Israel

JERUSALEM (AP) — A Palestinian man was killed and at least seven others were wounded Monday during a shootout with Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian officials said.

It was the latest death in a surge of Israeli-Palestinian violence that shows no signs of slowing.

The Israeli military said it carried out raids across the West Bank overnight, and that troops came under fire during the arrest of two men suspected of killing an Israeli soldier in October. The army said the two wanted men were injured the shootout and arrested.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Thousands of Israelis protested outside the country’s parliament on Monday ahead of a preliminary vote on a bill that would give politicians greater power over appointing judges, part of a judicial overhaul proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

The committee vote, expected to take place after a stormy session, marked the opening salvo by Netanyahu and his allies in a plan that has divided the country, triggered mass protests and even drawn concern from President Joe Biden.

13 Feb 2023; MEMO: Tens of thousands of people throughout Israel have rallied for the sixth consecutive week to express their opposition towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's legislative effort to constrain the authority of the judiciary and his ultra-conservative policies.

Demonstrations, which have been organised each Saturday evening across the nation by the extremist right-wing coalition government led by Netanyahu, persisted during this sixth week of protests.

JERUSALEM, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Three Palestinians were injured on Sunday by Israeli forces during an arrest raid in the northern West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli sources said.

According to a statement released by the Israeli police, the troops were carrying out an operation in the city of Jenin and arrested Jibril Zubeidi, an "operative" with the Tanzim, a militant faction of the Palestinian Fatah movement.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the street in several cities across the country Saturday, protesting judicial overhaul plans by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Critics say measures introduced by the new hard-line government would weaken the Supreme Court, limit judicial oversight and grant more power to politicians. Protesters say that would undermine democracy.

09 Feb 2023; MEMO: Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has warned that the judicial reforms proposed by the far-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are an effort to end the ongoing criminal trial against him.

During an interview with Channel 12, Mandelblit noted the timing of the proposals and Netanyahu's previous position on the judiciary, which he says indicate that the corruption trial was a key motivating factor for the prime minister.

08 Feb 2023; MEMO: Hundreds of serving soldiers and reservists have set off on a protest march in Israel in protest against the judicial reforms proposed by the far-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israel Defence Forces personnel launched their three-day march from Latrun this morning, and plan to end it outside the Supreme Court on Friday.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Ratib Matar’s family was growing. They needed more space.

Before his granddaughters, now 4 and 5, were born, he built three apartments on an eastern slope overlooking Jerusalem’s ancient landscape. The 50-year-old construction contractor moved in with his brother, son, divorced daughter and their young kids — 11 people in all, plus a few geese.

But Matar was never at ease. At any moment, the Israeli code-enforcement officers could knock on his door and take everything away.

07 Feb 2023; MEMO: Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to shower 50 missiles on Gaza in response to each missile fired from the Strip toward Israel.

According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Ben-Gvir said the Israeli response to Palestinian resistance attacks must be comprehensive.

He said that he hopes that the government will implement his vision of responding to Hamas rockets, adding that he is optimistic and believes this will materialise.

07 Feb 2023; MEMO: Israeli opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid warned on Monday that the judicial overhaul proposed by the current coalition government will break Israel, the Times of Israel has reported.