ynetnews - News

ynetnews on Facebook

Weather:

Snow and rain forecast for Israel on the coldest day of the season so far

Jerusalem may see snow Tuesday though it is not expected to accumulate on the ground despite low temperatures; in the Galilee roads and schools remain open as residents brace for a cold and snowy day

Ahiya Raved , 09:02 , 01.21.20

Israel to allow Qatari aid into Gaza despite explosive balloon attacks

Qatar's envoy is set to enter the enclave on Tuesday to deliver another installment of relief funds amid a substantial increase in attacks involving explosives attached to airborne devices being sent from the Strip to Israel

Ynet , 23:33 , 01.20.20

Palestinian family pledge appeal over Jerusalem eviction ruling

The Rajabi family says the court's decision to evict them from their home in the Silwan neighborhood is a result of 'political games by the Israeli courts and the settler organizations'

AFP , 22:32 , 01.20.20

BDS targets int'l herbalist event in Israel in apparent conspiracy

Ancient Roots Israel, set to be held near Tiberias next month, looks to be in jeopardy after the American Herbal Guild cancelled its participation following a campaign organized by a BDS activist which some claim works for the guild

Itamar Eichner , 21:11 , 01.20.20

Israel foiled 560 'significant' terror attacks in 2019, says head of intel agency

Shin Bet Director Nadav Argaman says the internal security agency thwarted '10 suicide plots, 4 abductions and over 300 shooting attacks' during speech at ceremony honoring intelligence achievement; PM adds next big challenge is Iran

Yoav Zitun, Itamar Eichner , 19:00 , 01.20.20

Kremlin: Putin will discuss Israeli jailed in Russia during Jerusalem visit

Spokesperson for Russian president says clemency for Naama Issachar, currently serving 7.5-year sentence for cannabis possession at Moscow airport, is unlikely to be announced before Putin arrives in Jerusalem on Thursday

Ynet , 16:04 , 01.20.20

PM taps Likud lawmakers to take over his ministries

Netanyahu was forced to quit his various portfolios earlier this month due to criminal charges against him, names replacements for agriculture, Diaspora affairs and labor ministries

Moran Azulay , 14:40 , 01.20.20

Four seriously hurt in gas tanker explosion in northern Israel

Hospital reports all injured are given artificial respiration due to extensive burns to their upper bodies, will be transferred to intensive care unit in Haifa for further treatment

Hassan Shaalan, Ahiya Raved , 12:59 , 01.20.20

Honduras to officially name Hezbollah as terror organization

Israel's Ambassador to UN thanks Honduran president, who calls move 'culmination of security policies expressed over several years'; step follows similar measures by Argentina, Brazil and Guatemala in recent years; Tegucigalpa seen as pro-Israel under current government, opening Jerusalem trade office in September 2019

i24NEWS , 12:44 , 01.20.20

What happens when world's leaders visit Israel en masse?

Dozens of dignitaries will land at Ben-Gurion Airport this week to attend a ceremony at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp; British, Spanish, Dutch and Norwegian royalty among attendees along with Macron, Pence and Putin

Gilad Cohen , Itay Blumenthal, AFP , 11:30 , 01.20.20

Heavy rain, flood warnings continue across Israel

Center of country receives most rainfall, while snow predicted for Mount Hermon on Golan Heights; fears of flooding keep popular hiking, abseiling and climbing routes in Judean Desert closed

Ahiya Raved, Raanan Ben Tsur, Itay Blumenthal , 11:03 , 01.20.20

Report: Trump to decide on release of Mideast peace deal before March 2 ballot

Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly pushing for the U.S. administration to present the peace plan before the vote; while Benny Gantz opposes such a move, raising concerns over election intervention

i24NEWS , 09:09 , 01.20.20

Mother of Israeli jailed in Russia hopeful Putin will pardon daughter soon

Russian media says Putin considers granting Issachar amnesty before visit to Israel later this week to attend Holocaust remembrance ceremony

Ynet , 22:51 , 01.19.20

Edelstein allows Knesset vote on committee to consider PM's immunity plea

Netanyahu's efforts to delay formation of committee until after March 2 elections comes due current Knesset having clear majority to block immunity plea

Moran Azulay, Yuval Karni , 21:42 , 01.19.20

Jordanian parliament passes law to ban Israeli gas imports

The motion was passed unanimously by Jordan's 130 lawmakers following weekend protests around the country against the new energy deal between the two countries

