A Palestinian stabbed and wounded two Israelis in annexed east Jerusalem on Friday before being shot dead, police said, despite tight security for Ramadan.

One of the Israelis was in a critical condition and the other suffered serious wounds, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

"Police units that responded at the scene saw the attacker with a knife. The attacker was shot and killed by police units," Rosenfeld said.

Police identified the assailant as a 19-year-old Palestinian.

The Old City, where the attack took place, has been the scene of numerous stabbings of Israelis by wildcat Palestinian assailants in recent years.

The first Israeli was stabbed near Damascus Gate. The second was attacked near Jaffa Gate on the other side of the walled city.

Security has been stepped up across Jerusalem during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Tens of thousands of believers were expected to gather at the Old City's politically contentious Al-Aqsa mosque compound later for the last Friday prayers of Ramadan.

The attack came just two days before Israelis hold a major march to mark Jerusalem Day, the annual commemoration of the capture of east Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967.&nbsp;

It was later annexed in a move not recognised by the international community.

In December 2017, US President Donald Trump broke with decades of bipartisan policy to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital in a move that prompted the Palestinians to cut all contacts with his administration and which has sent tensions soaring.

Israel insists the whole of Jerusalem is its "eternal, indivisible capital". The Palestinians demand the city's eastern sector as the capital of their long-promised state.

Trump's gift&nbsp;

On Thursday evening, Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner met Israeli Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israelis-protest-moves-to-grant-netanyahu-immunity-limit-supreme-court-221711">Benjamin Netanyahu </a>in Jerusalem as part of a Middle East tour before Washington unveils its long-awaited plan for Israel-Palestinian peace.

Kushner, accompanied by Trump envoy Jason Greenblatt, arrived in Jerusalem after earlier stops in Morocco and Jordan.

He is a key architect of the peace plan that the White House says it intends to present in the coming weeks.

But the plan, previously delayed for an Israeli general election on April 9, could face further postponements due to Israeli politics.

Israel is set to hold another general election in September after Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government, and the plan is widely seen as too sensitive an issue to introduce during a political campaign.

The Palestinian leadership has rejected the peace plan without seeing it, saying Trump has shown himself to be blatantly biased in favour of Israel.

They cite moves including declaring the disputed city of Jerusalem Israel's capital and cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in Palestinian aid.

Trump has also handed Netanyahu other diplomatic coups, notably US recognition of Israel's 1981 annexation of the strategic Golan &nbsp;Heights captured from Syria in the Six-Day War.

On Thursday, Kushner delivered Netanyahu a gift from Trump, a map of Israel signed and approvingly annotated by the US president showing the Golan as inside the Jewish state's borders.

A Palestinian stabbed and wounded two Israelis in annexed east Jerusalem on Friday before being shot dead, police said, despite tight security for Ramadan. One of the Israelis was in a critical condition and the other suffered serious wounds, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

A Palestinian stabbed and wounded two Israelis in annexed east Jerusalem on Friday before being shot dead, police said, despite tight security for Ramadan. One of the Israelis was in a critical condition and the other suffered serious wounds, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. "Police units that responded at the scene saw the attacker with a knife. The attacker was shot and killed by police units," Rosenfeld said. Police identified the assailant as a 19-year-old Palestinian. The Old City, where the attack took place, has been the scene of numerous stabbings of Israelis by wildcat Palestinian assailants in recent years. The first Israeli was stabbed near Damascus Gate. The second was attacked near Jaffa Gate on the other side of the walled city. Security has been stepped up across Jerusalem during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. Tens of thousands of believers were expected to gather at the Old City's politically contentious Al-Aqsa mosque compound later for the last Friday prayers of Ramadan. The attack came just two days before Israelis hold a major march to mark Jerusalem Day, the annual commemoration of the capture of east Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967. It was later annexed in a move not recognised by the international community. In December 2017, US President Donald Trump broke with decades of bipartisan policy to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital in a move that prompted the Palestinians to cut all contacts with his administration and which has sent tensions soaring. Israel insists the whole of Jerusalem is its "eternal, indivisible capital". The Palestinians demand the city's eastern sector as the capital of their long-promised state. Trump's gift On Thursday evening, Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem as part of a Middle East tour before Washington unveils its long-awaited plan for Israel-Palestinian peace. Kushner, accompanied by Trump envoy Jason Greenblatt, arrived in Jerusalem after earlier stops in Morocco and Jordan. He is a key architect of the peace plan that the White House says it intends to present in the coming weeks. But the plan, previously delayed for an Israeli general election on April 9, could face further postponements due to Israeli politics. Israel is set to hold another general election in September after Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government, and the plan is widely seen as too sensitive an issue to introduce during a political campaign. The Palestinian leadership has rejected the peace plan without seeing it, saying Trump has shown himself to be blatantly biased in favour of Israel. They cite moves including declaring the disputed city of Jerusalem Israel's capital and cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in Palestinian aid. Trump has also handed Netanyahu other diplomatic coups, notably US recognition of Israel's 1981 annexation of the strategic Golan Heights captured from Syria in the Six-Day War. On Thursday, Kushner delivered Netanyahu a gift from Trump, a map of Israel signed and approvingly annotated by the US president showing the Golan as inside the Jewish state's borders.

Two Israelis wounded in Jerusalem stabbings, attacker killed: Police

Israeli lawmakers voted to dissolve parliament early on Thursday, paving the way for a new election after veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government before a midnight deadline.

The September 17 ballot will be Israel's second this year. It spells <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-inches-closer-to-snap-election-with-overnight-vote-222182">unprecedented upheaval</a> even for a country used to political infighting and is a big blow to Netanyahu, who had claimed victory in the last election on April 9.

Parliament's 74-to-45 vote took place just minutes after a midnight deadline for Netanyahu to assemble his fifth government.

The turmoil arose - officially, at least - from a feud over military conscription between Netanyahu's presumed allies: ex-defence minister Avigdor Lieberman, a far-right secularist, and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties.

Those parties want young religious scholars exempted, en masse from mandatory national service. But Lieberman and many other Israelis want them to share the burden.

Watch: Benjamin Netanyahu struggles to form government

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Netanyahu denounced the draft spat as a "Kafkaesque" ruse.

"It's just unbelievable. Avigdor Lieberman is now part of the left," he told reporters. "It is perfectly clear that he wanted to topple this government ... to cobble together a few more votes."

Yet the new ballot represents less of a setback for Netanyahu than the alternative in which Israel's president, Reuven Rivlin, could have asked another politician to try and form a ruling coalition.

Faced with the prospect of having to step aside and watch one of his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-says-coalition-deal-still-possible-as-talk-of-new-polls-mounts-221841/amp">political rivals </a>push him to the margins, Netanyahu instead drummed up votes to dissolve the 120-seat Knesset.

Netanyahu signalled he will run in the next election, telling reporters: "We will win". The spokesman for his conservative Likud party sent out a text emoji showing a smiling Netanyahu with the message: "Get out and vote."

But the failed coalition building of a 69-year-old leader who just weeks ago was hailed by supporters as a political "magician" may open rifts and stir up challenges within Likud.

Courts and statecraft&nbsp;

The premier is also dogged by potential criminal charges in three corruption cases. He has denied wrongdoing and is due to argue at a pre-trial hearing in October against any indictment.

A new election could further complicate U.S. efforts to press ahead with President Donald Trump's peace plan in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Even before it has been announced, Palestinians have spurned it as a blow to their statehood hopes.

The White House team behind the proposal, including Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, is in the Middle East to drum up support for an economic "workshop" in Bahrain next month to encourage investment in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

The group arrived in Israel on Wednesday and planned to meet Netanyahu on Thursday. "Lots to pray for!" tweeted one of the envoys, Jason Greenblatt, from Jerusalem's Western Wall.

Three hours before Wednesday's 2100 GMT deadline, Likud said it had secured 60 signatures, half of parliament, but shy of the majority required for a measure of stable governance.

In another sign of Netanyahu's strong desire to retain the premiership, the opposition centre-left Labour party said it had been offered - and had refused - a chance to join a Likud-led coalition. Likud, which has long said it plans to head a strong right-wing government, neither denied or confirmed this.

First elected in the late 1990s, Netanyahu has been in power for the past decade. In mid-July, he will overtake Israel's founding father, David Ben-Gurion, as longest-serving premier.

The last election ended with Netanyahu neck-and-neck against Benny Gantz, a politically untested ex-armed forces chief.

Lieberman, who quit as defence minister in November, in protest at what he deemed insufficient Israeli military force in fighting Hamas in Gaza, has denied allegations that his real intention was to oust Netanyahu and lead a "national camp".

Until the drama over coalition building, public attention had been focused more on moves Netanyahu loyalists were planning in parliament to grant him immunity from criminal prosecution and to pass a law ensuring such protection could not be withdrawn by the Supreme Court.

Israeli lawmakers voted to dissolve parliament early on Thursday, paving the way for a new election after veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government before a midnight deadline.

Israeli lawmakers voted to dissolve parliament early on Thursday, paving the way for a new election after veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government before a midnight deadline. The September 17 ballot will be Israel's second this year. It spells unprecedented upheaval even for a country used to political infighting and is a big blow to Netanyahu, who had claimed victory in the last election on April 9. Parliament's 74-to-45 vote took place just minutes after a midnight deadline for Netanyahu to assemble his fifth government. The turmoil arose - officially, at least - from a feud over military conscription between Netanyahu's presumed allies: ex-defence minister Avigdor Lieberman, a far-right secularist, and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties. Those parties want young religious scholars exempted, en masse from mandatory national service. But Lieberman and many other Israelis want them to share the burden. Watch: Benjamin Netanyahu struggles to form government × Netanyahu denounced the draft spat as a "Kafkaesque" ruse. "It's just unbelievable. Avigdor Lieberman is now part of the left," he told reporters. "It is perfectly clear that he wanted to topple this government ... to cobble together a few more votes." Yet the new ballot represents less of a setback for Netanyahu than the alternative in which Israel's president, Reuven Rivlin, could have asked another politician to try and form a ruling coalition. Faced with the prospect of having to step aside and watch one of his political rivals push him to the margins, Netanyahu instead drummed up votes to dissolve the 120-seat Knesset. Netanyahu signalled he will run in the next election, telling reporters: "We will win". The spokesman for his conservative Likud party sent out a text emoji showing a smiling Netanyahu with the message: "Get out and vote." But the failed coalition building of a 69-year-old leader who just weeks ago was hailed by supporters as a political "magician" may open rifts and stir up challenges within Likud. Courts and statecraft The premier is also dogged by potential criminal charges in three corruption cases. He has denied wrongdoing and is due to argue at a pre-trial hearing in October against any indictment. A new election could further complicate U.S. efforts to press ahead with President Donald Trump's peace plan in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Even before it has been announced, Palestinians have spurned it as a blow to their statehood hopes. The White House team behind the proposal, including Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, is in the Middle East to drum up support for an economic "workshop" in Bahrain next month to encourage investment in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. The group arrived in Israel on Wednesday and planned to meet Netanyahu on Thursday. "Lots to pray for!" tweeted one of the envoys, Jason Greenblatt, from Jerusalem's Western Wall. Three hours before Wednesday's 2100 GMT deadline, Likud said it had secured 60 signatures, half of parliament, but shy of the majority required for a measure of stable governance. In another sign of Netanyahu's strong desire to retain the premiership, the opposition centre-left Labour party said it had been offered - and had refused - a chance to join a Likud-led coalition. Likud, which has long said it plans to head a strong right-wing government, neither denied or confirmed this. First elected in the late 1990s, Netanyahu has been in power for the past decade. In mid-July, he will overtake Israel's founding father, David Ben-Gurion, as longest-serving premier. The last election ended with Netanyahu neck-and-neck against Benny Gantz, a politically untested ex-armed forces chief. Lieberman, who quit as defence minister in November, in protest at what he deemed insufficient Israeli military force in fighting Hamas in Gaza, has denied allegations that his real intention was to oust Netanyahu and lead a "national camp". Until the drama over coalition building, public attention had been focused more on moves Netanyahu loyalists were planning in parliament to grant him immunity from criminal prosecution and to pass a law ensuring such protection could not be withdrawn by the Supreme Court.

Israel faces second election in months as Netanyahu fails to form government

Israel moved closer towards a new election on Monday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to form a government after last month’s national ballot remained deadlocked.

