American Quality Products (AQP), the manufacturer and distributor of ice cream maker Ben &amp; Jerry's, has announced that it is suing Unilever and the ice cream maker for "unlawfully terminating its 34-year business relationship in order to boycott Israel."&nbsp;

The lawsuit urges the US federal court to deem Unilever’s termination as illegal.&nbsp;

AQP owner Avi Zinger, in a release, said, "Ben &amp; Jerry's and Unilever's actions are misguided, unlawful and immoral. Boycotting Israel should come with a heavy price tag, and therefore, we are taking Unilever to court."

"There is still time to do the right thing. Renew my license and leave ice cream out of the political debate."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/more-than-a-billion-people-around-the-world-will-be-obese-by-2030-459010">Also read |&nbsp;More than a billion people around the world will be obese by 2030</a>

As per the lawsuit, Unilever demands AQP to boycott certain parts of Israel while continuing to sell in other parts of the country.&nbsp;

The lawsuit states that this is illegal under both Israeli law and US law and policy.&nbsp;When AQP refused to comply with Unilever’s demand, Unilever refused to renew its license.&nbsp;

The lawsuit further states that Unilever is also violating the Israeli government’s consent decree for the Unilever-Ben &amp; Jerry’s merger. Not just this but numerous terms of the license agreement between AQP, Ben &amp; Jerry’s, and Unilever are also being violated.

"For 34 years I have had a strong and incredibly positive working relationship with Ben &amp; Jerry's, manufacturing and selling its ice cream in all parts of Israel, to Israelis and Palestinians. I refused Ben &amp; Jerry’s and Unilever’s illegal demands, and as a result, they are threatening to close my business, affecting hundreds of Israeli and Palestinians workers and distributors,” stated Zinger.

(With input from agencies)

American Quality Products (AQP), the manufacturer and distributor of ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's, has announced that it is suing Unilever and the ice cream maker for "unlawfully terminating its 34-year business relationship in order to boycott Israel.

American Quality Products (AQP), the manufacturer and distributor of ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's, has announced that it is suing Unilever and the ice cream maker for "unlawfully terminating its 34-year business relationship in order to boycott Israel." The lawsuit urges the US federal court to deem Unilever’s termination as illegal. AQP owner Avi Zinger, in a release, said, "Ben & Jerry's and Unilever's actions are misguided, unlawful and immoral. Boycotting Israel should come with a heavy price tag, and therefore, we are taking Unilever to court." "There is still time to do the right thing. Renew my license and leave ice cream out of the political debate." Also read | More than a billion people around the world will be obese by 2030 As per the lawsuit, Unilever demands AQP to boycott certain parts of Israel while continuing to sell in other parts of the country. The lawsuit states that this is illegal under both Israeli law and US law and policy. When AQP refused to comply with Unilever’s demand, Unilever refused to renew its license. The lawsuit further states that Unilever is also violating the Israeli government’s consent decree for the Unilever-Ben & Jerry’s merger. Not just this but numerous terms of the license agreement between AQP, Ben & Jerry’s, and Unilever are also being violated. "For 34 years I have had a strong and incredibly positive working relationship with Ben & Jerry's, manufacturing and selling its ice cream in all parts of Israel, to Israelis and Palestinians. I refused Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever’s illegal demands, and as a result, they are threatening to close my business, affecting hundreds of Israeli and Palestinians workers and distributors,” stated Zinger. (With input from agencies)

Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever being sued by Israeli ice cream maker over boycott

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says that both the leaders met to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna, and establish a new strategic partnership.

Germany and Israel's high-stakes meet for more Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has announced that the country is sending humanitarian aid to assist people caught up in the fighting in Ukraine. Israel's first response organisation, United Hatzala has already sent a medical relief delegation to the Moldova border with Ukraine.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Israel sends humanitarian aid to help Ukraine amid Russian invasion

Thousands of people took to the streets across Israel, to protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces began firing missiles at several cities in Ukraine on Thursday at dawn, after President Vladimir Putin launched a special military operation.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Thousands take to streets in Israel against Russian invasion of Ukraine

Israel is caught in the midst of Russia-Ukraine tensions. Officials are worried about the imposition of US sanctions against Russia because Israel believes that the sanctions can harm Tel Aviv's security interests. WION's Jodie Cohen brings you more insights.