Associated Press , 20:30 , 01.19.20

Mandelblit denies PM lawyers' request for all investigation files

AG says by law a defendant cannot receive all of the documents files until the indictment is presented to the court, which cannot be done until a special Knesset committee votes on PM's request to receive parliamentary immunity

Tova Tzimuki, i24NEWS , 17:13 , 01.19.20

IDF places 'tunnel-buster' sensors along northern border

Military engineers begin work near Kibbutz Misgav Am on Lebanon frontier; new system will use seismic and acoustic devices that according to army are 'merely preventative measures' and do not signify new efforts by Hezbollah

Yoav Zitun , 14:05 , 01.19.20

REVEALED: IDF's biggest division is not prepared for war

Internal audit finds 319th Division on northern border is short of dozens of tanks and vehicles, lacks million of shekels for first troops into combat in event of conflict in north; 'inspection team has been assembled' says army

Yoav Zitun , 12:35 , 01.19.20

Apple’s Siri calls Rivlin 'president of Zionist occupation state’

A glitch in the voice-controlled personal assistant was a result of the president's Wikipedia page, from which the information is usually extracted, being hacked

i24NEWS , 10:43 , 01.19.20

Floods and roadblocks as new bout of stormy weather hits Israel

Thunderstorms and heavy downpours hit central Israel and are set to spread and intensify throughout the country in the coming days; snowfall in the Golan Heights is also expected to continue

Ynet , 09:05 , 01.19.20

Female Israeli soldiers subjected to bible lessons on the job

Lectures are conducted by civilian wife of a rabbi, whose authorization to enter sensitive military site is unclear despite strict IDF regulations; sessions include lessons on a woman's duties to her husband; IDF army says matter will be investigated

Yoav Zitun , 09:51 , 01.18.20

Acting UNRWA head says U.S., Israel working against it

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees faced budgetary difficulties since 2018, when Trump halted annual American aid of $360 million while its former commissioner-general resigned amid probe into misconduct allegations

Reuters , 08:40 , 01.17.20

Putin said mulling pardon for Israeli jailed in Russia

Report in local media says Kremlin still smarting at Israel's extradition of hacker to U.S.; president set to join dozens of world leaders in Jerusalem next week for Holocaust memorial; claim comes hours after PM raised issue of Naama Issachar during phone call with Putin

Itamar Eichner, Attila Somfalvi, Alexandra Lukash , 21:12 , 01.16.20

Fury as Shabbat bus services axed over religious community complaints

Gantz vows to reverse decision after it emerges that more and more bus lines are being canceled due to complaints to Transportation Ministry from observant Jewish public; official says move is implementation of government policy

Yuval Karni, Roi Rubenstein , 17:49 , 01.16.20

Netanyahu raises Israeli jailed in Russia during Putin call

Conversation raises much optimism ahead of Russian president's visit to Israel next week; mother of Naama Issachar, jailed for 7.5 years for possessing cannabis on Moscow stopover, says no plans for disruption during visit

Itamar Eichner, Attila Somfalvi, Alexandra Lukash , 16:44 , 01.16.20

Court orders closed-door hearings in NSO surveillance firm case

Amnesty International claims NSO profits from spyware being used to abuse activists; judge cites national security concerns in ordering restriction, accepting defense ministry's request to ban public, media from court sessions

The news agencies , 16:09 , 01.16.20

Report: 14,800 Holocaust survivors pass away in 2019

Finance ministry says billions transferred to survivors in direct payments and benefits; about two-thirds of survivors receive only a few hundred shekels every month

Amir Alon , 13:22 , 01.16.20

Israel concerned over renewed violence on the Gaza border

Talks to advance long-term calm with Hamas stall after Egypt, incandescent over Haniyeh's visit to Tehran, began raising taxes and prices of goods crossing into Gaza from Rafah

Elior Levy , 11:39 , 01.16.20

Jewish Home drops extremist faction to join right-wing bloc in 11th-hour move

Having run in separate lists in the two previous elections this year, Likud estimated the lost votes of the religious right foiled Netanyahu's efforts to form a coalition

Ynet, i24NEWS , 09:16 , 01.16.20

Israeli military launches strikes in Gaza in response to rocket fire

The attacks come just hours after 4 projectiles were fired at communities bordering the Hamas-controlled enclave; in the meantime, a bundle of balloons with a suspicious device attached to it, lands in Sderot

