Israel

Israel's elections body refuses to disqualify Joint List

18 Feb 2021; MEMO: Israel's Central Elections Committee yesterday refused to disqualify Joint List bloc, an alliance of predominantly Arab parties, ahead of the Knesset elections due next month, local media reported.

Prior to looking into petitions against the Joint List, the Elections Committee disqualified Arab candidate in the Labor party Ibtisam Mara'ana following a petition filed against her by the Otzma Yehudit party.

Israel may not engage with Biden over Iran nuclear issue

17 Feb 2021; MEMO: Israel's Ambassador to the United States has said that Israel might not engage with President Joe Biden's strategy regarding the nuclear issue with Iran, Reuters reported on Tuesday. At the same time, Gilad Erdan urged tougher sanctions and a "credible military threat" against Iran in order to deter its nuclear programme.

Pandemic politicking: Israel’s election sprint echoes US’s

JERUSALEM (AP) — In Israel, the sprint to the March 23 election is striking a notable resemblance to the American presidential brawl in 2020.

Candidates are holding virtual events or limited in-person gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some have signed up star U.S. advisers who faced off against each other during the contest between Republican incumbent Donald Trump and the Democrat who defeated him, President Joe Biden.

Israel hints it may not engage Biden on Iran nuclear strategy

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel held out the possibility on Tuesday that it would not engage with U.S. President Joe Biden on strategy regarding the Iranian nuclear programme, urging tougher sanctions and a “credible military threat” against its arch-enemy.

The remarks by Israel’s envoy to Washington came at a touchy juncture for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Up for re-election next month, he has revived his hard line on Iran while not yet having any direct communication with Biden.

Israel, Cyprus announce deal to allow quarantine-free travel for COVID-19 inoculated visitors

JERUSALEM, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Israel and Cyprus signed on Sunday a deal to allow Israelis and Cypriots who have been inoculated against COVID-19 to travel between the two countries without quarantine.

The deal was announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, who arrived in Israel for a one-day visit earlier in the day.

"It opens up the possibility of restarting tourism in the near future. Cypriot tourists in Israel and Israeli tourists in Cyprus," Netanyahu said in a statement.

Israeli PM Netanyahu not bothered that Biden hasn't phoned him yet, envoy claims

14 Feb 2021; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not troubled that US President Joe Biden has not phoned him yet, Israel's ambassador to Washington claimed on Saturday, seeking to downplay the lack of direct contact so far, Reuters reported.

Israel: Ministers seal deal with US for $9bn worth of arms purchases

14 Feb 2021; MEMO: Israeli ministers approved arms purchases worth $9 billion with the US on Sunday, the New Arab reported.

The sizeable deal includes purchases of Chinook choppers, F-35 warplanes and aerial refuelling tankers, on top of a vast amount of bombs and munitions.

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