Israel

08 July 2021; MEMO: Hamas has sent threatening text messages to a large number of Israeli soldiers, Israeli TV Channel 20 revealed last night.

"We are able to reach you and launch rockets at the area of your residence," a text message, which was sent to Israeli soldiers, reads.

Channel 20 said the message was sent to Israeli soldiers from different battalions, noting that they immediately reported this to their commanders.

07 July 2021; MEMO: Israeli authorities today demolished for the 190th time the Arab Bedouin village of Al-Araqeeb in the southern Negev region.

"The Israeli authorities demolished the Al-Araqeeb village for the 190th time," Aziz Al-Touri, a member of the Committee for the Defence of Al-Araqeeb, told Anadolu Agency. This is the eighth time the village has been levelled this year.

07 July 2021; MEMO: The Israeli army decided to punish colleagues of Hadar Goldin, the soldier who's being held as a prisoner of war in Gaza, after they discussed his case with the media, Channel 12 revealed yesterday evening.

The reservists spoke to the channel about the circumstances that led to Goldin's capture.

According to Channel 12, the soldiers, who were part of Givati Reconnaissance Battalion during the offensive, criticised the Israeli government and army for not rescuing Goldin over the past seven years.

07 July 2021; MEMO: Israel yesterday renewed its condition that the reconstruction of Gaza will only take place following the release of four Israeli prisoners of war it believes are being held there, Anadolu reported.

"Rebuilding the Gaza Strip is conditioned on the release of four Israelis lost or detained in Gaza," Haim Regev, an official at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the UN Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC).

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s parliament early on Tuesday failed to renew a law that bars Arab citizens from extending citizenship or residency rights to spouses from the occupied West Bank and Gaza, in a tight vote that raised doubts about the viability of the country’s new coalition government.

The 59-59 vote, which came after an all-night session of the Knesset, marked a major setback for Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s parliament is set to vote Monday on whether to renew a temporary law first enacted in 2003 that bars Arab citizens of Israel from extending citizenship or even residency to spouses from the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Critics, including many left-wing and Arab lawmakers, say it’s a racist measure aimed at restricting the growth of Israel’s Arab minority, while supporters say it’s needed for security purposes and to preserve Israel’s Jewish character.

03 July 2021; MEMO: Yamina MK Abir Kara has faced fierce criticism and calls for prosecution from the opposition over voting twice in the Knesset, Israeli media reported on Friday.

Kara was caught illegally voting twice in the Knesset on a bill limiting unemployment benefits on Thursday. This placed him at the centre of fierce criticism from the opposition.

JERUSALEM, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennet on Thursday said that Israel is determined "to prevent Iran from having nuclear military capabilities."

Bennet made the remarks during a meeting with visiting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, during which they discussed the "Iranian nuclear threat," said a statement issued by the Israeli PM's office.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel, a world leader in coronavirus vaccinations, reported its highest daily infection rate in three months as it scrambles to contain the spread of the new delta variant.

Authorities are racing to vaccinate children and are considering tighter travel restrictions at the country’s main airport.

01 July 2021; MEMO: Israeli Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked has issued the head of the only Arab party in the country's coalition government an ultimatum that if he does not support the extension of the controversial family reunification law, she will push to advance the Basic Law on Immigration.