Israel

Former Israeli security and Mossad officials ask Biden not to rejoin nuclear deal

03 Mar 2021; MEMO: Around 1,800 former Israeli security and Mossad officials have written to US President Joe Biden calling on him not to rejoin the nuclear deal with Iran, Israeli i24 TV reported on Monday. The signatories of the letter are apparently concerned that the US will rejoin the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which Donald Trump withdrew his country in 2018.

Netanyahu blames Iran for blast on Israeli-owned ship which Tehran denies

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran on Monday for an explosion aboard an Israeli-owned ship in the Gulf of Oman last week, an accusation rejected by Tehran.

The vehicle-carrier MV Helios Ray was hit between Thursday night and Friday morning by a blast above the water line that a U.S official said ripped holes in both sides of its hull. An Israeli official said limpet mines were used.

“This was indeed an operation by Iran. That is clear,” Netanyahu told Kan radio.

Israel indicts Israeli Arab over Hamas collaboration claims

27 Feb 2021; MEMO: The Israeli District Court of Beersheba on Friday indicted an Israeli-Arab citizen for allegedly collaborating with the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas, Israeli media reported.

The man was identified as Mohammad Abu Adra, 43, who was arrested on 3 February following Israeli police and Shin Bet investigations, The Times of Israel divulged.

Israel bans Muslim call to prayer to allow settlers to celebrate Purim

26 Feb 2021; MEMO: Israel today banned the raising of the Muslim call to prayer at the Ibrahimi Mosque in occupied Hebron under the pretext that settlers were celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ban was "a call for religious war" and went on to urge the international community and the relevant UN organisations and councils to assume their legal and moral responsibilities in protecting holy sites.

Israel, Bahrain leaders discuss Iran, possible vaccine plant

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahrain’s Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa on Thursday discussed Iran and the possible involvement of the Gulf state in establishing a vaccine plant in Israel, the two countries said.

Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates formalised ties with Israel on Sept. 15 in part over shared concerns about Iran, in a deal forged by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

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