Israel worried about US sanctions, fears souring relations with Russia

Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned against a 'weaker' nuclear deal with Iran. How different is the new deal being drafted in Vienna? Could this end the Iran-Gulf states isolation? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Israel warns against 'weak' Iran nuclear deal

Israel has successfully tested a new naval air defense system, intercepting a series of threats in what officials called a key layer of protection against Iran and its proxies in the region.

Israel successfully tests C-Dome naval air defense system

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has said that the US-Iranian deal that is taking shape is now weaker than the original agreement that was signed way back in the year 2015. Naftali Bennett has also underlined his concerns that this potential deal that could be struck between Iran and six world powers led by the United States could actually make Middle East a lot more volatile.

Israel PM Naftali Bennett slams emerging Nuclear Deal

"When two elephants fight, the grass always suffers. And here, we are the grass", says Mark Sofer, former ambassador of Israel to India on the ongoing diplomacy efforts to avoid the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

Israel caught in the middle of Russia-Ukraine conflict, says Mark Sofer

Israel says that a Hezbollah drone conducted a 40-minute tour of Northern Israel after penetrating its airspace. The Israeli military fired interceptor missiles.

Israeli military fires interceptor missiles as drone penetrate Israeli airspace

Israel fires missiles at Hezbollah drone after it enters Israel's airspace

A group of doctors in Israel have said that latest research questions the assumption that the official coronavirus (COVID-19) count in the country is underestimated.&nbsp;

In most of the countries, including India, there were reports based on suspicion that people had antibodies due to undetected Covid cases.&nbsp;

However, the researchers at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, which is also known as Ichilov Hospital, have done a research to shed light on the issue. The research is not peer-reviewed yet.&nbsp;

The researchers conducted antibody tests on around 500 medical staff who didn't knowingly have coronavirus since August.

The researchers were expecting to find that majority of people had antibodies, which means they had the virus and they didn't even know it.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kongs-dynamic-zero-covid-policy-put-to-test-covid-cases-multiply-by-60-times-454099">Hong Kong’s ‘dynamic zero Covid’ policy put to test as cases multiply by 60 times</a>

However, a senior Ichilov physician Dr Esti Sayag told The Times of Israel that only 2.6 per cent of them had been infected without them realising it. The percentage is lower than what they had anticipated.&nbsp;

Dr Sayag said, "We checked for a particular antibody — n — which is specific to those who have recovered from the virus and isn't found among those who just had the vaccine, so the study gave an accurate picture."&nbsp;

WION's Jodie Cohen reported from Sourasky Medical Center that the study suggests that undetected, asymptomatic Covid infections are actually rare. The report also added that the hospital is now going to widen the study and expects to confirm the findings.&nbsp;

"The first lesson here is that when you have careful checks for healthcare workers you can be sure that you are containing the disease among your staff, and you don't have people harming patients and spreading disease to patients and colleagues," said Sayag.&nbsp;

"But the more important lesson relates to the public. There have been voices in Israel saying that the real numbers of infection are two or three times what has been reported. We don’t believe this, and we’re widening the study to the public now to check this," she said.&nbsp;

"While numbers in the general population may not be as low as among health workers who have so much testing, we believe the figures from hospitals indicate they also will be low," she added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/next-covid-variant-may-be-more-dangerous-than-omicron-say-scientists-453061">Next Covid variant may be more dangerous than Omicron, say scientists</a>

Meanwhile, Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held a discussion on Thursday (17 February) over easing the coronavirus restrictions.&nbsp;

Bennett said, "Our strategy, of an open economy alongside a struggle and many actions against the coronavirus, has led to the State of Israel being first in growth among the developed countries and to a level of economic growth that we have not seen in 21 years."&nbsp;

"We were the first country to close its gates in the Omicron wave; therefore, this is also the time for a gradual relaxation. As far as I am concerned, we must prepare to relax the restrictions soon," he added.&nbsp;

Last month, there were days when Israel saw more than 80,000 new Covid cases. However, the infection rate has now declined drastically, with this week daily numbers falling below 30,000.&nbsp;

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A group of doctors in Israel have said that latest research questions the assumption that the official coronavirus (COVID-19) count in the country is underestimated.

