Saudi Arabia on Monday rejected Israeli media reports that claimed of talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman&nbsp;

"I have seen press reports about a purported meeting between HRH the Crown Prince and Israeli officials during the recent visit by @SecPompeo," wrote Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in a tweet.

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I have seen press reports about a purported meeting between HRH the Crown Prince and Israeli officials during the recent visit by <a href="https://twitter.com/SecPompeo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecPompeo</a>. No such meeting occurred. The only officials present were American and Saudi.
— فيصل بن فرحان (@FaisalbinFarhan) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaisalbinFarhan/status/1330858232680734723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"No such meeting occurred. The only officials present were American and Saudi."

Earlier, Israeli public broadcaster Kan said on Monday Netanyahu held secret talks with the crown prince in the former's first trip to the kingdom.&nbsp;

The report also said that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also present in the meeting.&nbsp;

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Citing unnamed sources, Kan claimed Netanyahu was accompanied by the chief of Mossad spy agency, Yossi Cohen, and the duo "flew yesterday to Saudi Arabia and met Pompeo and MBS in the city of Neom".&nbsp;

Netanyahu's office has not immediately commented on the reports and the US State Department also refused to shed any lights on the developments.&nbsp;

The report led to a wide range of speculations on Israel's recognition by the Arab world as Bahrain, UAF recently struck peace accords with Israel that were brokered by the US.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-did-netanyahu-meet-the-saudi-crown-prince-344973">WATCH|</a>

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Saudi Arabia on Monday rejected Israeli media reports that claimed of talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "I have seen press reports about a purported meeting between HRH the Crown Prince and Israeli officials during the recent visit by @SecPompeo," wrote Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in a tweet.

Saudi Arabia on Monday rejected Israeli media reports that claimed of talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "I have seen press reports about a purported meeting between HRH the Crown Prince and Israeli officials during the recent visit by @SecPompeo," wrote Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in a tweet. I have seen press reports about a purported meeting between HRH the Crown Prince and Israeli officials during the recent visit by @SecPompeo. No such meeting occurred. The only officials present were American and Saudi. — فيصل بن فرحان (@FaisalbinFarhan) November 23, 2020 × "No such meeting occurred. The only officials present were American and Saudi." Earlier, Israeli public broadcaster Kan said on Monday Netanyahu held secret talks with the crown prince in the former's first trip to the kingdom. The report also said that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also present in the meeting. × Citing unnamed sources, Kan claimed Netanyahu was accompanied by the chief of Mossad spy agency, Yossi Cohen, and the duo "flew yesterday to Saudi Arabia and met Pompeo and MBS in the city of Neom". Netanyahu's office has not immediately commented on the reports and the US State Department also refused to shed any lights on the developments. The report led to a wide range of speculations on Israel's recognition by the Arab world as Bahrain, UAF recently struck peace accords with Israel that were brokered by the US. WATCH| ×

Saudi denies reports of talks between Crown Prince Salman and Netanyahu

Saudi Arabia on Monday rejected Israeli media reports that claimed of talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Did Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu hold a 'secret meeting' with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman? The Israeli Media says he did, the Saudi Foreign Minister has denied all reports.

Gravitas: Did Netanyahu meet the Saudi Crown Prince?

Saudi FM denies reports of talks between Crown Prince Salman and Netanyahu

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has denied that the reported meeting with Netanyahu took place, saying "the only officials present were American and Saudi."

Your Story: Will Saudi Arabia and Israel normalise their relations?

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held secret talks in Saudi Arabia Sunday with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, media said, in the first reported trip by an Israeli premier to the kingdom.&nbsp;

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was in Israel last week, was also at the reported talks, a diplomatic correspondent at Israeli public broadcaster Kan said on Monday.&nbsp;

The broadcaster cited unnamed Israeli officials as saying that Netanyahu and the head of the Mossad spy agency, Yossi Cohen, "flew yesterday to Saudi Arabia and met Pompeo and MBS in the city of Neom", referring to the often used initials of Prince Mohammed.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-netanyahu-and-israel-trumps-gifts-kept-on-coming-344662">For Netanyahu and Israel, Trump’s gifts kept on coming</a>

The reported meeting comes weeks after Israel agreed historic US-brokered deals to normalise ties with two Saudi allies in the Gulf, the UAE and Bahrain, pacts known as the Abraham Accords.&nbsp;

Multiple other Israeli media outlets reported on a Netanyahu trip to Saudi Arabia, including prominent diplomatic correspondent Barak Ravid of Walla News and Axios, who reported Netanyahu and Cohen flew on a plane belonging to Israeli businessman Udi Angel.&nbsp;

Ravid also cited flight tracker data that apparently showed Angel's plane leaving Israel at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) on Sunday, heading to Neom on the Red Sea and returning to Israel five hours later.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-says-us-to-label-exports-from-west-bank-settlements-as-made-in-israel-344096">Pompeo says US to label exports from West Bank settlements as 'Made in Israel'</a>

Netanyahu's office was not immediately available to comment on the reports.&nbsp;

The Saudi royal court and media ministry did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment on the reported meeting between Netanyahu, Prince Mohamed and Pompeo.

Pompeo had travelled to Neom on Sunday from the UAE as part of a Middle East tour. &nbsp;

The Abraham Accords were brokered by outgoing US President Donald Trump's administration.&nbsp;

US and Israeli officials have repeatedly indicated that more Arab states were set to forge ties with Israel. Sudan has agreed to do so in principle.&nbsp;

In late August, Netanyahu said Israel was holding secret talks with multiple Arab countries.

Publicly, Saudi Arabia has said it would stick to the decades-old Arab League position of not having ties with Israel until the Jewish state's conflict with the Palestinians is resolved.&nbsp;

Israeli experts have raised questions about the prospects of expanding the Abraham Accords under US President-elect Joe Biden's administration, particularly with respect to Saudi Arabia. &nbsp;

Trump's administration downplayed the role of human rights in international diplomacy, and in particular was cautious about criticising Saudi Arabia's rights record, notably over the murder by Saudi agents of prominent journalist and Saudi royal critic Jamal Khashoggi.&nbsp;

Multiple Israeli analysts have said that a Biden administration, which will face pressure from the progressive left in the Democratic Party, would suffer a backlash if it pushed for an Israeli-Saudi peace deal without any meaningful rights reforms agreed by Saudi Arabia.

With Trump's term set to end on January 20, some Israeli experts have speculated that Washington would lobby hard for an Israeli-Saudi deal before Biden takes office.&nbsp;