Matan Tzuri, Yoav Zitun , 21:11 , 01.15.20

Jordan's king warns of Israeli annexation, 'untold chaos' of possible U.S.-Iran war

Monarch says unilateral action on Israel's part could end hopes for two-state solution, claims Jewish state 'perpetuates divisions among peoples and faiths worldwide'

AFP , 18:15 , 01.15.20

Blue & White MK defects to Likud

Ethiopian-born lawmaker Gadi Yevarkan is offered 20th spot on party list, considered a safe seat, in March 2 election; was dismissed from his former political home earlier in the day as news emerged of his plan to move Netanyahu's party

Moran Azulay, Yuval Karni , 17:29 , 01.15.20

Four rockets fired from Gaza at bordering Israeli communities

IDF says Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted two of the projectiles, with two more apparently landing in open areas; attack took place as children disembarked from buses at end of school day

Ynet , 16:02 , 01.15.20

UK ambassador: EU appeal is last chance for Iran to comply with nuclear deal

Neil Wigan says 'Iran has now taken five steps of non-compliance' and calls on Islamic Republic to cooperate, warns Tehran may face collapse of 2015 pact and return of sanctions if it fails to abide by its commitments under the agreement

Alexandra Lukash, Nir Cohen , 15:24 , 01.15.20

PM pushing far-right parties to unite for next election

As deadline looms for submission of candidates lists for March vote, PM warns his defense minister Naftali Bennett that his position is 'at risk' if his party does not finalize agreement with Jewish Home

Moran Azulay , 13:26 , 01.15.20

At least 3 pro-Iranian fighters said killed in strike on Syria airbase blamed on Israel

Syrian Observatory says unspecified number also injured; site outside Homs houses Iranian weapon depots, been subject to attacks attributed to Israel several times in recent years

Daniel Salami , 11:44 , 01.15.20

Troops demolish two structures illegally built near the settlement of Yitzhar

Settlement officials condemned the demolition claiming the government is targeting Jewish homes while Arabs continue to build illegally

Elisha Ben Kimon , 08:43 , 01.15.20

Syrian Army says Israel attacked T-4 airbase

According to state media, four rockets hit base and only caused material damage; location has been targeted several times in the past for suspicion of being storage point for Quds Forces in Syria

Ynet , 23:49 , 01.14.20

Wife of Rabin assassin registers party

Trimbobler-Amir submits party slate to Central Elections Committee in bid to score retrial for jailed husband; Party Registrar says party will not attempt to justify Rabin's murder

Amir Alon , 23:27 , 01.14.20

Court to hear Amnesty bid to revoke NSO export license

Organization claims NSO profits from spyware being used to abuse activists; Defense Ministry refuses to conduct open court debate, citing security concerns

Reuters , 22:20 , 01.14.20

Train passenger falls asleep, wakes up in locked car

Commuter spends night in locked wagon after train personnel fail to spot sleeping traveler during security check; Israel Railways launches probe into incident

Roi Rubinstein , 20:48 , 01.14.20

IDF says Iran could have nuclear bomb within two years

Soleimani's assassination could have calming effect on Mideast, says Intelligence report; West Bank could become new threat following Palestinian elections, likelihood of war low

Yoav Zitun , 19:44 , 01.14.20

Telegrass founder runs for Knesset

Wife says he will promote liberal economic agendas such as open market and competition despite drug trafficking charges; 'if Netanyahu can, so can we'

Amir Alon, Attila Somfalvi, Alexandra Lukash , 18:50 , 01.14.20

Haredi cult victim: Rabbi used women to groom us

The woman says Rabbi Aharon Ramati, arrested by Jerusalem police, had two seminaries, one for his 'favorites' and another for troublemakers; she adds he was brainwashing 'good, intelligent' girls into 'getting into the trunk of a car' if needed

Gilad Cohen, Attila Somfalvi , 14:13 , 01.14.20

Jewish Home approves merger with Otzma Yehudit

Far-right party welcomes move, calls on Smotrich's National Union faction to tie in and 'bring victory to right-wing bloc'; New Right announce running as independent list

Amichai Atali , 22:14 , 01.13.20

Knesset OKs panel to debate Netanyahu immunity

House Committee can debate and potentially vote on PM's immunity bid in coming weeks, perhaps even before March 2 ballot; Likud MK Zohar accuses Blue & White of hijacking Knesset

