Israel’s “change coalition” faces its most critical test in the coming days as the Knesset holds a confidence vote in the new government on Sunday. Success in the vote will bring to an end to Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12 years in office. What happened On Monday, the Knesset speaker, Yariv Levin, formally notified parliament that Read more…
An overwhelming majority of Israelis support the right of same-sex couples to marry or register for civil unions in Israel, a recent survey by Hiddush has found. Some 73 percent of respondents expressed their support for LGBT+ Israelis being able to enjoy the rights and obligations of heterosexual couples. The Read more…
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voiced its concern this week that Iran had not clarified queries over possible undeclared nuclear activity after trace amounts of uranium were detected at three sites. An IAEA report said that its inspection work had established “a clear indication that nuclear material and/or equipment Read more…
A poll commissioned by the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) has found that the British public strongly backs Israel’s right to defend itself and feels deep sympathy for British Jews in the recent wave of antisemitic incidents. Some 55 percent of respondents said they believed Israel had a right to defensive Read more…
Two months after Israel’s fourth election in two years, a coalition agreement has been reached that would unseat Benjamin Netanyahu after 12 years. What happened Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, informed president Rivlin that he was able to form a government with just 35 minutes left of his mandate Read more…
Some 65 UK parliamentarians have signed an open letter to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, calling for the UK to “substantiate its support for peaceful coexistence” between Israelis and Palestinians by taking up one of the international seats on the International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace. LFI chair Steve McCabe was joined Read more…
Iranian state television announced on Tuesday that 7 candidates had received approval from the country’s constitutional watchdog ahead of next month’s presidential election. The 7 were selected from more than 590 candidates registered by the Guardian Council, a panel of clerics and jurists overseen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Read more…
Israel’s health ministry announced on Sunday that it would lift nearly all the remaining coronavirus restrictions from 1 June. Health minister Yuli Edelstein said that the government would not seek to renew regulations requiring businesses and venues to operate under either the Green Pass or Purple Standard systems, which are due to Read more…
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that David Barnea would be the next director of Israel’s Mossad espionage agency. Mr Barnea, 56, is a veteran of the organisation, having been its deputy head for the past two years. Barnea will replace incumbent director Yossi Cohen on 1 July. Netanyahu declared that Barnea’s top task would be Read more…
After eleven days of fighting, an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas terror group was announced on Thursday night, and has since held. What happened The ceasefire was announced late in the night of Thursday 20 May, coming into force at 2am on Friday 21. The announcement followed days of speculation around the possibility of Read more…
Labour Friends of Israel chair Steve McCabe MP has written the below article for The House. Click here to read the original. The announcement of a ceasefire will bring a much-needed and welcome respite for the peoples of Israel and Palestine following the horrific violence of the past two weeks. Read more…
Two people have died and 167 injured, give of them seriously, after a stand supporting dozens of worshippers collapsed during a Shavuot celebration on Sunday night. The events took place in Givat Zeev, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank near Jerusalem. The accident occurred at a synagogue that was still under construction, raising further Read more…