Benjamin Netanyahu struggles to form government

Israel moved towards a new election on Monday (May 27) as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to form a government following a national ballot just last month remained deadlocked. In a preliminary vote, parliament decided to dissolve itself. In order to disperse and set an election date, legislators would still have to hold a final vote, likely to take place on Wednesday.

Israel election: Israel moves closer to new election as Netanyahu struggles to form govt

Israel is inching towards a new election as Prime Minister Benjamin <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-says-coalition-deal-still-possible-as-talk-of-new-polls-mounts-221841">Netanyahu's struggles</a> to form a government after April 9 national ballot.

In a preliminary vote, parliament decided to dissolve itself. In order to disperse and set a new election date, legislators would still have to hold a final vote which is likely to take place on Wednesday, the report added.

The deadline for Netanyahu to form a coalition is Wednesday.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Netanyahu could form coalition government

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In power for the past decade and facing potential corruption charges, Netanyahu has struggled to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israelis-protest-moves-to-grant-netanyahu-immunity-limit-supreme-court-221711/amp">seal an agreement</a> with a clutch of right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties that would ensure him a fifth term.

Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and is due to argue against the attorney general's intention to indict him on fraud and bribery charges at a pre-trial hearing in October.

Netanyahu's Likud took 35 of the legislature's 120 seats, the same number as its main rival, the centrist Blue and White party, but had the pledged support of a bigger right-wing bloc.

"There are still 48 hours left to reach an agreement and I hope very much the legislation we are presenting now will not be needed and that common sense will prevail," Likud cabinet minister Zeev Elkin told parliament.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Israel is inching towards a new election as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's struggles to form a government after April 9 national ballot. In a preliminary vote, parliament decided to dissolve itself.

Israel is inching towards a new election as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's struggles to form a government after April 9 national ballot. In a preliminary vote, parliament decided to dissolve itself. In order to disperse and set a new election date, legislators would still have to hold a final vote which is likely to take place on Wednesday, the report added. The deadline for Netanyahu to form a coalition is Wednesday. Watch: Netanyahu could form coalition government In power for the past decade and facing potential corruption charges, Netanyahu has struggled to seal an agreement with a clutch of right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties that would ensure him a fifth term. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and is due to argue against the attorney general's intention to indict him on fraud and bribery charges at a pre-trial hearing in October. Netanyahu's Likud took 35 of the legislature's 120 seats, the same number as its main rival, the centrist Blue and White party, but had the pledged support of a bigger right-wing bloc. "There are still 48 hours left to reach an agreement and I hope very much the legislation we are presenting now will not be needed and that common sense will prevail," Likud cabinet minister Zeev Elkin told parliament. (With inputs from Reuters)

Israel moves towards new election as Netanyahu struggles to form government

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israelis-protest-moves-to-grant-netanyahu-immunity-limit-supreme-court-221711">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a> said Sunday he believed a deal to form a new coalition government remained possible, as speculation mounted over the possibility of fresh elections only days ahead of a deadline.

Netanyahu has been unable to reach a deal with potential coalition partners despite results from April 9 polls giving his Likud party and its right-wing and religious allies a majority in parliament.

Negotiations have broken down over legislation aimed at requiring ultra-Orthodox Jews to perform mandatory military service like other Jewish Israelis.

The deadline for Netanyahu to form a coalition is Wednesday.&nbsp;

Holding elections so close to one another would be unprecedented for Israel.<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/palestinians-voice-concern-over-netanyahu-win-215889/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

"I think that the problem can be solved with good will if that's what people want," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting.

"If there's not a desire, and things are being aimed in a certain direction, it's unfortunate. I don't think the country needs to be dragged to another election, but there might be someone who wants that," he added.

Avigdor Lieberman, who is likely to become defence minister under a coalition deal, has pushed for a guarantee that a bill he backs on ultra-Orthodox military conscription be passed.

The ultra-Orthodox parties have refused to support this reform.

Netanyahu needs both Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party and the ultra-Orthodox to form the coalition he is seeking.

Likud and its allies hold 65 seats in the 120-seat parliament, including Yisrael Beitenu's five and the ultra-Orthodox parties' 16.

A Likud spokesman said Sunday that "if Lieberman continues to insist on taking down the government, the Likud has begun preparations ahead of elections."

But he added: "At this stage, there has been no decision on dissolving the Knesset (parliament)."

Netanyahu's party later said in a statement that "the ball is now in the court of the Lieberman camp. If he accepts, we have a right-wing government tonight."

Netanyahu had said on Twitter that he had put together a last-ditch proposal on the conscription issue and was meeting individually with party heads to discuss it.

Both Lieberman and ultra-Orthodox leaders indicated they were not prepared to compromise.

Lieberman refused to meet with Netanyahu on Sunday, his own party said in a statement.

It added that Lieberman remained committed to the proposed law.

Israeli media reported that Likud lawmakers had received a request to attend parliament on Monday afternoon to vote in favour of dissolution, in an apparent bid to put pressure on Lieberman to change his position and avoid fresh elections.

Separately, thousands protested in Tel Aviv on Saturday night against Netanyahu's reported attempts to seek immunity from prosecution as part of coalition negotiations. 
&nbsp;

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he believed a deal to form a new coalition government remained possible, as speculation mounted over the possibility of fresh elections only days ahead of a deadline.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he believed a deal to form a new coalition government remained possible, as speculation mounted over the possibility of fresh elections only days ahead of a deadline. Netanyahu has been unable to reach a deal with potential coalition partners despite results from April 9 polls giving his Likud party and its right-wing and religious allies a majority in parliament. Negotiations have broken down over legislation aimed at requiring ultra-Orthodox Jews to perform mandatory military service like other Jewish Israelis. The deadline for Netanyahu to form a coalition is Wednesday. Holding elections so close to one another would be unprecedented for Israel. "I think that the problem can be solved with good will if that's what people want," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting. "If there's not a desire, and things are being aimed in a certain direction, it's unfortunate. I don't think the country needs to be dragged to another election, but there might be someone who wants that," he added. Avigdor Lieberman, who is likely to become defence minister under a coalition deal, has pushed for a guarantee that a bill he backs on ultra-Orthodox military conscription be passed. The ultra-Orthodox parties have refused to support this reform. Netanyahu needs both Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party and the ultra-Orthodox to form the coalition he is seeking. Likud and its allies hold 65 seats in the 120-seat parliament, including Yisrael Beitenu's five and the ultra-Orthodox parties' 16. A Likud spokesman said Sunday that "if Lieberman continues to insist on taking down the government, the Likud has begun preparations ahead of elections." But he added: "At this stage, there has been no decision on dissolving the Knesset (parliament)." Netanyahu's party later said in a statement that "the ball is now in the court of the Lieberman camp. If he accepts, we have a right-wing government tonight." Netanyahu had said on Twitter that he had put together a last-ditch proposal on the conscription issue and was meeting individually with party heads to discuss it. Both Lieberman and ultra-Orthodox leaders indicated they were not prepared to compromise. Lieberman refused to meet with Netanyahu on Sunday, his own party said in a statement. It added that Lieberman remained committed to the proposed law. Israeli media reported that Likud lawmakers had received a request to attend parliament on Monday afternoon to vote in favour of dissolution, in an apparent bid to put pressure on Lieberman to change his position and avoid fresh elections. Separately, thousands protested in Tel Aviv on Saturday night against Netanyahu's reported attempts to seek immunity from prosecution as part of coalition negotiations.

Netanyahu says coalition deal still possible as talk of new polls mounts

Thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday against legislative steps that could grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immunity from prosecution and limit the power of the country's Supreme Court.

The demonstration in Tel Aviv was attended by nearly all opposition parties, a rare show of unity for Israel's splintered political system. Police did not say how many people attended. A Reuters photographer estimated about 20,000 were present, while organizers put the figure at 80,000.

In office for the past decade, Netanyahu won a fifth term in April despite an announcement by Israel's attorney general in February that he intended to charge him with fraud and bribery. The prime minister is a suspect in three graft cases.

Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations a political witch-hunt. The right-wing leader has said that with a renewed public mandate to govern he has no plans to resign, even if charged.

Although the prime minister is under no legal obligation to step down if charged, Netanyahu loyalists in his Likud party have pledged to seek parliamentary immunity from prosecution for him while he is in office.

Expecting legal challenges, they also have been advocating legislation that would annul any Supreme Court ruling rescinding immunity.

Since the election, Netanyahu has not said whether he would seek immunity.

On May 13, Netanyahu said on Twitter that his policy had always been to preserve a strong and independent Supreme Court, but that changes were needed in order to restore the balance between Israel's executive, legislative and judiciary branches.

The opposition has described any attempt to shield Netanyahu or put limitations on Israel's highest court as threats to Israeli democracy.

Yair Lapid, one of the leaders of the main opposition party, the centrist Blue and White, said on Saturday at the demonstration that Netanyahu was trying to crush the Supreme Court in order to keep out of prison. "He's destroying the country," Lapid said. "We won't let him."

Netanyahu is trying to form a new coalition with right-wing, ultranationalist and religious parties that would give him control of 65 of the 120 seats in parliament, which has already been sworn in.

Most of the parties expected to join his coalition have expressed support for granting immunity to Netanyahu and limiting the powers of the Supreme Court, branded by some rightists as too liberal and interventionist.

However, Netanyahu has only until Wednesday to produce a government and he has not yet secured a deal with any party. Negotiations came to an impasse this week when the factions failed to agree on a new conscription law for Israel's military.

According to Israeli law, if Netanyahu fails to form a government by May 29 the president can ask another member of the Knesset legislature to try.

No political party has ever won an outright majority in Israel's Knesset, making coalition governments the norm. Coalition talks have often been protracted with deals signed at the very last minute.

Netanyahu is due to attend a pre-trial hearing over the graft charges with the attorney general, set for October.

Thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday against legislative steps that could grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immunity from prosecution and limit the power of the country's Supreme Court.

Thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday against legislative steps that could grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immunity from prosecution and limit the power of the country's Supreme Court. The demonstration in Tel Aviv was attended by nearly all opposition parties, a rare show of unity for Israel's splintered political system. Police did not say how many people attended. A Reuters photographer estimated about 20,000 were present, while organizers put the figure at 80,000. In office for the past decade, Netanyahu won a fifth term in April despite an announcement by Israel's attorney general in February that he intended to charge him with fraud and bribery. The prime minister is a suspect in three graft cases. Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations a political witch-hunt. The right-wing leader has said that with a renewed public mandate to govern he has no plans to resign, even if charged. Although the prime minister is under no legal obligation to step down if charged, Netanyahu loyalists in his Likud party have pledged to seek parliamentary immunity from prosecution for him while he is in office. Expecting legal challenges, they also have been advocating legislation that would annul any Supreme Court ruling rescinding immunity. Since the election, Netanyahu has not said whether he would seek immunity. On May 13, Netanyahu said on Twitter that his policy had always been to preserve a strong and independent Supreme Court, but that changes were needed in order to restore the balance between Israel's executive, legislative and judiciary branches. The opposition has described any attempt to shield Netanyahu or put limitations on Israel's highest court as threats to Israeli democracy. Yair Lapid, one of the leaders of the main opposition party, the centrist Blue and White, said on Saturday at the demonstration that Netanyahu was trying to crush the Supreme Court in order to keep out of prison. "He's destroying the country," Lapid said. "We won't let him." Netanyahu is trying to form a new coalition with right-wing, ultranationalist and religious parties that would give him control of 65 of the 120 seats in parliament, which has already been sworn in. Most of the parties expected to join his coalition have expressed support for granting immunity to Netanyahu and limiting the powers of the Supreme Court, branded by some rightists as too liberal and interventionist. However, Netanyahu has only until Wednesday to produce a government and he has not yet secured a deal with any party. Negotiations came to an impasse this week when the factions failed to agree on a new conscription law for Israel's military. According to Israeli law, if Netanyahu fails to form a government by May 29 the president can ask another member of the Knesset legislature to try. No political party has ever won an outright majority in Israel's Knesset, making coalition governments the norm. Coalition talks have often been protracted with deals signed at the very last minute. Netanyahu is due to attend a pre-trial hearing over the graft charges with the attorney general, set for October.