A group of doctors in Israel have said that latest research questions the assumption that the official coronavirus (COVID-19) count in the country is underestimated. In most of the countries, including India, there were reports based on suspicion that people had antibodies due to undetected Covid cases. However, the researchers at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, which is also known as Ichilov Hospital, have done a research to shed light on the issue. The research is not peer-reviewed yet. The researchers conducted antibody tests on around 500 medical staff who didn't knowingly have coronavirus since August. The researchers were expecting to find that majority of people had antibodies, which means they had the virus and they didn't even know it. ALSO READ | Hong Kong’s ‘dynamic zero Covid’ policy put to test as cases multiply by 60 times However, a senior Ichilov physician Dr Esti Sayag told The Times of Israel that only 2.6 per cent of them had been infected without them realising it. The percentage is lower than what they had anticipated. Dr Sayag said, "We checked for a particular antibody — n — which is specific to those who have recovered from the virus and isn't found among those who just had the vaccine, so the study gave an accurate picture." WION's Jodie Cohen reported from Sourasky Medical Center that the study suggests that undetected, asymptomatic Covid infections are actually rare. The report also added that the hospital is now going to widen the study and expects to confirm the findings. "The first lesson here is that when you have careful checks for healthcare workers you can be sure that you are containing the disease among your staff, and you don't have people harming patients and spreading disease to patients and colleagues," said Sayag. "But the more important lesson relates to the public. There have been voices in Israel saying that the real numbers of infection are two or three times what has been reported. We don’t believe this, and we’re widening the study to the public now to check this," she said. "While numbers in the general population may not be as low as among health workers who have so much testing, we believe the figures from hospitals indicate they also will be low," she added. ALSO READ | Next Covid variant may be more dangerous than Omicron, say scientists Meanwhile, Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held a discussion on Thursday (17 February) over easing the coronavirus restrictions. Bennett said, "Our strategy, of an open economy alongside a struggle and many actions against the coronavirus, has led to the State of Israel being first in growth among the developed countries and to a level of economic growth that we have not seen in 21 years." "We were the first country to close its gates in the Omicron wave; therefore, this is also the time for a gradual relaxation. As far as I am concerned, we must prepare to relax the restrictions soon," he added. Last month, there were days when Israel saw more than 80,000 new Covid cases. However, the infection rate has now declined drastically, with this week daily numbers falling below 30,000. ×

COVID-19: Survey done by Israel doctors finds undetected cases are rare

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Bahrain's Crown Prince during his first visit to the Gulf state. Both leaders discussed enhancing links in a variety of sectors between the two nations after the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020.

Israeli PM Naftali Bennett meets Bahrain's Crown Prince on landmark visit

A new survey at an Israeli hospital has found that undetected Covid-19 infections are rare even as questions have been raised about country's official infection count.

Israeli survey conducts antibody tests on medical staff, finds undetected Covid infections very rare

In a bit to cement ties Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett landed in the Gulf state of Bahrain, it is the first public visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to Bahrain, the visit also comes two weeks after the country signed a defense agreement to counter rising tensions in the Gulf.

Israeli PM Naftali Bennett lands in Bahrain

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is seeking to evacuate as many Israelis as possible from Ukraine amid growing fears of a Russian invasion.

Israeli officials rushing to evacuate citizens from Ukraine as Russia tensions escalate

Israeli PM Naftali Bennett on a 2-day trip to Bahrain

The freedom convoy that started in Canada inspired several demonstrations across the world. In the latest, Israel's freedom convoy heads to Jerusalem.

Inspired by Canada, Israel's freedom convoy heads to Jerusalem

Germany's Foreign Minister meets with Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett amid the ongoing Vienna talks to salvage Iran's Nuclear Deal.

German FM meets Israel's Prime Minister as 9th round of Nuclear deal negotiations underway in Vienna

The road meandering towards Gaza Valley is notorious for the stench of&nbsp;pollution&nbsp;choking the plant and animal life that once flourished in the Palestinian enclave's biggest wetland.

