Israel's Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz on Tuesday, said that his party will vote for the opposition's bill to dissolve the parliament. If this happens, Israel will be one step closer to witnessing fourth election in under two years. Gantz's Blue and White party is the key partner in the current ruling coalition led by PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

The coalition is precarious, and it was formed after three bitterly fought elections between Netanyahu and Gantz. However, these elections failed to produce a clear winner.

Gantz, a former army chief serving as defence minister, said that Netanyahu's refusal to support a budget proposal made clear that the premier wanted to take Israel back to the polls.&nbsp;

In a televised address he said that Blue and White "will vote tomorrow in favour of dissolving the Knesset (Israel's parliament)."&nbsp;

Wednesday's vote on an opposition-backed measure is however preliminary.&nbsp;

If it passes, it will still require at least two additional successful Knesset readings before a new election must be called.

Shortly before Gantz spoke, Netanyahu released a video on Twitter in which he urged Gantz to vote against the measure.&nbsp;

"Now is not the time for elections," Netanyahu said. "Now is the time for unity."

The Netanyahu-Gantz unity government, agreed in April, was in part aimed at providing Israel desperately-needed stability following the worst political crisis in its history and as the coronavirus pandemic was gathering pace.&nbsp;

Netanyahu was to serve as prime minister for the first half of the three year deal, with Gantz taking over in November 2021.&nbsp;

The deal included several provisions that would have automatically triggered the collapse of the coalition, including a failure to pass a budget.&nbsp;

Netanyahu's critics accuse of him of refusing to pass a two-year budget as a tactic to ensure he is not forced to hand over the prime minister's job to Gantz.&nbsp;

(With AFP inputs)

Israel's Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz on Tuesday, said that his party will vote for the opposition's bill to dissolve the parliament. If this happens, Israel will be one step closer to witnessing fourth election in under two years.

Israel's Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz on Tuesday, said that his party will vote for the opposition's bill to dissolve the parliament. If this happens, Israel will be one step closer to witnessing fourth election in under two years. Gantz's Blue and White party is the key partner in the current ruling coalition led by PM Benjamin Netanyahu. The coalition is precarious, and it was formed after three bitterly fought elections between Netanyahu and Gantz. However, these elections failed to produce a clear winner. Gantz, a former army chief serving as defence minister, said that Netanyahu's refusal to support a budget proposal made clear that the premier wanted to take Israel back to the polls. In a televised address he said that Blue and White "will vote tomorrow in favour of dissolving the Knesset (Israel's parliament)." Wednesday's vote on an opposition-backed measure is however preliminary. If it passes, it will still require at least two additional successful Knesset readings before a new election must be called. Shortly before Gantz spoke, Netanyahu released a video on Twitter in which he urged Gantz to vote against the measure. "Now is not the time for elections," Netanyahu said. "Now is the time for unity." The Netanyahu-Gantz unity government, agreed in April, was in part aimed at providing Israel desperately-needed stability following the worst political crisis in its history and as the coronavirus pandemic was gathering pace. Netanyahu was to serve as prime minister for the first half of the three year deal, with Gantz taking over in November 2021. The deal included several provisions that would have automatically triggered the collapse of the coalition, including a failure to pass a budget. Netanyahu's critics accuse of him of refusing to pass a two-year budget as a tactic to ensure he is not forced to hand over the prime minister's job to Gantz. (With AFP inputs)

Israel may face fourth election in just two years

Israel has released more than $1 billion in funds withheld from the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian minister said Wednesday, weeks after coordination was renewed between the two sides.

Hussein al-Sheikh, a close aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, confirmed the receipt of nearly 3.8 billion shekels (around $1.1 billion) from Israel.

&nbsp;

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The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israeli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israeli</a> government transfers all financial dues of the clearance to the account of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Palestinian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Palestinian</a> Authority, amounting to three billion and 768 million shekels. <a href="https://t.co/TK9vueVzRW">https://t.co/TK9vueVzRW</a>
— حسين الشيخ Hussein Al Sheikh (@HusseinSheikhpl) <a href="https://twitter.com/HusseinSheikhpl/status/1334056982043643904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In May, the Palestinians stopped coordination with Israel, with PA leader Mahmud Abbas saying it was in response to Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank.

Israel later put its annexation plans on hold, in return for an agreement to normalise ties with the United Arab Emirates, announced in August.

In halting the cooperation with Israel, the PA also stopped accepting transfer of taxes,&nbsp;particularly customs duties,&nbsp;collected by Israel on its behalf.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/seeking-restart-with-biden-palestinians-eye-end-to-prisoner-payments-344402">Seeking restart with Biden, Palestinians eye end to prisoner payments</a>

The Palestinians resumed contacts with Israel last month following President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the US&nbsp;Election. Biden is opposed to annexation and has promised a more evenhanded approach to the conflict.

The taxes are a key source of revenue for the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It was forced to cut the salaries it pays to tens of thousands of civil servants, worsening an economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Israel's Finance Ministry said the funds were transferred following the approval of the Israeli Security Cabinet last month.

Israel said it would deduct an amount equal to what the Palestinian Authority pays to the families of prisoners and those killed in the conflict, including militants implicated in attacks that killed Israelis.

Israel says the so-called Martyrs' Fund incentivizes violence, while the Palestinians say it provides aid to needy families.

President Donald Trump's Mideast plan, unveiled in January, would have allowed Israel to annex a third of the West Bank, including all its Jewish settlements. The Palestinians immediately rejected the plan, and Abbas announced in May that he was cutting all ties to the US&nbsp;And Israel, and would no longer abide by past agreements with them.

Israel shelved its annexation plans in August after the United Arab Emirates agreed to normalize relations, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pause was only temporary.

Trump took unprecedented steps to support Israel and isolate the Palestinians, including moving the US&nbsp;Embassy to contested Jerusalem, cutting off aid to the Palestinians, and ending decades of US&nbsp;Opposition to Israeli settlements, which the Palestinians and much of the international community view as a violation of international law.

Biden has vowed to restore aid to the Palestinians and press both sides to resume the long-moribund peace process, without providing much detail about his approach.&nbsp;

Israel has released more than $1 billion in funds withheld from the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian minister said Wednesday, weeks after coordination was renewed between the two sides.

Israel has released more than $1 billion in funds withheld from the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian minister said Wednesday, weeks after coordination was renewed between the two sides. Hussein al-Sheikh, a close aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, confirmed the receipt of nearly 3.8 billion shekels (around $1.1 billion) from Israel. The #Israeli government transfers all financial dues of the clearance to the account of the #Palestinian Authority, amounting to three billion and 768 million shekels. https://t.co/TK9vueVzRW — حسين الشيخ Hussein Al Sheikh (@HusseinSheikhpl) December 2, 2020 × In May, the Palestinians stopped coordination with Israel, with PA leader Mahmud Abbas saying it was in response to Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank. Israel later put its annexation plans on hold, in return for an agreement to normalise ties with the United Arab Emirates, announced in August. In halting the cooperation with Israel, the PA also stopped accepting transfer of taxes, particularly customs duties, collected by Israel on its behalf. Also read: Seeking restart with Biden, Palestinians eye end to prisoner payments The Palestinians resumed contacts with Israel last month following President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the US Election. Biden is opposed to annexation and has promised a more evenhanded approach to the conflict. The taxes are a key source of revenue for the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It was forced to cut the salaries it pays to tens of thousands of civil servants, worsening an economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Israel's Finance Ministry said the funds were transferred following the approval of the Israeli Security Cabinet last month. Israel said it would deduct an amount equal to what the Palestinian Authority pays to the families of prisoners and those killed in the conflict, including militants implicated in attacks that killed Israelis. Israel says the so-called Martyrs' Fund incentivizes violence, while the Palestinians say it provides aid to needy families. President Donald Trump's Mideast plan, unveiled in January, would have allowed Israel to annex a third of the West Bank, including all its Jewish settlements. The Palestinians immediately rejected the plan, and Abbas announced in May that he was cutting all ties to the US And Israel, and would no longer abide by past agreements with them. Israel shelved its annexation plans in August after the United Arab Emirates agreed to normalize relations, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pause was only temporary. Trump took unprecedented steps to support Israel and isolate the Palestinians, including moving the US Embassy to contested Jerusalem, cutting off aid to the Palestinians, and ending decades of US Opposition to Israeli settlements, which the Palestinians and much of the international community view as a violation of international law. Biden has vowed to restore aid to the Palestinians and press both sides to resume the long-moribund peace process, without providing much detail about his approach.

Israel transfers $1 billion in withheld funds to Palestinians

After the assassination of Iran's top nuclear scientist,&nbsp;Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the country's&nbsp;Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has accused Israel of being involved in this murder plot.&nbsp;

Following this accusation, Iran also wrote a letter to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN Security Council (UNSC) claiming there are "serious indications of Israeli responsibility" and Iran would be looking to defend itself.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-top-nuclear-scientist-mohsen-fakhrizadeh-assassinated-345915">Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh assassinated</a>

"Terrorists murdered eminent Iranian scientist today. This cowardice with serious indications of Israeli role shows desperate warmongering of perpetrators. Iran calls on the international community to end their shameful double standards and condemn this act of state terror," Zarif said.

The accusation on Iran's "arch-enemy" Israel came straight from the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani who released a statement on his official website saying, "Once again, the wicked hands of the global arrogance, with the usurper Zionist regime as the mercenary, were stained with the blood of a son of this nation."

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Political experts, from the Middle East area, are predicting a major conflict in the area and between Iran, the US and its ally Israel after the assassination of the th59-year-old scientist.

Fakhrizadeh's car was attacked by a group a few days ago&nbsp;near the Absard city in Tehran province's eastern Damavand county. The attackers first targetted his car, followed by an exchange of fire between the attackers and&nbsp;Fakhrizadeh's gunmen.

More details about Iran's letter to the UN will be released shortly. Israel has not yet responded to the new development since the accusations made against them.

After the assassination of Iran's top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the country's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has accused Israel of being involved in this murder plot.

After the assassination of Iran's top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the country's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has accused Israel of being involved in this murder plot. Following this accusation, Iran also wrote a letter to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN Security Council (UNSC) claiming there are "serious indications of Israeli responsibility" and Iran would be looking to defend itself. Also read| Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh assassinated "Terrorists murdered eminent Iranian scientist today. This cowardice with serious indications of Israeli role shows desperate warmongering of perpetrators. Iran calls on the international community to end their shameful double standards and condemn this act of state terror," Zarif said. The accusation on Iran's "arch-enemy" Israel came straight from the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani who released a statement on his official website saying, "Once again, the wicked hands of the global arrogance, with the usurper Zionist regime as the mercenary, were stained with the blood of a son of this nation." × Political experts, from the Middle East area, are predicting a major conflict in the area and between Iran, the US and its ally Israel after the assassination of the th59-year-old scientist. Fakhrizadeh's car was attacked by a group a few days ago near the Absard city in Tehran province's eastern Damavand county. The attackers first targetted his car, followed by an exchange of fire between the attackers and Fakhrizadeh's gunmen. More details about Iran's letter to the UN will be released shortly. Israel has not yet responded to the new development since the accusations made against them.