Israelis protest moves to grant Netanyahu immunity, limit Supreme Court

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday extended best wishes for his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for his dynamic leadership as the BJP-led NDA is heading towards a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha elections

Gravitas: World leaders congratulate PM Modi over a historic victory

Four European countries and&nbsp;Egypt&nbsp;sent&nbsp;aircraft to help&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;battle&nbsp;wildfires&nbsp;that have forced the evacuation of some small towns,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-gets-more-time-to-form-new-israel-government-218385"> Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu </a>said on Friday, as a record heatwave looked set to worsen conditions.

Firefighting planes were coming in from Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Croatia,&nbsp;Israel's Foreign Ministry said.&nbsp;Egypt, on the orders of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, had also sent two helicopters to assist&nbsp;Israel, Netanyahu told reporters.

Israel's Fire and Rescue Service said blazes in a key corridor between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv were mostly under control but difficult weather remained a conflagration risk.

"As of this moment, this (containment) is being done in the best possible way, but the challenge is yet ahead of us given the weather conditions, the winds and the extreme heat," Netanyahu said.

The Palestinian Authority and Russia had also offered help, he said.

Some 3,500 residents of small towns in the fire's path were evacuated on Thursday, officials said. Dozens of homes have burned down.

Four European countries and Egypt sent aircraft to help Israel battle wildfires that have forced the evacuation of some small towns, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, as a record heatwave looked set to worsen conditions.

Four European countries and Egypt sent aircraft to help Israel battle wildfires that have forced the evacuation of some small towns, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, as a record heatwave looked set to worsen conditions. Firefighting planes were coming in from Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Croatia, Israel's Foreign Ministry said. Egypt, on the orders of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, had also sent two helicopters to assist Israel, Netanyahu told reporters. Israel's Fire and Rescue Service said blazes in a key corridor between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv were mostly under control but difficult weather remained a conflagration risk. "As of this moment, this (containment) is being done in the best possible way, but the challenge is yet ahead of us given the weather conditions, the winds and the extreme heat," Netanyahu said. The Palestinian Authority and Russia had also offered help, he said. Some 3,500 residents of small towns in the fire's path were evacuated on Thursday, officials said. Dozens of homes have burned down.

Europeans and Egypt send air support as Israel battles wildfires

US President Donald Trump on Thursday took to Twitter and congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/this-is-a-mandate-to-form-new-india-pm-modi-delivers-first-address-after-lok-sabha-polls-result-221070">securing another term with a thumping majority</a>.&nbsp;

Trump stated that "great things are in store for US-India partnership" with Modi's return.

"Congratulations to Prime Minister @NarendraModi and his BJP party on their BIG election victory! Great things are in store for the US-India partnership with the return of PM Modi at the helm. I look forward to continuing our important work together!" his tweet read.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Congratulations to Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NarendraModi</a> and his BJP party on their BIG election victory! Great things are in store for the US-India partnership with the return of PM Modi at the helm. I look forward to continuing our important work together!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1131609042227482625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also retained another term recently, also congratulated Modi and said that the only difference between their respective wins is that while <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/my-friend-you-dont-need-a-coalition-but-i-do-when-netanyahu-congratulated-pm-modi-in-phone-call-221104">Modi doesn't need a coalition to form the government</a>, Netanyahu does.&nbsp;

Calling Modi his "friend", Netanyahu said he hopes to meet soon after the government formation in both the countries is over. A video clip of Netanyahu's telephonic conversation with PM Modi was released by news agency ANI.&nbsp;

Earlier in the day, Pakistan Prime Minister also <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-2019-look-forward-to-working-for-peace-progress-and-prosperity-in-south-asia-imran-khan-congratulates-pm-modi-220992">tweeted out a congratulatory post on BJP's win</a>.&nbsp;

"I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia," Khan's tweet read. &nbsp;

More than 20 world leaders congratulated PM Modi and he received calls from 13 world leaders - Bangladesh, Bhutan (the king and the PM), Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Russia, France, Japan, Australia, Mauritius, UAE and Israel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening arrived at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in New Delhi and gave his first address after the party seemed poised to register a landslide win in Lok Sabha polls 2019.

The prime minister promised to devote "every moment" of his life and "every fibre" of his being for the people of India.&nbsp;

"This is a mandate to form new India," PM Modi said in his victory speech.

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&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump on Thursday took to Twitter and congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on securing another term with a thumping majority. Trump stated that "great things are in store for US-India partnership" with Modi's return.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday took to Twitter and congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on securing another term with a thumping majority. Trump stated that "great things are in store for US-India partnership" with Modi's return. "Congratulations to Prime Minister @NarendraModi and his BJP party on their BIG election victory! Great things are in store for the US-India partnership with the return of PM Modi at the helm. I look forward to continuing our important work together!" his tweet read. Congratulations to Prime Minister @NarendraModi and his BJP party on their BIG election victory! Great things are in store for the US-India partnership with the return of PM Modi at the helm. I look forward to continuing our important work together! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 23, 2019 × Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also retained another term recently, also congratulated Modi and said that the only difference between their respective wins is that while Modi doesn't need a coalition to form the government, Netanyahu does. Calling Modi his "friend", Netanyahu said he hopes to meet soon after the government formation in both the countries is over. A video clip of Netanyahu's telephonic conversation with PM Modi was released by news agency ANI. Earlier in the day, Pakistan Prime Minister also tweeted out a congratulatory post on BJP's win. "I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia," Khan's tweet read. More than 20 world leaders congratulated PM Modi and he received calls from 13 world leaders - Bangladesh, Bhutan (the king and the PM), Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Russia, France, Japan, Australia, Mauritius, UAE and Israel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening arrived at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in New Delhi and gave his first address after the party seemed poised to register a landslide win in Lok Sabha polls 2019. The prime minister promised to devote "every moment" of his life and "every fibre" of his being for the people of India. "This is a mandate to form new India," PM Modi said in his victory speech. ×

Great things in store for US-India partnership with PM Modi's return: US President Donald Trump 

Wishes&nbsp;poured-in from all corners of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/world-leaders-congratulate-pm-modi-on-re-election-221092">world with leaders congratulating PM Modi</a> on registering a thumping victory in the Lok Sabha polls.

In a telephonic conversation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also retained another term recently, congratulated Modi and said that the only difference between their respective wins is that while Modi doesn't need a coalition to form the government, Netanyahu does.&nbsp;

Calling Modi his "friend", Netanyahu said he hopes to meet soon after the government formation in both the countries is over. A video clip of Netanyahu's telephonic conversation with PM Modi was released by news agency ANI.&nbsp;

Earlier in the day, Pakistan Prime Minister also tweeted out a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-2019-look-forward-to-working-for-peace-progress-and-prosperity-in-south-asia-imran-khan-congratulates-pm-modi-220992">congratulatory post on BJP's win</a>.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today where he congratulated him, "Narendra, my friend, congratulations! What an enormous victory!" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElectionResults2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElectionResults2019</a> (Video courtesy: PM of Israel) <a href="https://t.co/5HoPkgv8Mt">pic.twitter.com/5HoPkgv8Mt</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1131598769521168384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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In his congratulatory message, Khan said that he looks forward to working with PM Modi "for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia".

"I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia," Khan's tweet read. &nbsp;

More than 20 world leaders congratulated PM Modi and he received calls from 13 world leaders - Bangladesh, Bhutan (the king and&nbsp;the PM), Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Russia, France, Japan, Australia, Mauritius, UAE and Israel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening arrived at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in New Delhi and gave his first address after the party seemed poised to register a landslide win in Lok Sabha polls 2019.

The prime minister promised to devote "every moment" of his life and "every fibre" of his being for the people of India.&nbsp;

"This is a mandate to form new India," PM Modi said in his victory speech.

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&nbsp;

Wishes poured-in from all corners of the world with leaders congratulating PM Modi on registering a thumping victory in the Lok Sabha polls. In a telephonic conversation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also retained another term recently, congratulated Modi and said that the only difference between their respective wins is that while Modi doesn't need a coalition to form the government, Netanyahu does.

Wishes poured-in from all corners of the world with leaders congratulating PM Modi on registering a thumping victory in the Lok Sabha polls. In a telephonic conversation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also retained another term recently, congratulated Modi and said that the only difference between their respective wins is that while Modi doesn't need a coalition to form the government, Netanyahu does. Calling Modi his "friend", Netanyahu said he hopes to meet soon after the government formation in both the countries is over. A video clip of Netanyahu's telephonic conversation with PM Modi was released by news agency ANI. Earlier in the day, Pakistan Prime Minister also tweeted out a congratulatory post on BJP's win. #WATCH: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today where he congratulated him, "Narendra, my friend, congratulations! What an enormous victory!" #ElectionResults2019 (Video courtesy: PM of Israel) pic.twitter.com/5HoPkgv8Mt — ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2019 × In his congratulatory message, Khan said that he looks forward to working with PM Modi "for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia". "I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia," Khan's tweet read. More than 20 world leaders congratulated PM Modi and he received calls from 13 world leaders - Bangladesh, Bhutan (the king and the PM), Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Russia, France, Japan, Australia, Mauritius, UAE and Israel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening arrived at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in New Delhi and gave his first address after the party seemed poised to register a landslide win in Lok Sabha polls 2019. The prime minister promised to devote "every moment" of his life and "every fibre" of his being for the people of India. "This is a mandate to form new India," PM Modi said in his victory speech. ×

My friend, you don't need a coalition but I do: When Netanyahu congratulated PM Modi in phone call

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-pm-netanyahu-says-needs-more-time-to-form-new-government-218056">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu </a>on Monday got more time to put together a new coalition government after the initial 28 days granted him following last month's elections expired.

Israeli law says that after the first four weeks of political bargaining a further 14 days is granted by the president on request.

Netanyahu on Monday called on President Reuven Rivlin at his official Jerusalem residence and received his official blessing.

"At the end of the meeting, the president acceded to the prime minister's request and granted him a further two weeks to form a government," a statement from the presidency said in English.

Netanyahu's Likud party won 35 seats in the April 9 general election, with most parties represented in the 120-seat parliament recommending that he form the next governing coalition.

On April 17 Rivlin formally tasked him with the mission.

Such negotiations generally run close to the wire as parties seek to extract the maximum in cabinet portfolios and other forms of political clout.&nbsp;

Netanyahu on Sunday told cabinet ministers that this time there had been outside influences on the progress of talks, citing public and religious holidays and a Gaza flare-up.

On May 4, militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip fired hundreds of rockets at Israel, prompting the army to strike dozens of targets inside the blockaded coastal enclave in response.

Four Israeli civilians and 25 Palestinians, including at least nine militants, were killed in the two-day flare-up, which ended on Monday in a tentative truce.

The emerging coalition is expected to include the 16 members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties as well as the far-right national religious union, Avigdor Lieberman's nationalistic Israel Beitenu and the centre-right Kulanu.

Netanyahu's lawyers were meanwhile negotiating with the justice ministry on a date for pre-trial hearings on pending corruption charges.

The attorney general announced in February his intention to indict Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust -- pending a hearing.

Netanyahu is not required to resign if indicted, only if convicted with all appeals exhausted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday got more time to put together a new coalition government after the initial 28 days granted him following last month's elections expired.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday got more time to put together a new coalition government after the initial 28 days granted him following last month's elections expired. Israeli law says that after the first four weeks of political bargaining a further 14 days is granted by the president on request. Netanyahu on Monday called on President Reuven Rivlin at his official Jerusalem residence and received his official blessing. "At the end of the meeting, the president acceded to the prime minister's request and granted him a further two weeks to form a government," a statement from the presidency said in English. Netanyahu's Likud party won 35 seats in the April 9 general election, with most parties represented in the 120-seat parliament recommending that he form the next governing coalition. On April 17 Rivlin formally tasked him with the mission. Such negotiations generally run close to the wire as parties seek to extract the maximum in cabinet portfolios and other forms of political clout. Netanyahu on Sunday told cabinet ministers that this time there had been outside influences on the progress of talks, citing public and religious holidays and a Gaza flare-up. On May 4, militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip fired hundreds of rockets at Israel, prompting the army to strike dozens of targets inside the blockaded coastal enclave in response. Four Israeli civilians and 25 Palestinians, including at least nine militants, were killed in the two-day flare-up, which ended on Monday in a tentative truce. The emerging coalition is expected to include the 16 members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties as well as the far-right national religious union, Avigdor Lieberman's nationalistic Israel Beitenu and the centre-right Kulanu. Netanyahu's lawyers were meanwhile negotiating with the justice ministry on a date for pre-trial hearings on pending corruption charges. The attorney general announced in February his intention to indict Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust -- pending a hearing. Netanyahu is not required to resign if indicted, only if convicted with all appeals exhausted.

