Israel

Jerusalem, Mar 14 (PTI) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested Narendra Modi to approve and allow the export of masks and pharmaceutical raw materials to Israel during his telephonic conversation with his Indian counterpart this week, according to a media report.

Israel's Channel 13 on Friday reported that Netanyahu made the request after India decided to stop the export of these items to meet its own domestic requirements in view of the rapid spread of coronavirus.

12 Mar 2020; MEMO: Leading Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem has described the country’s Attorney General’s objection to International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction in Palestine as “divorced from reality”.

11 Mar 2020; MEMO: The first meeting between MKs belonging to the Joint List and the Blue and White bloc due to take place yesterday has been postponed until today, Arab48 reported.

Reporting Arab MK Mansour Abbas, the news site said that the meeting was delayed as there was insufficient time for discussions.

JERUSALEM, Mar 11 (NNN-MA’AN) – A total of 20 Israelis tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday (yesterday), bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 70, according to the Israeli Ministry of Health.

Among the 20 new cases are 16, who recently returned from Europe, one returnee from the United States, and three who had close contact with previous confirmed cases.

It is worth noting that a 9-year-old boy from the coastal city of Tel Aviv, who returned from Madrid on Mar 2, was confirmed to be infected, the first child case in Israel.

10 Mar 2020; MEMO: Arab Israeli MK Mtanes Shehadeh said yesterday that the Joint List has not recommended chairman of the Blue and White bloc Benny Gantz for premiership yet, Al Watan Voice reported.

“Gantz has not yet decided to meet with the Joint List,” Shehadeh said, adding: “We have preconditions for meeting him.”

JERUSALEM, Mar 10 (NNN-MA’AN) – A total of 11 Israelis were tested positive with COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 50, according to the Israeli Ministry of Health.

Among the 11 new cases, seven have recently returned from Europe.

The ministry noted that, passengers who were on the same flights with the seven were asked to undergo quarantine.

The other four cases were in contact with patients previously diagnosed with the virus.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief rival said Monday that he has agreed with a smaller party to work together to form a new government following national elections last week.

The announcement by Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White Party, dealt a new setback to Netanyahu as he struggles to hold on to power ahead of his upcoming trial on corruption charges.

In a statement, Gantz said that he had a good meeting with Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the small Yisrael Beitenu party.

09 Mar 2020; MEMO: Chief of Israel’s Blue and White party, Benny Gantz, agreed on the conditions set by Yisrael Beiteinu head Avigdor Lieberman to join a left-wing alliance, local media reported yesterday.

According to the Jewish News Syndicate, Gantz wrote on Facebook: “Agreed, we must move forward.”

JERUSALEM, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday submitted a request to delay his corruption trial scheduled on March 17.

Amit Hadad, one of Netanyahu's lawyers, submitted the request to the State Attorney's Office, citing technical reasons for the proposed delay.

According to the defense team, certain evidentiary material has not been delivered to them yet. Hadad asked the opening court session to be delayed for 45 days.

JERUSALEM, Mar 8 (NNN-MA’AN) – The Israeli political crisis is deepening over the weekend, as the two main rivals remain entrenched in their positions.

Days after a third consecutive election ended in similar results to previous elections, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Blue and White leader, Benny Gantz, each ruled out the other, making a unity government look like an unlikely solution to the country’s lengthy political deadlock.

Alone, each party cannot garner the majority needed to form a coalition.