That is expected to change after the sullied habitat was declared Gaza's first nature reserve, set for a UN-backed, decade long clean-up effort under the territory's Hamas Islamist rulers.&nbsp;

"The valley will return to its beautiful natural state" for local people to walk through and enjoy, said Jaber Abu Hajeer, the mayor of the area known as Wadi Gaza.

The fouling of the valley with raw sewerage, wastewater and rubbish is a consequence of chronic under-development in the strip that has been blockaded by Israel since 2007.

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italian-woman-found-seated-on-her-dining-table-in-mummified-state-two-years-after-her-death-452149">Italian woman found seated on her dining table in mummified state two years after her death&nbsp;</a>

Gaza's poor infrastructure cannot manage the waste produced by a population that has rapidly grown to 2.3 million.

For more than three decades, sewage was pumped straight into Wadi Gaza and parts of its became dumping grounds for household waste and construction debris.

What was once a "beautiful nature reserve" gradually became "a swamp full of insects, snakes and bacteria, an out-of-control dump," said Abdel-Fattah Abd Rabbo, an environmental specialist at the Islamic University of Gaza.

Until last year, some 16,000 cubic metres of wastewater were pumped into the valley every day, say local authorities, causing a range of health problems for families living along the waterway that empties into the Mediterranean Sea.

Local resident Abdulkarim al-Louh said "unfortunately, due to the political situation that we are living under, the reserve got destroyed and was transformed into a waste water swamp".

He said he hoped that reversing the damage "will clear the area of the diseases, water waste, insects and mosquitos that all Wadi Gaza residents suffer from".

&nbsp;'Green belt'&nbsp;

The pumping of untreated effluent into the valley stopped last year, when a new treatment plant opened in central Gaza,&nbsp;but Wadi Gaza's full rehabilitation is expected to take time. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The United Nations Development Programme is backing a 10-year, $66 million effort, led by five local Gazan governments, that aims to make the area an urgently needed ecological oasis.&nbsp;

A UNDP project coordinator, Muhammad Abu Shaaban, said the goal is create a "green belt", rich in biodiversity.

Step one is the clean-up, and municipal staff were on site last week trying to clear the creek of filth.

The next phase is a massive tree-planting effort, ahead of infrastructure improvements including better road access to make the area attractive to local tourists.&nbsp;

Abu Shaaban said the master plan aims to solve "all the environmental issues in the valley", including&nbsp;pollution, encroachment, building violations and "the floods the valley has been suffering from over the years".

Gaza's population, which has endured the crippling blockade and waves of conflict between Hamas and Israel, have few outdoor recreational spaces other than the coastline.&nbsp;

Israel and Egypt tightly control access in and out of Gaza and foreign visitors are largely kept away.&nbsp;

Mayor Hajeer pledged that, when the restoration project is completed, Wadi Gaza will become "a cultural, sporting and tourist attraction".

Abdulrahim Abu al-Konboz, director of solid waste management in Gaza, said all residents "will benefit from this programme since the water that runs through Wadi Gaza will be clean and free of pollutants when it reaches the sea.&nbsp;

"Gaza beach in the summer will be free of the&nbsp;pollution&nbsp;which used to come from the Wadi Gaza area."

The road meandering towards Gaza Valley is notorious for the stench of pollution choking the plant and animal life that once flourished in the Palestinian enclave's biggest wetland.