Iran writes to UN asserting 'right to defend' itself against Israel after Mohsen Fakhrizadeh's death

Continuing months-long protests in the country, locals gathered outside the official residence of the&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem seeking his resignation from the post.

The roads outside&nbsp;Netanyahu's residence were jammed by nearly 1,000 protestors who marched demanding his resignation following allegations of corruption.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israels-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-accused-of-taking-dirty-laundry-to-white-house-330110">Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu accused of taking dirty laundry to White House</a>

Locals have been conducting weekly protests outside the PM's residence for the past few months. They are also protesting against the alleged strict and 'not necessary' coronavirus lockdown rules, which has left many locals jobless and without a minimum wage.

Israel has faced two nationwide, strict lockdowns to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. The protestors claim the&nbsp;Netanyahu government has left them high and dry by imposing a lockdown but not providing any financial security. Many claimed massive losses in business and job losses due to the stretched lockdowns. They complain that the government failed to initiate proper processes and planning for providing financial assistance to the sufferers of the lockdown in the pandemic.

These demonstrations have been ongoing for the past six months, and have now shrunk in number — which can be due to negative (or no) outcome and the advent arrival of the winter season that has sent chills down the spine of many people.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/israeli-scientists-go-backward-in-time-by-successfully-reversing-ageing-by-25-years-344816">Israeli scientists go 'backward in time' by successfully reversing ageing by 25 years</a>

While the number of protestors has seemingly decreased, the demonstrators present outside the PM's house were spotted wearing masks. However, people did not maintain the required social distance which attracted some criticism.

Many protestors held Israeli flags, and some were also spotted with pink flags — which has emerged as a popular symbol of protest in the country in the past few months.&nbsp;Others hoisted model submarines, a reference to a scandal over an Israeli purchase of German submarines in which several Netanyahu associates have been implicated.

The protestors are demanding&nbsp;Netanyahu's resignation from his long-reigning position of a Prime Minister, after he has been accused of corruption. The&nbsp;Defence Minister Benny Gantz, meanwhile, has ordered an investigation into this issue in the last week.

Continuing months-long protests in the country, locals gathered outside the official residence of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem seeking his resignation from the post.

Continuing months-long protests in the country, locals gathered outside the official residence of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem seeking his resignation from the post. The roads outside Netanyahu's residence were jammed by nearly 1,000 protestors who marched demanding his resignation following allegations of corruption. Also read| Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu accused of taking dirty laundry to White House Locals have been conducting weekly protests outside the PM's residence for the past few months. They are also protesting against the alleged strict and 'not necessary' coronavirus lockdown rules, which has left many locals jobless and without a minimum wage. Israel has faced two nationwide, strict lockdowns to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. The protestors claim the Netanyahu government has left them high and dry by imposing a lockdown but not providing any financial security. Many claimed massive losses in business and job losses due to the stretched lockdowns. They complain that the government failed to initiate proper processes and planning for providing financial assistance to the sufferers of the lockdown in the pandemic. These demonstrations have been ongoing for the past six months, and have now shrunk in number — which can be due to negative (or no) outcome and the advent arrival of the winter season that has sent chills down the spine of many people. Also read| Israeli scientists go 'backward in time' by successfully reversing ageing by 25 years While the number of protestors has seemingly decreased, the demonstrators present outside the PM's house were spotted wearing masks. However, people did not maintain the required social distance which attracted some criticism. Many protestors held Israeli flags, and some were also spotted with pink flags — which has emerged as a popular symbol of protest in the country in the past few months. Others hoisted model submarines, a reference to a scandal over an Israeli purchase of German submarines in which several Netanyahu associates have been implicated. The protestors are demanding Netanyahu's resignation from his long-reigning position of a Prime Minister, after he has been accused of corruption. The Defence Minister Benny Gantz, meanwhile, has ordered an investigation into this issue in the last week.

Thousands rally outside Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu's residence

The assassination of the scientist who led Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon for the past two decades threatens to cripple President-elect Joe Biden’s effort to revive the Iran nuclear deal before he can even begin his diplomacy with Tehran.

And that may well have been a main goal of the operation.

Intelligence officials say there is little doubt that Israel was behind the killing — it had all the hallmarks of a precisely timed operation by Mossad, the country’s spy agency. And the Israelis have done nothing to dispel that view. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long identified Iran as an existential threat and named the assassinated scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, as national enemy No. 1, capable of building a weapon that could threaten a country of 8 million in a single blast.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-writes-to-un-asserting-right-to-defend-itself-against-israel-after-mohsen-fakhrizadehs-death-346174" hreflang="en">Iran writes to UN asserting 'right to defend' itself against Israel after Mohsen Fakhrizadeh's death</a>

But Netanyahu also has a second agenda.

“There must be no return to the previous nuclear agreement,” he declared shortly after it became clear that Biden — who has proposed exactly that — would be the next president.

Netanyahu believes a covert bomb program is continuing, until Friday under Fakhrizadeh’s leadership, and would be unconstrained after 2030, when the nuclear accord’s restraints on Iran’s ability to produce as much nuclear fuel as it wants expires. To critics of the deal, that is its fatal flaw.

“The reason for assassinating Fakhrizadeh wasn’t to impede Iran’s war potential, it was to impede diplomacy,” Mark Fitzpatrick, a former State Department nonproliferation official, wrote on Twitter on Friday.

It may have been both.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-top-nuclear-scientist-mohsen-fakhrizadeh-assassinated-345915">Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh assassinated</a>

Whatever the mix of motives, Biden must pick up the pieces in just seven weeks. The question is whether the deal the president-elect has outlined — dropping the nuclear-related sanctions President Donald Trump has imposed over the past two years if Iran returns strictly to the nuclear limits in the 2015 accord — was shot to pieces along with Fakhrizadeh’s SUV in the mountain town of Absard, Iran, east of Tehran.

The answer lies largely in how Iran reacts in the next few weeks. Three times since the start of the year, Iran has been on the receiving end of highly visible, highly damaging attacks.

First came the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian commander who ran the elite Quds force of the Revolutionary Guard, in a drone strike in Iraq, where the Trump administration said he was planning attacks on U.S. forces.

Then, in early July came the mysterious explosion at a centrifuge research and development center at Natanz, a few hundred yards from the underground fuel-production center that the U.S. and Israel attacked more than a decade ago with a sophisticated cyberweapon.

Also read|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-accuses-israel-of-killing-nuclear-scientist-vows-revenge-345965">&nbsp;Iran accuses Israel of killing nuclear scientist, vows 'revenge'</a>

And now the killing of Fakhrizadeh, a shadowy figure often described as the Iranian equivalent of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who oversaw the Manhattan Project more than 75 years ago in the race for the U.S. to develop the world’s first nuclear weapon.

If Iran holds off on significant retaliation, then the bold move to take out the chief of the nuclear program will have paid off, even if the assassination drives the program further underground.

And if the Iranians retaliate, giving Trump a pretext to launch a return strike before he leaves office in January, Biden will be inheriting bigger problems than just the wreckage of a 5-year-old diplomatic document.

Both those options seem fine with Trump’s departing foreign policy team, which is trying to lock in the radical reversal of Iran policy that has taken place over the past four years.

“The Trump administration’s goal seems plain,” said Robert Malley, who leads the International Crisis Group and was a negotiator of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-rally-outside-israel-pm-benjamin-netanyahus-residence-346149" hreflang="en">Thousands rally outside Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu's residence</a>

The administration’s plan, he said, was “to take advantage of the time remaining before it heads to the exits to solidify its legacy and make it all the more difficult for its successor to resume diplomacy with Iran and rejoin the nuclear deal.”

Malley expressed doubts that “it will in fact succeed in killing diplomacy” or the deal.

“The center of gravity in Iran is still with those who want to wait until Biden is president,’’ said Malley, who has known Biden’s pick for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, since they attended high school together in Paris.

Biden and Blinken have made clear that returning to the deal Trump pulled out of is one of their first objectives in the Middle East.

But as Jake Sullivan, the newly appointed national security adviser, who served as one of the secret emissaries to begin the negotiations that led to the deal, put it Wednesday at an event at the University of Minnesota, “that’s really up to Iran.”

“If Iran returns to compliance, for its obligations that it has been violating, and is prepared to advance good-faith negotiations on these follow-on agreements,” Biden is willing to do the same, he said. (While Biden supported the 2015 deal, he was also in on the decision-making in 2010 as the cyberstrike against Natanz unraveled.)

Before the assassination, there was considerable evidence that the Iranians were lying low, avoiding provocations that might give Trump a pretense to strike before he leaves office. Iran’s leaders have made clear that regime survival is their No. 1 goal, and they have been careful not to take risks that could upend their hopes of lifting sanctions, and restoring the deal, after Trump’s term ends.

After the killing of Soleimani, there was a brief missile attack on a U.S. facility that miraculously killed no U.S. troops (although there were many cases of traumatic concussion injuries that Trump dismissed as “headaches.”) De-escalation followed.

There was no real response to the explosion at Natanz, also attributed to Israel, other than the subsequent installation of some advanced centrifuges to make the point that Iran’s program would move ahead, slowly and methodically. Attacks aimed at U.S. forces in Iraq, many by Iranian proxies, have diminished in recent weeks, and Iran’s feared cyberattacks on the U.S. election system seemed more like amateur hour — emails to some voters purporting to be threats from a far-right group, the Proud Boys.

But the hard-liners are angry, and some experts fear that the combined loss of Iran’s most revered general and its most revered nuclear scientist is too much. Pressure is already mounting for some response — either a calculated one, presumably on the orders of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, or an unscripted lashing out, perhaps by a rogue element of the Iranian military or an Iranian-sponsored militia that does not get the memo to wait for Inauguration Day.

That may be exactly what Netanyahu — and Trump and his advisers — is betting on. Any retaliation could result in U.S. military action, exactly what Trump contemplated, and was argued out of, two weeks ago when news came that Iran was continuing to produce nuclear fuel above the limits of the 2015 accord. (That move, of course, was in response to Trump’s decision in mid-2018 to break out of the agreement himself.)

U.S. military officials said Saturday that they were closely monitoring Iranian security forces after Iran’s vow to retaliate for Fakhrizadeh’s death but that they had not detected any usual Iranian troop or weaponry movements.

The officials declined to comment on any heightened U.S. alert levels or additional measures to protect U.S. forces in the Middle East, noting that the more than 40,000 troops in the region are already at a relatively high level of alert.

A cycle of military action could make it all but impossible to reconstitute the Iran nuclear deal, much less negotiate a bigger, longer-lasting diplomatic arrangement.

If the response to the killing of Fakhrizadeh is a cycle of retaliation and counter-retaliation, the nuclear program will go deeper underground — quite literally — where bombs and saboteurs cannot reach it, and cyberstrikes may be ineffective.

“We should not exclude the use of force, but military strikes won’t bring us a long-term shutdown of the program,” said R. Nicholas Burns, a former undersecretary of state and the Iran nuclear negotiator from 2005 to 2008 under President George W. Bush.

