Israel

JERUSALEM (AP) — Qatar may hope soccer fans ignore politics at the first World Cup in the Middle East. But Israel and Iran, foes locked in conflicts across the region, are bringing sensitive flashpoints to the tournament’s doorstep.

Israel is not competing, but it sees the massive spectacle as a way to further integrate into the Middle East after establishing ties with two of Qatar’s Gulf Arab neighbors. Thousands of Israeli tourists, long shunned, are expected to fly to the Qatari capital of Doha on unprecedented direct flights.

10 Nov 2022; MEMO: Israeli President Isaac Herzog has been caught on an open microphone saying that "the whole world is worried" about newly-elected lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir's extremism, the Times of Israel has reported. Herzog apparently believed that the mic had been switched off at the end of his meeting about the next government with an ultra-Orthodox party.

10 Nov 2022; MEMO: US Ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, said Thursday Washington will oppose any Israeli attempt to annex parts of the Occupied West Bank, Anadolu News Agency reports.

"We will push back against any attempt at annexation," Nides told the Israeli public broadcaster, KAN.

"We don't support annexation. It's not just us; it's most countries," he said.

10 Nov 2022; MEMO: Israel has received three new F-35 fighter jets today from the United States at a military air base in the Negev region, Arab48 reported.

The new jets that arrived in Israel will join the 33 aircraft that have been delivered by the US Defence Contractor, Lockheed Martin.

9 Nov 2022; MEMO: Outgoing Israeli Defence Minister, Benny Gantz, warned Wednesday of rising extremism inside Israel, Anadolu News Agency reports.

"The extremism in society and in the government is what bothers me," Gantz said in statements cited by The Jerusalem Post newspaper.

Opposition leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, is set to form the upcoming government in Israel after his right-wing alliance won last week's legislative elections.

TEL AVIV, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Israel on Wednesday described what has been an open secret for two decades - that it has used drones not just for surveillance but also in strikes within the country, against Palestinian militants in Gaza, and possibly targets as far away as Iran or Sudan.

09 Nov 2022; MEMO: Israel has submitted a request to FIFA and officials of the International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations (UN) for cellular access in Qatar.

According to the Israeli public broadcaster, Kan 11, Israel is attempting to enable its citizens to use Qatar's cellular networks with its original SIM cards.

08 Nov 2022; MEMO: The leader of Israel's extreme right-wing Otzma Yehudit party met with Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu today as part of the negotiations to form the next coalition government. Right-wing parties won a simple majority of parliamentary seats in last week's General Election.

05 Nov 2022; MEMO: Likud Head Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to include Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid in his cabinet to avoid international isolation, Israel's public broadcaster Kan reported on Friday.

03 Nov 2022; MEMO: Israel Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, on Thursday congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu on his election win as final results confirmed the former premier's triumphant comeback at the head of a solidly right-wing alliance, Reuters reports.

Netanyahu's victory is set to end an unprecedented stalemate in Israel after five elections in less than four years.