Israel and the Arab Gulf state have engaged in quiet diplomacy for years over their common foe Iran.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held secret talks in Saudi Arabia Sunday with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, media said, in the first reported trip by an Israeli premier to the kingdom.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held secret talks in Saudi Arabia Sunday with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, media said, in the first reported trip by an Israeli premier to the kingdom. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was in Israel last week, was also at the reported talks, a diplomatic correspondent at Israeli public broadcaster Kan said on Monday. The broadcaster cited unnamed Israeli officials as saying that Netanyahu and the head of the Mossad spy agency, Yossi Cohen, "flew yesterday to Saudi Arabia and met Pompeo and MBS in the city of Neom", referring to the often used initials of Prince Mohammed. Also read| For Netanyahu and Israel, Trump’s gifts kept on coming The reported meeting comes weeks after Israel agreed historic US-brokered deals to normalise ties with two Saudi allies in the Gulf, the UAE and Bahrain, pacts known as the Abraham Accords. Multiple other Israeli media outlets reported on a Netanyahu trip to Saudi Arabia, including prominent diplomatic correspondent Barak Ravid of Walla News and Axios, who reported Netanyahu and Cohen flew on a plane belonging to Israeli businessman Udi Angel. Ravid also cited flight tracker data that apparently showed Angel's plane leaving Israel at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) on Sunday, heading to Neom on the Red Sea and returning to Israel five hours later. Also read| Pompeo says US to label exports from West Bank settlements as 'Made in Israel' Netanyahu's office was not immediately available to comment on the reports. The Saudi royal court and media ministry did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment on the reported meeting between Netanyahu, Prince Mohamed and Pompeo. Pompeo had travelled to Neom on Sunday from the UAE as part of a Middle East tour. The Abraham Accords were brokered by outgoing US President Donald Trump's administration. US and Israeli officials have repeatedly indicated that more Arab states were set to forge ties with Israel. Sudan has agreed to do so in principle. In late August, Netanyahu said Israel was holding secret talks with multiple Arab countries. Publicly, Saudi Arabia has said it would stick to the decades-old Arab League position of not having ties with Israel until the Jewish state's conflict with the Palestinians is resolved. Israeli experts have raised questions about the prospects of expanding the Abraham Accords under US President-elect Joe Biden's administration, particularly with respect to Saudi Arabia. Trump's administration downplayed the role of human rights in international diplomacy, and in particular was cautious about criticising Saudi Arabia's rights record, notably over the murder by Saudi agents of prominent journalist and Saudi royal critic Jamal Khashoggi. Multiple Israeli analysts have said that a Biden administration, which will face pressure from the progressive left in the Democratic Party, would suffer a backlash if it pushed for an Israeli-Saudi peace deal without any meaningful rights reforms agreed by Saudi Arabia. With Trump's term set to end on January 20, some Israeli experts have speculated that Washington would lobby hard for an Israeli-Saudi deal before Biden takes office. Israel and the Arab Gulf state have engaged in quiet diplomacy for years over their common foe Iran.

Israeli PM held secret talks in Saudi with crown prince, Pompeo: Media

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo deliver a joint statement on Thursday, in Jerusalem. During which Mike Pompeo welcomed Israel-Bahrain deal

US Secretary of state welcomes Israel-Bahrain deal

Thousands of people took to streets in Jerusalem in the latest demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his handling of the coronavirus crisis and the corruption charges he faces.

Protesters waved Israeli and pink flags. Smaller demonstrations took place elsewhere across the country.

Protesters held placards carryng signs that read, "Saving the country", "fighting corruption" and "Revolution."

Netanyahu has been severely criticised for the mishandling of the coronavirus outbreak and its economic fallout. Also, he has been serving as the prime minister while under indictment on three corruption charges: fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes.

Netanyahu, however, denies wrongdoings in a series of scandals involving billionaire associates and media moguls.

The country is emerging in gradual stages from a month-long lockdown that the government imposed to tamp down infections.

Israel economy, however, continues to take a hit as restriction still in place have kept stores, hotels and restaurants closed.

Israel appeared to have successfully weathered an initial outbreak in the spring. But a hasty reopening after a previous lockdown sent confirmed cases soaring and plunged the country toward new restrictions.

Thousands of people took to streets in Jerusalem in the latest demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his handling of the coronavirus crisis and the corruption charges he faces.

Thousands of people took to streets in Jerusalem in the latest demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his handling of the coronavirus crisis and the corruption charges he faces. Protesters waved Israeli and pink flags. Smaller demonstrations took place elsewhere across the country. Protesters held placards carryng signs that read, "Saving the country", "fighting corruption" and "Revolution." Netanyahu has been severely criticised for the mishandling of the coronavirus outbreak and its economic fallout. Also, he has been serving as the prime minister while under indictment on three corruption charges: fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. Netanyahu, however, denies wrongdoings in a series of scandals involving billionaire associates and media moguls. The country is emerging in gradual stages from a month-long lockdown that the government imposed to tamp down infections. Israel economy, however, continues to take a hit as restriction still in place have kept stores, hotels and restaurants closed. Israel appeared to have successfully weathered an initial outbreak in the spring. But a hasty reopening after a previous lockdown sent confirmed cases soaring and plunged the country toward new restrictions.

Thousands protest in Jerusalem against PM Netanyahu

The United States has agreed to sell top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates following its recognition of Israel, potentially shifting the regional power balance, a lawmaker said Thursday.

President Donald Trump's administration informally gave a required notification to&nbsp;Congress&nbsp;on the sale, which could "significantly change the military balance in the Gulf and affect Israel's military edge," said Representative Eliot Engel, a Democrat who leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The United Arab Emirates, which has been increasingly assertive in the region, including in Yemen and Libya,&nbsp;sought the advanced warplanes as it spoke to the United States ahead of its landmark recognition of Israel last month.

The normalization,&nbsp;followed by similar moves by Bahrain and Sudan, was a diplomatic coup for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the Jewish state has also long opposed US sales of top-end warplanes to any Arab states including Egypt and Jordan, which already have peace treaties with Israel.

But Netanyahu indicated last week that Israel would not object to the UAE deal after Defense Minister Benny Gantz, his uneasy coalition partner, received assurances during a trip to the Pentagon that Israel would maintain its military edge.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper was visiting Israel on Thursday for talks with Gantz about bolstering the US ally's military capacities.

A State Department official declined to confirm the UAE deal, saying that it does not comment on notifications to&nbsp;Congress.

The notification comes five days before US elections in which Trump is trailing in published polls to Democrat Joe Biden.

Congress, where the Democrats control the House of Representatives and are seen as having a chance of winning the Senate, has the power to block the UAE sale.

"The export of this aircraft requires very careful consideration and&nbsp;Congress&nbsp;must analyze all the ramifications.&nbsp;Rushing these sales is not in anyone's interest," Engel said.

The United States has agreed to sell top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates following its recognition of Israel, potentially shifting the regional power balance, a lawmaker said Thursday.

The United States has agreed to sell top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates following its recognition of Israel, potentially shifting the regional power balance, a lawmaker said Thursday. President Donald Trump's administration informally gave a required notification to Congress on the sale, which could "significantly change the military balance in the Gulf and affect Israel's military edge," said Representative Eliot Engel, a Democrat who leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The United Arab Emirates, which has been increasingly assertive in the region, including in Yemen and Libya, sought the advanced warplanes as it spoke to the United States ahead of its landmark recognition of Israel last month. The normalization, followed by similar moves by Bahrain and Sudan, was a diplomatic coup for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the Jewish state has also long opposed US sales of top-end warplanes to any Arab states including Egypt and Jordan, which already have peace treaties with Israel. But Netanyahu indicated last week that Israel would not object to the UAE deal after Defense Minister Benny Gantz, his uneasy coalition partner, received assurances during a trip to the Pentagon that Israel would maintain its military edge. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper was visiting Israel on Thursday for talks with Gantz about bolstering the US ally's military capacities. A State Department official declined to confirm the UAE deal, saying that it does not comment on notifications to Congress. The notification comes five days before US elections in which Trump is trailing in published polls to Democrat Joe Biden. Congress, where the Democrats control the House of Representatives and are seen as having a chance of winning the Senate, has the power to block the UAE sale. "The export of this aircraft requires very careful consideration and Congress must analyze all the ramifications. Rushing these sales is not in anyone's interest," Engel said.

US plans sales of top-end fighter jets to UAE: Lawmaker

Thousands of Israelis have once again demonstrated to demand Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s resignation, saying he is unfit to rule while on trial for corruption charges and accusing him of mismanaging the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Israel: Thousands protest against PM Netanyahu despite lockdown

Protesters took to the streets in Israel over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's move to limit demonstrations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-continues-protesting-against-netanyahus-coronavirus-restrictions-332340">Also Read:&nbsp;Israel continues protesting against Netanyahu's coronavirus restrictions</a>

The protesters hit out against the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis even as a new law recently approved by Parliament banned citizens from holding demonstrations more than 1 km from their homes amid strict coronavirus restrictions.