“Our goal is to roll back and shut down its nuclear program for decades to come,’' said Burns, who now teaches diplomacy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and “achieving that through tough-minded diplomacy is still a smarter and more effective option than a military strike that could provoke a wider war in the Middle East.”

The assassination of the scientist who led Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon for the past two decades threatens to cripple President-elect Joe Biden’s effort to revive the Iran nuclear deal before he can even begin his diplomacy with Tehran.

The assassination of the scientist who led Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon for the past two decades threatens to cripple President-elect Joe Biden’s effort to revive the Iran nuclear deal before he can even begin his diplomacy with Tehran. And that may well have been a main goal of the operation. Intelligence officials say there is little doubt that Israel was behind the killing — it had all the hallmarks of a precisely timed operation by Mossad, the country’s spy agency. And the Israelis have done nothing to dispel that view. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long identified Iran as an existential threat and named the assassinated scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, as national enemy No. 1, capable of building a weapon that could threaten a country of 8 million in a single blast. Also read| Iran writes to UN asserting 'right to defend' itself against Israel after Mohsen Fakhrizadeh's death But Netanyahu also has a second agenda. “There must be no return to the previous nuclear agreement,” he declared shortly after it became clear that Biden — who has proposed exactly that — would be the next president. Netanyahu believes a covert bomb program is continuing, until Friday under Fakhrizadeh’s leadership, and would be unconstrained after 2030, when the nuclear accord’s restraints on Iran’s ability to produce as much nuclear fuel as it wants expires. To critics of the deal, that is its fatal flaw. “The reason for assassinating Fakhrizadeh wasn’t to impede Iran’s war potential, it was to impede diplomacy,” Mark Fitzpatrick, a former State Department nonproliferation official, wrote on Twitter on Friday. It may have been both. Also read| Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh assassinated Whatever the mix of motives, Biden must pick up the pieces in just seven weeks. The question is whether the deal the president-elect has outlined — dropping the nuclear-related sanctions President Donald Trump has imposed over the past two years if Iran returns strictly to the nuclear limits in the 2015 accord — was shot to pieces along with Fakhrizadeh’s SUV in the mountain town of Absard, Iran, east of Tehran. The answer lies largely in how Iran reacts in the next few weeks. Three times since the start of the year, Iran has been on the receiving end of highly visible, highly damaging attacks. First came the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian commander who ran the elite Quds force of the Revolutionary Guard, in a drone strike in Iraq, where the Trump administration said he was planning attacks on U.S. forces. Then, in early July came the mysterious explosion at a centrifuge research and development center at Natanz, a few hundred yards from the underground fuel-production center that the U.S. and Israel attacked more than a decade ago with a sophisticated cyberweapon. Also read| Iran accuses Israel of killing nuclear scientist, vows 'revenge' And now the killing of Fakhrizadeh, a shadowy figure often described as the Iranian equivalent of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who oversaw the Manhattan Project more than 75 years ago in the race for the U.S. to develop the world’s first nuclear weapon. If Iran holds off on significant retaliation, then the bold move to take out the chief of the nuclear program will have paid off, even if the assassination drives the program further underground. And if the Iranians retaliate, giving Trump a pretext to launch a return strike before he leaves office in January, Biden will be inheriting bigger problems than just the wreckage of a 5-year-old diplomatic document. Both those options seem fine with Trump’s departing foreign policy team, which is trying to lock in the radical reversal of Iran policy that has taken place over the past four years. “The Trump administration’s goal seems plain,” said Robert Malley, who leads the International Crisis Group and was a negotiator of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Also read| Thousands rally outside Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu's residence The administration’s plan, he said, was “to take advantage of the time remaining before it heads to the exits to solidify its legacy and make it all the more difficult for its successor to resume diplomacy with Iran and rejoin the nuclear deal.” Malley expressed doubts that “it will in fact succeed in killing diplomacy” or the deal. “The center of gravity in Iran is still with those who want to wait until Biden is president,’’ said Malley, who has known Biden’s pick for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, since they attended high school together in Paris. Biden and Blinken have made clear that returning to the deal Trump pulled out of is one of their first objectives in the Middle East. But as Jake Sullivan, the newly appointed national security adviser, who served as one of the secret emissaries to begin the negotiations that led to the deal, put it Wednesday at an event at the University of Minnesota, “that’s really up to Iran.” “If Iran returns to compliance, for its obligations that it has been violating, and is prepared to advance good-faith negotiations on these follow-on agreements,” Biden is willing to do the same, he said. (While Biden supported the 2015 deal, he was also in on the decision-making in 2010 as the cyberstrike against Natanz unraveled.) Before the assassination, there was considerable evidence that the Iranians were lying low, avoiding provocations that might give Trump a pretense to strike before he leaves office. Iran’s leaders have made clear that regime survival is their No. 1 goal, and they have been careful not to take risks that could upend their hopes of lifting sanctions, and restoring the deal, after Trump’s term ends. After the killing of Soleimani, there was a brief missile attack on a U.S. facility that miraculously killed no U.S. troops (although there were many cases of traumatic concussion injuries that Trump dismissed as “headaches.”) De-escalation followed. There was no real response to the explosion at Natanz, also attributed to Israel, other than the subsequent installation of some advanced centrifuges to make the point that Iran’s program would move ahead, slowly and methodically. Attacks aimed at U.S. forces in Iraq, many by Iranian proxies, have diminished in recent weeks, and Iran’s feared cyberattacks on the U.S. election system seemed more like amateur hour — emails to some voters purporting to be threats from a far-right group, the Proud Boys. But the hard-liners are angry, and some experts fear that the combined loss of Iran’s most revered general and its most revered nuclear scientist is too much. Pressure is already mounting for some response — either a calculated one, presumably on the orders of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, or an unscripted lashing out, perhaps by a rogue element of the Iranian military or an Iranian-sponsored militia that does not get the memo to wait for Inauguration Day. That may be exactly what Netanyahu — and Trump and his advisers — is betting on. Any retaliation could result in U.S. military action, exactly what Trump contemplated, and was argued out of, two weeks ago when news came that Iran was continuing to produce nuclear fuel above the limits of the 2015 accord. (That move, of course, was in response to Trump’s decision in mid-2018 to break out of the agreement himself.) U.S. military officials said Saturday that they were closely monitoring Iranian security forces after Iran’s vow to retaliate for Fakhrizadeh’s death but that they had not detected any usual Iranian troop or weaponry movements. The officials declined to comment on any heightened U.S. alert levels or additional measures to protect U.S. forces in the Middle East, noting that the more than 40,000 troops in the region are already at a relatively high level of alert. A cycle of military action could make it all but impossible to reconstitute the Iran nuclear deal, much less negotiate a bigger, longer-lasting diplomatic arrangement. If the response to the killing of Fakhrizadeh is a cycle of retaliation and counter-retaliation, the nuclear program will go deeper underground — quite literally — where bombs and saboteurs cannot reach it, and cyberstrikes may be ineffective. “We should not exclude the use of force, but military strikes won’t bring us a long-term shutdown of the program,” said R. Nicholas Burns, a former undersecretary of state and the Iran nuclear negotiator from 2005 to 2008 under President George W. Bush. “Our goal is to roll back and shut down its nuclear program for decades to come,’' said Burns, who now teaches diplomacy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and “achieving that through tough-minded diplomacy is still a smarter and more effective option than a military strike that could provoke a wider war in the Middle East.”

Assassination in Iran could limit Biden’s options. Was that the goal?

Iran held its arch-rival Israel responsible for assassination of its top nuclear scientist. Iranian defence ministry said on Friday that assailants targetted the car of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the scientist. The 59-year-old was targeted while travelling in a car near Absard city in Tehran province's eastern Damavand county.

The United States slapped sanctions on Fakhrizadeh in 2008 for "engaging in activities and transactions that contributed to the development of Iran's nuclear programme", and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once described him as the father of Iran's nuclear weapons programme.

A state television reporter said a pickup truck carrying explosives concealed under a cargo of wood exploded in front of Fakhrizadeh's car, before it was sprayed with bullets from an SUV in another lane.

Images from the scene showed a black sedan on the side of the road, its windshield pockmarked with bullet holes. A pool of blood was seen on the asphalt.

State television described Fakhrizadeh as one "of our country's nuclear scientists" and said Israel "had an old and deep enmity towards him".

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-top-nuclear-scientist-mohsen-fakhrizadeh-assassinated-345915">Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh assassinated</a>

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said there were "serious indications of an Israeli role" in his assassination.

"Terrorists murdered an eminent Iranian scientist today," Zarif tweeted.

"This cowardice -- with serious indications of Israeli role -- shows desperate warmongering of perpetrators," he added.

He also called on the international community to "end their shameful double standards &amp; condemn this act of state terror."

'Heavy blow'

A spokesman for Netanyahu questioned by AFP in Jerusalem declined to comment.

Iran's armed forces chief of staff called Fakhrizdeh's death "a bitter and heavy blow to the country's defence system" and warned of "severe revenge" for those behind it.

"We assure (Iranians) that we will not rest until we have chased and punished" those involved, Major General Mohammad Bagheri said in tweets picked up by state news agency IRNA.

Fakhrizadeh's assassination comes less than two months before Joe Biden is to take office as US president.

Biden has promised a return to diplomacy with Iran after four hawkish years under US President Donald Trump, who withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and began reimposing crippling sanctions.

Trump said at the time that the deal known formally as the Joint&nbsp; 
Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, did not offer sufficient guarantees to stop Tehran from acquiring an atomic bomb.

Iran has always denied it wants such a weapon.

Trump on Friday retweeted reports on Fakhrizadeh's assassination, without commenting on it himself.

'Strike killers like lightning'

Hossein Dehghan, military adviser to Iran's supreme leader and a former senior officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, accused Israel of trying to provoke a war through the assassination.

"In the last days of the political life of their gambling ally (Trump), the Zionists are trying to intensify pressure on Iran to create a full-blown war," he tweeted.

"We will strike the killers like lightning."

Ellie Geranmayeh of the European Council on International Relations said on Twitter that the "objective behind the killing wasn't to hinder (Iran's) nuclear programme but to undermine diplomacy."

She noted that recent high-level visits by US officials to Israel and Saudi Arabia "raised flags something being cooked up" to "provoke Iran &amp; complicate Biden's diplomatic push."

The killing of Fakhrizadeh is the latest in a series of assassinations of nuclear scientists in Iran in recent years that the Islamic republic has blamed on Israel.

The New York Times reported earlier in November that Al-Qaeda's second-in-command was secretly shot and killed in Tehran by two Israeli operatives on a motorcycle at Washington's behest.

The senior leader, who went by the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Masri, was killed in August along with his daughter, Miriam, the widow of Osama bin Laden's son Hamza, the Times said, citing intelligence sources.

Iran said the report was based on "made-up information" and reaffirmed its denial of the presence of any of the group's members in the Islamic republic.

(With AFP inputs)

Iran held its arch-rival Israel responsible for assassination of its top nuclear scientist. Iranian defence ministry said on Friday that assailants targetted the car of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the scientist.

