Israel

23 August 2022; MEMO: There are currently 723 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons without trial, including eleven children, Haaretz reported on Monday.

According to the Israeli newspaper, the number of prisoners held with neither charge nor trial — "administrative detention" — has risen significantly from the 671 held at the beginning of August. The current figure is the highest since 2008.

22 August 2022; MEMO: The Israeli Security Agency, Shin Bet, will formally charge the leader of the Islamic Jihad movement in the occupied West Bank, Bassam Al-Saadi, the Israeli army said.

According to the army, the investigation into Al-Saadi has been completed and the Prosecutor has decided to charge him with membership in a "terror group", in reference to the Islamic Jihad movement, conducting operations for the group, incitement and "supporting terrorism".

JERUSALEM, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid told French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday that his country objects to a return to the Iran nuclear deal and would not be bound by it.

"The Prime Minister made clear to the President that Israel opposes a return to the deal and would not be obligated by such an agreement," the PM's office said in a statement, adding that the country "will continue to do everything to prevent Iran from attaining a nuclear capability."

JERUSALEM, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid spoke to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday, pressing Israel's position that efforts to revive a nuclear deal with Iran should end, a senior Israeli diplomatic official said.

As well as speaking with Scholz, Lapid spoke to Ted Deutch, chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee's Middle East Subcommittee, and with the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, the official said.

18 August 2022; MEMO: Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz yesterday defended his recent meetings with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, saying they saved the souls of Israeli soldiers.

"Whoever does not send soldiers off to battle, and whoever does not show responsibility for the lives of Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers – better not criticize meetings that prevented and continue to prevent the next war and bring stability and freedom of national action upon us," Gantz said in a statement.

18 August 2022; MEMO: Hundreds of members of the Israeli Teachers Union yesterday protested outside the  Israeli Finance Ministry demanding higher wages Arab48 reported.

Union Head Yaffa Ben David threatened that teachers would go on strike and prevent schools from opening next month, Ynet News site reported.

She called on all the government bodies and the prime minister to immediately interfere to resolve the issue with the Finance Ministry "before it is too late."

JERUSALEM/ANKARA, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Turkey and Israel said on Wednesday they will re-appoint respective ambassadors more than four years after they were called back, marking another milestone after months of steady improvement in relations.

The two regional powers had expelled ambassadors in 2018 over the killing of 60 Palestinians by Israeli forces during protests on the Gaza border against the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.

But they have been working to mend long-strained ties with energy emerging as a key area for potential cooperation.

JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Israel and Türkiye have agreed to reinstate full diplomatic ties and will return ambassadors and consuls general to each other, the Israeli prime minister said Wednesday.

"The resumption of relations with Türkiye is an important asset for regional stability and very important economic news for the citizens of Israel," Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement issued by his office.

15 August 2022; MEMO: Israel has cancelled a Summit to mark the two-year anniversary of a peace treaty signed with Arab countries, local Israeli media reports.

According to the report, diplomats from several Arab countries declined to participate in a Summit in Israel to mark the second anniversary of the Abraham Accords.

16 August 2022; MEMO: An Israeli soldier has been killed by so-called "friendly fire" near the apartheid "separation" wall in Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank. Natan Fitoussi was at first said by the occupation army to have been the victim of Palestinian "gunmen", but the army retracted its account of his death and said that one of his colleagues had shot and killed him in error.