The road meandering towards Gaza Valley is notorious for the stench of pollution choking the plant and animal life that once flourished in the Palestinian enclave's biggest wetland. That is expected to change after the sullied habitat was declared Gaza's first nature reserve, set for a UN-backed, decade long clean-up effort under the territory's Hamas Islamist rulers. "The valley will return to its beautiful natural state" for local people to walk through and enjoy, said Jaber Abu Hajeer, the mayor of the area known as Wadi Gaza. The fouling of the valley with raw sewerage, wastewater and rubbish is a consequence of chronic under-development in the strip that has been blockaded by Israel since 2007. Also read | Italian woman found seated on her dining table in mummified state two years after her death Gaza's poor infrastructure cannot manage the waste produced by a population that has rapidly grown to 2.3 million. For more than three decades, sewage was pumped straight into Wadi Gaza and parts of its became dumping grounds for household waste and construction debris. What was once a "beautiful nature reserve" gradually became "a swamp full of insects, snakes and bacteria, an out-of-control dump," said Abdel-Fattah Abd Rabbo, an environmental specialist at the Islamic University of Gaza. Until last year, some 16,000 cubic metres of wastewater were pumped into the valley every day, say local authorities, causing a range of health problems for families living along the waterway that empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Local resident Abdulkarim al-Louh said "unfortunately, due to the political situation that we are living under, the reserve got destroyed and was transformed into a waste water swamp". He said he hoped that reversing the damage "will clear the area of the diseases, water waste, insects and mosquitos that all Wadi Gaza residents suffer from". 'Green belt' The pumping of untreated effluent into the valley stopped last year, when a new treatment plant opened in central Gaza, but Wadi Gaza's full rehabilitation is expected to take time. The United Nations Development Programme is backing a 10-year, $66 million effort, led by five local Gazan governments, that aims to make the area an urgently needed ecological oasis. A UNDP project coordinator, Muhammad Abu Shaaban, said the goal is create a "green belt", rich in biodiversity. Step one is the clean-up, and municipal staff were on site last week trying to clear the creek of filth. The next phase is a massive tree-planting effort, ahead of infrastructure improvements including better road access to make the area attractive to local tourists. Abu Shaaban said the master plan aims to solve "all the environmental issues in the valley", including pollution, encroachment, building violations and "the floods the valley has been suffering from over the years". Gaza's population, which has endured the crippling blockade and waves of conflict between Hamas and Israel, have few outdoor recreational spaces other than the coastline. Israel and Egypt tightly control access in and out of Gaza and foreign visitors are largely kept away. Mayor Hajeer pledged that, when the restoration project is completed, Wadi Gaza will become "a cultural, sporting and tourist attraction". Abdulrahim Abu al-Konboz, director of solid waste management in Gaza, said all residents "will benefit from this programme since the water that runs through Wadi Gaza will be clean and free of pollutants when it reaches the sea. "Gaza beach in the summer will be free of the pollution which used to come from the Wadi Gaza area."

Pollution clean-up aims to create Gaza's first nature reserve

Israel's domestic spying scandal has widened, a new report has divulged illicit use of the powerful spyware Pegasus by Israeli police to hack the phones of dozens of prominent figures. Following the report, the Israeli government has announced to set up a national inquiry.

'Unacceptable in a democracy' Naftali Bennett to set up national inquiry over Police Pegasus scandal

The Israeli government on Monday announced to conduct a state commission of inquiry to probe into the alleged claims of the country police using sophisticated spyware to hack into the phones of top government officials and journalists.

Israel PM vows action against Pegasus, to investigate claims

Israel's domestic spying scandal widened with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett vowing government action following new reports.

Israel PM Naftali Bennett vows action on Pegasus spyware

US President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett over the phone discussing nuclear talks, the Russia-Ukraine crisis and a visit to Israel later this year.

US President Joe Biden to visit Israel later this year

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has laid out an expanded Israeli strategy to confront Iran that appears to move beyond a potential military strike against the Islamic republic’s nuclear facilities.

Mr. Bennett appeared to be guided not only by concern about the fallout of a unilateral Israeli action but also seemingly mounting fears in Tehran that economic hardship could spark a social explosion.

“Bennett’s new approach is to take action gradually in an attempt to exhaust Iran’s power, wear it down and weaken the violent energy it is sending to its offshoots in the Middle East,” said Haaretz journalist Jonathan Lis.

The expanded strategy is likely rooted, at least partially, in the notion that harsh US sanctions have deepened Iran's economic woes but that these are also the result of gross economic mismanagement, rampant corruption, and the cost of supporting Iranian intervention in Syria and militias in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. Iran hopes that lifting US sanctions as part of an agreement in Vienna would alleviate its economic problems.

Israel’s strategy appeared until now to centre on a possible military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities for which Israel’s armed forces are preparing.&nbsp;

Military analysts have questioned how effective an Israeli strike might be in destroying Iran’s nuclear capability. Moreover, Israel could face severe international criticism, including by the United States, if it were to strike unilaterally once the Vienna talks succeed in reviving the nuclear accord.

Mr. Bennett last month reiterated that Israel would not be bound by any nuclear deal with Iran and would continue to consider itself free to act “with no constraints” if necessary.

