Israel

JERUSALEM, Apr 17 (NNN-MA’AN) – Seven cases of a new “double mutant” variant of COVID-19 were detected in Israel, the country’s Ministry of Health said yesterday.

This is the B.1.617 variant, that was recently identified in India, and now it has been detected for the first time in Israel.

The seven cases were diagnosed by genetic sequencing tests, in unvaccinated Israelis that returned from abroad, the ministry noted.

“There is still no clear information regarding the variant and its implications for the vaccinated and the recovered,” the ministry added.

16 Apr 2021; MEMO: The Palestinian Fatah Central Committee member and lawmaker Marwan Barghouti has entered his 20th year in Israeli jails on charges of leading the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the armed wing of the Fatah movement, Anadolu Agency reported.

The Palestinian Prisoners Club said Barghouti, 62, is currently serving a life sentence in Hadarim prison in northern Israel.

14 Apr 2021; MEMO: A third Israeli ship was attacked near the United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday raising suspicion that tensions between Iran and the Zionist state are being exploited for personal political ambitions.

Israeli defence sources confirmed the attack and pointed the finger at Iran. They claimed that the attack took place in international waters and was likely carried out using an unmanned drone or a missile strike.

14 Apr 2021; MEMO: A former soldier who took part in Israel's brutal 2014 military offensive against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip set himself on fire on Monday evening in front of the Ministry of Defence rehabilitation offices, local media have reported.

15 Apr 2021; MEMO: A draft bill has been proposed in the Israeli parliament which, if passed into law, would see citizenship stripped from any Arab-Israeli prisoner who accepts a stipend from the Palestinian Authority. The PA pays such stipends to help prisoners' families.

14 Apr 2021; MEMO: The Jewish National Fund (JNF) in Israel approved on Sunday plans to purchase land in the occupied West Bank to expand illegal settlements, mainly in Nablus and Jenin, Haaretz has reported. The fund is known in Hebrew as Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and still needs to obtain final approval from its board of directors at their meeting on 22 April.

JERUSALEM, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel will never allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.

"We both agree that Iran must never possess nuclear weapons. My policy as prime minister of Israel is clear: I will never allow Iran to obtain the nuclear capability," Netanyahu said in joint statements with visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Iran has repeatedly denied its attempts to obtain nuclear weapons and says its nuclear facilities are meant for civil purposes only.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday declared an “enduring and ironclad” American commitment to Israel, reinforcing support at a tense time in Israeli politics and amid questions about the Biden administration’s efforts to revive nuclear negotiations with Israel’s archenemy, Iran.

Austin’s first talks in Israel since he became Pentagon chief in January come as the United States seeks to leverage Middle East diplomatic progress made by the Trump administration, which brokered a deal normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab states.

11 Apr 2021; MEMO: US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Jerusalem today amid nuclear deal negotiations with Iran, The New Arab reported.

The two-day visit comes as President Joe Biden's administration starts talks to rejoin the nuclear deal with Iran that was scrapped by former US President Donald Trump; a move that was applauded by Israel, who have always opposed the 2015 nuclear deal.

11 Apr 2021; MEMO: Israel's defence minister pledged on Sunday to cooperate with the United States on Iran, voicing hope that Israeli security would be safeguarded under any renewed Iranian nuclear deal that Washington reaches.

"Israel views the United States as a full partner across all operational theatres, not the least Iran," Benny Gantz said after hosting visiting US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.