Israel

Israel launched air strikes on Syrian military targets in southern Syria late yesterday, after thwarting an attack near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Reuters reported.

04 Aug 2020; MEMO: According to the state-run news agency Sana, Israeli helicopters fired rockets at Syrian army positions near Quneitra in the south but caused only material damage.

It also said air defences had gone into action near the Syrian capital.

JERUSALEM/DAMASCUS, Aug 4 (NNN-XINHUA) – Israeli helicopters fired missiles on Syrian military positions, in the southern province of Quneitra, Monday, according to Israel’s military and Syrian state news agency SANA.

Israel’s military said, last night it carried out airstrikes against targets belonging to the Syrian army, saying, the attack was a response to “attempted attack” a day earlier.

The attack in southern Syria was carried out by Israeli fighter jets, attack helicopters and aircraft, according to a separate statement issued by the Israeli military.

JERUSALEM, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that his plan to annex portions of the Israeli-occupied West Bank "isn't off the table" yet.

"The issue of West Bank annexation resides with Washington," he told a meeting of his right-wing Likud faction. "It is not yet off the table. The option still remains," he said.

JERUSALEM, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israel's army said on Sunday its troops attacked a "terror squad" that attempted to plant explosive devices near the disputed border between Syria and Israel.

A military spokesperson said in a statement that the incident took place late on Sunday night near the Alpha Line between Syria and Israel.

"Soldiers thwarted an attempt to place improvised explosive devices (IEDs,)" the spokesperson said.

The Israeli troops spotted a "terror squad" of four fighters placing explosive devices adjacent to the security fence, near an IDF post.

01 Aug 2020; MEMO: At least eight right-wing pro-government counter demonstrators were arrested at anti-Netanyahu protestors in Jerusalem on Thursday, i24 News reports.

Thousands turned out to demonstrate against Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside his residence in Balfour Street in Jerusalem over his government’s handling of the coronavirus and corruption charges, of which he is facing trial for.

01 Aug 2020; MEMO: The Blue and White party, led by Defense Minister Benny Gantz, wants to present a budget for two years, as stipulated in the coalition agreement, while Likud, led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has made a budget proposal for the remainder of this year, citing uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Anadolu Agency reports.

31 July 2020; MEMO: Israel on Friday confirmed another 1,786 infections from the novel coronavirus, Anadolu Agency reports.

According to the Health Ministry, the total count of cases in the country so far rose to 70,582, including 509 deaths, since the virus was first detected on Feb. 21.

A total of 43,813 people have so far recovered and been discharged from hospitals, the ministry said.

Anger has been rising in Israel over the government’s response to the virus.

31 July 2020; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was accused by activists of promoting fake death threats to garner sympathy, i24 News reported.

Netanyahu, who is due to stand trial for corruption in office, tweeted a screenshot of the alleged death threat, which was posted on Facebook by the profile of a woman called ‘Dana Ron’, where she threatened to “put a bullet in his head”.

30 July 2020; MEMO: Black Flag movement protesters in Israel have accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Public Security Minister Amir Ohana of inciting against them, Arab48 reported yesterday.

Local news reported “attackers, dressed in black, threw stones, glass bottles and pepper-sprayed some of the protesters who had walked from Ohana’s home to the Ayalon Highway, briefly blocking parts of it. The group began beating the demonstrators suddenly and without any provocation.”

29 July 2020; MEMO: One of the landmarks of Tiberias, the mosque, also known as the Zaydani mosque, was built on the Mameluke architecture, with a big dome and a minaret.

“Like most Palestinians, the Tiberias residents have fled to Syria and Lebanon following the Nakba,” Kamal Khatib of the High Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, told Anadolu Agency.