Iran held its arch-rival Israel responsible for assassination of its top nuclear scientist. Iranian defence ministry said on Friday that assailants targetted the car of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the scientist. The 59-year-old was targeted while travelling in a car near Absard city in Tehran province's eastern Damavand county. The United States slapped sanctions on Fakhrizadeh in 2008 for "engaging in activities and transactions that contributed to the development of Iran's nuclear programme", and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once described him as the father of Iran's nuclear weapons programme. A state television reporter said a pickup truck carrying explosives concealed under a cargo of wood exploded in front of Fakhrizadeh's car, before it was sprayed with bullets from an SUV in another lane. Images from the scene showed a black sedan on the side of the road, its windshield pockmarked with bullet holes. A pool of blood was seen on the asphalt. State television described Fakhrizadeh as one "of our country's nuclear scientists" and said Israel "had an old and deep enmity towards him". Also Read | Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh assassinated Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said there were "serious indications of an Israeli role" in his assassination. "Terrorists murdered an eminent Iranian scientist today," Zarif tweeted. "This cowardice -- with serious indications of Israeli role -- shows desperate warmongering of perpetrators," he added. He also called on the international community to "end their shameful double standards & condemn this act of state terror." 'Heavy blow' A spokesman for Netanyahu questioned by AFP in Jerusalem declined to comment. Iran's armed forces chief of staff called Fakhrizdeh's death "a bitter and heavy blow to the country's defence system" and warned of "severe revenge" for those behind it. "We assure (Iranians) that we will not rest until we have chased and punished" those involved, Major General Mohammad Bagheri said in tweets picked up by state news agency IRNA. Fakhrizadeh's assassination comes less than two months before Joe Biden is to take office as US president. Biden has promised a return to diplomacy with Iran after four hawkish years under US President Donald Trump, who withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and began reimposing crippling sanctions. Trump said at the time that the deal known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, did not offer sufficient guarantees to stop Tehran from acquiring an atomic bomb. Iran has always denied it wants such a weapon. Trump on Friday retweeted reports on Fakhrizadeh's assassination, without commenting on it himself. 'Strike killers like lightning' Hossein Dehghan, military adviser to Iran's supreme leader and a former senior officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, accused Israel of trying to provoke a war through the assassination. "In the last days of the political life of their gambling ally (Trump), the Zionists are trying to intensify pressure on Iran to create a full-blown war," he tweeted. "We will strike the killers like lightning." Ellie Geranmayeh of the European Council on International Relations said on Twitter that the "objective behind the killing wasn't to hinder (Iran's) nuclear programme but to undermine diplomacy." She noted that recent high-level visits by US officials to Israel and Saudi Arabia "raised flags something being cooked up" to "provoke Iran & complicate Biden's diplomatic push." The killing of Fakhrizadeh is the latest in a series of assassinations of nuclear scientists in Iran in recent years that the Islamic republic has blamed on Israel. The New York Times reported earlier in November that Al-Qaeda's second-in-command was secretly shot and killed in Tehran by two Israeli operatives on a motorcycle at Washington's behest. The senior leader, who went by the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Masri, was killed in August along with his daughter, Miriam, the widow of Osama bin Laden's son Hamza, the Times said, citing intelligence sources. Iran said the report was based on "made-up information" and reaffirmed its denial of the presence of any of the group's members in the Islamic republic. (With AFP inputs)

Iran accuses Israel of killing nuclear scientist, vows 'revenge'

Israeli embassies are on alert after Iran's threat of retaliation over assassination of its top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei has called for 'punishing' those behind the scientist's killing. In Africa, Ethiopian federal troops' offensive against country's Tigray region is still underway. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that she has 'never been more certain' of Scottish independence from UK. Read this and more in top 10 world news

 
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-embassies-on-alert-over-irans-retaliation-threats-after-fakhrizadehs-assassination-report-346090"><img alt="Iran Israel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fe2aef45-1ad7-44a8-aab2-01419c9ae65f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Iran_3.JPG" /></a> 
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, 59, was shot by assailants in his car near Absard city in Tehran and died in hospital as doctors failed to revive him.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Abiy who won Nobel Peace Prize last year had said earlier in the week that a "third and final phase" in his campaign against leaders of TPLF had begun

&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-khamenei-calls-for-punishing-those-behind-scientists-killing-346076"><img alt="Khamenei" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8a6370ff-a6f4-41c1-9d5c-b2db5dd69a84" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Khamenei.JPG" /></a> 
 
Iran's top scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated on Friday

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The head of Scotland's devolved government and the leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) told supporters that possibility of a break between Scotland and the rest of the UK had never been more closer

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<img alt="Europe coronavirus" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="008d73ad-61ec-4a71-a2c8-3854bb81ffbc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Coronavirus.JPG" />

 
The Belgium government said it will reopen shops from December 1 including Luxembourg and the Netherlands

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-pm-suga-reviews-air-defence-troops-calls-joint-effort-to-develop-new-capabilities-346080"><img alt="Japan Suga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a0ab2ee5-8720-4983-9653-18d3c1a289c2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Suga.JPG" /></a> 
The Japanese prime minister in his address said that the defence forces should develop capabilities to tackle new battlefields in outer space, cyberspace and electromagnetic fields.

&nbsp;

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According to a report by Geo News, the PSM sacked 4,544 of employees, including the divisional and assistant managers, belonging to category 2,3, and 4 pay groups

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<img alt="INDIA SRI LANKA MALDIVES" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="174b1e97-b2bc-4ef0-a941-bbf2de044003" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/india.JPG" /> 
 
The three countries discussed mutual cooperation in the areas of Maritime Domain Awareness, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Joint Exercises, Capacity Building, Maritime Security and Threats, Marine Pollution, and Maritime Underwater Heritage.

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Results are expected by 2023, after which it is hoped one million people could receive the test by 2025.

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/a-yum-to-go-viennas-hotel-sacher-establishes-drive-in-cake-centre-amid-pandemic-346054#cake-sale-346046">'A yum to-go': Vienna's Hotel Sacher establishes drive-in cake centre amid pandemic</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/a-yum-to-go-viennas-hotel-sacher-establishes-drive-in-cake-centre-amid-pandemic-346054#cake-sale-346046"><img alt="Vienna cake" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d088a170-b649-41a7-a4d2-d5bb87e26581" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/cake.JPG" /></a> 
A luxury hotel in Vienna, which is famous for serving delicious cakes and chocolates, have come up with an innovative way to serve their customers

Israeli embassies are on alert after Iran's threat of retaliation over assassination of its top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei has called for 'punishing' those behind the scientist's killing.

Israeli embassies are on alert after Iran's threat of retaliation over assassination of its top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei has called for 'punishing' those behind the scientist's killing. In Africa, Ethiopian federal troops' offensive against country's Tigray region is still underway. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that she has 'never been more certain' of Scottish independence from UK. Read this and more in top 10 world news Israeli embassies on alert over Iran's retaliation threats after Fakhrizadeh's assassination: Report Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, 59, was shot by assailants in his car near Absard city in Tehran and died in hospital as doctors failed to revive him. Ethiopian forces begin offensive on Tigray with heavy shelling Abiy who won Nobel Peace Prize last year had said earlier in the week that a "third and final phase" in his campaign against leaders of TPLF had begun Iran's Khamenei calls for 'punishing' those behind scientist's killing Iran's top scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated on Friday Scotland First Minister says she has 'never been more certain' of independence from UK The head of Scotland's devolved government and the leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) told supporters that possibility of a break between Scotland and the rest of the UK had never been more closer Coronavirus death toll in Europe crosses 400,000 as Germany mulls extending partial lockdown till early spring The Belgium government said it will reopen shops from December 1 including Luxembourg and the Netherlands Japan PM Suga reviews air defence troops, calls joint effort to develop new capabilities The Japanese prime minister in his address said that the defence forces should develop capabilities to tackle new battlefields in outer space, cyberspace and electromagnetic fields. Bilawal Bhutto slams Imran Khan's 'heartless government' for sacking over 4,500 PSM employees According to a report by Geo News, the PSM sacked 4,544 of employees, including the divisional and assistant managers, belonging to category 2,3, and 4 pay groups India-Sri Lanka-Maldives agree to bolster maritime co-operation The three countries discussed mutual cooperation in the areas of Maritime Domain Awareness, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Joint Exercises, Capacity Building, Maritime Security and Threats, Marine Pollution, and Maritime Underwater Heritage. UK to pilot blood test that may detect 50 types of cancer Results are expected by 2023, after which it is hoped one million people could receive the test by 2025. 'A yum to-go': Vienna's Hotel Sacher establishes drive-in cake centre amid pandemic A luxury hotel in Vienna, which is famous for serving delicious cakes and chocolates, have come up with an innovative way to serve their customers

Top 10 world news: Israeli embassies on alert after Iran threat, Ethiopian conflict, and more

At least 14 pro-Iran fighters from Afghanistan and Iraq were killed in airstrikes in eastern Syria, said Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. The airstrikes were carried out in the border province of Deir Ezzor on Saturday night. The Observatory said that the airstrikes were carried out by Israeli warplanes. The attacks have killed 8 Iraqis and 6 Afghan fighters.

Israeli army said it doesn't comment on foreign reports, as per AFP.

More than 10 strikes hit positions of Iran-backed militias outside the border town of Albu Kamal, according to the war monitor.

The attacks also destroyed two bases as well as several military vehicles, the Observatory added.

Iran-backed fighters are heavily deployed in a stretch of territory between the Syrian towns of Albu Kamal and Mayadeen, both former strongholds of the Islamic State group.

Along with Russia, Iran has been a key backer of the Damascus regime in its nine-year-long civil war.

Israel has carried out hundreds of air and missile strikes on Syria since the civil war broke out in 2011, targeting Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces as well as government troops.

The Israeli army rarely acknowledges individual strikes.

Syria's war has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions more since starting in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

(With AFP inputs)

At least 14 pro-Iran fighters from Afghanistan and Iraq were killed in airstrikes in eastern Syria, said Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. The airstrikes were carried out in the border province of Deir Ezzor on Saturday night.

At least 14 pro-Iran fighters from Afghanistan and Iraq were killed in airstrikes in eastern Syria, said Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. The airstrikes were carried out in the border province of Deir Ezzor on Saturday night. The Observatory said that the airstrikes were carried out by Israeli warplanes. The attacks have killed 8 Iraqis and 6 Afghan fighters. Israeli army said it doesn't comment on foreign reports, as per AFP. More than 10 strikes hit positions of Iran-backed militias outside the border town of Albu Kamal, according to the war monitor. The attacks also destroyed two bases as well as several military vehicles, the Observatory added. Iran-backed fighters are heavily deployed in a stretch of territory between the Syrian towns of Albu Kamal and Mayadeen, both former strongholds of the Islamic State group. Along with Russia, Iran has been a key backer of the Damascus regime in its nine-year-long civil war. Israel has carried out hundreds of air and missile strikes on Syria since the civil war broke out in 2011, targeting Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces as well as government troops. The Israeli army rarely acknowledges individual strikes. Syria's war has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions more since starting in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. (With AFP inputs)

Syria: 14 pro-Iran fighters killed in Israeli airstrikes, says report

Israel launched air strikes on Syria Wednesday, killing three troops and hitting Iranian targets in what the Israeli army called a retaliatory attack after it found explosive devices along its northern border.

