Israel

26 Feb 2023; MEMO: There has been an increase in the number of Israelis seeking to obtain foreign passports in order to relocate overseas because Israel is no longer a viable option according to Israel's Channel 12 on Friday.

JERUSALEM, Feb 26 (NNN-MA’AN) – For the eighth week in a row, tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated against the government and its judicial reforms, last night.

According to Israeli media outlets, more than 100,000 Israelis are protesting around the country, with the main demonstration being held in Tel Aviv, 25,000 rallying in the northern city of Haifa, and thousands gathering in front of the president’s residence in Jerusalem. There is even one in front of the house of Justice Minister, Yariv Levin, in the central city of Modiin.

JERUSALEM, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Israel's far-right finance minister said on Sunday he would not agree to any freeze in settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, after Israeli officials committed during a summit in Jordan to hold off on such construction in the coming months.

"I have no idea what they spoke about or not in Jordan," said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also has responsibilities over Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A Palestinian gunman on Sunday opened fire at an Israeli car in the occupied West Bank, killing two Israelis, senior politicians and settler leaders said. The shooting cast a shadow over a high-level meeting between Palestinian and Israeli delegations in neighboring Jordan meant to reduce surging violence ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

25 Feb 2023; MEMO: The political conflict and social rift due to the government's plan to weaken the judiciary and start passing legislation in the Knesset have reached the ranks of the Israeli occupation army on a relatively large scale, prompting Chief of General Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces Herzi Halevi to issue a warning in this regard.

JERUSALEM, Feb 24 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israel has approved plans to build 7,157 new housing units in the settlements, in the occupied West Bank, an Israeli settlement watchdog group said, yesterday.

The Higher Planning Council of the Civil Administration, an Israeli body responsible for approving construction in the West Bank, approved the building plans, after two days of discussions that began on Wednesday, according to a statement released by Peace Now.

JERUSALEM, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- After an overnight discussion, the Israeli government approved a state budget for 2023-2024 on Friday.

The budget for 2023 will be over 130 billion U.S. dollars and will grow larger in 2024.

The budget will need to pass a parliamentary vote by the end of March, which is quite likely as the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a solid majority in the parliament.

23 Feb 2023; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has held top-level secret meetings on preparations for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, local media reported on Tuesday.

According to Israel's Channel 12, Netanyahu met five times in recent weeks with his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and other military figures to examine Israel's readiness for a possible attack on Iranian nuclear targets.

23 Feb 2023; MEMO: The Israeli Supreme Court ordered, on Thursday, to appoint a session "as soon as possible" to consider a petition filed against the appointment of the far- right Otzma Yehudit Party leader, Itamar Ben Gvir, as Minister, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delayed the submission of a response to the petition.

The Israeli public broadcaster, Kan 11, said Netanyahu has delayed for weeks the submission of his response to the petition against Ben- Gvir's appointment.

24 Feb 2023; MEMO: The head of Israel's National Unity Party, Benny Gantz, yesterday criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for agreeing to transfer some powers over the occupied West Bank from Defence Minister Yoav Gallant to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.