Israel PM Netanyahu gets more time to form new government

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-pm-netanyahu-says-needs-more-time-to-form-new-government-218056">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday</a> that a site for a promised new settlement to be named after US President Donald Trump had been chosen and formal approval was underway.

"I promised that we would establish a community named after President Trump," Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.

"I would like to inform you that we have already selected a site in the Golan Heights where this new community will be established, and we have started the process," he said in Hebrew.

Netanyahu pledged such a move last month, in appreciation of Trump's recognition of Israel's claim of sovereignty over part of the strategic plateau.

Trump broke with longstanding international consensus on March 25 when he recognised Israel's claim of sovereignty over the part of the Golan it seized from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War.

In December 2017, he said Washington would recognise the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, sparking outrage among the Palestinians who claim Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem as the capital of their own future state.

The US embassy was moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and inaugurated on May 14, 2018.

Netanyahu said he would submit the new settlement plan for cabinet approval when a new government takes office in the wake of last month's snap general election.

Netanyahu has been conducting low-key meetings with heads of the parties expected to join his coalition.

He has until the end of May to put together an alliance.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that a site for a promised new settlement to be named after US President Donald Trump had been chosen and formal approval was underway.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that a site for a promised new settlement to be named after US President Donald Trump had been chosen and formal approval was underway. "I promised that we would establish a community named after President Trump," Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting. "I would like to inform you that we have already selected a site in the Golan Heights where this new community will be established, and we have started the process," he said in Hebrew. Netanyahu pledged such a move last month, in appreciation of Trump's recognition of Israel's claim of sovereignty over part of the strategic plateau. Trump broke with longstanding international consensus on March 25 when he recognised Israel's claim of sovereignty over the part of the Golan it seized from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. In December 2017, he said Washington would recognise the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, sparking outrage among the Palestinians who claim Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem as the capital of their own future state. The US embassy was moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and inaugurated on May 14, 2018. Netanyahu said he would submit the new settlement plan for cabinet approval when a new government takes office in the wake of last month's snap general election. Netanyahu has been conducting low-key meetings with heads of the parties expected to join his coalition. He has until the end of May to put together an alliance.

Israel says site found for Golan 'Trump' settlement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he would ask President Reuven Rivlin for more time to form a new coalition government, citing recent holidays and the Gaza flare-up.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-sworn-into-israels-new-parliament-after-election-victory-214818">Netanyahu's Likud won 35 seats in the April 9 general election,</a> with most party chiefs represented in the 120-seat parliament recommending that he forms the next governing coalition.

On April 17 Rivlin formally tasked him with the mission, which by law needs to be completed within 28 days -- although a 14-day extension is automatically granted upon request.

"As in past instances of forming a government, I intend on asking an extension from the president," Netanyahu said in the opening remarks of the weekly cabinet meeting.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/palestinians-voice-concern-over-netanyahu-win-215889/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Such an extension is not only acceptable but also required due to scheduling problems," he said citing a busy holiday season, including Passover and Israeli Independence Day, as well as the Gaza flare-up.

On May 4, militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip fired hundreds of rockets at Israel, prompting the army to strike dozens of targets inside the blockaded coastal enclave in response.

Four Israeli civilians and 25 Palestinians, including at least nine militants, were killed in the two-day flare-up, which ended on Monday in a tentative truce.

Netanyahu has been conducting low-intensity meetings with heads of the parties expected to join his coalition.

It is expected to include the 16 members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, the far-right national religious union, Avigdor Lieberman's nationalistic Israel Beitenu and the centre-right Kulanu.

Netanyahu's lawyers were meanwhile negotiating with the justice ministry when the premier's pre-trial hearings would take place.

The attorney general announced in February his intention to indict Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust -- pending a hearing.

Netanyahu is not required to resign if indicted, only if convicted with all appeals exhausted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he would ask President Reuven Rivlin for more time to form a new coalition government, citing recent holidays and the Gaza flare-up.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he would ask President Reuven Rivlin for more time to form a new coalition government, citing recent holidays and the Gaza flare-up. Netanyahu's Likud won 35 seats in the April 9 general election, with most party chiefs represented in the 120-seat parliament recommending that he forms the next governing coalition. On April 17 Rivlin formally tasked him with the mission, which by law needs to be completed within 28 days -- although a 14-day extension is automatically granted upon request. "As in past instances of forming a government, I intend on asking an extension from the president," Netanyahu said in the opening remarks of the weekly cabinet meeting. "Such an extension is not only acceptable but also required due to scheduling problems," he said citing a busy holiday season, including Passover and Israeli Independence Day, as well as the Gaza flare-up. On May 4, militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip fired hundreds of rockets at Israel, prompting the army to strike dozens of targets inside the blockaded coastal enclave in response. Four Israeli civilians and 25 Palestinians, including at least nine militants, were killed in the two-day flare-up, which ended on Monday in a tentative truce. Netanyahu has been conducting low-intensity meetings with heads of the parties expected to join his coalition. It is expected to include the 16 members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, the far-right national religious union, Avigdor Lieberman's nationalistic Israel Beitenu and the centre-right Kulanu. Netanyahu's lawyers were meanwhile negotiating with the justice ministry when the premier's pre-trial hearings would take place. The attorney general announced in February his intention to indict Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust -- pending a hearing. Netanyahu is not required to resign if indicted, only if convicted with all appeals exhausted.

Israel PM Netanyahu says needs more time to form new government

An Israeli cabinet minister warned on Sunday of possible direct or proxy Iranian attacks on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-will-not-allow-nuclear-armed-iran-benjamin-netanyahu-216991">Israel should the stand-off between Tehran and Washington</a> escalate.

The United States has increased economic and military pressure on Iran, with President Donald Trump on Thursday urging its leaders to talk to him about giving up their nuclear programme and saying he could not rule out an armed confrontation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which supports Trump's hard tack against its arch-foe, has largely been reticent about the spiralling tensions.

Parting with the silence, Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said that, in the Gulf, "things are heating up".

"If there's some sort of conflagration between Iran and the United States, between Iran and its neighbours, I'm not ruling out that they will activate Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad from Gaza, or even that they will try to fire missiles from Iran at the State of Israel," Steinitz, a member of Netanyahu's security cabinet, told Israel's Ynet TV.

Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad are Iranian-sponsored guerrilla groups on Israel's borders, the former active in Syria as well as Lebanon and the latter in the Palestinian territories.

The Israeli military declined to comment when asked if it was making any preparations for possible threats linked to the Iran-US standoff.

Israel has traded blows with Iranian forces in Syria, as well as with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestinian militants. But it has not fought an open war with Iran, a country on the other side of the Middle East.

An Israeli cabinet minister warned on Sunday of possible direct or proxy Iranian attacks on Israel should the stand-off between Tehran and Washington escalate. The United States has increased economic and military pressure on Iran, with President Donald Trump on Thursday urging its leaders to talk to him about giving up their nuclear programme and saying he could not rule out an armed confrontation.

An Israeli cabinet minister warned on Sunday of possible direct or proxy Iranian attacks on Israel should the stand-off between Tehran and Washington escalate. The United States has increased economic and military pressure on Iran, with President Donald Trump on Thursday urging its leaders to talk to him about giving up their nuclear programme and saying he could not rule out an armed confrontation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which supports Trump's hard tack against its arch-foe, has largely been reticent about the spiralling tensions. Parting with the silence, Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said that, in the Gulf, "things are heating up". "If there's some sort of conflagration between Iran and the United States, between Iran and its neighbours, I'm not ruling out that they will activate Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad from Gaza, or even that they will try to fire missiles from Iran at the State of Israel," Steinitz, a member of Netanyahu's security cabinet, told Israel's Ynet TV. Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad are Iranian-sponsored guerrilla groups on Israel's borders, the former active in Syria as well as Lebanon and the latter in the Palestinian territories. The Israeli military declined to comment when asked if it was making any preparations for possible threats linked to the Iran-US standoff. Israel has traded blows with Iranian forces in Syria, as well as with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestinian militants. But it has not fought an open war with Iran, a country on the other side of the Middle East.

Iran may attack Israel if US standoff escalates, says cabinet minister

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Wednesday not to allow <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-rolls-back-nuclear-commitments-under-pact-abandoned-by-washington-216990">Iran to acquire nuclear arms</a> after the Islamic Republic said it would abandon limits on its nuclear activities agreed in a 2015 deal.

"This morning on my way here I heard that Iran intends to continue its nuclear programme," Netanyahu said at a ceremony on Israel's annual day of remembrance for its fallen soldiers and civilian victims of militant attacks.

"We shall not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon," he said in Hebrew.

Netanyahu has been an outspoken opponent of Iran's landmark nuclear deal with major powers and was the leading supporter of US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from it and reimpose crippling economic sanctions last year.

Israel is considered the leading military power in the Middle East and is widely believed to possess its sole if undeclared, nuclear arsenal.

On Wednesday Tehran said it was ending curbs on its uranium enrichment stockpile agreed under the 2015 deal until other powers help it bypass the renewed US sanctions.

Iran does not recognise its archfoe Israel and opposition to the Jewish state has been a central tenet of official policy since the Islamic revolution.

Iran has supported Palestinian and other anti-Israel groups, including Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah.

Israel has said publicly that it has carried out hundreds of air and missile strikes targeting the forces of Iran and Hezbollah in neighbouring Syria.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Wednesday not to allow Iran to acquire nuclear arms after the Islamic Republic said it would abandon limits on its nuclear activities agreed in a 2015 deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Wednesday not to allow Iran to acquire nuclear arms after the Islamic Republic said it would abandon limits on its nuclear activities agreed in a 2015 deal. "This morning on my way here I heard that Iran intends to continue its nuclear programme," Netanyahu said at a ceremony on Israel's annual day of remembrance for its fallen soldiers and civilian victims of militant attacks. "We shall not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon," he said in Hebrew. Netanyahu has been an outspoken opponent of Iran's landmark nuclear deal with major powers and was the leading supporter of US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from it and reimpose crippling economic sanctions last year. Israel is considered the leading military power in the Middle East and is widely believed to possess its sole if undeclared, nuclear arsenal. On Wednesday Tehran said it was ending curbs on its uranium enrichment stockpile agreed under the 2015 deal until other powers help it bypass the renewed US sanctions. Iran does not recognise its archfoe Israel and opposition to the Jewish state has been a central tenet of official policy since the Islamic revolution. Iran has supported Palestinian and other anti-Israel groups, including Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah. Israel has said publicly that it has carried out hundreds of air and missile strikes targeting the forces of Iran and Hezbollah in neighbouring Syria.

Israel will 'not allow' nuclear-armed Iran: Benjamin Netanyahu

Rockets and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-rises-to-12-in-israeli-retaliatory-strike-in-gaza-strip-216171">missiles from Gaza</a> killed four civilians in Israel, while Israeli strikes killed 19 Palestinians, more than half of them civilians, in surging cross-border fighting on Sunday, according to Gazan officials and the Israeli military.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the military to continue "massive strikes" against Gaza's ruling Hamas group and Islamic Jihad in the most serious border clashes since a spate of fighting in November.

Israel's military said that more than 600 rockets and other projectiles - over 150 of them intercepted by its Iron Dome anti-missile system - had been fired at southern Israeli cities and villages since Friday.

It said it attacked more than 260 targets belonging to Gaza militant groups. Gaza officials said Israeli air strikes and artillery fire killed 27 people, including 14 civilians, since Friday.

A rocket that hit a house in Ashkelon on Sunday killed a 58-year-old man, police said. He was the first such Israeli civilian fatality since the seven-week Gaza war in 2014.

Another rocket strike killed a factory worker, a hospital official said. The military said a civilian was killed near the border by an anti-tank missile fired at his car from Gaza and a fourth died when a rocket struck the city of Ashdod.

In Gaza, militant groups identified eight fighters killed in Israeli strikes, while medical officials said that nine civilians also died, including a couple and their baby daughter.