Large scale protests were witnessed in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with scattered demonstrations elsewhere in the country. Isreal reportedly has one of the world's highest coronavirus infection rates per capita as the country struggles to fight the second wave of infections.&nbsp;

Israel currently has 280,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and over 1,900 fatalities.

The protesters clashed with police in some areas with placards “Bibi, you are destroying my future” and "Go away" as police said the demonstrators were not observing social distancing norms and were putting others at risk as protests&nbsp;swelled in the Israeli capital Tel Aviv.

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Police claimed the march was "illegal" as protesters took the main streets in thousands despite COVID-19 restrictions in place. Reports said the protesters broke through a barricade in Tel Aviv hurting several cops.

Reports claimed&nbsp;some tried to protest in front of Netanyahu’s private residence but were resisted by police action.

Anti-Netanyahu protests have been going on since July to denounce the Israeli prime minister's handling of the virus and the economy.

Protesters took to the streets in Israel over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's move to limit demonstrations due to the coronavirus pandemic. Also Read: Israel continues protesting against Netanyahu's coronavirus restrictions The protesters hit out against the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis even as a new law recently approved by Parliament banned citizens from holding demonstrations more than 1 km from their homes amid strict coronavirus restrictions.

Protesters took to the streets in Israel over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's move to limit demonstrations due to the coronavirus pandemic. Also Read: Israel continues protesting against Netanyahu's coronavirus restrictions The protesters hit out against the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis even as a new law recently approved by Parliament banned citizens from holding demonstrations more than 1 km from their homes amid strict coronavirus restrictions. Large scale protests were witnessed in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with scattered demonstrations elsewhere in the country. Isreal reportedly has one of the world's highest coronavirus infection rates per capita as the country struggles to fight the second wave of infections. Israel currently has 280,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and over 1,900 fatalities. The protesters clashed with police in some areas with placards “Bibi, you are destroying my future” and "Go away" as police said the demonstrators were not observing social distancing norms and were putting others at risk as protests swelled in the Israeli capital Tel Aviv. Police claimed the march was "illegal" as protesters took the main streets in thousands despite COVID-19 restrictions in place. Reports said the protesters broke through a barricade in Tel Aviv hurting several cops. Reports claimed some tried to protest in front of Netanyahu’s private residence but were resisted by police action. Anti-Netanyahu protests have been going on since July to denounce the Israeli prime minister's handling of the virus and the economy.

Anti-Netanyahu protests erupt in Israel amid coronavirus restrictions

Israelis are continuing anti-lockdown protests and are opposing the way the&nbsp;Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has handled the pandemic.

Several protests were observed in&nbsp;Tel Aviv on Saturday where the protestors were spotted wearing face masks, but the local police claimed the participants were intentionally flouting all social distancing rules.

The locals are angry that the government has initiated another lockdown without any financial aid for those running their own businesses, which is negatively affecting them. The police has not stated an estimate number of the participants of these protests.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-passes-legislation-to-ban-mass-protests-during-lockdown-331570">Also read:&nbsp;Israel passes legislation to ban mass protests during lockdown</a>

These protests have come after the Parliament imposed a law that restricts the number of participants in a public agthering/protest. While the Parliament and the government claims it is to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, locals feels it is yet another way to silence all voices against&nbsp;Netanyahu.

This blowout of protests amplified after the&nbsp;Tourism Minister Asaf Zamir quit the&nbsp;coalition government and alleged the Prime Minister of being more concerned about his ongoing corruption trial, rather than saving his people from the ongoing pandemic.

"I am not willing to put up for another minute with a reality in which the right to demonstrate is restricted," he wrote. "Therefore I must follow my conscience."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-observes-protests-after-second-lockdown-without-economic-aid-is-initiated-330563">Also read:&nbsp;Israel observes protests after second lockdown without economic aid is initiated</a>

While the party leader&nbsp;Benny Gantz found an immediate replacement for Zamir, he also stated that him and his colleagues "joined the government to rein in the coronavirus, not to curb democracy or the rule of law."

While the Jerusalem media claimed that nearly 2,000 people protested outside the PM's official residence, the police has not issued any statement on the number of participants or arrests made. They have just claimed to have arrested "hundreds" of participants for flouting the social distancing rules.

With over 260,000 coronavirus infections confirmed so far and over 1,600 deaths in a population of nine million, Israel currently has the world's highest weekly infection rate per capita.

Israelis are continuing anti-lockdown protests and are opposing the way the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has handled the pandemic. Several protests were observed in Tel Aviv on Saturday where the protestors were spotted wearing face masks, but the local police claimed the participants were intentionally flouting all social distancing rules.

Israelis are continuing anti-lockdown protests and are opposing the way the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has handled the pandemic. Several protests were observed in Tel Aviv on Saturday where the protestors were spotted wearing face masks, but the local police claimed the participants were intentionally flouting all social distancing rules. The locals are angry that the government has initiated another lockdown without any financial aid for those running their own businesses, which is negatively affecting them. The police has not stated an estimate number of the participants of these protests. Also read: Israel passes legislation to ban mass protests during lockdown These protests have come after the Parliament imposed a law that restricts the number of participants in a public agthering/protest. While the Parliament and the government claims it is to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, locals feels it is yet another way to silence all voices against Netanyahu. This blowout of protests amplified after the Tourism Minister Asaf Zamir quit the coalition government and alleged the Prime Minister of being more concerned about his ongoing corruption trial, rather than saving his people from the ongoing pandemic. "I am not willing to put up for another minute with a reality in which the right to demonstrate is restricted," he wrote. "Therefore I must follow my conscience." Also read: Israel observes protests after second lockdown without economic aid is initiated While the party leader Benny Gantz found an immediate replacement for Zamir, he also stated that him and his colleagues "joined the government to rein in the coronavirus, not to curb democracy or the rule of law." While the Jerusalem media claimed that nearly 2,000 people protested outside the PM's official residence, the police has not issued any statement on the number of participants or arrests made. They have just claimed to have arrested "hundreds" of participants for flouting the social distancing rules. With over 260,000 coronavirus infections confirmed so far and over 1,600 deaths in a population of nine million, Israel currently has the world's highest weekly infection rate per capita.

Israel continues protesting against Netanyahu's coronavirus restrictions

Israel's parliament has passed a new law according to which mass protests during the country's second nationwide coronavirus lockdown would be banned.

Demonstrators will be confined to groups of up to 20 people and must stay within 1 km (0.6 miles) of their homes.

This rule comes in the aftermath of weeks, in which thousands of people gathered outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem to demand he resigned over corruption allegations and his handling of the pandemic.&nbsp;

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Netanyahu has, however, denied any wrongdoing.

And the protests have continued despite a dramatic resurgence of coronavirus cases in the country.

The protests have just not been unsafe for the prime minister, but have also risked the lives of so many people. An entire democracy continues to suffer.

Israel has reported more than 237,000 coronavirus cases and 1,528 deaths, and by passing the law, it has set a benchmark for democracies worldwide.

Israel's parliament has passed a new law according to which mass protests during the country's second nationwide coronavirus lockdown would be banned. Demonstrators will be confined to groups of up to 20 people and must stay within 1 km (0.

Israel's parliament has passed a new law according to which mass protests during the country's second nationwide coronavirus lockdown would be banned. Demonstrators will be confined to groups of up to 20 people and must stay within 1 km (0.6 miles) of their homes. This rule comes in the aftermath of weeks, in which thousands of people gathered outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem to demand he resigned over corruption allegations and his handling of the pandemic. × Netanyahu has, however, denied any wrongdoing. And the protests have continued despite a dramatic resurgence of coronavirus cases in the country. The protests have just not been unsafe for the prime minister, but have also risked the lives of so many people. An entire democracy continues to suffer. Israel has reported more than 237,000 coronavirus cases and 1,528 deaths, and by passing the law, it has set a benchmark for democracies worldwide.

