Israel

20 Dec 2022; MEMO: The Knesset (Israel's parliament) on Tuesday approved a controversial bill in its 1st reading to allow the upcoming national security minister to extend his powers to the police, reports Anadolu Agency.

Far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, the leader of the Jewish Strength Party, is set to become the national security minister in the upcoming government of Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu.

19 Dec 2022; MEMO: Israeli intelligence yesterday kidnapped Izz Al-Din Musbah Abu Sbeih near the Israeli Negev prison after he was released from the occupation authorities' prisons.

Palestinian media outlets reported that Abu Sbeih was arrested once again after he spent 33 months behind bars.

The Jerusalem resident has been jailed by Israeli occupation authorities multiple times, and been placed under administrative detention – held without charge or trial.

20 Dec 2022; MEMO: A new Israeli group has emerged calling on Jews to leave the country as they fear the incoming right-wing government headed by Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu may implement strict religious policies, Anadolu reported yesterday.

"Let's leave the country together" is a group which is active on social media, with a campaign aimed at persuading 10,000 Israelis to leave Israel.

19 Dec 2022; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday accused The New York Times of calling for undermining his prospective government, reports Anadolu Agency.

"After burying the Holocaust for years on its back pages and demonising Israel for decades on its front pages, the New York Times now shamefully calls for undermining Israel's elected incoming government," Netanyahu tweeted.

19 Dec 2022; MEMO: An Israeli military base in the Negev has been breached by unidentified people, local media reported yesterday, a 4×4 and motorcycle were reported missing, Al Mayadeen website reported.

Israeli news website Walla! said that the breach was discovered while occupation forces were securing the base, which is located in Negev, as they noticed a big hole in the fence placed around the military base.

18 Dec 2022; MEMO: An Israeli citizen was arrested over charges of smuggling sensitive military components used for nuclear weapons from the US to Russia, according to local media on Saturday, reports Anadolu Agency.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN said Alexey Brayman, 35, who holds US citizenship, was arrested along with another US citizen and five Russians on Wednesday in New Hampshire state.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel on Sunday deported a Palestinian lawyer and activist to France after claiming he has ties to a banned militant group, drawing a rare condemnation from the French government.

The expulsion of Salah Hammouri underscored the fragile status of Palestinians in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, where most hold revocable residency rights but are not Israeli citizens. It also worsened a brewing diplomatic spat with France, which had repeatedly appealed to Israel not to carry out the expulsion.

17 Dec 2022; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Palestinians can get autonomy without sovereignty or security.

Speaking to the US radio network National Public Radio on Thursday, Netanyahu proposed restricted autonomy for Palestinians, calling it the only applicable peace with Palestinians.

18 Dec 2022; MEMO: Israeli prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the United States to improve and reaffirm its ties with Saudi Arabia, claiming it would help result in ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

16 Dec 2022; MEMO: Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz has criticised the proposed changes to the security system being introduced by the far-right government headed by Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu.

"We need a system that has unified command and knows how to achieve balances. Once you disturb the balances, you strike the system. The end result will be detrimental to the security system," Gantz said.