In what it said was a separate, targeted attack, Israel's military killed Hamed Ahmed Al-Khodary, a Hamas commander. The military said he was responsible for transferring funds from Iran to armed factions in Gaza. Hamas confirmed Khodary had been killed.

The attack on his car was the first such killing by Israel of a top militant since the war five years ago. Israel had suspended what Palestinians call an assassination policy in an attempt to lower tensions.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh issued a statement late on Sunday saying his group was not seeking a broader conflict and held out the possibility of a ceasefire, although sirens warning of rocket fire continued to sound in Israeli cities into the night.

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-support-israel-100-in-its-defence-of-its-citizens-says-donald-trump-on-gaza-escalation-216211">Donald Trump expressed full US support for Israel </a>and called for an end to the rocket attacks, saying Gazans would only face more hardship and that it was time to seek peace.

"Once again, Israel faces a barrage of deadly rocket attacks by terrorist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. We support Israel 100% in its defence of its citizens... To the Gazan people — these terrorist acts against Israel will bring you nothing but more misery. END the violence and work towards peace - it can happen!," Trump said in a message on Twitter.

&nbsp;

Sirens and explosions

The sounds of sirens and explosions reverberated on both sides of the frontier on Sunday, fraying nerves and keeping schools closed.

Israel halted supplies from its main natural gas field. The Tamar field's offshore production platform is in range of Palestinian rockets. Israel also stopped fuel imports into Gaza through the main Kerem Shalom crossing.

The latest round of violence began two days ago when an Islamic Jihad sniper fired at Israeli troops, wounding two soldiers, according to the Israeli military.

Islamic Jihad accused Israel of delaying implementation of previous understandings brokered by Egypt in an effort to end violence and ease blockaded Gaza's economic hardship.

This time, Israeli strategic affairs analysts said, both Islamic Jihad and Hamas militants appeared to believe they had some leverage to press for concessions from Israel, where independence day celebrations begin on Wednesday.

In two weeks, Israel is also hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, the target of a Gaza rocket attack in March. That attack caused no damage. On Sunday, sirens sounded in the city of Rehovot, 17 km (11 miles) southeast of Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu, who doubles as defence minister, convened his security Cabinet, which issued a statement saying it had ordered the military "to continue its strikes and to prepare for the next stages".

Ramadan approaching

For residents in Gaza, the escalation comes a day before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins in the territory on Monday. It is traditionally a time for prayer, family feasts to break daylight fast and shopping.

Among the 14 Gazan civilians killed since Friday was a 14-month-old child and the child's aunt, according to the health ministry. Israel's military said the intelligence information showed they were killed by a misfired Palestinian rocket.

In Gaza, two Palestinian human rights groups described the cause of their deaths as an explosion with an as yet undetermined source.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the firing of rockets into Israel and urged all parties to "exercise maximum restraint". A U.N. envoy said it was working with Egypt to try to end the fighting.

Israeli bombings in Gaza destroyed four multi-storey structures. Witnesses said the Israeli military had warned people inside to evacuate the buildings, which it alleged housed Hamas security facilities before they were hit.

Saeed Al-Nakhala, an owner of a clothing store in one of the buildings, said he had no time to save his merchandise.

"I was together with my son in the shop, there was a big noise and then another and people started to run. We left everything behind and escaped," said Nakhala.

Some 2 million Palestinians live in Gaza, the economy of which has suffered years of Israeli and Egyptian blockades as well as recent foreign aid cuts and sanctions by the Palestinian Authority, Hamas' West Bank-based rival.

Israel says its blockade is necessary to stop weapons reaching Hamas, with which it has fought three wars since the group seized control of Gaza in 2007, two years after Israel withdrew its settlers and troops from the area.

Rockets and missiles from Gaza killed four civilians in Israel, while Israeli strikes killed 19 Palestinians, more than half of them civilians, in surging cross-border fighting on Sunday, according to Gazan officials and the Israeli military.

Rockets and missiles from Gaza killed four civilians in Israel, while Israeli strikes killed 19 Palestinians, more than half of them civilians, in surging cross-border fighting on Sunday, according to Gazan officials and the Israeli military. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the military to continue "massive strikes" against Gaza's ruling Hamas group and Islamic Jihad in the most serious border clashes since a spate of fighting in November. Israel's military said that more than 600 rockets and other projectiles - over 150 of them intercepted by its Iron Dome anti-missile system - had been fired at southern Israeli cities and villages since Friday. It said it attacked more than 260 targets belonging to Gaza militant groups. Gaza officials said Israeli air strikes and artillery fire killed 27 people, including 14 civilians, since Friday. A rocket that hit a house in Ashkelon on Sunday killed a 58-year-old man, police said. He was the first such Israeli civilian fatality since the seven-week Gaza war in 2014. Another rocket strike killed a factory worker, a hospital official said. The military said a civilian was killed near the border by an anti-tank missile fired at his car from Gaza and a fourth died when a rocket struck the city of Ashdod. In Gaza, militant groups identified eight fighters killed in Israeli strikes, while medical officials said that nine civilians also died, including a couple and their baby daughter. In what it said was a separate, targeted attack, Israel's military killed Hamed Ahmed Al-Khodary, a Hamas commander. The military said he was responsible for transferring funds from Iran to armed factions in Gaza. Hamas confirmed Khodary had been killed. The attack on his car was the first such killing by Israel of a top militant since the war five years ago. Israel had suspended what Palestinians call an assassination policy in an attempt to lower tensions. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh issued a statement late on Sunday saying his group was not seeking a broader conflict and held out the possibility of a ceasefire, although sirens warning of rocket fire continued to sound in Israeli cities into the night. President Donald Trump expressed full US support for Israel and called for an end to the rocket attacks, saying Gazans would only face more hardship and that it was time to seek peace. "Once again, Israel faces a barrage of deadly rocket attacks by terrorist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. We support Israel 100% in its defence of its citizens... To the Gazan people — these terrorist acts against Israel will bring you nothing but more misery. END the violence and work towards peace - it can happen!," Trump said in a message on Twitter. Sirens and explosions The sounds of sirens and explosions reverberated on both sides of the frontier on Sunday, fraying nerves and keeping schools closed. Israel halted supplies from its main natural gas field. The Tamar field's offshore production platform is in range of Palestinian rockets. Israel also stopped fuel imports into Gaza through the main Kerem Shalom crossing. The latest round of violence began two days ago when an Islamic Jihad sniper fired at Israeli troops, wounding two soldiers, according to the Israeli military. Islamic Jihad accused Israel of delaying implementation of previous understandings brokered by Egypt in an effort to end violence and ease blockaded Gaza's economic hardship. This time, Israeli strategic affairs analysts said, both Islamic Jihad and Hamas militants appeared to believe they had some leverage to press for concessions from Israel, where independence day celebrations begin on Wednesday. In two weeks, Israel is also hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, the target of a Gaza rocket attack in March. That attack caused no damage. On Sunday, sirens sounded in the city of Rehovot, 17 km (11 miles) southeast of Tel Aviv. Netanyahu, who doubles as defence minister, convened his security Cabinet, which issued a statement saying it had ordered the military "to continue its strikes and to prepare for the next stages". Ramadan approaching For residents in Gaza, the escalation comes a day before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins in the territory on Monday. It is traditionally a time for prayer, family feasts to break daylight fast and shopping. Among the 14 Gazan civilians killed since Friday was a 14-month-old child and the child's aunt, according to the health ministry. Israel's military said the intelligence information showed they were killed by a misfired Palestinian rocket. In Gaza, two Palestinian human rights groups described the cause of their deaths as an explosion with an as yet undetermined source. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the firing of rockets into Israel and urged all parties to "exercise maximum restraint". A U.N. envoy said it was working with Egypt to try to end the fighting. Israeli bombings in Gaza destroyed four multi-storey structures. Witnesses said the Israeli military had warned people inside to evacuate the buildings, which it alleged housed Hamas security facilities before they were hit. Saeed Al-Nakhala, an owner of a clothing store in one of the buildings, said he had no time to save his merchandise. "I was together with my son in the shop, there was a big noise and then another and people started to run. We left everything behind and escaped," said Nakhala. Some 2 million Palestinians live in Gaza, the economy of which has suffered years of Israeli and Egyptian blockades as well as recent foreign aid cuts and sanctions by the Palestinian Authority, Hamas' West Bank-based rival. Israel says its blockade is necessary to stop weapons reaching Hamas, with which it has fought three wars since the group seized control of Gaza in 2007, two years after Israel withdrew its settlers and troops from the area.

Death toll rises in surging Israel-Gaza fighting; 27 dead, including 14 civilians

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he had ordered the military to launch further strikes on Gaza Strip militants <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-man-killed-in-rocket-strike-from-gaza-police-216023">in response to rocket fire from the territory</a>, as an escalation entered its second day.

"I instructed the (military) this morning to continue its massive strikes on terror elements in the Gaza Strip and ordered (it) to reinforce the troops around the Gaza Strip with tanks, artillery and infantry forces," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting.

Israel said around 450 rockets or mortars had been fired from the Palestinian enclave run by Hamas since Saturday, and it responded with waves of air and tank strikes.

Gazan authorities reported six Palestinians killed in the Israeli strikes, including at least two militants.

But Israel disputed their account of the deaths of a pregnant mother and her baby, blaming errant Hamas fire.

One 58-year-old Israeli man was killed overnight by a rocket strike on the city of Ashkelon near the Gaza border, Israeli police and the hospital said.

Netanyahu is currently engaged in tough negotiations to form a new government following his victory in April 9 elections.

A ceasefire brokered by UN and Egyptian officials between Israel and Hamas had led to calm surrounding the elections.

But the past week saw a gradual uptick in violence as Hamas seeks further concessions from Israel.

Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he had ordered the military to launch further strikes on Gaza Strip militants in response to rocket fire from the territory, as an escalation entered its second day.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he had ordered the military to launch further strikes on Gaza Strip militants in response to rocket fire from the territory, as an escalation entered its second day. "I instructed the (military) this morning to continue its massive strikes on terror elements in the Gaza Strip and ordered (it) to reinforce the troops around the Gaza Strip with tanks, artillery and infantry forces," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting. Israel said around 450 rockets or mortars had been fired from the Palestinian enclave run by Hamas since Saturday, and it responded with waves of air and tank strikes. Gazan authorities reported six Palestinians killed in the Israeli strikes, including at least two militants. But Israel disputed their account of the deaths of a pregnant mother and her baby, blaming errant Hamas fire. One 58-year-old Israeli man was killed overnight by a rocket strike on the city of Ashkelon near the Gaza border, Israeli police and the hospital said. Netanyahu is currently engaged in tough negotiations to form a new government following his victory in April 9 elections. A ceasefire brokered by UN and Egyptian officials between Israel and Hamas had led to calm surrounding the elections. But the past week saw a gradual uptick in violence as Hamas seeks further concessions from Israel. Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008.

Benjamin Netanyahu vows more 'massive strikes' in response to Gaza rockets

<div style="text-align:start; -webkit-text-stroke-width:0px"><a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/new-trump-immigration-plan-may-increase-visas-for-highly-skilled-workers-213463&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjzzZyG1_7hAhW0V3wKHY-nCBQQFjAAegQIBRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3qNjBvgm8F1WorsoZBEJ5S">White House senior adviser Jared Kushner</a> said on Thursday he hopes Israel will take a hard look at President Donald Trump's upcoming Middle East peace proposal before proceeding with any plan to annex West Bank settlements.</div>

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed in the waning days of a re-election campaign he won on April 9 to annex Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, in a move that would be bound to trigger condemnation from the Palestinians and the Arab world and complicate the US peace effort.

Kushner, speaking at a dinner of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the Middle East peace proposal he has been putting together was close to release and that Israel and the Palestinians should wait to see it before making any unilateral moves.

He said the issue would be discussed with the Israeli government when <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-sworn-into-israels-new-parliament-after-election-victory-214818&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiZ8oup1_7hAhVJM48KHR9uCDMQFjABegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2ziDjNOENbR_f_mchGHymy">Netanyahu forms a governing coalition.</a>

"I hope both sides will take a real look at it, the Israeli side and the Palestinian side before any unilateral steps are made," Kushner said, adding he had not discussed the issue of settlement annexation with Netanyahu.

Kushner and Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt have spent the past two years developing the peace proposal in the hopes it will provide a framework for a renewed dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians.

