. The Hamas sources did not offer proof of Abu Shabab’s alleged ties to the Ramallah-based PA, and Al-Akhbar did not verify any of the terror group’s claims. The group emerged in Rafah in May 2024, following the IDF invasion of the Strip’s southernmost city, the Hamas sources said. They told Al-Akhbar that the Al-Qassam Brigades have “already started carrying out direct assassinations” of members of Abu Shabab’s gang, and that its continued existence has fast become a “central issue” for the terror group. According to the sources, some members of the group belong to an extremist Salafi faction that had run-ins with Hamas prior to the war as well. This is not the first time that Netanyahu has been involved in or accused of propping up militias and terror groups to undermine a common enemy. Various reports over the years have indicated that Israel’s policy under Netanyahu was to treat Hamas as an asset that could be used to weaken the Palestinian Authority. Related: Yasser Abu Shabab 06/06/2025 IDF arming anti Hamas Clans in Gaza with captured Hamas weapons |
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| International-UN-NGOs |
| Report: France, UK, Canada set conditions for Palestinians for state recognition |
| 2025-06-09 |
| [IsraelTimes] Saudi television station Asharq reports that France, Britain and Canada have set preconditions for the Palestinian Authority and Hamas for the recognition of a Palestinian state. The outlet says these include significant political reforms in the PA and the demilitarization of Gaza. Citing Western and regional sources, it says the nations are demanding in the West Bank the renewal of a functioning parliament, free and fair elections, and the commitment to a peaceful transfer of power. In Gaza, they say Hamas must hand over rule to an elected Palestinian government and undergo demilitarization. |
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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Hamas could be rewarded with Palestinian state, thanks to the October 7 massacre |
| 2025-06-07 |
In December 2024, the U.N. took action to re-visit the two-state "solution" between Israel and Hamas, the precursor to an upcoming international conference set to kick-off in New York in less than two weeks: An international conference meant to resurrect the idea of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict will take place from June 17 to 20 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, a UN spokeswoman said Friday. The conference stems from a resolution approved in December by the UN General Assembly, and it will be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. A diplomat in Paris close to preparations for the conference said it should pave the way for more countries to recognize a full-blown Palestinian state. These plans to move toward a two-state solution are gaining steam, because the progressive international community believes the Arabs in Gaza have earned the right to their own Palestinian state. France and the U.K. have even begun to talk about the two-state outcome: Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, David Lammy, confirmed last week that the UK is in talks with France to recognize a Palestinian state. Palestinian thought leaders, publications, and speakers throughout the Arab world see this as a reward for the horrific massacre of October 7, 2023, and an inducement to increase rather than decrease the level of violence and terrorism. At this time, almost 150 countries have recognized the Palestinian Authority as governing a Palestinian state. And in May of last year, Norway, Ireland, and Spain took steps to recognize a Palestinian state. |
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