At the same time, the Israeli prime minister warned participants in the 2022 Davos World Economic Forum that “investing in Iran is not a sound investment whether there is a deal or not a deal... Their economy is tanking. The rial is depreciating. They are so incompetent that they are not able to get water to faucets in huge swaths of land, for example, in the Isfahan area," Mr. Bennett said.

The notion that a war of attrition could wear Iran down may have gained currency with the leaking of a seven-page summary of a meeting in November. In the meeting, senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that Iranian society was, in the words of a Mr. Mohammadi, identified as an official of the Guards’ intelligence wing, in a “state of explosion.”

The seriousness of the warning was highlighted by the fact that the meeting was reportedly convened by the Guards’ ‘Working Group on the Prevention of a Livelihood-Based Security Crisis.'

Mr. Mohammadi argued that soaring inflation; hikes in the price of food, energy, and cars; and declining stock prices had “shaken public trust” in the government of President Ebrahim Raisi only months after it came to office.

Shareholders last month staged a protest in front of the Istanbul stock exchange denouncing Mr. Raisi as a “liar,’ and chanting “Death to this deceitful government.”

An Iranian legal and economic consultant said that millions of small investors had recently sustained substantial losses on the Iranian stock market.

“They’ve seen a substantial portion of their savings wiped out… When you get the shopkeeper on the corner talking about the stock market, you know you're in an advanced stage of a bubble. So people are moving assets offshore and buying property abroad," he said. Iranians are among the top buyers of residential real estate in neighbouring Turkey.

The adviser said the Iranian government’s proposed budget for the next year was fuelling the unrest. The budget significantly increases expenditure on the Guards and the military at the expense of social spending. Moreover, a ten per cent rise in government salaries would fall far below Iran’s rampant inflation estimated a 40 per cent.

According to the leaked document, a Colonel Kaviani told the Guards’ meeting that real inflation ranged from 86 to 268 per cent.

Some Iranian officials have suggested that a series of recent cyberattacks targeting airlines, railways, gas stations, universities, and Iran’s state broadcaster is part of an Israeli effort to capitalise on and fuel widespread discontent.

Others said the attack on state-run Iranian television and radio might not have been launched by Israel but be an effort by Iranian hardliners to undermine the position of the broadcaster’s director-general, Peyman Jebelli, who they accuse of being insufficiently conservative. Either way, the attack and potentially other cyber incidents would serve Israel's purpose even if the Jewish state was not directly responsible.

Analysts said the attacks constituted an expansion of Israel’s targeting of Iranian military and nuclear sites toward a more full-fledged cyberwar on civilian infrastructure as well as an escalating information war.

In a seeming response, a cyber group operated by Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia in Lebanon, hacked companies in Israel, Palestine, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United States, and Britain, according to ClearSky, a cybersecurity company. Iran is also believed to have targeted Israel’s water system, a hospital, and an LGBTQ dating site.

“Given that Iran’s nuclear facilities have spread all over the country and attacking the program has become much more complicated, Israel has adopted a new approach — conducting massive cyberattacks…to foment nationwide riots with the objective of toppling the regime or keeping the rulers busy with day-to-day, endless riots,” said Maysam Behravesh, a former foreign policy advisor for Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

Mr. Behravesh argued that the cyberattacks were not instead of an Israeli attack but buying time in advance of a strike.

“This change of pattern by the Israelis to hit civilian targets is a pre-strike stage, meaning they’re giving this one last chance before resorting to a full-scale military operation against Iranian nuclear facilities,” he said.

In an apparent escalation of the information war, the BBC last week disclosed a suspected Iranian network on Facebook aimed at nationalist and ultra-religious Jews in an attempt to stoke division and inflame tensions with Palestinians.

The United States and Saudi Arabia have, in the past separately, tried without success to provoke widespread unrest in Iran by supporting dissident ethnic groups.

The Saudi effort is a reminder that what starts in the Middle East does not always stay in the Middle East. It sparked a tit-for-tat exchange between Saudi and Iranian intelligence assets in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway.

A Danish district court last week convicted three members of an Iranian Arab opposition group on charges of financing and supporting terrorist activity in Iran in collaboration with Saudi Arabian intelligence services as well as espionage.