Israel passes legislation to ban mass protests during lockdown

Lebanon to hold talks with Israel on disputed border issue. The talks will be mediated by the United Nations on the disputed land and maritime borders.

Lebanon to hold talks with Israel on disputed border issue

A series of fresh protests broke out all over the country after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin&nbsp;Netanyahu initiated a second series of stricter lockdown in the country to contain the widespread of the novel coronavirus.

The protestors took to streets in their cars blocking roads and bridges, demanding immediate resignation of&nbsp;Netanyahu — a PM who is on trial for three corruption charges.

A second round of lockdown was initiated on September 18 with the aim&nbsp;to bring down the world's highest coronavirus infection rate per capita. However, the restrictions were made stricter two days ago, imposing a ban on borders and limiting indoor prayers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israels-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-accused-of-taking-dirty-laundry-to-white-house-330110">Also read:&nbsp;Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu accused of taking dirty laundry to White House</a>

However,&nbsp;lawmakers further blocked a government proposal which was hoping to limit the protest gatherings to 20 in a group. As per this proposal, the protestors were only to be allowed to protest within a kilometre of their residence. However, the lawmakers' decision was not appreciated by the PM who called it "the populist decision in parliament to cancel the limitations the government imposed after we saw the rise in the infections."

Israelis marched down to Netanyahu's residence where the demanded the PM to hand over his resignation and attend to the trials on the charges of bribery, fraud and&nbsp;breach of trust — allegations that&nbsp;Netanyahu has constantly declined.

Protestors said they are ready to protest to gain back their freedom and let the world know that their government shut down the country without planning any economic aids for the common people.

Israel has recorded over 225,000 infections and 1,417 deaths out of a population of nine million, with more than 8,200 new cases on Friday alone.

A series of fresh protests broke out all over the country after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated a second series of stricter lockdown in the country to contain the widespread of the novel coronavirus.

A series of fresh protests broke out all over the country after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated a second series of stricter lockdown in the country to contain the widespread of the novel coronavirus. The protestors took to streets in their cars blocking roads and bridges, demanding immediate resignation of Netanyahu — a PM who is on trial for three corruption charges. A second round of lockdown was initiated on September 18 with the aim to bring down the world's highest coronavirus infection rate per capita. However, the restrictions were made stricter two days ago, imposing a ban on borders and limiting indoor prayers. Also read: Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu accused of taking dirty laundry to White House However, lawmakers further blocked a government proposal which was hoping to limit the protest gatherings to 20 in a group. As per this proposal, the protestors were only to be allowed to protest within a kilometre of their residence. However, the lawmakers' decision was not appreciated by the PM who called it "the populist decision in parliament to cancel the limitations the government imposed after we saw the rise in the infections." Israelis marched down to Netanyahu's residence where the demanded the PM to hand over his resignation and attend to the trials on the charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust — allegations that Netanyahu has constantly declined. Protestors said they are ready to protest to gain back their freedom and let the world know that their government shut down the country without planning any economic aids for the common people. Israel has recorded over 225,000 infections and 1,417 deaths out of a population of nine million, with more than 8,200 new cases on Friday alone.

Israel observes protests after second lockdown without economic aid is initiated

Israel's Prime Minister&nbsp;Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of a crime that might not have been brought up ever before.

Reports claims Nethanyahu likes the White House to take care of his dirt...quite literally.

It has been revealed that&nbsp;Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu take majority of their dirty laundry to the White House to avail the free dry cleaning services.

The habit was noticed by the White House staff after it kept happening during every visit. “The Netanyahus are the only ones who bring actual suitcases of dirty laundry for us to clean,” the paper quoted an unnamed US official as saying. “After multiple trips, it became clear this was intentional.”

The report was published in the US' local paper Washington Post.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-trump-russian-president-vladimir-putin-nominated-for-nobel-prize-330101">Also read:&nbsp;After Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin nominated for Nobel Prize</a>

Turns out, this is an old habit of the Israeli couple. In 2018,&nbsp;Sara Netanyahu was alleged of packing nearly five&nbsp;suitcases worth of laundry for state trips. Her husband, the much-criticised Prime Minister of Israel, had years ago successfully launched a legal bid to keep his domestic laundry bills private.

Nethanyahu's office, howwever, has denied these accusations and said only the clothes worn for public meetings are dry cleaned during the state trips.

Talking about Netanyahu’s recent US visit&nbsp;to normalise relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the officials said, “On this visit, for example, there was no dry cleaning, only a couple of shirts were laundered for the public meeting, and the prime minister’s suit and Mrs Netanyahu’s dress were ironed also for the public meeting,” the embassy statement said.

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“Oh yes, a pair of pyjamas that the prime minister wore on the 12-hour flight from Israel to Washington was also laundered,” the statement continued.

While the PM's office has denied the accusations repeatedly, the White House staff during the Obama and trump administration have recalled and confirmed incidents where the couple have sent suitcases filled with soiled clothes.

The&nbsp;Netanyahus are infamous for misusing state resources, whether it is their own state or some other country. The PM is on trial for&nbsp;three corruption cases, and hise&nbsp;wife has been accused of misusing public funds to host gradeur-style meals, even though she has been provided with a cooking team for her own house by the state.

No statement has been issued by the White House yet.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of a crime that might not have been brought up ever before. Reports claims Nethanyahu likes the White House to take care of his dirt.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of a crime that might not have been brought up ever before. Reports claims Nethanyahu likes the White House to take care of his dirt...quite literally. It has been revealed that Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu take majority of their dirty laundry to the White House to avail the free dry cleaning services. The habit was noticed by the White House staff after it kept happening during every visit. “The Netanyahus are the only ones who bring actual suitcases of dirty laundry for us to clean,” the paper quoted an unnamed US official as saying. “After multiple trips, it became clear this was intentional.” The report was published in the US' local paper Washington Post. Also read: After Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin nominated for Nobel Prize Turns out, this is an old habit of the Israeli couple. In 2018, Sara Netanyahu was alleged of packing nearly five suitcases worth of laundry for state trips. Her husband, the much-criticised Prime Minister of Israel, had years ago successfully launched a legal bid to keep his domestic laundry bills private. Nethanyahu's office, howwever, has denied these accusations and said only the clothes worn for public meetings are dry cleaned during the state trips. Talking about Netanyahu’s recent US visit to normalise relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the officials said, “On this visit, for example, there was no dry cleaning, only a couple of shirts were laundered for the public meeting, and the prime minister’s suit and Mrs Netanyahu’s dress were ironed also for the public meeting,” the embassy statement said. × “Oh yes, a pair of pyjamas that the prime minister wore on the 12-hour flight from Israel to Washington was also laundered,” the statement continued. While the PM's office has denied the accusations repeatedly, the White House staff during the Obama and trump administration have recalled and confirmed incidents where the couple have sent suitcases filled with soiled clothes. The Netanyahus are infamous for misusing state resources, whether it is their own state or some other country. The PM is on trial for three corruption cases, and hise wife has been accused of misusing public funds to host gradeur-style meals, even though she has been provided with a cooking team for her own house by the state. No statement has been issued by the White House yet.

Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu accused of taking dirty laundry to White House

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of carrying bags of dirty laundry on state trips just to get them dry cleaned on another country's expense. Palki Sharma Upadhyay brings you more stories about leaders who embarrassed themselves.

Gravitas: Netanyahu accused of bringing his dirty laundry to Washington

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of a crime that might not have been brought up ever before. It has been revealed that Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu take majority of their dirty laundry to the White House to avail the free dry cleaning services.