An Israeli military statement said its fighter jets hit "military targets belonging to the Iranian Quds force and the Syrian Armed Forces," in overnight strikes.&nbsp;

The targets included "storage facilities, headquarters and military compounds" as well as "Syrian surface-to-air missile batteries", according to an army statement.

Syrian state news agency SANA said the strikes killed three of its soldiers and injured another.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lead-scientist-behind-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-ugur-sahin-says-life-will-not-return-to-normal-till-next-winter-343465">Lead scientist behind Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, Ugur Sahin, says life will not return to normal till next winter</a>

Israel has carried out hundreds of air and missile strikes on Syria since the civil war broke out in 2011, targeting Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces as well as government troops.

The Jewish state rarely acknowledges individual strikes, but has done so when responding to what it describes as aggression inside Israeli territory.

On Tuesday, Israel's military said it had discovered improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on its side of a border crossing point with Syria.

Israel and Syria, neighbours still technically at war, have a border along the Golan Heights, which the Jewish State has occupied since the 1967 Six Day War.

According to the Israeli military statement, the IEDs "were placed by a Syrian squad led by Iranian forces."

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Iran has been a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime throughout the civil war that has killed more than 380,000 and erupted after the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

Israel's army said it "holds the Syrian regime responsible for all the actions perpetrated from its territory and will continue to operate as necessary against the Iranian entrenchment in Syria."

US visit

The air strikes came hours before US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is to land in Israel for talks including on Iran, in what is likely to be his last visit to the staunch American ally before President Donald Trump leaves office.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called Trump his country's strongest-ever ally in the White House, has heaped praised on the administration for its hardline approach towards Iran.

Trump's so-called "maximum pressure" campaign against the Islamic Republic has included sanctions and scrapping of the nuclear deal agreed between Tehran and world powers during Barack Obama's presidency.

Israeli experts have said Netanyahu is concerned that President-elect Joe Biden, Obama's former vice president, will seek to re-engage Iran diplomatically, possibly by restoring the nuclear deal. &nbsp;

Israel launched air strikes on Syria Wednesday, killing three troops and hitting Iranian targets in what the Israeli army called a retaliatory attack after it found explosive devices along its northern border.

Israel launched air strikes on Syria Wednesday, killing three troops and hitting Iranian targets in what the Israeli army called a retaliatory attack after it found explosive devices along its northern border. An Israeli military statement said its fighter jets hit "military targets belonging to the Iranian Quds force and the Syrian Armed Forces," in overnight strikes. The targets included "storage facilities, headquarters and military compounds" as well as "Syrian surface-to-air missile batteries", according to an army statement. Syrian state news agency SANA said the strikes killed three of its soldiers and injured another. Also read| Lead scientist behind Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, Ugur Sahin, says life will not return to normal till next winter Israel has carried out hundreds of air and missile strikes on Syria since the civil war broke out in 2011, targeting Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces as well as government troops. The Jewish state rarely acknowledges individual strikes, but has done so when responding to what it describes as aggression inside Israeli territory. On Tuesday, Israel's military said it had discovered improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on its side of a border crossing point with Syria. Israel and Syria, neighbours still technically at war, have a border along the Golan Heights, which the Jewish State has occupied since the 1967 Six Day War. According to the Israeli military statement, the IEDs "were placed by a Syrian squad led by Iranian forces." Also read: Volunteers face 'severe hangover', headache and pain after getting Pfizer vaccine shot Iran has been a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime throughout the civil war that has killed more than 380,000 and erupted after the brutal repression of anti-government protests. Israel's army said it "holds the Syrian regime responsible for all the actions perpetrated from its territory and will continue to operate as necessary against the Iranian entrenchment in Syria." US visit The air strikes came hours before US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is to land in Israel for talks including on Iran, in what is likely to be his last visit to the staunch American ally before President Donald Trump leaves office. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called Trump his country's strongest-ever ally in the White House, has heaped praised on the administration for its hardline approach towards Iran. Trump's so-called "maximum pressure" campaign against the Islamic Republic has included sanctions and scrapping of the nuclear deal agreed between Tehran and world powers during Barack Obama's presidency. Israeli experts have said Netanyahu is concerned that President-elect Joe Biden, Obama's former vice president, will seek to re-engage Iran diplomatically, possibly by restoring the nuclear deal.

Israel air strikes in Syria kill three troops, hit Iranian targets

Israeli military said on Sunday that it struck Hamas positions in the morning (local time) after a rocket attack from the Gaza strip. The attack, it said, took place during the night.

The army said that two rockets were fired into southern Israel from Gaza on Saturday. There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) tweeted they had "struck Hamas underground infrastructure &amp; military posts in Gaza".

"The IDF is conducting an ongoing situational assessment &amp; remains prepared to operate against any terror activity," they added.

AFP quoted an army source to say that fighter jets, helicopters and tanks were deployed. It also quoted security sources in Gaza to say that there were a number of strikes overnight including in Khan Younes, Rafah and Beit Hanoun, without reporting any casualties.

Israeli media said the rockets from Gaza came down in uninhabited areas, but a military spokeswoman was unable to confirm the reports.

Speaking at the opening of his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not tolerate such attacks.

"I'm warning the terror organisations in Gaza, even during the coronavirus crisis -- don't try us," he said in remarks relayed by his office.&nbsp;

"I never elaborate on our operational plans, but I'm telling you -- the price of continued aggression will be heavy, very heavy."

The strike from Gaza -- which has not been claimed -- comes days after the anniversary of the assassination of senior Islamic Jihad leader Baha Abu Al-Ata, killed in a strike on his home in Gaza City on November 12 last year.

Ahead of the anniversary, the Israeli military were reportedly on high alert within the Gaza Strip, where roughly two million Palestinians live.

Sources close to Hamas indicated officials from the movement were expected in Cairo later Sunday.

(With agency inputs)

Israeli military said on Sunday that it struck Hamas positions in the morning (local time) after a rocket attack from the Gaza strip. The attack, it said, took place during the night.

Israeli military said on Sunday that it struck Hamas positions in the morning (local time) after a rocket attack from the Gaza strip. The attack, it said, took place during the night. The army said that two rockets were fired into southern Israel from Gaza on Saturday. There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) tweeted they had "struck Hamas underground infrastructure & military posts in Gaza". "The IDF is conducting an ongoing situational assessment & remains prepared to operate against any terror activity," they added. AFP quoted an army source to say that fighter jets, helicopters and tanks were deployed. It also quoted security sources in Gaza to say that there were a number of strikes overnight including in Khan Younes, Rafah and Beit Hanoun, without reporting any casualties. Israeli media said the rockets from Gaza came down in uninhabited areas, but a military spokeswoman was unable to confirm the reports. Speaking at the opening of his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not tolerate such attacks. "I'm warning the terror organisations in Gaza, even during the coronavirus crisis -- don't try us," he said in remarks relayed by his office. "I never elaborate on our operational plans, but I'm telling you -- the price of continued aggression will be heavy, very heavy." The strike from Gaza -- which has not been claimed -- comes days after the anniversary of the assassination of senior Islamic Jihad leader Baha Abu Al-Ata, killed in a strike on his home in Gaza City on November 12 last year. Ahead of the anniversary, the Israeli military were reportedly on high alert within the Gaza Strip, where roughly two million Palestinians live. Sources close to Hamas indicated officials from the movement were expected in Cairo later Sunday. (With agency inputs)

Israel strikes Hamas after rocket attack from Gaza

Israel signed a deal with Pfizer Inc on Friday to receive 8 million doses of the drugmaker`s potential COVID-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, enough to cover close to half of Israel`s population.

Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE confirmed a deal was forthcoming in a statement on Thursday but did not disclose financial details. There was no immediate comment from the two companies on Friday.

The agreement still requires approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Israel's health ministry, Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said. Pfizer is expected to apply for approval this month, he added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-russias-covid-19-vaccine-sputnik-v-arrives-in-india-342873">Also&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-russias-covid-19-vaccine-sputnik-v-arrives-in-india-342873" hreflang="en">watch: Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V arrives in India</a>

Pfizer`s potential vaccine is likely to be a two-dose course of treatment, meaning that 8 million doses would cover 4 million of Israel`s 9 million population. 
In televised remarks, Netanyahu said the agreement marked "a great day for Israel" and added: "The goal is for the vaccine supply to start in January and increase in the months thereafter".

Pfizer on Monday announced that its experimental COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective based on initial trial results, a potential major victory in the war against a virus that has killed more than a million people and battered the world economy.

In addition to its new deal with Pfizer, Israel has an agreement with Moderna Inc for the future purchase of its potential vaccine. Moderna said on Wednesday it had enough data for a first interim analysis of the late-stage trial of its vaccine candidate.

Israel signed a deal with Pfizer Inc on Friday to receive 8 million doses of the drugmaker`s potential COVID-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, enough to cover close to half of Israel`s population.

Israel signed a deal with Pfizer Inc on Friday to receive 8 million doses of the drugmaker`s potential COVID-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, enough to cover close to half of Israel`s population. Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE confirmed a deal was forthcoming in a statement on Thursday but did not disclose financial details. There was no immediate comment from the two companies on Friday. The agreement still requires approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Israel's health ministry, Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said. Pfizer is expected to apply for approval this month, he added. Also watch: Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V arrives in India Pfizer`s potential vaccine is likely to be a two-dose course of treatment, meaning that 8 million doses would cover 4 million of Israel`s 9 million population. In televised remarks, Netanyahu said the agreement marked "a great day for Israel" and added: "The goal is for the vaccine supply to start in January and increase in the months thereafter". Pfizer on Monday announced that its experimental COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective based on initial trial results, a potential major victory in the war against a virus that has killed more than a million people and battered the world economy. In addition to its new deal with Pfizer, Israel has an agreement with Moderna Inc for the future purchase of its potential vaccine. Moderna said on Wednesday it had enough data for a first interim analysis of the late-stage trial of its vaccine candidate.

Israel signs deal with Pfizer for potential COVID-19 vaccine

The EU on Thursday called on Israel to cease demolishing Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank and lift a threat to demolish Palestinian schools, calling them "an impediment towards the two-state solution".

The statement, issued by the spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, came two days after Israeli bulldozers razed a Bedouin village near Tubas in the Jordan Valley, leaving its nearly 80 inhabitants homeless.

Israel's army stated the homes were "built illegally" in an area used for military training.&nbsp;

The EU statement said that half the Palestinians made homeless in the demolition were children.

"This large-scale demolition confirms once again the regrettable trend of confiscations and demolitions since the beginning of the year," it said.

It added that Israel has also threatened to raze 52 Palestinian schools, including one in Ras Al-Teen in the West Bank that was co-funded by the EU and EU member states.

"The EU calls for the protection of children, including ensuring their right to education in a safe and secure school environment," the statement said, noting that education is a basic human right.

"The EU reiterates its call on Israel to halt all such demolitions, including of EU-funded structures, in particular in light of the humanitarian impact of the current coronavirus pandemic," it said.

The EU on Thursday called on Israel to cease demolishing Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank and lift a threat to demolish Palestinian schools, calling them "an impediment towards the two-state solution".