Last year, a Danish court upheld a seven-year sentence given to a Norwegian citizen of Iranian origin for spying and collaboration in a failed plot to kill one of the Iranian Arabs sentenced last week.

The notion that an escalating cyberwar could escalate beyond Israel and Iran as it apparently did with the Hezbollah attacks on companies across the region and beyond was but one reason for authorities in numerous countries to step up joint exercises focussed on cyberattacks from a wide variety of state-sponsored and criminal entities, of which Iran is only one, and not necessarily the most important one.

Israel's Joint Cyber Defense Division and the US Cyber Command organised their sixth joint drill in a year in December. Israel led a 10-country simulation of a major cyberattack on the global financial system at about the same time.

Participants included treasury officials from Israel, the United States, the UK, the UAE, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Thailand, as well as representatives from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and Bank of International Settlements.

Yigal Una, head of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate, said that in “the end we know everyone who’s behind (an attack) and we remember, and we can get even… We don't feel for one second that we don't have the upper hand.”

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has laid out an expanded Israeli strategy to confront Iran that appears to move beyond a potential military strike against the Islamic republic’s nuclear facilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has laid out an expanded Israeli strategy to confront Iran that appears to move beyond a potential military strike against the Islamic republic’s nuclear facilities. Mr. Bennett appeared to be guided not only by concern about the fallout of a unilateral Israeli action but also seemingly mounting fears in Tehran that economic hardship could spark a social explosion. “Bennett’s new approach is to take action gradually in an attempt to exhaust Iran’s power, wear it down and weaken the violent energy it is sending to its offshoots in the Middle East,” said Haaretz journalist Jonathan Lis. The expanded strategy is likely rooted, at least partially, in the notion that harsh US sanctions have deepened Iran's economic woes but that these are also the result of gross economic mismanagement, rampant corruption, and the cost of supporting Iranian intervention in Syria and militias in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. Iran hopes that lifting US sanctions as part of an agreement in Vienna would alleviate its economic problems. Israel’s strategy appeared until now to centre on a possible military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities for which Israel’s armed forces are preparing. Military analysts have questioned how effective an Israeli strike might be in destroying Iran’s nuclear capability. Moreover, Israel could face severe international criticism, including by the United States, if it were to strike unilaterally once the Vienna talks succeed in reviving the nuclear accord. Mr. Bennett last month reiterated that Israel would not be bound by any nuclear deal with Iran and would continue to consider itself free to act “with no constraints” if necessary. At the same time, the Israeli prime minister warned participants in the 2022 Davos World Economic Forum that “investing in Iran is not a sound investment whether there is a deal or not a deal... Their economy is tanking. The rial is depreciating. They are so incompetent that they are not able to get water to faucets in huge swaths of land, for example, in the Isfahan area," Mr. Bennett said. The notion that a war of attrition could wear Iran down may have gained currency with the leaking of a seven-page summary of a meeting in November. In the meeting, senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that Iranian society was, in the words of a Mr. Mohammadi, identified as an official of the Guards’ intelligence wing, in a “state of explosion.” The seriousness of the warning was highlighted by the fact that the meeting was reportedly convened by the Guards’ ‘Working Group on the Prevention of a Livelihood-Based Security Crisis.' Mr. Mohammadi argued that soaring inflation; hikes in the price of food, energy, and cars; and declining stock prices had “shaken public trust” in the government of President Ebrahim Raisi only months after it came to office. Shareholders last month staged a protest in front of the Istanbul stock exchange denouncing Mr. Raisi as a “liar,’ and chanting “Death to this deceitful government.” An Iranian legal and economic consultant said that millions of small investors had recently sustained substantial losses on the Iranian stock market. “They’ve seen a substantial portion of their savings wiped out… When you get the shopkeeper on the corner talking about the stock market, you know you're in an advanced stage of a bubble. So people are moving assets offshore and buying property abroad," he said. Iranians are among the top buyers of residential real estate in neighbouring Turkey. The adviser said the Iranian government’s proposed budget for the next year was fuelling the unrest. The budget significantly increases expenditure on the Guards and the military at the expense of social spending. Moreover, a ten per cent rise in government salaries would fall far below Iran’s rampant inflation estimated a 40 per cent. According to the leaked document, a Colonel Kaviani told the Guards’ meeting that real inflation