The Palestinians have refused to talk to the US side since Trump decided to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel.

The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, all territory Israel captured in 1967.

Kushner, who is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka, is expected to unveil his proposals in June after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

"What we will be able to put together is a solution that we believe is a good starting point for the political issues and then an outline for what can be done to help these people start living a better life," Kushner said.

"I was given the assignment of trying to find a solution between the two sides and I think what we'll put forward is a framework that I think is realistic ... it's executable and it's something that I do think will lead to both sides being much better off," Kushner said.

POLITICAL, ECONOMIC COMPONENTS

Kushner has begun to take a more public role in the Trump administration since he emerged unscathed from US&nbsp;Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into whether the Trump presidential campaign in 2016 colluded with Russia.

Trump has relied heavily on the 38-year-old Kushner, who helped develop prison reform legislation and a new US-Mexico-Canada trade deal, and is also working on a US immigration proposal.

The Middle East proposal, which has been delayed for a variety of reasons over the past 18 months, has two major components.

It has a political piece that addresses core issues such as the status of Jerusalem, and an economic part that aims to help the Palestinians strengthen their economy.

Kushner has said the proposal is not an effort to impose the US will on the region.

He has not said whether it calls for a two-state solution, a goal of past peace efforts.

On Thursday night, he called on critics to hold their fire until they are able to see the plan in its entirety.

Palestinians have voiced scepticism about the effort led by Trump's son-in-law, who was a real estate developer before joining his father-in-law as a senior White House adviser.

Arab officials and analysts believe the plan is likely to be decidedly pro-Israel since the Trump administration has taken a tough line toward Palestinians, cutting off aid and ordering the PLO's office in Washington shut.

Greenblatt has said US&nbsp;negotiators expect Israelis and Palestinians will both be critical of some parts of the plan.

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner said on Thursday he hopes Israel will take a hard look at President Donald Trump's upcoming Middle East peace proposal before proceeding with any plan to annex West Bank settlements.

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner said on Thursday he hopes Israel will take a hard look at President Donald Trump's upcoming Middle East peace proposal before proceeding with any plan to annex West Bank settlements. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed in the waning days of a re-election campaign he won on April 9 to annex Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, in a move that would be bound to trigger condemnation from the Palestinians and the Arab world and complicate the US peace effort. Kushner, speaking at a dinner of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the Middle East peace proposal he has been putting together was close to release and that Israel and the Palestinians should wait to see it before making any unilateral moves. He said the issue would be discussed with the Israeli government when Netanyahu forms a governing coalition. "I hope both sides will take a real look at it, the Israeli side and the Palestinian side before any unilateral steps are made," Kushner said, adding he had not discussed the issue of settlement annexation with Netanyahu. Kushner and Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt have spent the past two years developing the peace proposal in the hopes it will provide a framework for a renewed dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians. The Palestinians have refused to talk to the US side since Trump decided to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel. The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, all territory Israel captured in 1967. Kushner, who is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka, is expected to unveil his proposals in June after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. "What we will be able to put together is a solution that we believe is a good starting point for the political issues and then an outline for what can be done to help these people start living a better life," Kushner said. "I was given the assignment of trying to find a solution between the two sides and I think what we'll put forward is a framework that I think is realistic ... it's executable and it's something that I do think will lead to both sides being much better off," Kushner said. POLITICAL, ECONOMIC COMPONENTS Kushner has begun to take a more public role in the Trump administration since he emerged unscathed from US Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into whether the Trump presidential campaign in 2016 colluded with Russia. Trump has relied heavily on the 38-year-old Kushner, who helped develop prison reform legislation and a new US-Mexico-Canada trade deal, and is also working on a US immigration proposal. The Middle East proposal, which has been delayed for a variety of reasons over the past 18 months, has two major components. It has a political piece that addresses core issues such as the status of Jerusalem, and an economic part that aims to help the Palestinians strengthen their economy. Kushner has said the proposal is not an effort to impose the US will on the region. He has not said whether it calls for a two-state solution, a goal of past peace efforts. On Thursday night, he called on critics to hold their fire until they are able to see the plan in its entirety. Palestinians have voiced scepticism about the effort led by Trump's son-in-law, who was a real estate developer before joining his father-in-law as a senior White House adviser. Arab officials and analysts believe the plan is likely to be decidedly pro-Israel since the Trump administration has taken a tough line toward Palestinians, cutting off aid and ordering the PLO's office in Washington shut. Greenblatt has said US negotiators expect Israelis and Palestinians will both be critical of some parts of the plan.

White House advisor Jared Kushner hopes Israel will look at peace plan before any West Bank moves

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-looks-to-form-right-wing-government-after-victory-209551">Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a> who won the April 9 elections in Israel, sworn into the country's new parliament on Tuesday.

He will seek to form a governing coalition in the days ahead.

Netanyahu was among the 120 members of the Knesset, or parliament.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/how-netanyahus-re-election-impacts-india-israel-relations-211379">How Netanyahu’s re-election impacts India-Israel relations</a>

His&nbsp;Likud won 35 seats out of the Knesset's 120 in the election, the same as his main opponents from the centrist Blue and White alliance, led by ex-military chief Benny Gantz.

But support from smaller right-wing parties allied to Likud led to a majority of 65 parliament members supporting Netanyahu to continue on as premier.

On April 17, President Reuven Rivlin<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-invited-to-form-new-government-in-israel-211343"> tasked Netanyahu with building a government</a>.

He has 28 days to form a government, with a possible extension of a further two weeks.

His support comes mainly from the nationalist right and the ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties.

Meanwhile, the attorney general has announced he intends to indict him for bribery, fraud and breach of trust pending a hearing.

But Netanyahu would be entitled to remain in office until his trial and any subsequent appeals are over.

One potential member of his coalition has said he wants to propose a law that would automatically shield parliament members from prosecution unless lawmakers act to lift it.

(With inputs from AFP)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who won the April 9 elections in Israel, sworn into the country's new parliament on Tuesday. He will seek to form a governing coalition in the days ahead.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who won the April 9 elections in Israel, sworn into the country's new parliament on Tuesday. He will seek to form a governing coalition in the days ahead. Netanyahu was among the 120 members of the Knesset, or parliament. Also read: How Netanyahu’s re-election impacts India-Israel relations His Likud won 35 seats out of the Knesset's 120 in the election, the same as his main opponents from the centrist Blue and White alliance, led by ex-military chief Benny Gantz. But support from smaller right-wing parties allied to Likud led to a majority of 65 parliament members supporting Netanyahu to continue on as premier. On April 17, President Reuven Rivlin tasked Netanyahu with building a government. He has 28 days to form a government, with a possible extension of a further two weeks. His support comes mainly from the nationalist right and the ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties. Meanwhile, the attorney general has announced he intends to indict him for bribery, fraud and breach of trust pending a hearing. But Netanyahu would be entitled to remain in office until his trial and any subsequent appeals are over. One potential member of his coalition has said he wants to propose a law that would automatically shield parliament members from prosecution unless lawmakers act to lift it. (With inputs from AFP)

Netanyahu sworn into Israel's new parliament after election victory

Israel's UN ambassador on Monday demanded that the New York Times hold accountable those responsible for publishing an anti-Semitic cartoon, despite an apology issued by the newspaper.

The cartoon, which appeared in the international edition on Thursday, depicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a guide dog wearing a Star of David collar and leading a blind Donald Trump -- who was wearing a kippah, or a Jewish skullcap.

Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said the cartoon "could have been taken from the pages of Der Sturmer, the Nazi propaganda paper, and yet these actions have gone unpunished."

The newspaper apologized for the cartoon on Saturday, saying,&nbsp;"The image was offensive, and it was an error of judgment to publish it."

"I am not in a position of accepting or not accepting the apology, but if somebody make a mistake, I think somebody should be accountable," said Danon, who added that such images can incite violence against Jews.

On Sunday, the NYT issued an additional statement saying it was "deeply sorry" and committed to "making sure nothing like this happens again."

"We have investigated how this happened and learned that, because of a faulty process, a single editor working without adequate oversight, downloaded the syndicated cartoon and made the decision to include it on the Opinion Page," it said.

The NYT said the matter was under internal review and that they "anticipate significant changes."

"Those who engage in anti-Semitism must be punished, whether it's here at the UN, political leaders, editors, policy pundits or college professors," said Danon, who spoke to reporters ahead of a Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

Israel's UN ambassador on Monday demanded that the New York Times hold accountable those responsible for publishing an anti-Semitic cartoon, despite an apology issued by the newspaper.

Israel's UN ambassador on Monday demanded that the New York Times hold accountable those responsible for publishing an anti-Semitic cartoon, despite an apology issued by the newspaper. The cartoon, which appeared in the international edition on Thursday, depicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a guide dog wearing a Star of David collar and leading a blind Donald Trump -- who was wearing a kippah, or a Jewish skullcap. Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said the cartoon "could have been taken from the pages of Der Sturmer, the Nazi propaganda paper, and yet these actions have gone unpunished." The newspaper apologized for the cartoon on Saturday, saying, "The image was offensive, and it was an error of judgment to publish it." "I am not in a position of accepting or not accepting the apology, but if somebody make a mistake, I think somebody should be accountable," said Danon, who added that such images can incite violence against Jews. On Sunday, the NYT issued an additional statement saying it was "deeply sorry" and committed to "making sure nothing like this happens again." "We have investigated how this happened and learned that, because of a faulty process, a single editor working without adequate oversight, downloaded the syndicated cartoon and made the decision to include it on the Opinion Page," it said. The NYT said the matter was under internal review and that they "anticipate significant changes." "Those who engage in anti-Semitism must be punished, whether it's here at the UN, political leaders, editors, policy pundits or college professors," said Danon, who spoke to reporters ahead of a Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

NYT must be accountable for anti-Semitic cartoon: Israel's UN envoy

Two Israelis were among the wounded in a weekend attack on a synagogue in California that killed one person and injured three others, an official said Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the "atrocious" synagogue shooting, which he called "an attack at the heart of the Jewish people".

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said an eight-year-old girl and her 31-year-old uncle wounded in the shooting attack in Poway, north of San Diego, on Saturday were from a southern town bordering the Gaza Strip.

"The two moved from Sderot to San Diego a few years ago," spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said in a statement, noting their condition was "good".

Sderot has come under repeated rocket and mortar attack from Palestinian militants in Gaza.

The father of the wounded girl, Israel Dahan, said Sunday that his home and those of his mother and mother-in law had been hit by Palestinian fire and he had been wounded several times.

"We left Sderot because of the rocket fire," he told Israeli public radio in Hebrew. "We left fire for fire."

San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore said both Israelis were wounded by shrapnel in the attack on the final day of the week-long Jewish holiday of Passover.

Dahan said he was at prayer inside the synagogue when the gunman entered.

"I was the first to see him because I was sitting in front of the main door. I started shouting at people to run away," he told the radio.

"My five-year-old daughter heard the shots and shut herself in the toilets," he said. "Luckily his weapon jammed."

A 60-year-old woman, Lori Gilbert Kaye, was killed in the attack, with the community's rabbi wounded as well.

Netanyahu denounced the shooting and sent condolences to Kaye's family.

"The international community must step up the struggle against anti-Semitism," the prime minister said in a statement.

He said he would convene a meeting of Israeli officials on the subject in light of the "increasing anti-Semitic attacks throughout the world".

Gore identified the suspect, who was arrested after fleeing the scene, as 19-year-old John Earnest and said he had no prior arrest record.

US President Donald Trump denounced the shooting as a "hate crime".

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin called the attack "yet another painful reminder that anti-Semitism and hatred of Jews is still with us, everywhere."

"No country and no society are immune," he said in a Sunday statement. "Only through education for Holocaust remembrance and tolerance can we deal with this plague."

The shooting in Poway's Chabad synagogue came exactly six months after a white supremacist killed 11 people at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue -- the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in US history.

Two Israelis were among the wounded in a weekend attack on a synagogue in California that killed one person and injured three others, an official said Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the "atrocious" synagogue shooting, which he called "an attack at the heart of the Jewish people".