Nina Fuchs, Moran Azulay , 20:20 , 01.13.20

Rabbi arrested on suspicion of holding 50 women 'as slaves' in Jerusalem commune

The investigators believe the women of the alleged Haredi cult were sexually exploited and had their hands burned to learn 'what hell feels like'; the elderly cult leader also apparently abused the children held in the residential complex

Gilad Cohen , 15:14 , 01.13.20

Israel to speed up extradition of woman in sex-abuse case

The Justice Ministry's decision comes a weeks after court 'unanimously' found Malka Leifer, accused of sexually abusing dozes of her former students, fit to stand trial

Associated Press , 14:17 , 01.13.20

IAF officer: Flooded fighter jets should have been moved

Local council pleaded with Israel Air Force in 2013 to help fund new drainage system, but only partial, inadequate repairs made; airman says floods overwhelmed hangars holding eight F-16s at Hatzor Airbase within minutes; 'Every time a lake floods our base is in danger,' he says

Yoav Zitun , 12:24 , 01.13.20

Israel's left announces merger ahead of March elections

Labor leader Amir Peretz will head the political alliance, with the head of the Gesher party Orly Levy-Abekasis acting as number two; Meretz leader Nitzan Horowitz is set to be placed third on the list

Yuval Karni , 09:14 , 01.13.20

Edelstein rejects Knesset legal adviser's opinion over Netanyahu immunity

Yinon issues opinion that Edelstein cannot prevent establishment of Knesset committees to weigh PM's immunity bid; Edelstein warns convening committees so close to elections 'grave mistake'

AFP, Ynet , 22:28 , 01.12.20

Air Force fighter planes damaged in floods

Local media reports technical crews rescued from hangars where planes were kept as water levels rose while damage to the aircraft is estimated in the millions

Yoav Zitun , 21:08 , 01.12.20

Education minister implies homosexuality unnatural, sparks ourage

Several municipalities around the country order schools to open a new school week with tolerance classes in response to Rafi Pererz's contentious comments, implying homosexuality is unhealthy

Ynet, Reuters , 13:51 , 01.12.20

Israel's recent storms cause billions in damage to property, infrastructure

Insurance data shows private damage claims worth over NIS 1.5 billion ($432 million) have been filed just days after heavy rains pounded central and northern Israel for several days; damage to public infrastructure is also estimated to be in millions

Gad Lior, Odi Atzion , 12:54 , 01.12.20

Foreign minister postpones Dubai visit over security concern

A top Israeli diplomat says Israel was taking precautions lest Iran tries to target Israel Katz, who was set to attend Expo 2020 in the UAE; earlier reports suggested Israeli intel was used by the U.S. in a mission to kill top Iranian general

Reuters , 10:50 , 01.12.20

‘Exhausted’ Kahlon set to quit politics

Sources say the finance minister will officially announce his retirement from political life on Monday; Kahlon already said he will not run in the March 2 election and Netanyahu's attempts to persuade him to stay were fruitless

Moran Azulay , 10:03 , 01.12.20

Report: Israeli intel helped U.S. assassinate Soleimani

NBC News says Jerusalem 'helped confirm the details' of Iran's general secret flight from Damascus to Baghdad, where his vehicle was struck by drones upon arrival; earlier, top IDF official claimed Israel was 'not the story' of the operation

i24NEWS, Ynet, News agencies , 08:52 , 01.12.20

Israel likely to face war in 2020, top think tank warns

All-out war in the north, escalation in Gaza and West Bank, and Iran an increasing threat, says assessment by INSS; Tel Aviv University institute recommends fresh bid for negotiations with Palestinians, restoration of relations with Jordan, making Israel a bilateral consensus issue in U.S. politics

Itamar Eichner , 23:16 , 01.11.20

Israel frees Syria spy, killer as goodwill move after MIA soldier's body returned

Netanyahu confirms release of Sidqi al-Maqt and Amal Abu Saleh, calling it 'political gesture of goodwill, following the return of the late Zachary Baumel's body from Syria to Israel'; Baumel disappeared during 1982 battle against Syrian troops in Lebanon

Ynet, Reuters , 09:53 , 01.10.20

Israel to release 2 Syrian inmates as part of swap deal with Russia

Israeli Prison Service confirms Sidqi al-Maqt and Amal Abu Salah are to be freed on Thursday and Friday; the release is believed to be the last installment in of the deal that saw Russia return the body of Zachary Baumel, retrieved in Syria earlier this year

Ynet , 23:18 , 01.09.20