Israel's PM Netanyahu accused of taking dirty laundry to White House

A close read of the agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel suggests that the Jewish state has won far more than diplomatic recognition. It won acknowledgement of its claim to historic Jewish rights. By the same token, the UAE has received a significant boost to project itself as a leader in inter-faith dialogue.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed walked away from this month’s White House signing ceremony with more than just an agreement to establish diplomatic relations.

Included in the agreement are references that are key to foundational Israeli arguments asserting the right of the Jewish people to a state on what was once predominantly Arab land rather than simple recognition of the fact that the Jewish state exists.

Recognition of Jewish rights has long been a demand put forward by Mr. Netanyahu.

In talks with the Palestinians as well as the building of relations with Arab states over the years, the Israeli leader asserted that mere diplomatic acceptance of Israel’s existence was not good enough. And yet, that was the basis of earlier peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan as well as Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Yasser Arafat’s 1988 recognition of Israel and the subsequent 1993 Oslo accords.

From the outset, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been as much a dispute about control of land as one of perceived rights.

Recognition of Jewish rights in Palestine bolsters Israeli assertions that its claims to territory occupied during the 1967 Middle East are legitimate rather than a land grab resulting from military conquest.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/controversial-israeli-soccer-club-may-be-litmus-test-for-uae-soft-power-ploy-329150">Controversial Israeli soccer club may be litmus test for UAE soft power ploy</a>

To be clear, it does not by definition endorse annexation, but it constitutes Arab acceptance of Israel’s position that any compromise between Israelis and Palestinians, a sine qua non for a resolution of their dispute, would involve mediation of claims that are historically and morally on par.

Arabs in the past have projected solutions as the need to address Palestinian rights while accepting Israel’s existence.

The agreement did not explicitly recognize Jewish rights, but enabled Israel to interpret the deal as doing so by stating that “Arab and Jewish peoples are descendants of a common ancestor, Abraham.”

The text of the agreement suggests that the reference was primarily related to allow the UAE to boost its efforts to project itself as a leader of inter-faith dialogue and a moderate interpretation of Islam – a pillar of the country’s well-funded soft power campaign that paints the Emirates as a militarily capable, forward-looking, religiously tolerant and technologically savvy, cutting edge state.

The interpretation of the phrasing as recognition of Jewish rights may have been an unintended consequence or icing on Israel’s cake.

It was a bonus that David Makovsky of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy -- widely viewed as leaning towards Israel -- was quick to point out. Mr. Makovsky noted that the reference implied that “both (Arabs and Jews are) indigenous to the Middle East.”

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/credit-where-it-is-due-trump-deserves-praise-for-west-asia-peace-deal-328186">Credit where it is due: Trump deserves praise for West Asia peace deal</a>

Mr. Makovsky suggested that the phrasing “is important because it clearly refutes longstanding allegations in the Arab world that Zionism is alien to the region.”

It puts past to Arab and Palestinian arguments that the long-touted two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was one of dividing up land claimed by two parties driven by facts on the ground rather than consideration of legal and moral claims.

This is not just of esoteric significance. It bolsters Israel’s long-standing rejection of Palestinian insistence on the right of refugees, including those who left during the 1948 war, to return to their homes and lands in what is now Israel.

Israel’s reading of the agreement as endorsement of its assertion that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is about equally valid rights is likely to be interpreted differently on both sides of Israel’s right-left divide.

The country’s weakened left will see it as highlighting the need for territorial compromise. Significant segments of the Israeli right will view it as validation of its belief dating back to the period prior to the 1948 creation of Israel that the clash of Jewish and Palestinian rights is irreconcilable. That is a view that has historically also resonated among elements of the labor movement.

That may be what makes the UAE-Israel deal truly historic.

The icing on the UAE’s cake, beyond the significant geopolitical, military, security, technological and economic benefits of the agreement, is the stress on inter-faith dialogue.

Under the agreement, the UAE and Israel “undertake to foster mutual understanding, respect, co-existence, and a culture of peace between their societies in the spirit of their common ancestor, Abraham, and the new era of peace and friendly relations ushered in by this Treaty, including by cultivating people-to-people programs, (and) interfaith dialogue…”

The UAE, like Saudi Arabia, one of its multiple autocratic religious soft power rivals, has gone in recent years to great lengths to cultivate ties to Jewish and Evangelist communities and to position itself as a sponsor of an inter-faith dialogue in which Islam is represented by Muslim scholars who preach absolute obedience to the ruler and reject endorsement of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its an interpretation of the faith intended to ensure regime survival and counter-allegations of violations of human rights in the UAE.

The signing of a Document on Human Fraternity by the imam of the Al-Azhar Grand Mosque in Cairo, Ahmed El-Tayeb, and Pope Francis I during his 2019 visit to the UAE, the first by a head of the Vatican to the Gulf, served to offer an alternative to the Universal Declaration that allows the Emirates to pick and choose which rights it accepts.

The emphasis on inter-faith dialogue is bolstered and conditioned by the agreement’s implicit condemnation of political Islam, a key driver of UAE policy that is shared by Israel.

The agreement rejects “political manipulation of religions and…interpretations made by religious groups who, in the course of history, have taken advantage of the power of religious sentiment…in a way that has nothing to do with the truth of religion.”

Omar Ghobash, UAE Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy, speaking in a US-UAE Council webinar, noted that one driver for the conclusion of the agreement was “what happened around the so-called Arab Spring and then the rise of vicious groups like ISIS, let alone Al Qaeda.”

Mr. Ghobash was referring to the 2011 popular Arab revolts that toppled the autocratic leaders of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen as well as the rise of the Islamic State in the aftermath of the uprisings, which was a product of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq rather than the rebellions.

He projected the agreement as part of the UAE’s institutionalization of its values.

“There is a distortion that has taken place over the last few decades…represented by groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS … There is a recurring theme in conversations with my leaders and that is that Islam has been hijacked by these groups. The reality is that in taking Islam back, you need to free it from those constraints. You free it by presenting a different expression of Islam,” Mr. Ghobash said.

Critics suggest that the agreement’s formalization of Israeli support for the UAE’s propagation of a state-controlled Islam fails to tackle a core issue: the need to address religious concepts that are either outdated or outmoded or require reconceptualization and reinterpretation.

Those concepts legitimized decades of Muslim demonization of Israel as well as Jews, Christians, and other non-Muslims.

The UAE took a first major step to address the issue by distributing to schools barely two weeks after the announcement of the establishment of diplomatic relations textbooks that cite the agreement with Israel as an expression of fundamental Islamic and Emirati values.

However, the ultimate litmus test of the UAE’s effort to shape moderate Islam will be if and when it loosens the state’s grip on religion and allows for free-flowing, credible theological debate in which scholars tackle problematic religious concepts that have served their purpose but are out of place in a modern, forward-looking society.

(Dr James M Dorsey is an award-winning journalist and a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. He is also a senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute and co-director of the University of Wuerzburg’s Institute of Fan Culture.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

A close read of the agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel suggests that the Jewish state has won far more than diplomatic recognition. It won acknowledgement of its claim to historic Jewish rights.

