The UN just put Israel on notice — and the US let it happen

The UN just put Israel on notice — and the US let it happen

The UN Security Council on Friday passed a resolution demanding that Israel halt building settlements on occupied Palestinian territory, a move that was permitted by the US’s abstention. The resolution, put forward by by New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Senegal, passed with 14 members of the council voting in favor. The US abstained, refusing to […]

Watch: Israel Takes Delivery of First Pair of F-35I ‘Adir” Aircraft

Watch: Israel Takes Delivery of First Pair of F-35I ‘Adir” Aircraft

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) took delivery of their first two F-35I ‘Adir’ stealth fighter aircraft on December 12th arriving in country at Nevatim AFB. Many dignitaries including US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, the President of Lockheed Martin Marillyn Hewson and Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu were in attendance. “Today, the fifth generation revolution begins. […]

Israel finally receives the first of its $5 billion order of U.S.-made F-35 jets

Israel finally receives the first of its $5 billion order of U.S.-made F-35 jets

NEVATIM AIR BASE, Israel — It was supposed to be a public relations bonanza. A pair of new F-35 fighter jets were scheduled to streak across the sunny desert sky here on Monday afternoon and land to rapturous applause by Israeli and American leaders and military brass. But first, fog socked in an Italian air […]

Palestinian leader Abbas consolidates power and ousts rivals

Palestinian leader Abbas consolidates power and ousts rivals

RAMALLAH, West Bank — For beleaguered Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his aging coterie of loyalists, this was showtime. Over the past six days, their Fatah political movement convened its long-overdue party congress, hoping to halt its slide in popularity at home and abroad by assuring people that the octogenarian Abbas and the old guard […]

Israel Kills 4 ISIS-linked militants in Golan Heights

Israel Kills 4 ISIS-linked militants in Golan Heights

The Israeli military said it killed four militants linked to the Islamic State on Sunday after they attacked Israeli forces in the Golan Heights. The confrontation appeared to be the first of its kind between Israel and Islamic State-affiliated forces based in Syria. It was not immediately clear if the militants’ attack had been spontaneous or […]

Israel arrests 12 people on suspicion of arson in connection with massive fires

Israel arrests 12 people on suspicion of arson in connection with massive fires

Israeli police said Friday that at least 12 people were in custody on suspicion of starting a series of huge fires that has forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes and left widespread damage across the country. Some of the fires, which started Monday night, were still burning Friday and numerous countries, including Russia, […]

Philippine leader says honoring defense pacts with the US as ‘friends’

Philippine leader says honoring defense pacts with the US as ‘friends’

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday he would respect defense treaties with “friends” and “ally” the United States, but still wanted foreign troops to leave his country by the end of his term. Duterte spared the United States one of his trademark verbal lashings and took a more conciliatory tone than usual, although he […]

Hezbollah ally, a Christian, elected as President of Lebanon

Hezbollah ally, a Christian, elected as President of Lebanon

Buckle up.  We are about to dive head first down the rabbit hole of Lebanese politics, a task fraught always with both danger and head-spinning confusion.  I will try to make this as simple to understand as possible — including, for myself — and will do my best to avoid making any mistakes in this […]

Israel says troops kill Palestinian who injured three in car attack

Israel says troops kill Palestinian who injured three in car attack

Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian who had rammed three border policemen with his car in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, Israeli police said. The three officers were lightly injured when they were struck by the car near the West Bank town of Beit Ummar, a police spokesman said. Troops at the scene opened fire […]

Hezbollah takes control in Lebanon

Hezbollah takes control in Lebanon

We have for decades now understood the inherent fragility of Lebanon, a weak, divided nation-state trying desperately to contain the growing power of Hezbollah. Analysts have described the nation as in many ways, increasingly a country wrapped around a terrorist group like a thin cloak. All that ends Monday October 31, 2016. As of that […]

Latvian Special Forces trains for hostage rescue at Israeli embassy

Latvian Special Forces trains for hostage rescue at Israeli embassy

The special anti-terrorism unit of the Latvian police carried out a hostage-situation simulation at the Israeli Embassy in Riga on Saturday. In the drill, the special unit acted to free hostages from the embassy’s consular section. Similar exercises have been carried out at the Israeli embassies in Ukraine and Romania. Read the rest.

US ‘strongly condemns’ Israel over new settlement plan

US ‘strongly condemns’ Israel over new settlement plan

The US has “strongly condemned” Israel for approving plans for new West Bank settlement construction. The White House and state department said plans for 300 new homes and an industrial zone were diminishing prospects for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel insisted fewer than 100 homes had been approved. Its foreign ministry said the new […]