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The spiritual father of the Haredi soldiers killed on Mount Meron

Hundreds took part in the funeral procession of Rabbi Moshe Tzarfati, who for years volunteered to mentor Haredi IDF soldiers; 'He would come and breathe life into the soldiers,' ex-soldier says

Gilad Cohen , 17:56 , 05.03.21

Austria's newest citizens reclaim birthright stolen by the Nazis

2019 change in the law made it possible for descendants of Holocaust victims, driven away by the Nazis, to gain Austrian citizenship, giving a chance to Jewish people, now scattered across the world, piece together fragments of their relatives' history

AFP , 09:56 , 05.03.21

Came from abroad, perished on Mount Meron

Freshly engaged man, a famous singer and composer and young yeshiva students were just some of the casualties who came to Israel to partake in the Lag BaOmer festival which turned into a disaster

Roy Rubinstien, Nina Fuchs , 22:47 , 05.02.21

Two families face double grief after Meron disaster

Yehoshua (12) and Nathan (14) Engelrad tried to escape the mayhem and were trampled to death; their father had to identify their bodies twice due to forensic misidentification; Moshe (12) and Yosef (18) Elhadad's father says they split up shortly before 'the Lord took them to be with him'

Nina Fuchs, Ahiya Raved, Sivan Hilaie , 20:49 , 05.02.21

'That's where I realized I lost them, I did everything I could'

Avigdor Hayut, who lost his son in the Meron disaster, meets with the father of one of his students who also perished in the tragedy; 'I loved him as if he were my own son'

Sivan Hilaie , 18:35 , 05.02.21

Two centuries on: Napoleon's campaign in Palestine, Egypt still contentious

Speaking ahead of May 5 bicentenary of Napoleon's death, head of history at the Islamic University of Gaza says the occupation of the ancient port city in 1799 by the French was 'worse than that of Israel'

AFP , 12:43 , 05.02.21

'I put down my camera and rushed to help the casualties at Mount Meron'

Ynet lensman Moshe Mizrahi, who was assigned to document the festivities at the world's biggest Lag BaOmer Hilula, recounts the fateful moment great joy turned into tragedy; 'They would pull one stretcher after the other, I couldn't comprehend what I was filming'

Moshe Mizrahi , 23:39 , 05.01.21

Gazan behind Mars drone says visiting home is no small step

Loay Elbasyouni, who helped develop a robotic helicopter which eventually made its way to Mars, says visiting his home in Gaza, which he left in 1998 to study in U.S., is an even trickier venture because of Israeli and Egyptian restrictions

Associated Press , 22:29 , 04.29.21

Iron Dome veterans link their service to high rates of cancer

Soldiers claim radiation emanating from missile defense system's radar made them ill after some were diagnosed with the disease at the end, or immediately after, their military service; IDF dismisses claims despite new study further backing allegations

Gabi Bar-Haim, Ido Shvartztuch , 14:22 , 04.29.21

In Jaffa, gentrification stokes discord as Arabs pushed out

With real estate in the ancient port city becoming accessible only to the ultra-wealthy Israelis and foreigners, the rift between mostly working-class Arab residents and the government has taken on nationalistic overtones

Associated Press , 11:17 , 04.28.21

Virus surge in crowded Gaza threatens to overwhelm hospitals

Hamas' decision to lift most restrictions in Gaza, coupled with Palestinians' disregard of safety precautions, new COVID variants and the lack of sufficient vaccines have led to aggressive resurgence of the virus in the enclave

Associated Press , 11:51 , 04.26.21

Medical teams struggle with COVID blues, major hospital finds

After 75% of medical staff and over 80% of nursing staff report they are struggling mentally during pandemic year, hospital tries to address feelings of burnout but Health Ministry does not provide adequate guidance or resources

Adir Yanko , 14:28 , 04.25.21

Can Iran afford to walk away from nuclear talks?