A close read of the agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel suggests that the Jewish state has won far more than diplomatic recognition. It won acknowledgement of its claim to historic Jewish rights. By the same token, the UAE has received a significant boost to project itself as a leader in inter-faith dialogue. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed walked away from this month’s White House signing ceremony with more than just an agreement to establish diplomatic relations. Included in the agreement are references that are key to foundational Israeli arguments asserting the right of the Jewish people to a state on what was once predominantly Arab land rather than simple recognition of the fact that the Jewish state exists. Recognition of Jewish rights has long been a demand put forward by Mr. Netanyahu. In talks with the Palestinians as well as the building of relations with Arab states over the years, the Israeli leader asserted that mere diplomatic acceptance of Israel’s existence was not good enough. And yet, that was the basis of earlier peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan as well as Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Yasser Arafat’s 1988 recognition of Israel and the subsequent 1993 Oslo accords. From the outset, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been as much a dispute about control of land as one of perceived rights. Recognition of Jewish rights in Palestine bolsters Israeli assertions that its claims to territory occupied during the 1967 Middle East are legitimate rather than a land grab resulting from military conquest. Also Read | Controversial Israeli soccer club may be litmus test for UAE soft power ploy To be clear, it does not by definition endorse annexation, but it constitutes Arab acceptance of Israel’s position that any compromise between Israelis and Palestinians, a sine qua non for a resolution of their dispute, would involve mediation of claims that are historically and morally on par. Arabs in the past have projected solutions as the need to address Palestinian rights while accepting Israel’s existence. The agreement did not explicitly recognize Jewish rights, but enabled Israel to interpret the deal as doing so by stating that “Arab and Jewish peoples are descendants of a common ancestor, Abraham.” The text of the agreement suggests that the reference was primarily related to allow the UAE to boost its efforts to project itself as a leader of inter-faith dialogue and a moderate interpretation of Islam – a pillar of the country’s well-funded soft power campaign that paints the Emirates as a militarily capable, forward-looking, religiously tolerant and technologically savvy, cutting edge state. The interpretation of the phrasing as recognition of Jewish rights may have been an unintended consequence or icing on Israel’s cake. It was a bonus that David Makovsky of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy -- widely viewed as leaning towards Israel -- was quick to point out. Mr. Makovsky noted that the reference implied that “both (Arabs and Jews are) indigenous to the Middle East.” Also Read | Credit where it is due: Trump deserves praise for West Asia peace deal Mr. Makovsky suggested that the phrasing “is important because it clearly refutes longstanding allegations in the Arab world that Zionism is alien to the region.” It puts past to Arab and Palestinian arguments that the long-touted two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was one of dividing up land claimed by two parties driven by facts on the ground rather than consideration of legal and moral claims. This is not just of esoteric significance. It bolsters Israel’s long-standing rejection of Palestinian insistence on the right of refugees, including those who left during the 1948 war, to return to their homes and lands in what is now Israel. Israel’s reading of the agreement as endorsement of its assertion that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is about equally valid rights is likely to be interpreted differently on both sides of Israel’s right-left divide. The country’s weakened left will see it as highlighting the need for territorial compromise. Significant segments of the Israeli right will view it as validation of its belief dating back to the period prior to the 1948 creation of Israel that the clash of Jewish and Palestinian rights is irreconcilable. That is a view that has historically also resonated among elements of the labor movement. That may be what makes the UAE-Israel deal truly historic. The icing on the UAE’s cake, beyond the significant geopolitical, military, security, technological and economic benefits of the agreement, is the stress on inter-faith dialogue. Under the agreement, the UAE and Israel “undertake to foster mutual understanding, respect, co-existence, and a culture of peace between their societies in the spirit of their common ancestor, Abraham, and the new era of peace and friendly relations ushered in by this Treaty, including by cultivating people-to-people programs, (and) interfaith dialogue…” The UAE, like Saudi Arabia, one of its multiple autocratic religious soft power rivals, has gone in recent years to great lengths to cultivate ties to Jewish and Evangelist communities and to position itself as a sponsor of an inter-faith dialogue in which Islam is represented by Muslim scholars who preach absolute obedience to the ruler and reject endorsement of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its an interpretation of the faith intended to ensure regime survival and counter-allegations of violations of human rights in the UAE. The signing of a Document on Human Fraternity by the imam of the Al-Azhar Grand Mosque in Cairo, Ahmed El-Tayeb, and Pope Francis I during his 2019 visit to the UAE, the first by a head of the Vatican to the Gulf, served to offer an alternative to the Universal Declaration that allows the Emirates to pick and choose which rights it accepts. The emphasis on inter-faith dialogue is bolstered and conditioned by the agreement’s implicit condemnation of political Islam, a key driver of UAE policy that is shared by Israel. The agreement rejects “political manipulation of religions and…interpretations made by religious groups who, in the course of history, have taken advantage of the power of religious sentiment…in a way that has nothing to do with the truth of religion.” Omar Ghobash, UAE Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy, speaking in a US-UAE Council webinar, noted that one driver for the conclusion of the agreement was “what happened around the so-called Arab Spring and then the rise of vicious groups like ISIS, let alone Al Qaeda.” Mr. Ghobash was referring to the 2011 popular Arab revolts that toppled the autocratic leaders of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen as well as the rise of the Islamic State in the aftermath of the uprisings, which was a product of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq rather than the rebellions. He projected the agreement as part of the UAE’s institutionalization of its values. “There is a distortion that has taken place over the last few decades…represented by groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS … There is a recurring theme in conversations with my leaders and that is that Islam has been hijacked by these groups. The reality is that in taking Islam back, you need to free it from those constraints. You free it by presenting a different expression of Islam,” Mr. Ghobash said. Critics suggest that the agreement’s formalization of Israeli support for the UAE’s propagation of a state-controlled Islam fails to tackle a core issue: the need to address religious concepts that are either outdated or outmoded or require reconceptualization and reinterpretation. Those concepts legitimized decades of Muslim demonization of Israel as well as Jews, Christians, and other non-Muslims. The UAE took a first major step to address the issue by distributing to schools barely two weeks after the announcement of the establishment of diplomatic relations textbooks that cite the agreement with Israel as an expression of fundamental Islamic and Emirati values. However, the ultimate litmus test of the UAE’s effort to shape moderate Islam will be if and when it loosens the state’s grip on religion and allows for free-flowing, credible theological debate in which scholars tackle problematic religious concepts that have served their purpose but are out of place in a modern, forward-looking society. (Dr James M Dorsey is an award-winning journalist and a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. He is also a senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute and co-director of the University of Wuerzburg’s Institute of Fan Culture.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

The UAE-Israel deal’s historicity is in the fine print

Israel toughened its coronavirus measures on Thursday as a second nationwide lockdown now nearing its second week failed to bring down the world's highest infection rate.

The new rules will close the vast majority of workplaces, shutter markets and further limit prayers and demonstrations.&nbsp;

"Over the past two days, we've heard from experts that if we don't take immediate and harsh measures, we'll reach an abyss," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Wednesday, at the start of a cabinet meeting to thrash out the new measures.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-becomes-first-country-in-world-to-impose-second-national-lockdown-327306">Also read:&nbsp;Israel becomes first country in world to impose second national lockdown</a>&nbsp;

The government's latest move comes as the country is poised to enter the second week of a three-week lockdown imposed last Friday, which included the closure of schools and restrictions on work and leisure.

Under the new measures set to be approved in parliament later Thursday, synagogues will only be allowed to open on Yom Kippur, a Jewish holiday which begins Sunday afternoon.

At other times, only outdoor prayer will be allowed with a maximum of 20 people attending. The same restrictions have been applied to demonstrations.

"To save the lives of Israel's citizens we need to impose a full lockdown now for two weeks," Netanyahu said.

"This is also necessary for the economy. Whoever thinks we can work with a raging pandemic, with death and infections rising, without it affecting the economy, is wrong."

A decision on whether to close Ben Gurion international airport outside Tel Aviv will be made later on Thursday, the government said.

Israel has the world's highest coronavirus infection rate as a proportion of its population, according to an AFP tally of the past fortnight.

More than 200,000 coronavirus cases have been recorded, with 1,335 deaths, out of a population of nine million.

Netanyahu has faced fierce criticism from opposition politicians, who accuse him of tightening the rules to put an end to weeks of protest outside his Jerusalem residence.

