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In Brief: Pride month poll shows Israel’s support for LGBT+ rights

Hebrew gay pride poster (Danny-w, CC BY-SA 3.0). 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…

In Brief: UN watchdog warns Iran is ducking questions on uranium

Ayatollah Khamenei (Tasnim News, CC BY 4.0). 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…

In Brief: British public strongly backs Israel’s right to self-defence

Tel Aviv city hall as Union Jack (Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0). 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…

Analysis: Bye-bye Bibi: “Change” coalition agreed to unseat Netanyahu

Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett and Mansour Abbas (Ra'am, public domain). 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…

65 MPs and peers back call for Israel-Palestine peace fund

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 by vice-chair Cat McKinnell MP and…

In Brief: Iran announces presidential candidates list

Ayatollah Khamenei. Image Credit: Tasnim News, CC BY 4.0. 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…

In Brief: Israel to lift most remaining Covid restrictions

Israel's vaccination rollout. Image Credit: President Rivlin at a vaccination centre, CC BY-SA 3.0. 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…

In Brief: Former top agent named as next chief of the Mossad

President Rivlin at the Mossad. Image Credit: President of Israel's Office, CC BY-SA 3.0. 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…

Analysis: Recovery and rebuilding starts as ceasefire holds

Israeli police in Lod. Credit: Israel Police, CC BY-SA 3.0. 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…

LFI chair: An internationally supported, long-term plan is needed to bring peace to Israel-Palestine

LFI chair Steve McCabe MP. David Woolfall, CC BY 3.0. 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…