Israel

22 Mar 2023; MEMO: An Israeli drone fell in Syria, on Wednesday, during routine activity, the Israeli military said, according to a report by Reuters.

A military statement said there had been no breach of information and the incident was under investigation. It did not provide further details.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s parliament on Thursday passed the first of several laws that make up its contentious judicial overhaul as protesters opposing the changes staged another day of demonstrations aimed at ringing an alarm over what they see as the country’s descent toward autocracy.

21 Mar 2023; MEMO: The Knesset (Israel's parliament) has passed the second and third readings of a Bill to allow Israeli settlers to resettle in four settlements in the Occupied West Bank, Anadolu News Agency reports.

The Bill rolled back legislation that ordered the evacuation of the illegal outposts of Homesh, Ganim, Kadim and Sa-Nur in the Occupied Territory in 2005.

The Bill was passed by 31-18 votes in the 120-seat Knesset, the assembly said in a statement.

22 Mar 2023; MEMO: Israeli Police yesterday filed an incitement against a 33-year-old Israeli who threatened the US Ambassador to Tel Aviv, Tom Nides, a day earlier.

22 Mar 2023; MEMO: A large group of reserve Israeli soldiers and officers yesterday warned that they will not turn up for duty if called upon as a result of government plans to overhaul the judiciary, local media reported.

20 Mar 2023; MEMO: Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, on Monday ordered the closure of the Voice of Palestine radio station's offices in Occupied East Jerusalem and Israel, Anadolu News Agency reports.

A statement by Ben-Gvir's office attributed the move to incitement against Israel by the Palestinian radio.

According to an Anadolu reporter, a number of staff working for the radio station were summoned by Israeli police for questioning.

20 Mar 2023; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Monday announced a softening of his judicial overhaul plan but an unallayed opposition said it would still challenge key legislation in the Supreme Court, setting the stage for a constitutional showdown, Reuters reports.

21 Mar 2023; MEMO: Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has threatened that he will resign if the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu persists in going ahead with its proposed judicial overhaul, Israeli media revealed on Monday.

Denouncing the wave of military personnel taking part in anti-government protests in Israel for almost three months, Gallant added that such "widespread insubordination may harm the IDF's ability to carry out its missions."

19 Mar 2023; MEMO: Opponents of the Israeli government's plans for judicial overhaul staged fresh demonstrations for the 11th straight week on Saturday, Anadolu reports.

Protesters held rallies in several Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, where several main roads were blocked, The Jerusalem Post newspaper reported.

Saturday's protests were joined by Arab-Israelis and members of the Bedouin community, marking their first appearance in the ongoing demonstrations against the judicial reform plans.

JERUSALEM, March 19 (Reuters) - A group of Israelis describing themselves as reservists in elite military and intelligence units said they would not turn up for some duties from Sunday, escalating protests at the hard-right government's planned judicial overhaul.

Members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, which wields a Knesset majority, say they want bills that would limit the authority of the Supreme Court to be written into law by April 2.