Two Israelis were among the wounded in a weekend attack on a synagogue in California that killed one person and injured three others, an official said Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the "atrocious" synagogue shooting, which he called "an attack at the heart of the Jewish people". An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said an eight-year-old girl and her 31-year-old uncle wounded in the shooting attack in Poway, north of San Diego, on Saturday were from a southern town bordering the Gaza Strip. "The two moved from Sderot to San Diego a few years ago," spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said in a statement, noting their condition was "good". Sderot has come under repeated rocket and mortar attack from Palestinian militants in Gaza. The father of the wounded girl, Israel Dahan, said Sunday that his home and those of his mother and mother-in law had been hit by Palestinian fire and he had been wounded several times. "We left Sderot because of the rocket fire," he told Israeli public radio in Hebrew. "We left fire for fire." San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore said both Israelis were wounded by shrapnel in the attack on the final day of the week-long Jewish holiday of Passover. Dahan said he was at prayer inside the synagogue when the gunman entered. "I was the first to see him because I was sitting in front of the main door. I started shouting at people to run away," he told the radio. "My five-year-old daughter heard the shots and shut herself in the toilets," he said. "Luckily his weapon jammed." A 60-year-old woman, Lori Gilbert Kaye, was killed in the attack, with the community's rabbi wounded as well. Netanyahu denounced the shooting and sent condolences to Kaye's family. "The international community must step up the struggle against anti-Semitism," the prime minister said in a statement. He said he would convene a meeting of Israeli officials on the subject in light of the "increasing anti-Semitic attacks throughout the world". Gore identified the suspect, who was arrested after fleeing the scene, as 19-year-old John Earnest and said he had no prior arrest record. US President Donald Trump denounced the shooting as a "hate crime". Israeli President Reuven Rivlin called the attack "yet another painful reminder that anti-Semitism and hatred of Jews is still with us, everywhere." "No country and no society are immune," he said in a Sunday statement. "Only through education for Holocaust remembrance and tolerance can we deal with this plague." The shooting in Poway's Chabad synagogue came exactly six months after a white supremacist killed 11 people at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue -- the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in US history.

Israelis among wounded in US synagogue attack

US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner said Tuesday he would present his long-awaited Middle East peace proposal around June and that it would include a "robust business plan" for the Palestinians.

Kushner, speaking at a forum of Time magazine, said he had hoped to offer the proposal late last year but that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then called elections and still needs time to form a coalition.

"Once that's done we'll probably be in the middle of Ramadan, so we'll wait until after Ramadan and then we'll put our plan out," said Kushner, a senior advisor to Trump, referring to the Muslim fasting month which ends in early June.

Kushner's impending plan has already been met with deep scepticism from the Palestinians, who say Trump cannot be an honest broker after he took the landmark step of recognising bitterly disputed Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

But Kushner, whose own role has been questioned due to his longstanding family ties with Netanyahu, said he remained hopeful that his "unconventional approach" would bear fruit.

He declined to answer if the plan would include longstanding US support for a Palestinian state, after hints by the administration that it would not, but said it would include investment to boost the Palestinian economy.

"Our focus is really on the bottom up, which is how do you make the lives of the Palestinian people better, what can you resolve to allow these areas to become more investable?" he said.

"We deal with all the core status issues because you have to do it, but we've also built a robust business plan for the whole region," he said.

Kushner also said the plan would address Israel's concerns over security.

"I think that what we do is something that allows for Israel to maintain security, but there will be tough compromises for both," he said.

Netanyahu in his election campaign had vowed to annex parts of the West Bank where Israeli settlers live, a prospect that would doom longstanding Palestinian hopes of a state.

US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner said Tuesday he would present his long-awaited Middle East peace proposal around June and that it would include a "robust business plan" for the Palestinians.

US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner said Tuesday he would present his long-awaited Middle East peace proposal around June and that it would include a "robust business plan" for the Palestinians. Kushner, speaking at a forum of Time magazine, said he had hoped to offer the proposal late last year but that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then called elections and still needs time to form a coalition. "Once that's done we'll probably be in the middle of Ramadan, so we'll wait until after Ramadan and then we'll put our plan out," said Kushner, a senior advisor to Trump, referring to the Muslim fasting month which ends in early June. Kushner's impending plan has already been met with deep scepticism from the Palestinians, who say Trump cannot be an honest broker after he took the landmark step of recognising bitterly disputed Jerusalem as Israel's capital. But Kushner, whose own role has been questioned due to his longstanding family ties with Netanyahu, said he remained hopeful that his "unconventional approach" would bear fruit. He declined to answer if the plan would include longstanding US support for a Palestinian state, after hints by the administration that it would not, but said it would include investment to boost the Palestinian economy. "Our focus is really on the bottom up, which is how do you make the lives of the Palestinian people better, what can you resolve to allow these areas to become more investable?" he said. "We deal with all the core status issues because you have to do it, but we've also built a robust business plan for the whole region," he said. Kushner also said the plan would address Israel's concerns over security. "I think that what we do is something that allows for Israel to maintain security, but there will be tough compromises for both," he said. Netanyahu in his election campaign had vowed to annex parts of the West Bank where Israeli settlers live, a prospect that would doom longstanding Palestinian hopes of a state.

Mideast plan to come after Ramadan, seek Palestinian investment: Jared Kushner

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is all sent to form the next government in the Knesset — the Israeli Parliament, with the Right-wing coalition led by the Likud party having won 65 out of a total of 120 seats.

In turn, Netanyahu would not only become the longest-serving Prime Minister in Israel, but the election result has also underscored Israeli people’s approval of his domestic and foreign policy, despite him facing corruption charges.

In fact, since Netanyahu assumed the charge of Prime Minister in 2009, Israel’s gross domestic product has increased by 70 per cent. At the same time, the Netanyahu government has also initiated efforts to reinvent ties with the rest of the world. In particular, Israel has succeeded in getting the US to shift its embassy to Jerusalem and recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights among other things.

Improved ties between India and Israel have also been a major foreign policy priority of the Netanyahu government. In the last five years, he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have made calibrated efforts to strengthen this relationship. This can be appreciated from the fact that during this period, several high profile political visits between the two countries have taken place.

While the then President Pranab Mukherjee became the first Indian President to visit Israel in 2015, Prime Minister Netanyahu, after meeting Modi at the UN, said that “sky is the limit” as far as India-Israel relations are concerned.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally visited Israel in July 2017, marking the end of India’s policy to look at ties with Israel through the prism of Arab-Israeli conflict.

Subsequently, Prime Minister Netanyahu paid a return visit to India in January 2018, with the two sides having reviewed their bilateral ties and discussed the means through which the relationship could be further strengthened.

Of course, the ardent desire of Modi and Netanyahu to elevate the engagement has not evolved in a vacuum. There are a number of motivations for the Modi government to seek close diplomatic ties with Israel.

First, India sees Israel play a crucial role in its endeavour to modernise its military and replace aged Russian defence hardware, given its expertise in the field of defence manufacturing.

Second, New Delhi now strongly feels that Tel Aviv’s active participation through the ‘Make in India’ programme will certainly help in boosting India’s economic growth and provide jobs to millions of people in the country.

True to expectations, Netanyahu has shown an interest in cooperating with the Modi government in its economic and developmental initiatives.

Thirdly, the China factor. Over the last several years, Israel is said to be China’s major defence supplier. This, in turn, has increased India’s security concerns, especially in view of Beijing long-time claims on some parts of Indian territory. There is also an apprehension in Indian strategic circles that Israeli military hardware and weapons sold to China could find their way to Pakistan, given the close nexus between Islamabad and Beijing.

Fourth, recent Russian overtures of forging defence cooperation with Pakistan has emerged as a security concern.

Fifth, political and security turmoil in the Middle East have helped India in expanding ties with Israel without attracting much criticism from the Arab States.

Lastly, despite India’s pro-Arab tilt in its Middle East policy, they have never made any effort to address India’s concerns on Kashmir. Instead, in the past, these countries have used the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) as a tool to support Pakistan on Kashmir.

For its part, Israel can look forward to defence ties with this country in view of the fact that New Delhi is supposed to spend $150 billion to modernise its military by 2027. It also needs India’s support on the Palestine issue.

Deepening ties with Tel Aviv does not mean that the Modi government is unaware of the importance of the Arab States or there is a shift in India’s stand on Palestine. The presence of Sushma Swaraj at the OIC was a clear reflection of the balanced policy that the Modi government has pursued towards the Arab world and Israel. 
 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-how-netanyahu-s-re-election-impacts-india-israel-relations-2740659">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is all sent to form the next government in the Knesset — the Israeli Parliament, with the Right-wing coalition led by the Likud party having won 65 out of a total of 120 seats.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is all sent to form the next government in the Knesset — the Israeli Parliament, with the Right-wing coalition led by the Likud party having won 65 out of a total of 120 seats. In turn, Netanyahu would not only become the longest-serving Prime Minister in Israel, but the election result has also underscored Israeli people’s approval of his domestic and foreign policy, despite him facing corruption charges. In fact, since Netanyahu assumed the charge of Prime Minister in 2009, Israel’s gross domestic product has increased by 70 per cent. At the same time, the Netanyahu government has also initiated efforts to reinvent ties with the rest of the world. In particular, Israel has succeeded in getting the US to shift its embassy to Jerusalem and recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights among other things. Improved ties between India and Israel have also been a major foreign policy priority of the Netanyahu government. In the last five years, he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have made calibrated efforts to strengthen this relationship. This can be appreciated from the fact that during this period, several high profile political visits between the two countries have taken place. While the then President Pranab Mukherjee became the first Indian President to visit Israel in 2015, Prime Minister Netanyahu, after meeting Modi at the UN, said that “sky is the limit” as far as India-Israel relations are concerned. Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally visited Israel in July 2017, marking the end of India’s policy to look at ties with Israel through the prism of Arab-Israeli conflict. Subsequently, Prime Minister Netanyahu paid a return visit to India in January 2018, with the two sides having reviewed their bilateral ties and discussed the means through which the relationship could be further strengthened. Of course, the ardent desire of Modi and Netanyahu to elevate the engagement has not evolved in a vacuum. There are a number of motivations for the Modi government to seek close diplomatic ties with Israel. First, India sees Israel play a crucial role in its endeavour to modernise its military and replace aged Russian defence hardware, given its expertise in the field of defence manufacturing. Second, New Delhi now strongly feels that Tel Aviv’s active participation through the ‘Make in India’ programme will certainly help in boosting India’s economic growth and provide jobs to millions of people in the country. True to expectations, Netanyahu has shown an interest in cooperating with the Modi government in its economic and developmental initiatives. Thirdly, the China factor. Over the last several years, Israel is said to be China’s major defence supplier. This, in turn, has increased India’s security concerns, especially in view of Beijing long-time claims on some parts of Indian territory. There is also an apprehension in Indian strategic circles that Israeli military hardware and weapons sold to China could find their way to Pakistan, given the close nexus between Islamabad and Beijing. Fourth, recent Russian overtures of forging defence cooperation with Pakistan has emerged as a security concern. Fifth, political and security turmoil in the Middle East have helped India in expanding ties with Israel without attracting much criticism from the Arab States. Lastly, despite India’s pro-Arab tilt in its Middle East policy, they have never made any effort to address India’s concerns on Kashmir. Instead, in the past, these countries have used the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) as a tool to support Pakistan on Kashmir. For its part, Israel can look forward to defence ties with this country in view of the fact that New Delhi is supposed to spend $150 billion to modernise its military by 2027. It also needs India’s support on the Palestine issue. Deepening ties with Tel Aviv does not mean that the Modi government is unaware of the importance of the Arab States or there is a shift in India’s stand on Palestine. The presence of Sushma Swaraj at the OIC was a clear reflection of the balanced policy that the Modi government has pursued towards the Arab world and Israel. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

How Netanyahu’s re-election impacts India-Israel relations

Israel's president on Wednesday nominated Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-polls-the-rise-and-rise-of-israeli-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-208436">Benjamin Netanyahu</a> to head the next government, after he won the backing of a majority of members of parliament following an<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-elections-how-does-the-country-vote-208213"> April 9 election</a>.

In office for the past decade, Netanyahu won a fifth term despite an announcement by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in February that he intends to charge the prime minister in three corruption cases. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing.

"At a time of great turmoil in our region, we have managed not only to maintain the state's security and stability, we have even managed to turn Israel into a rising world power," Netanyahu said at the nomination ceremony after President Reuven Rivlin gave him the mandate to form a new government.