ranged from 86 to 268 per cent. Some Iranian officials have suggested that a series of recent cyberattacks targeting airlines, railways, gas stations, universities, and Iran’s state broadcaster is part of an Israeli effort to capitalise on and fuel widespread discontent. Others said the attack on state-run Iranian television and radio might not have been launched by Israel but be an effort by Iranian hardliners to undermine the position of the broadcaster’s director-general, Peyman Jebelli, who they accuse of being insufficiently conservative. Either way, the attack and potentially other cyber incidents would serve Israel's purpose even if the Jewish state was not directly responsible. Analysts said the attacks constituted an expansion of Israel’s targeting of Iranian military and nuclear sites toward a more full-fledged cyberwar on civilian infrastructure as well as an escalating information war. In a seeming response, a cyber group operated by Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia in Lebanon, hacked companies in Israel, Palestine, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United States, and Britain, according to ClearSky, a cybersecurity company. Iran is also believed to have targeted Israel’s water system, a hospital, and an LGBTQ dating site. “Given that Iran’s nuclear facilities have spread all over the country and attacking the program has become much more complicated, Israel has adopted a new approach — conducting massive cyberattacks…to foment nationwide riots with the objective of toppling the regime or keeping the rulers busy with day-to-day, endless riots,” said Maysam Behravesh, a former foreign policy advisor for Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security. Mr. Behravesh argued that the cyberattacks were not instead of an Israeli attack but buying time in advance of a strike. “This change of pattern by the Israelis to hit civilian targets is a pre-strike stage, meaning they’re giving this one last chance before resorting to a full-scale military operation against Iranian nuclear facilities,” he said. In an apparent escalation of the information war, the BBC last week disclosed a suspected Iranian network on Facebook aimed at nationalist and ultra-religious Jews in an attempt to stoke division and inflame tensions with Palestinians. The United States and Saudi Arabia have, in the past separately, tried without success to provoke widespread unrest in Iran by supporting dissident ethnic groups. The Saudi effort is a reminder that what starts in the Middle East does not always stay in the Middle East. It sparked a tit-for-tat exchange between Saudi and Iranian intelligence assets in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway. A Danish district court last week convicted three members of an Iranian Arab opposition group on charges of financing and supporting terrorist activity in Iran in collaboration with Saudi Arabian intelligence services as well as espionage. Last year, a Danish court upheld a seven-year sentence given to a Norwegian citizen of Iranian origin for spying and collaboration in a failed plot to kill one of the Iranian Arabs sentenced last week. The notion that an escalating cyberwar could escalate beyond Israel and Iran as it apparently did with the Hezbollah attacks on companies across the region and beyond was but one reason for authorities in numerous countries to step up joint exercises focussed on cyberattacks from a wide variety of state-sponsored and criminal entities, of which Iran is only one, and not necessarily the most important one. Israel's Joint Cyber Defense Division and the US Cyber Command organised their sixth joint drill in a year in December. Israel led a 10-country simulation of a major cyberattack on the global financial system at about the same time. Participants included treasury officials from Israel, the United States, the UK, the UAE, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Thailand, as well as representatives from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and Bank of International Settlements. Yigal Una, head of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate, said that in “the end we know everyone who’s behind (an attack) and we remember, and we can get even… We don't feel for one second that we don't have the upper hand.” (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Israel expands its Iran strategy amid potential social unrest in the Islamic republic

Israeli Defense minister Benny Gantz landed in Bahrain, this is the latest high-profile diplomatic trip since the country's normalized ties.

Israeli Defence Minister Gantz first-ever visit to Bahrain

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Israeli Defence Minister Gantz's first ever visit to Bahrain amid heightened gulf tensions

Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has announced plans for the country to have a laser wall in a form of defence against enemy missiles.

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Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that a 'laser wall' will protect the country from enemy rockets, missiles and UAVs amid continued threats from Hamas.

Israel PM Naftali Bennett: Laser wall will protect the country against rockets, missiles & UAVs

India and Israel celebrated 30th anniversary of full diplomatic relations. While COVID has meant that some planned celebrations have had to go online, the two countries have jointly launched the anniversary year virtually with a logo marking the occasion.

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