The EU on Thursday called on Israel to cease demolishing Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank and lift a threat to demolish Palestinian schools, calling them "an impediment towards the two-state solution". The statement, issued by the spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, came two days after Israeli bulldozers razed a Bedouin village near Tubas in the Jordan Valley, leaving its nearly 80 inhabitants homeless. Israel's army stated the homes were "built illegally" in an area used for military training. The EU statement said that half the Palestinians made homeless in the demolition were children. "This large-scale demolition confirms once again the regrettable trend of confiscations and demolitions since the beginning of the year," it said. It added that Israel has also threatened to raze 52 Palestinian schools, including one in Ras Al-Teen in the West Bank that was co-funded by the EU and EU member states. "The EU calls for the protection of children, including ensuring their right to education in a safe and secure school environment," the statement said, noting that education is a basic human right. "The EU reiterates its call on Israel to halt all such demolitions, including of EU-funded structures, in particular in light of the humanitarian impact of the current coronavirus pandemic," it said.

EU calls for halt to Israeli demolition of Palestinian buildings

A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli soldiers in return fireafter he shot at them. Israel's army made an announcement in this regard. The incident took place in West Bank.

"Troops who were at a military post adjacent to the southern exit of the city of Nablus spotted an assailant driving out of the city armed with a pistol who fired at them, and responded with fire ... The assailant has been neutralised," a statement said.&nbsp;

Israeli soldiers were not injured. The identity of the killed Palestinian man is not yet known.

Israeli forces, who have occupied the West Bank since 1967, are regularly targeted in the Palestinian territory.&nbsp;

Typically young Palestinians use knives, cars and -- less frequently -- guns to attack Israeli troops.&nbsp;

(With AFP inputs)

A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli soldiers in return fireafter he shot at them. Israel's army made an announcement in this regard. The incident took place in West Bank.

A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli soldiers in return fireafter he shot at them. Israel's army made an announcement in this regard. The incident took place in West Bank. "Troops who were at a military post adjacent to the southern exit of the city of Nablus spotted an assailant driving out of the city armed with a pistol who fired at them, and responded with fire ... The assailant has been neutralised," a statement said. Israeli soldiers were not injured. The identity of the killed Palestinian man is not yet known. Israeli forces, who have occupied the West Bank since 1967, are regularly targeted in the Palestinian territory. Typically young Palestinians use knives, cars and -- less frequently -- guns to attack Israeli troops. (With AFP inputs)

Palestinian killed after shooting at Israeli soldiers

Israeli warplanes struck suspected Hamas military targets in the Gaza Strip before dawn on Friday following rocket fire from the blockaded Palestinian territory.

Fighter jets and other aircraft struck a "weapons manufacturing site and underground infrastructures" operated by Islamist group Hamas, which has controlled the territory since 2007, the Israeli army said.

Hamas reported no casualties from the Israeli strikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp and the southern city of Khan Yunis.

Two rockets had been launched at Israel late Thursday, without causing any casualties or damage.&nbsp;

One was intercepted by Israeli air defences, while the other hit open ground, the army said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-uncovers-tunnel-from-gaza-military-says-holds-hamas-responsible-336760/amp">Also read:&nbsp;Israel uncovers tunnel from Gaza, military says holds Hamas responsible</a>

The last reported rocket attack from Gaza was on Tuesday night.

It came after the army announced it had found a new tunnel that crosses "dozens of metres (yards) into Israel" from Gaza.

The next day the army said the tunnel belonged to Hamas.

Authorities have discovered some 20 tunnels originating in Gaza since 2014, army spokesman Jonathan Conricus said this week.

Israel has fought three wars with Hamas since the Islamists ousted loyalists of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas from the territory in 2007 and there have been numerous smaller flare-ups.

An informal truce brokered by Egypt and the United Nations, with the financial support of gas-rich Qatar, has been in force since late 2018.

It has been broken several times but has been restored on each occasion.

Israeli warplanes struck suspected Hamas military targets in the Gaza Strip before dawn on Friday following rocket fire from the blockaded Palestinian territory.

Israeli warplanes struck suspected Hamas military targets in the Gaza Strip before dawn on Friday following rocket fire from the blockaded Palestinian territory. Fighter jets and other aircraft struck a "weapons manufacturing site and underground infrastructures" operated by Islamist group Hamas, which has controlled the territory since 2007, the Israeli army said. Hamas reported no casualties from the Israeli strikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp and the southern city of Khan Yunis. Two rockets had been launched at Israel late Thursday, without causing any casualties or damage. One was intercepted by Israeli air defences, while the other hit open ground, the army said. Also read: Israel uncovers tunnel from Gaza, military says holds Hamas responsible The last reported rocket attack from Gaza was on Tuesday night. It came after the army announced it had found a new tunnel that crosses "dozens of metres (yards) into Israel" from Gaza. The next day the army said the tunnel belonged to Hamas. Authorities have discovered some 20 tunnels originating in Gaza since 2014, army spokesman Jonathan Conricus said this week. Israel has fought three wars with Hamas since the Islamists ousted loyalists of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas from the territory in 2007 and there have been numerous smaller flare-ups. An informal truce brokered by Egypt and the United Nations, with the financial support of gas-rich Qatar, has been in force since late 2018. It has been broken several times but has been restored on each occasion.

Israel warplanes strike Gaza following rocket fire

'GPS insensitive': Why Israel's new Rafael defence system can be a gamechanger

After a month of lockdown, Israel is now slowly reopening its economy from Sunday as the country saw a decline in the number of daily infections.

The reopening of the economy will allow all businesses, that do not involve&nbsp;face-to-face contact with the public, will be allowed to open up.

Israel will also be reopening its schools from the coming week, with nearly a million children returning back to their classrooms.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-and-bahrain-to-formalise-diplomatic-ties-336185">Also read|&nbsp;Israel and Bahrain to formalise diplomatic ties</a>

In addition to this, the ban that restricted people from travelling more than 1 km away from their homes will also be lifted now. The rule had garned immense criticism from locals and the opposition political party who accused the government of misusing coronavirus pandemic to silence the voices protesting against the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

As per the new rule, people are allowed to visit their friends and relatives, as long as the size of the gathering is limited to 10 people for indoor and 20 people for outdoor gatherings.

The second lockdown was hugely criticised by the residents who tried to defy the restrictions and camp outside PM's residence and other parts of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to protest against the 'ill-formed' regulations. People accused the government of imposing a lockdown without providing any financial assistance or assurance to the workers.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anti-netanyahu-protests-erupt-in-israel-amid-coronavirus-restrictions-334498">Also read|&nbsp;Anti-Netanyahu protests erupt in Israel amid coronavirus restrictions</a>

Israel was one of the first countries to lift the first lockdown. However, the government had to reimpose various restrictions as the daily infections continued rising.

However, the Prime Minister has assured people that&nbsp;"this time we are moving cautiously."

The government has urged people to exercise caution to avoid another wide spread of the novel coronavirus.

Israel, a country of about nine million people, has recorded 302,911 coronavirus cases, including 2,202 deaths, as of Sunday.

After a month of lockdown, Israel is now slowly reopening its economy from Sunday as the country saw a decline in the number of daily infections. The reopening of the economy will allow all businesses, that do not involve face-to-face contact with the public, will be allowed to open up.

After a month of lockdown, Israel is now slowly reopening its economy from Sunday as the country saw a decline in the number of daily infections. The reopening of the economy will allow all businesses, that do not involve face-to-face contact with the public, will be allowed to open up. Israel will also be reopening its schools from the coming week, with nearly a million children returning back to their classrooms. Also read| Israel and Bahrain to formalise diplomatic ties In addition to this, the ban that restricted people from travelling more than 1 km away from their homes will also be lifted now. The rule had garned immense criticism from locals and the opposition political party who accused the government of misusing coronavirus pandemic to silence the voices protesting against the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As per the new rule, people are allowed to visit their friends and relatives, as long as the size of the gathering is limited to 10 people for indoor and 20 people for outdoor gatherings. The second lockdown was hugely criticised by the residents who tried to defy the restrictions and camp outside PM's residence and other parts of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to protest against the 'ill-formed' regulations. People accused the government of imposing a lockdown without providing any financial assistance or assurance to the workers. Also read| Anti-Netanyahu protests erupt in Israel amid coronavirus restrictions Israel was one of the first countries to lift the first lockdown. However, the government had to reimpose various restrictions as the daily infections continued rising. However, the Prime Minister has assured people that "this time we are moving cautiously." The government has urged people to exercise caution to avoid another wide spread of the novel coronavirus. Israel, a country of about nine million people, has recorded 302,911 coronavirus cases, including 2,202 deaths, as of Sunday.

Israel reopens after second coronavirus lockdown

HBO Max has made a deal for world rights to `Valley Of Tears,` Israel`s biggest-budget TV series ever made, in a major deal for London-based sales and production organization WestEnd Films. 
 
According to Deadline, the show marks WestEnd`s first foray into TV, through its banner WeSeries. It is producing and co-financing the project, which debuted in official competition at Series Mania earlier this year.`Valley Of Tears` was created and co-written by Israeli-American TV and film writer Ron Leshem (HBO`s Euphoria), Amit Cohen (False Flag), Daniel Amsel, and Yaron Zilberman (A Late Quartet); the latter also directed the entire series. 
 
The series will be branded an HBO Max original when it launches on an as-yet-unspecified date. The 10-part show is inspired by true events and depicts the 1973 Yom Kippur War through the eyes of young combatants. 
 
It tells four emotional and highly personal stories of individuals swept away from their loved ones by the ravages of war, four parallel plotlines, intertwined together into one climactic battle.The cast features Israeli star Lior Ashkenazi (Foxtrot) alongside Aviv Alush (The Shack), Lee Biran, Shahar Taboch, Joy Rieger and Ofer Hayoun (Euphoria), Maor Schwitzer (Shtisel) and Imri Biton. 
 
As reported by Deadline, Maya Amsellem, managing director of WestEnd Films said, "`Valley Of Tears` is a smart and thrilling series that goes way beyond the war drama genre. It will keep viewers on the edge of their seats while they become emotionally invested in the lead characters` stories. HBO Max is truly the perfect home for the series and we can`t wait to share it with audiences worldwide."

HBO Max has made a deal for world rights to `Valley Of Tears,` Israel`s biggest-budget TV series ever made, in a major deal for London-based sales and production organization WestEnd Films.