Ayelet Shaked, a lawmaker with the far-right Yamina party, said the new rules are "destructive and unreasonable".

"Because of the demonstrations, they're pushing hundreds of thousands of people to unemployment and crushing the economy," she said in a statement.

Shaked said she will push to change the measures when they come before a parliamentary committee for approval later on Thursday.&nbsp;

Israel's health ministry registered 6,808 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, out of 54,364 tests processed.

Some hospitals have reached capacity and are having to turn people away, with some patients forced to wait for hours in ambulances, according to the emergency medical service Magen David Adom.

Israel toughened its coronavirus measures on Thursday as a second nationwide lockdown now nearing its second week failed to bring down the world's highest infection rate.

Israel toughened its coronavirus measures on Thursday as a second nationwide lockdown now nearing its second week failed to bring down the world's highest infection rate. The new rules will close the vast majority of workplaces, shutter markets and further limit prayers and demonstrations. "Over the past two days, we've heard from experts that if we don't take immediate and harsh measures, we'll reach an abyss," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Wednesday, at the start of a cabinet meeting to thrash out the new measures. Also read: Israel becomes first country in world to impose second national lockdown The government's latest move comes as the country is poised to enter the second week of a three-week lockdown imposed last Friday, which included the closure of schools and restrictions on work and leisure. Under the new measures set to be approved in parliament later Thursday, synagogues will only be allowed to open on Yom Kippur, a Jewish holiday which begins Sunday afternoon. At other times, only outdoor prayer will be allowed with a maximum of 20 people attending. The same restrictions have been applied to demonstrations. "To save the lives of Israel's citizens we need to impose a full lockdown now for two weeks," Netanyahu said. "This is also necessary for the economy. Whoever thinks we can work with a raging pandemic, with death and infections rising, without it affecting the economy, is wrong." A decision on whether to close Ben Gurion international airport outside Tel Aviv will be made later on Thursday, the government said. Israel has the world's highest coronavirus infection rate as a proportion of its population, according to an AFP tally of the past fortnight. More than 200,000 coronavirus cases have been recorded, with 1,335 deaths, out of a population of nine million. Netanyahu has faced fierce criticism from opposition politicians, who accuse him of tightening the rules to put an end to weeks of protest outside his Jerusalem residence. Ayelet Shaked, a lawmaker with the far-right Yamina party, said the new rules are "destructive and unreasonable". "Because of the demonstrations, they're pushing hundreds of thousands of people to unemployment and crushing the economy," she said in a statement. Shaked said she will push to change the measures when they come before a parliamentary committee for approval later on Thursday. Israel's health ministry registered 6,808 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, out of 54,364 tests processed. Some hospitals have reached capacity and are having to turn people away, with some patients forced to wait for hours in ambulances, according to the emergency medical service Magen David Adom.

Israel toughens second lockdown as virus cases surge

India on Thursday welcomed the signing of agreements by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to establish formal ties with Israel, and said it has always supported peace and stability in West Asia.

The UAE and Bahrain became the first Arab countries to normalise ties with Israel without a resolution of its decades-old dispute with the Palestinians who are demanding a separate state.

"We have followed the Abraham accords signed in Washington DC by UAE, Bahrain, Israel and the US. As I have said earlier, India has always supported peace and stability in West Asia which is our extended neighbourhood," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.

The pacts were inked on Tuesday in Washington in the presence of US President Donald Trump.

"As such we welcome these agreements for normalization of relations between Israel and UAE and Bahrain," he added.

At a media briefing, Srivastava also said India continues its "traditional support" for the Palestinian cause, and hopes for early resumption of direct negotiations for an acceptable "two-state solution".&nbsp;

India on Thursday welcomed the signing of agreements by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to establish formal ties with Israel, and said it has always supported peace and stability in West Asia.

India on Thursday welcomed the signing of agreements by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to establish formal ties with Israel, and said it has always supported peace and stability in West Asia. The UAE and Bahrain became the first Arab countries to normalise ties with Israel without a resolution of its decades-old dispute with the Palestinians who are demanding a separate state. "We have followed the Abraham accords signed in Washington DC by UAE, Bahrain, Israel and the US. As I have said earlier, India has always supported peace and stability in West Asia which is our extended neighbourhood," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. The pacts were inked on Tuesday in Washington in the presence of US President Donald Trump. "As such we welcome these agreements for normalization of relations between Israel and UAE and Bahrain," he added. At a media briefing, Srivastava also said India continues its "traditional support" for the Palestinian cause, and hopes for early resumption of direct negotiations for an acceptable "two-state solution".

India welcomes pacts by UAE, Bahrain to normalise ties with Israel

The West Asia peace accord was signed in Washington DC on Tuesday. Effective now, Israel’s ties with two Arab nations - UAE and Bahrain will be normalised.

However, the timing of this historic peace deal seems almost deliberate.&nbsp;In the US, President Donald Trump is trailing in the polls less than two months before the presidential election. And in Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu is facing protests over corruption charges and his handling of the pandemic. Both Trump and Netanyahu have a lot to gain from the peace accords.

Donald Trump

Trump wants to leave behind a legacy. Remember, he wanted his face carved into Mount Rushmore. He gets to be the third US president to broker a deal between Israel and the Arab world. Jimmy Carter brokered the Camp David accord between then-Egyptian President, Anwar Sadat and former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin.

Bill Clinton brokered a deal between then-Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Jordan's King Hussein. Trump can now call himself the architect of a new political order between Arabs and Jews. Trump's presidency has placed a lot of importance on trying to strike peace deals and brokering them.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-the-us-brokered-abraham-accord-a-regional-front-against-iran-328000" hreflang="en">Is the US-brokered Abraham Accord a regional front against Iran?</a>

The one with North Korea fell apart. But this one, gives trump a much-needed boost in the election season. Trump recently claimed that 5 to 6 other Arab nations will join the circle of peace. So it is in the interest of West Asia that Trump remains in power. Due to this, the region is likely to tilt towards Trump over Biden. Netanyahu flew back to Israel without meeting Biden.“We are encouraged by the ongoing efforts to consolidate and expand such friendly relations based on shared interests and a shared commitment to a better future”, the last line of the Abraham Accord read.

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What the US gains from this peace alliance is a united West Asia against Iran, a country that Trump has been calling the biggest exporter of terror.

Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu fought 3 elections in one year, and failed to win all with a decisive mandate. He is currently running a precariously formed government.

Netanyahu is at a critical juncture in his political career, and has a difficult alliance with his election rival. He was recently indicted on corruption charges. Netanyahu is also facing protests for his handling of the pandemic. Even as he was flying to Washington to sign the Abraham Accords, protestors had gathered at the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/two-rockets-fired-from-gaza-as-israel-uae-bahrain-sign-trump-brokered-accords-327792" hreflang="en">Two rockets fired from Gaza as Israel, UAE, Bahrain sign Trump-brokered accords</a>

With this deal, he's only the third Israeli leader to sign a peace deal with the Arab world.&nbsp;Netanyahu gets to keep the promise to annex the West Bank. At the same time he gets to have cordial relations with the Arab world. Within hours of the agreements being signed in the White House,&nbsp; a prominent Saudi cleric softened his stand on Israel, calling for Muslims to avoid “passionate emotions and fiery enthusiasm” towards Jews.

The peace agreements allow Netanyahu to improve Israel's economy at a time when his country is dealing&nbsp; with 18 per cent unemployment. Israel's tourism sector will get a boost, as will energy, healthcare, culture, technology and environment.

Israelis will now be able to board direct flights to the UAE and Bahrain. Until recently, Israel was recognised by only Jordan and Egypt in the Arab world.