Netanyahu has 28 days, with a two-week extension if needed, to complete the task. If, as seems likely, he succeeds, he will become in July Israel's longest-serving prime minister.

Netanyahu has said he intends to build a coalition with five far-right, right-wing and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties that would give the government, led by his Likud party, 65 seats. No party has ever won an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

PEACE PLAN

Among the most pressing issues awaiting the new government will be US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Trump's senior adviser Jared Kushner said on Wednesday it would be unveiled once the new Israeli government is in place and after the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, which ends in early June. The plan, Kushner said, would require compromise by all parties.

A right-wing coalition in Israel would, however, likely object to any proposed territorial concessions to the Palestinians, who are boycotting the Trump administration over what they see as its pro-Israel bias.

Such a coalition would also be less likely to pressure Netanyahu to step down if he is indicted for corruption.

Netanyahu is under no legal obligation to resign if charges are brought against him and has said he plans to serve Israel for many more years. He can still argue, at a pre-trial hearing whose date has not been set, against the formal filing of bribery and fraud charges against him.

The election, brought forward from November, was widely seen in Israel as a bid by Netanyahu to win a renewed mandate in the hopes that it would strengthen his hand in the legal proceedings against him.

"I am not afraid of threats and I am not deterred by the media. The public has given me its full confidence, clearly and unequivocally, and I will continue to do everything in order to serve you, the citizens of Israel," he said on Facebook on Tuesday.

Israel's president on Wednesday nominated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to head the next government, after he won the backing of a majority of members of parliament following an April 9 election.

Israel's president on Wednesday nominated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to head the next government, after he won the backing of a majority of members of parliament following an April 9 election. In office for the past decade, Netanyahu won a fifth term despite an announcement by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in February that he intends to charge the prime minister in three corruption cases. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing. "At a time of great turmoil in our region, we have managed not only to maintain the state's security and stability, we have even managed to turn Israel into a rising world power," Netanyahu said at the nomination ceremony after President Reuven Rivlin gave him the mandate to form a new government. Netanyahu has 28 days, with a two-week extension if needed, to complete the task. If, as seems likely, he succeeds, he will become in July Israel's longest-serving prime minister. Netanyahu has said he intends to build a coalition with five far-right, right-wing and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties that would give the government, led by his Likud party, 65 seats. No party has ever won an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset. PEACE PLAN Among the most pressing issues awaiting the new government will be US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Trump's senior adviser Jared Kushner said on Wednesday it would be unveiled once the new Israeli government is in place and after the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, which ends in early June. The plan, Kushner said, would require compromise by all parties. A right-wing coalition in Israel would, however, likely object to any proposed territorial concessions to the Palestinians, who are boycotting the Trump administration over what they see as its pro-Israel bias. Such a coalition would also be less likely to pressure Netanyahu to step down if he is indicted for corruption. Netanyahu is under no legal obligation to resign if charges are brought against him and has said he plans to serve Israel for many more years. He can still argue, at a pre-trial hearing whose date has not been set, against the formal filing of bribery and fraud charges against him. The election, brought forward from November, was widely seen in Israel as a bid by Netanyahu to win a renewed mandate in the hopes that it would strengthen his hand in the legal proceedings against him. "I am not afraid of threats and I am not deterred by the media. The public has given me its full confidence, clearly and unequivocally, and I will continue to do everything in order to serve you, the citizens of Israel," he said on Facebook on Tuesday.

Netanyahu invited to form new government in Israel

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin began a series of meetings Monday with representatives of political parties voted into parliament in last week's elections ahead of choosing who will form the next government.

Rivlin would appear to have little choice but to pick incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/final-israel-election-results-leave-netanyahu-on-course-209860&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiRxNKpztHhAhUk4HMBHdhfAtwQFggOMAM&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2VhLQmBxQtY8ooRLpsrFTT">Netanyahu</a> after his party won the most seats in the April 9 vote leaving it best placed to form a coalition government.

Netanyahu's Likud party which won 36 seats was the first to meet Rivlin on Monday morning.

The consultations, broadcast live from Rivlin's residence, will take place over two days, during which members of each party will tell the president who they think should be tasked with forming the government.

The president will assign the mission to the member of parliament who wins the support of at least 61 lawmakers, constituting a majority of the parliament's 120 members.

"The process should reflect the people's will, as reflected in their vote," said Rivlin, a former Likud member whose relationship with Netanyahu has been tense at times.

"A president does not choose a prime minister, nor does one person from the population. The sovereign does, and the sovereign is the people."

There were no surprises from the Likud's representatives when asked who they thought should form a coalition.

"We naturally would like to recommend Benjamin Netanyahu, head of the Likud and the prime minister, as the person who won the most trust, the broadest public support, to be the one to form the next government," outgoing Tourism Minister Yariv Levin told Rivlin.&nbsp;

Final results from the vote will be announced by the central elections committee on Wednesday, and Rivlin said he intended to summon the designated prime minister the same day.

The chosen politician then has 28 days to form a government but can ask for an extension of up to 14 days.

The combined total of seats projected for Likud and what Netanyahu calls its "natural partners" among the right and religious Jewish parties adds up to a comfortable 65 seats -- a workable five-seat majority.

No single political party in Israel's more than 70-year history has ever won an absolute majority in elections, and coalitions are the norm.

Netanyahu's centrist challenger Benny Gantz, whose representatives were next to meet Rivlin, came a close second with his Blue and White alliance winning 35 seats, but with no feasible means to form a coalition.

Gantz's representatives recommended him for prime minister during their meeting with Rivlin.

There have been suggestions that Netanyahu could form a unity government with Blue and White, but the possibility appears far less likely given the prime minister's leverage.

Netanyahu is facing the threat of indictment for corruption and the allegations are likely to play an important role in coalition negotiations.

Many analysts expect the prime minister to seek pledges from potential partners to agree to remain in his government if he is indicted during what would be his fifth term in office.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin began a series of meetings Monday with representatives of political parties voted into parliament in last week's elections ahead of choosing who will form the next government.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin began a series of meetings Monday with representatives of political parties voted into parliament in last week's elections ahead of choosing who will form the next government. Rivlin would appear to have little choice but to pick incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his party won the most seats in the April 9 vote leaving it best placed to form a coalition government. Netanyahu's Likud party which won 36 seats was the first to meet Rivlin on Monday morning. The consultations, broadcast live from Rivlin's residence, will take place over two days, during which members of each party will tell the president who they think should be tasked with forming the government. The president will assign the mission to the member of parliament who wins the support of at least 61 lawmakers, constituting a majority of the parliament's 120 members. "The process should reflect the people's will, as reflected in their vote," said Rivlin, a former Likud member whose relationship with Netanyahu has been tense at times. "A president does not choose a prime minister, nor does one person from the population. The sovereign does, and the sovereign is the people." There were no surprises from the Likud's representatives when asked who they thought should form a coalition. "We naturally would like to recommend Benjamin Netanyahu, head of the Likud and the prime minister, as the person who won the most trust, the broadest public support, to be the one to form the next government," outgoing Tourism Minister Yariv Levin told Rivlin. Final results from the vote will be announced by the central elections committee on Wednesday, and Rivlin said he intended to summon the designated prime minister the same day. The chosen politician then has 28 days to form a government but can ask for an extension of up to 14 days. The combined total of seats projected for Likud and what Netanyahu calls its "natural partners" among the right and religious Jewish parties adds up to a comfortable 65 seats -- a workable five-seat majority. No single political party in Israel's more than 70-year history has ever won an absolute majority in elections, and coalitions are the norm. Netanyahu's centrist challenger Benny Gantz, whose representatives were next to meet Rivlin, came a close second with his Blue and White alliance winning 35 seats, but with no feasible means to form a coalition. Gantz's representatives recommended him for prime minister during their meeting with Rivlin. There have been suggestions that Netanyahu could form a unity government with Blue and White, but the possibility appears far less likely given the prime minister's leverage. Netanyahu is facing the threat of indictment for corruption and the allegations are likely to play an important role in coalition negotiations. Many analysts expect the prime minister to seek pledges from potential partners to agree to remain in his government if he is indicted during what would be his fifth term in office.

Israeli president starts process of selecting next PM

Israel's first privately funded mission to moon fails. Watch video to know more

Israeli spacecraft crash lands on moon

An<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-launches-gaza-strikes-after-rockets-fired-at-tel-aviv-203444"> Israeli </a>air strike in central<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-army-says-israeli-strikes-hit-northern-aleppo-city-damages-materials-only-206124"> Syria </a>wounded three combatants early Saturday, the official SANA news agency reported.

A Britain-based war monitor said the strike killed several Iranian fighters and wounded 17 Syrian troops and their allies.

An Israeli military spokesman declined to comment on the foreign media report.

"Around 2:30 am (2330 GMT Friday)... the Israeli air force carried out a strike targeting one of our military positions in the town of Misyaf," in Hama province north of Damascus, SANA quoted a military source as saying.

"Our air defence batteries intercepted some of the Israeli missiles," the source said, adding that the strike "wounded three combatants and destroyed buildings".

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strike targeted a Syrian military college in the town and two buildings used by Iranian forces in nearby villages -- a development centre for medium-range missiles in Zawi and a training camp in Sheikh Ghadban.&nbsp;

Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria against what it says are Iranian and Hezbollah targets.

With the support of the US administration of President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed repeatedly to take whatever military action he deems necessary to prevent archfoe Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah establishing a continuing military presence.

Late last month, Trump broke with decades of international consensus to recognise Israel's unilateral annexation of the strategic Golan Heights, seized from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967.

The move was a diplomatic prize for Israel but met with a chorus of opposition from US foes and allies alike.

Iran and Hezbollah have both intervened in Syria's civil war, which erupted in 2011 to support forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

They were joined in 2015 by Russia, which supplied its S300 air defence system to Assad's forces after a Russian aircraft was downed by mistake by Syrian defence systems during an Israeli raid on September 17, killing all 15 people on board.

After several months of frosty relations, Russia and Israeli resumed coordination of their military operations in Syria and Israel's bombing campaign picked up again.

An Israeli air strike in central Syria wounded three combatants early Saturday, the official SANA news agency reported. A Britain-based war monitor said the strike killed several Iranian fighters and wounded 17 Syrian troops and their allies.

An Israeli air strike in central Syria wounded three combatants early Saturday, the official SANA news agency reported. A Britain-based war monitor said the strike killed several Iranian fighters and wounded 17 Syrian troops and their allies. An Israeli military spokesman declined to comment on the foreign media report. "Around 2:30 am (2330 GMT Friday)... the Israeli air force carried out a strike targeting one of our military positions in the town of Misyaf," in Hama province north of Damascus, SANA quoted a military source as saying. "Our air defence batteries intercepted some of the Israeli missiles," the source said, adding that the strike "wounded three combatants and destroyed buildings". The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strike targeted a Syrian military college in the town and two buildings used by Iranian forces in nearby villages -- a development centre for medium-range missiles in Zawi and a training camp in Sheikh Ghadban. Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria against what it says are Iranian and Hezbollah targets. With the support of the US administration of President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed repeatedly to take whatever military action he deems necessary to prevent archfoe Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah establishing a continuing military presence. Late last month, Trump broke with decades of international consensus to recognise Israel's unilateral annexation of the strategic Golan Heights, seized from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967. The move was a diplomatic prize for Israel but met with a chorus of opposition from US foes and allies alike. Iran and Hezbollah have both intervened in Syria's civil war, which erupted in 2011 to support forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. They were joined in 2015 by Russia, which supplied its S300 air defence system to Assad's forces after a Russian aircraft was downed by mistake by Syrian defence systems during an Israeli raid on September 17, killing all 15 people on board. After several months of frosty relations, Russia and Israeli resumed coordination of their military operations in Syria and Israel's bombing campaign picked up again.

Israel raid wounds three in central Syria: state media

The Israeli spacecraft Beresheet crashed onto the moon on Thursday (April 11) after a series of technical failures during its final descent, shattering hopes of a historic controlled landing on the lunar surface. Watch video to know more.

Israeli spacecraft crashes onto moon after technical failures

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning, April 11th 2019

With more than 97 percent of votes counted, Netanyahu`s conservative Likud party looked likely to muster enough support to control 65 of the Knesset`s 120 seats.

Israel polls: Netanyahu could form coalition government

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