HBO Max has made a deal for world rights to `Valley Of Tears,` Israel`s biggest-budget TV series ever made, in a major deal for London-based sales and production organization WestEnd Films. According to Deadline, the show marks WestEnd`s first foray into TV, through its banner WeSeries. It is producing and co-financing the project, which debuted in official competition at Series Mania earlier this year.`Valley Of Tears` was created and co-written by Israeli-American TV and film writer Ron Leshem (HBO`s Euphoria), Amit Cohen (False Flag), Daniel Amsel, and Yaron Zilberman (A Late Quartet); the latter also directed the entire series. The series will be branded an HBO Max original when it launches on an as-yet-unspecified date. The 10-part show is inspired by true events and depicts the 1973 Yom Kippur War through the eyes of young combatants. It tells four emotional and highly personal stories of individuals swept away from their loved ones by the ravages of war, four parallel plotlines, intertwined together into one climactic battle.The cast features Israeli star Lior Ashkenazi (Foxtrot) alongside Aviv Alush (The Shack), Lee Biran, Shahar Taboch, Joy Rieger and Ofer Hayoun (Euphoria), Maor Schwitzer (Shtisel) and Imri Biton. As reported by Deadline, Maya Amsellem, managing director of WestEnd Films said, "`Valley Of Tears` is a smart and thrilling series that goes way beyond the war drama genre. It will keep viewers on the edge of their seats while they become emotionally invested in the lead characters` stories. HBO Max is truly the perfect home for the series and we can`t wait to share it with audiences worldwide."

HBO Max nabs global rights to Israel's most expensive TV series 'Valley of Tears'

Sudanese leaders have found themselves divided over US precondition of normalising ties with Israel before Sudan could be removed from US list of states sponsoring terror. Sudan is under tremendous pressure from US to normalise ties with Israel. This is widely seen as Trump administration's attempt to win more brownie points before US Presidential Elections on November 3.

Sudan, an Arab country, was designated by the US as a state sponsoring terrorism back when its toppled ruler Omar al-Bashir called the shots.

The interim government in Sudan is negotiating terms for its removal from the list as it will be possible for the government to get international funds critically necessary for the battered economy. However, the precondition of normalisation of ties with Israel is a recently added talking point in the negotiations.

"This topic (ties to Israel) needs a deep discussion of the society," said Abdalla Hamdok, Prime Minister of Sudan told a conference in Khartoum.

Sudan's surging inflation and plummeting currency have been the biggest challenges to Hamdok's transitional administration, which rules with the military since Bashir's ouster.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-continues-protesting-against-netanyahus-coronavirus-restrictions-332340">Israel continues protesting against Netanyahu's coronavirus restrictions</a>

Sudan was put on the U.S. list in 1993 because the United States believed Bashir's government was supporting militant groups. But many in Sudan consider this is undeserved since Bashir was removed last year and Sudan has long cooperated with the United States on counter-terrorism.

During a video statement to the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, which was pre-recorded because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Hamdok said Sudan was actively cooperating with international and bilateral efforts to fight terrorism and terrorism financing.

"Sudan's name should be removed from the list of countries that are sponsoring terrorism. Sudan has returned to the international fold after 30 years outside it. This must happen," he said. "We hail the efforts of the U.S. government and the U.S. Congress to remove Sudan's name from the list."

The White House and State Department have declined to comment when asked about the status of negotiations.

Sudan was a staunch foe of Israel under Bashir. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chairman of Sudan's transitional military council, had a surprise meeting in Uganda earlier this year with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

(With Reuters inputs)

Sudanese leaders have found themselves divided over US precondition of normalising ties with Israel before Sudan could be removed from US list of states sponsoring terror.

Sudanese leaders have found themselves divided over US precondition of normalising ties with Israel before Sudan could be removed from US list of states sponsoring terror. Sudan is under tremendous pressure from US to normalise ties with Israel. This is widely seen as Trump administration's attempt to win more brownie points before US Presidential Elections on November 3. Sudan, an Arab country, was designated by the US as a state sponsoring terrorism back when its toppled ruler Omar al-Bashir called the shots. The interim government in Sudan is negotiating terms for its removal from the list as it will be possible for the government to get international funds critically necessary for the battered economy. However, the precondition of normalisation of ties with Israel is a recently added talking point in the negotiations. "This topic (ties to Israel) needs a deep discussion of the society," said Abdalla Hamdok, Prime Minister of Sudan told a conference in Khartoum. Sudan's surging inflation and plummeting currency have been the biggest challenges to Hamdok's transitional administration, which rules with the military since Bashir's ouster. Also Read | Israel continues protesting against Netanyahu's coronavirus restrictions Sudan was put on the U.S. list in 1993 because the United States believed Bashir's government was supporting militant groups. But many in Sudan consider this is undeserved since Bashir was removed last year and Sudan has long cooperated with the United States on counter-terrorism. During a video statement to the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, which was pre-recorded because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Hamdok said Sudan was actively cooperating with international and bilateral efforts to fight terrorism and terrorism financing. "Sudan's name should be removed from the list of countries that are sponsoring terrorism. Sudan has returned to the international fold after 30 years outside it. This must happen," he said. "We hail the efforts of the U.S. government and the U.S. Congress to remove Sudan's name from the list." The White House and State Department have declined to comment when asked about the status of negotiations. Sudan was a staunch foe of Israel under Bashir. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chairman of Sudan's transitional military council, had a surprise meeting in Uganda earlier this year with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (With Reuters inputs)

US efforts for Arab-Israel ties divides leaders in Sudan

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

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

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

Israel continues protesting against Netanyahu's coronavirus restrictions

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

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

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

Israel observes protests after second lockdown without economic aid is initiated

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

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

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

Israel toughens second lockdown as virus cases surge

There is no doubt that the peace accord between the UAE and Israel became a reality due to efforts of US President Donald Trump. Following the footsteps of UAE, Bahrain also restored its relations withe Israel and both these countries gave recognition to Israel. This is a creditable achievement of Trump as it was not an easy peace exercise.

Four Arab countries namely Egypt, Jordan, UAE and Bahrain now recognise Israel as a sovereign country. Reports say that Saudi Arabia may also opt for friendly relations with Israel though it may not immediately recognise Israel as a sovereign country.

Not surprisingly, Palestinians have protested against UAE and Bahrain.

There is increasing realisation among Arab countries in Middle East about fruitlessness of conflict with Israel. This cnflict has not helped Palestinians in any way so far. On the other hand it created hardships. Palestinians are virtually living in isolation without any hope for future.

Success of Trump's peace initiative in Middle East can certainly change the face of the region.

It will be good for Palestinians to see the writing on the wall about existence of Israel and come up with peaceful resolution. This will enable Palestinians to live in peace and realise their potential for growth and development.

Apart from Trump's peace initiative in Middle East, another remarkable initiative is his attempts to have peaceful relations with North Korea.&nbsp;

US is the most powerful county in the world while North Korea is an impoverished nation. But yet Trump went all the way to Singapore for a summit with Kim Jong-Un. The fact that the initiative did not succeed in establishing peace between two nations does not minimise importance of his initiative.

President Trump's efforts to bring Taliban to the negotiating table has not received due appreciation in the US or in other countries.

It is true that Trump has initiated trade war with China. But many believe that this was a necessary step as China has been exhibiting aggressive behaviour. It should be noted that Trump limited his conflict with China and the trade dispute did not spiral into outright military conflict.

Though ritics and section of media in the US appear to be doing everything possible to denigrate Trump in the run up to US Presidential elections, fairness demands that Trump should be given due credit by American people for his remarkable peace initiative Middle East and similar strategies with repect to North Korea and Afghanistan.

Trump even offered to mediate between India and Pakistan. He was ridiculed and criticised. India and China rejected his offer of mediation. Nevertheless, Trump offered his service towards the cause of peace which is laudable.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) 
&nbsp;

There is no doubt that the peace accord between the UAE and Israel became a reality due to efforts of US President Donald Trump. Following the footsteps of UAE, Bahrain also restored its relations withe Israel and both these countries gave recognition to Israel.

There is no doubt that the peace accord between the UAE and Israel became a reality due to efforts of US President Donald Trump. Following the footsteps of UAE, Bahrain also restored its relations withe Israel and both these countries gave recognition to Israel. This is a creditable achievement of Trump as it was not an easy peace exercise. Four Arab countries namely Egypt, Jordan, UAE and Bahrain now recognise Israel as a sovereign country. Reports say that Saudi Arabia may also opt for friendly relations with Israel though it may not immediately recognise Israel as a sovereign country. Not surprisingly, Palestinians have protested against UAE and Bahrain. There is increasing realisation among Arab countries in Middle East about fruitlessness of conflict with Israel. This cnflict has not helped Palestinians in any way so far. On the other hand it created hardships. Palestinians are virtually living in isolation without any hope for future. Success of Trump's peace initiative in Middle East can certainly change the face of the region. It will be good for Palestinians to see the writing on the wall about existence of Israel and come up with peaceful resolution. This will enable Palestinians to live in peace and realise their potential for growth and development. Apart from Trump's peace initiative in Middle East, another remarkable initiative is his attempts to have peaceful relations with North Korea. US is the most powerful county in the world while North Korea is an impoverished nation. But yet Trump went all the way to Singapore for a summit with Kim Jong-Un. The fact that the initiative did not succeed in establishing peace between two nations does not minimise importance of his initiative. President Trump's efforts to bring Taliban to the negotiating table has not received due appreciation in the US or in other countries. It is true that Trump has initiated trade war with China. But many believe that this was a necessary step as China has been exhibiting aggressive behaviour. It should be noted that Trump limited his conflict with China and the trade dispute did not spiral into outright military conflict. Though ritics and section of media in the US appear to be doing everything possible to denigrate Trump in the run up to US Presidential elections, fairness demands that Trump should be given due credit by American people for his remarkable peace initiative Middle East and similar strategies with repect to North Korea and Afghanistan. Trump even offered to mediate between India and Pakistan. He was ridiculed and criticised. India and China rejected his offer of mediation. Nevertheless, Trump offered his service towards the cause of peace which is laudable. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Credit where it is due: Trump deserves praise for West Asia peace deal

The odds are that Saudi Arabia is not about to formalize relations with Israel. But the kingdom, its image tarnished by multiple missteps, is seeking to ensure that it is not perceived as the odd man out as smaller Gulf States establish diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.

Bahrain’s announcement that it would follow in the footsteps of the United Arab Emirates was as much a Bahraini move as it was a Saudi signal that it is not opposed to normalization with Israel.

Largely dependent on the kingdom since Saudi troops helped squash mass anti-government protests in 2011, Bahrain, a majority Shia Muslim nation, would not have agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Israel without Saudi consent.

The Bahraini move followed several other Saudi gestures intended to signal the kingdom’s endorsement of Arab normalization of Israel even if it was not going to lead the pack.

The gestures included the opening of Saudi air space to Israeli commercial flights, and publication of a Saudi think tank report praising Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s stewardship in modernizing the kingdom’s religious education system and encouraging the religious establishment to replace“extremist narratives” in school textbooks with “a moderate interpretation of Islamic rhetoric.”

They also involved a sermon by Abdulrahman al-Sudais, the imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca – the world’s largest mosque that surrounds the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site that highlighted Prophet Mohammed’s friendly relations with Jews.

Mr. al-Sudais noted that the prophet had “performed ablution from a polytheistic water bottle and died while his shield was mortgaged to a Jew,” forged a peace agreement with Jewish inhabitants of the Khaybar region, and dealt so well with a Jewish neighbor that he eventually converted to Islam.&nbsp;

The imam’s comments, a day before US President Donald J. Trump was believed to have failed to persuade King Salman to follow the UAE’s example, were widely seen as part of an effort to prepare Saudi public opinion for eventual recognition of Israel.