The West Asia peace accord was signed in Washington DC on Tuesday. Effective now, Israel’s ties with two Arab nations - UAE and Bahrain will be normalised. However, the timing of this historic peace deal seems almost deliberate.

The West Asia peace accord was signed in Washington DC on Tuesday. Effective now, Israel’s ties with two Arab nations - UAE and Bahrain will be normalised. However, the timing of this historic peace deal seems almost deliberate. In the US, President Donald Trump is trailing in the polls less than two months before the presidential election. And in Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu is facing protests over corruption charges and his handling of the pandemic. Both Trump and Netanyahu have a lot to gain from the peace accords. Donald Trump Trump wants to leave behind a legacy. Remember, he wanted his face carved into Mount Rushmore. He gets to be the third US president to broker a deal between Israel and the Arab world. Jimmy Carter brokered the Camp David accord between then-Egyptian President, Anwar Sadat and former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Bill Clinton brokered a deal between then-Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Jordan's King Hussein. Trump can now call himself the architect of a new political order between Arabs and Jews. Trump's presidency has placed a lot of importance on trying to strike peace deals and brokering them. Also read: Is the US-brokered Abraham Accord a regional front against Iran? The one with North Korea fell apart. But this one, gives trump a much-needed boost in the election season. Trump recently claimed that 5 to 6 other Arab nations will join the circle of peace. So it is in the interest of West Asia that Trump remains in power. Due to this, the region is likely to tilt towards Trump over Biden. Netanyahu flew back to Israel without meeting Biden.“We are encouraged by the ongoing efforts to consolidate and expand such friendly relations based on shared interests and a shared commitment to a better future”, the last line of the Abraham Accord read. × What the US gains from this peace alliance is a united West Asia against Iran, a country that Trump has been calling the biggest exporter of terror. Benjamin Netanyahu Netanyahu fought 3 elections in one year, and failed to win all with a decisive mandate. He is currently running a precariously formed government. Netanyahu is at a critical juncture in his political career, and has a difficult alliance with his election rival. He was recently indicted on corruption charges. Netanyahu is also facing protests for his handling of the pandemic. Even as he was flying to Washington to sign the Abraham Accords, protestors had gathered at the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. Also read: Two rockets fired from Gaza as Israel, UAE, Bahrain sign Trump-brokered accords With this deal, he's only the third Israeli leader to sign a peace deal with the Arab world. Netanyahu gets to keep the promise to annex the West Bank. At the same time he gets to have cordial relations with the Arab world. Within hours of the agreements being signed in the White House, a prominent Saudi cleric softened his stand on Israel, calling for Muslims to avoid “passionate emotions and fiery enthusiasm” towards Jews. The peace agreements allow Netanyahu to improve Israel's economy at a time when his country is dealing with 18 per cent unemployment. Israel's tourism sector will get a boost, as will energy, healthcare, culture, technology and environment. Israelis will now be able to board direct flights to the UAE and Bahrain. Until recently, Israel was recognised by only Jordan and Egypt in the Arab world.

How the West Asia peace deal will multiply local gains for Trump and Netanyahu

Is the Abraham Peace Accord a saviour for two stalling political careers? Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you how U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gain from the West Asia peace agreements.

Gravitas: How Trump gains from the West Asia peace deals

Palestinian militants fired rockets from Gaza into Israel on Tuesday, the Israeli military said, at same time as Israel and two Gulf Arab states signed normalisation agreements at the White House in Washington.

Palestinians fire rockets into Israel during signing of normalisation agreements

US President Donald Trump, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, the foreign minister of Bahrain, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed the Abraham Accord

A strategic realignment of West Asian countries | Historic Abraham accord signed

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on September 15 became the latest Arab states to break a long-standing taboo when they signed the agreements towards normalising relations with Israel in a strategic realignment of Middle Eastern countries against Iran. US President Donald Trump hosted a White House ceremony. Watch report.

Israel-UAE Deal: Trump hosts the leaders of West Asia

The President pointed out that these were the only two peace deals between Israel and the Arab States in more than a quarter of a century.

US President Donald Trump promises to protect Palestine

After almost 25 years, the 45th president of the united states has recreated history at the south lawn of the white house. UAE & Bahrain sign a historic peace deal with Israel.

Israel, UAE and Bahrain sign Abraham accord

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli delegation landed in the United States on September 15, ahead of a ceremony to sign agreements normalizing ties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Fineprint: Netanyahu lands in Washington DC for UAE, Bahrain Deals

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a second national coronavirus lockdown in the country during a TV news conference .

The Three-week lockdown will make Israel the first country to reimpose such stringent restrictions on a national scale. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fresh-protests-break-out-in-israel-against-nethanyahus-poor-handling-of-coronavirus-327123">Also read | Fresh protests break out in Israel against Nethanyahu's poor handling of coronavirus</a> 
 
"I know these steps are a heavy price for us all.These are not the holidays we are used to. We certainly won't be able to celebrate with our extended families," Netanyahu said.

"If we keep the rules, and I am confident in this, we will defeat the virus. I see the vaccine on the way, and I see the fast testing that is on the way," he added.

Israel currently has one of the worst coronavirus infection rates in the world per capita. 
 
Meanwhile, Yaakov Litzman, a minister in Israel government has resigned to protest against the restrictions that overlap with important Jewish festivals.

Despite early successes in stemming the virus spread, protests have broken out as cases have risen against Netanyahu and the government's handling of the pandemic.

Hundreds of demonstrators rallied again on Sunday to call for Netanyahu's resignation over his alleged graft offences and failure to manage the Covid-19 crisis.

They blocked roads to Ben Gurion airport, from where Netanyahu was due to fly to the United States to attend the signing of agreements to normalise ties with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Israelis angry with the government over the rise in cases have cited the rapid reopening of businesses, with some arguing insufficient financial measures forced people back to work prematurely.

Others have said the reopening of schools and the country's increased testing capacity pushed up the number of positive cases.

Israel, with a population of nine million, has recorded 155,604 Covid-19 cases, including 1,119 deaths.

(With inputs from agencies)

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a second national coronavirus lockdown in the country during a TV news conference . The Three-week lockdown will make Israel the first country to reimpose such stringent restrictions on a national scale.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a second national coronavirus lockdown in the country during a TV news conference . The Three-week lockdown will make Israel the first country to reimpose such stringent restrictions on a national scale. Also read | Fresh protests break out in Israel against Nethanyahu's poor handling of coronavirus "I know these steps are a heavy price for us all.These are not the holidays we are used to. We certainly won't be able to celebrate with our extended families," Netanyahu said. "If we keep the rules, and I am confident in this, we will defeat the virus. I see the vaccine on the way, and I see the fast testing that is on the way," he added. Israel currently has one of the worst coronavirus infection rates in the world per capita. Meanwhile, Yaakov Litzman, a minister in Israel government has resigned to protest against the restrictions that overlap with important Jewish festivals. Despite early successes in stemming the virus spread, protests have broken out as cases have risen against Netanyahu and the government's handling of the pandemic. Hundreds of demonstrators rallied again on Sunday to call for Netanyahu's resignation over his alleged graft offences and failure to manage the Covid-19 crisis. They blocked roads to Ben Gurion airport, from where Netanyahu was due to fly to the United States to attend the signing of agreements to normalise ties with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Israelis angry with the government over the rise in cases have cited the rapid reopening of businesses, with some arguing insufficient financial measures forced people back to work prematurely. Others have said the reopening of schools and the country's increased testing capacity pushed up the number of positive cases. Israel, with a population of nine million, has recorded 155,604 Covid-19 cases, including 1,119 deaths. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel becomes first country in world to impose second national lockdown 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a deal establishing relations between Israel and Bahrain will result in direct flights between the countries. Watch report.

Dramatic shift in West Asia alliances: Israel and Bahrain to share direct flights