Criticism on social media of the comments constituted one indication that public opinion in Gulf states is divided.

Expression of Emirati dissent was restricted to Emirati exiles given that the UAE does not tolerate expression of dissenting views.

However, small scale protests erupted in Bahrain, another country that curtails freedom of expression and assembly. Bahraini political and civil society associations, including the Bahrain Bar Association, issued a statement rejecting the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel.

“What results from normalization will not enjoy popular backing, in line with what generations of Bahrainis have been brought up on in terms of adherence to the Palestinian cause,” the statement said.

Bahrain has long been home to a Jewish community and was the first and, so far, only Arab state to appoint a Jew as its ambassador to the United States.

The criticism echoes recent polls in various Gulf States that suggest that Palestine remains a major public foreign policy concern.

Polling by David Pollock of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy found that Palestine ranked second to Iran.

Earlier polls by James Zogby, a Washington-based pollster with a track record that goes back more than a decade, showed Palestine ranking in 2018 as the foremost foreign policy issue followed by Iran in Emirati and Saudi public opinion.

The same year’s Arab Opinion Index suggested that 80 percent of Saudis see Palestine as an Arab rather than a purely Palestinian issue.

Mr. Pollock said in an interview that with regard to Palestine, Saudi officials “believe that they have to be a little cautious. They want to move bit by bit in the direction of normalizing at least the existence of Israel or the discussion of Israel, the possibility of peace, but they don’t think that the public is ready for the full embrace or anything like that.”

Gulf scholar Giorgio Cafiero noted in a tweet that “Israel formalizing relations (with) unelected Arab (governments) is not the same as Israel making ‘peace’ (with) Arab people. Look at, for example, what Egypt’s citizenry thinks of Israel. Iran and Turkey will capitalize on this reality as more US-friendly Arab [governments] sign accords [with] Israel.”

This year’s Arab Opinion Index suggest that in Kuwait, the one country that has not engaged with Israel publicly, Turkey—the Muslim country that has taken a lead in supporting the Palestinians—ranked highest in public esteem compared to China, Russia, and Iran.

A rift in a UAE-backed Muslim group created to counter Qatari support of political Islam and promote a state-controlled version of Islam that preaches absolute obedience to the ruler serves as a further indication that Palestine remains an emotive public issue.

In Mr. Al-Sudais’ case, analysts suggest that the criticism is as much about Palestine as it is a signal that religious leaders who become subservient to the whims of government may be losing credibility.

Mr. Al-Sudais’ sermon contrasted starkly with past talks in which he described Jews as “killers of prophets and the scum of the earth” as well as “monkeys and pigs” and defended Saudi Arabia’s conflict with Iran as a war between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.

The criticism coupled with indications earlier this year that Saudi Arabia’s religious establishment was not happy with Prince Mohammed’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic may be one reason why Saudi Arabia is gesturing rather than formalizing already existing relations with Israel.

Authorities reportedly arrested in March Sheikh Abdullah al-Saad, an Islamic scholar, after he posted online an audio clip criticizing the government for banning Friday prayers. Mr. al-Saad argued that worshippers should be able to ask God for mercy.

An imam in Mecca was fired shortly after he expressed concern about the spread of the coronavirus in Saudi prisons.

Scholars Genevieve Abdo and Nourhan Elnahla reported that the kingdom’s Council of Senior Clerics had initially drafted a fatwa, or religious opinion, describing the closing of mosques as a violation of Islamic principles. They said that government pressure had persuaded the council not to issue the opinion.

Concern among the kingdom’s ultra-conservative religious scholars that the ruling Al-Saud family may break the power-sharing agreement with the clergy, concluded at the birth of the kingdom, predates the rise of King Salman and Prince Mohammed.

Indeed, the clerics’ concern stretches back to the reign of King Abdullah and has focused on attitudes expressed both by senior members of the ruling family who have since been sidelined or detained by Prince Mohammed and princes that continue to wield influence.

The scholars feared that the ruling family contemplated separating state and religion. This is a concern that has likely been reinforced since Prince Mohammed whipped the kingdom’s religious establishment into submission and downplayed religion by emphasizing nationalism.

Ultra-conservative Saudi religious scholars are also certain to have taken note of post-revolt Sudan’s recent decision to legally remove religion from the realm of the state.

Ultra-conservative sentiment does not pose an imminent threat to Prince Mohammed’s iron grip rule of a country in which many welcomed social reforms that have lifted some of the debilitating restrictions on women, liberalized gender segregation, and the as yet unfulfilled promise of greater opportunity for a majority youthful population.

It does however suggest one reason why Prince Mohammed, who is believed to favor formal relations with Israel, may want to tread carefully on an issue that potentially continues to evoke passions. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

The odds are that Saudi Arabia is not about to formalize relations with Israel. But the kingdom, its image tarnished by multiple missteps, is seeking to ensure that it is not perceived as the odd man out as smaller Gulf States establish diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.

The odds are that Saudi Arabia is not about to formalize relations with Israel. But the kingdom, its image tarnished by multiple missteps, is seeking to ensure that it is not perceived as the odd man out as smaller Gulf States establish diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. Bahrain’s announcement that it would follow in the footsteps of the United Arab Emirates was as much a Bahraini move as it was a Saudi signal that it is not opposed to normalization with Israel. Largely dependent on the kingdom since Saudi troops helped squash mass anti-government protests in 2011, Bahrain, a majority Shia Muslim nation, would not have agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Israel without Saudi consent. The Bahraini move followed several other Saudi gestures intended to signal the kingdom’s endorsement of Arab normalization of Israel even if it was not going to lead the pack. The gestures included the opening of Saudi air space to Israeli commercial flights, and publication of a Saudi think tank report praising Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s stewardship in modernizing the kingdom’s religious education system and encouraging the religious establishment to replace“extremist narratives” in school textbooks with “a moderate interpretation of Islamic rhetoric.” They also involved a sermon by Abdulrahman al-Sudais, the imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca – the world’s largest mosque that surrounds the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site that highlighted Prophet Mohammed’s friendly relations with Jews. Mr. al-Sudais noted that the prophet had “performed ablution from a polytheistic water bottle and died while his shield was mortgaged to a Jew,” forged a peace agreement with Jewish inhabitants of the Khaybar region, and dealt so well with a Jewish neighbor that he eventually converted to Islam. The imam’s comments, a day before US President Donald J. Trump was believed to have failed to persuade King Salman to follow the UAE’s example, were widely seen as part of an effort to prepare Saudi public opinion for eventual recognition of Israel. Criticism on social media of the comments constituted one indication that public opinion in Gulf states is divided. Expression of Emirati dissent was restricted to Emirati exiles given that the UAE does not tolerate expression of dissenting views. However, small scale protests erupted in Bahrain, another country that curtails freedom of expression and assembly. Bahraini political and civil society associations, including the Bahrain Bar Association, issued a statement rejecting the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel. “What results from normalization will not enjoy popular backing, in line with what generations of Bahrainis have been brought up on in terms of adherence to the Palestinian cause,” the statement said. Bahrain has long been home to a Jewish community and was the first and, so far, only Arab state to appoint a Jew as its ambassador to the United States. The criticism echoes recent polls in various Gulf States that suggest that Palestine remains a major public foreign policy concern. Polling by David Pollock of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy found that Palestine ranked second to Iran. Earlier polls by James Zogby, a Washington-based pollster with a track record that goes back more than a decade, showed Palestine ranking in 2018 as the foremost foreign policy issue followed by Iran in Emirati and Saudi public opinion. The same year’s Arab Opinion Index suggested that 80 percent of Saudis see Palestine as an Arab rather than a purely Palestinian issue. Mr. Pollock said in an interview that with regard to Palestine, Saudi officials “believe that they have to be a little cautious. They want to move bit by bit in the direction of normalizing at least the existence of Israel or the discussion of Israel, the possibility of peace, but they don’t think that the public is ready for the full embrace or anything like that.” Gulf scholar Giorgio Cafiero noted in a tweet that “Israel formalizing relations (with) unelected Arab (governments) is not the same as Israel making ‘peace’ (with) Arab people. Look at, for example, what Egypt’s citizenry thinks of Israel. Iran and Turkey will capitalize on this reality as more US-friendly Arab [governments] sign accords [with] Israel.” This year’s Arab Opinion Index suggest that in Kuwait, the one country that has not engaged with Israel publicly, Turkey—the Muslim country that has taken a lead in supporting the Palestinians—ranked highest in public esteem compared to China, Russia, and Iran. A rift in a UAE-backed Muslim group created to counter Qatari support of political Islam and promote a state-controlled version of Islam that preaches absolute obedience to the ruler serves as a further indication that Palestine remains an emotive public issue. In Mr. Al-Sudais’ case, analysts suggest that the criticism is as much about Palestine as it is a signal that religious leaders who become subservient to the whims of government may be losing credibility. Mr. Al-Sudais’ sermon contrasted starkly with past talks in which he described Jews as “killers of prophets and the scum of the earth” as well as “monkeys and pigs” and defended Saudi Arabia’s conflict with Iran as a war between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. The criticism coupled with indications earlier this year that Saudi Arabia’s religious establishment was not happy with Prince Mohammed’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic may be one reason why Saudi Arabia is gesturing rather than formalizing already existing relations with Israel. Authorities reportedly arrested in March Sheikh Abdullah al-Saad, an Islamic scholar, after he posted online an audio clip criticizing the government for banning Friday prayers. Mr. al-Saad argued that worshippers should be able to ask God for mercy. An imam in Mecca was fired shortly after he expressed concern about the spread of the coronavirus in Saudi prisons. Scholars Genevieve Abdo and Nourhan Elnahla reported that the kingdom’s Council of Senior Clerics had initially drafted a fatwa, or religious opinion, describing the closing of mosques as a violation of Islamic principles. They said that government pressure had persuaded the council not to issue the opinion. Concern among the kingdom’s ultra-conservative religious scholars that the ruling Al-Saud family may break the power-sharing agreement with the clergy, concluded at the birth of the kingdom, predates the rise of King Salman and Prince Mohammed. Indeed, the clerics’ concern stretches back to the reign of King Abdullah and has focused on attitudes expressed both by senior members of the ruling family who have since been sidelined or detained by Prince Mohammed and princes that continue to wield influence. The scholars feared that the ruling family contemplated separating state and religion. This is a concern that has likely been reinforced since Prince Mohammed whipped the kingdom’s religious establishment into submission and downplayed religion by emphasizing nationalism. Ultra-conservative Saudi religious scholars are also certain to have taken note of post-revolt Sudan’s recent decision to legally remove religion from the realm of the state. Ultra-conservative sentiment does not pose an imminent threat to Prince Mohammed’s iron grip rule of a country in which many welcomed social reforms that have lifted some of the debilitating restrictions on women, liberalized gender segregation, and the as yet unfulfilled promise of greater opportunity for a majority youthful population. It does however suggest one reason why Prince Mohammed, who is believed to favor formal relations with Israel, may want to tread carefully on an issue that potentially continues to evoke passions. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Will they or won’t they? Saudi recognition of Israel is the $64,000 question

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

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

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

Israel becomes first country in world to impose second national lockdown 

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