For the first time since the Iranian Islamic revolution in 1979, Tehran turned to the IMF last year and asked for emergency assistance after inflation rose to 50% in three years and approximately 6 million Iranians are out of work while the pandemic continues and vaccines are far off in the future

Daniel Sonnenfeld/The Media Line , 09:00 , 04.23.21

For Israeli cigarette butt collector, every day is Earth Day

Julian Melcer, 26, prowls the beaches of Tel Aviv every day with a large plastic bag, picking up butts that litter the shores and apparently contain 'most toxic single-use plastic on the planet'; he then sends them for repurposing

Reuters , 14:39 , 04.22.21

Gaza gravediggers and medics stretched as COVID spikes during Ramadan

Health officials in the Palestinian enclave record 86 virus-related deaths in the past 6 days, an increase of 43% from the week before; 'Wartime was difficult, but the coronavirus has been much harder for us,' says gravedigger in Gaza City

Reuters , 09:49 , 04.22.21

Lebanon's crisis-hit farmers turn to growing hashish

As value of Lebanese currency plunges on black market, more small farmers, who were already in dire straits before crisis, decide to grow cannabis instead but production costs priced in dollars skyrocket

AFP , 22:18 , 04.20.21

Place of healing for bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families

Parents of Bnaya Rubel honored their son who fell in 2014 Gaza war with family guest room at Wolfson Hospital, and there they met Gazan Saher Sabera, who lost a brother in an IAF raid and whose grandson is being treated at the medical center

Adir Yanko , 15:50 , 04.18.21

Jerusalem merchants welcome Ramadan with open arms and less restrictions

While lockdown last year put a dampener on spirits during Islam’s holiest month, with rules eased this year thanks to Israel's successful vaccination drive, people are out in the Old City and buying all they need to celebrate the holiday with friends and family

Mohammad Al-Kassim/The Media Line , 09:08 , 04.17.21

Did Natanz attack weaken or strengthen Iran's hand?

While one expert argues strike on uranium enrichment plant will bolster resolve of Tehran's hardliners, thereby giving Islamic Republic leverage in talks on return to 2015 pact, another says Iranians will have less atomic advantages to back them up

Daniel Sonnenfeld/The Media Line , 14:12 , 04.16.21

Hamas did not break the spirit of Israel's south

After 20 years of rocket fire, residents have adapted despite their daily life, with their safety and wellbeing coming under repeated attack from Gaza terror groups even when the rockets and missiles increased in range and accuracy

Matan Zuri , 10:09 , 04.16.21

For those who lost loved ones, Memorial Day siren never stops

For many Israelis who lost their relatives in one of Israel's many military campaigns or terror attacks, every day is Memorial Day; to regular people it is merely a chance to share part of the grief felt by bereaved families constantly

The Media Line , 15:00 , 04.14.21

The heroes of 1948

Now in their 90s, Menachem Zaira and Yocheved Ben-Shmuel share their experiences from the dramatic days leading up to the inception of the country, when they fought to make sure the Jewish people would have a state and a future after the horrors of the Holocaust

Noam Barkan, Chen Artzi Sror , 22:03 , 04.13.21

Ramadan decorations up in Jerusalem as Palestinians prepare for Muslim holy month

Jerusalem's Old City decked out for Ramadan and shop owners hope for brisk holiday business; Gaza faces surge of COVID infections ahead of Muslim holy month

Reuters , 17:31 , 04.12.21

What does U.S. shift on Mideast mean for Israel?

Biden is reversing his predecessor's all-encompassing embrace of Israel and focusing more on the Palestinians; while these may seem like extreme moves after Trump, experts point out they are more akin to traditional American policies

Mohammad al-Kassim/The Media Line , 13:02 , 04.09.21

'When I saw Eichmann, I thought of millions of murdered Jews'

Retired German-born Supreme Court justice Gabriel Bach will never forget first coming face to face with the architect of the Final Solution to exterminate the Jews of Europe, as he prosecuted the Nazi in his 1960 Jerusalem trial

Itay Ilnai , 09:35 , 04.09.21

Holocaust survivors harness social media to spread knowledge

#ItStartedWithWords campaign, organized by the Claims Conference and launched to coincide with Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day, aims to educate people about the atrocities of the Nazi genocide by recounting survivors' stories

Associated Press , 10:04 , 04.08.21

COVID forces switch from hairdresser to dog groomer

Arab Israeli hairdresser, Jeje Jouly Touk, who was struggling financially through the pandemic, decided to turn adversity into opportunity and open a luxurious dog spa in the historic coastal city of Acre, offering grooming, claw clipping and other services

Reuters , 20:06 , 04.07.21

Young Palestinians express little faith in first elections they have known

With no one under 35 having voted in 2006 polls and over half of the population under 29, youths across West Bank and Gaza are tired of corruption and lack of political participation, call for much-needed reforms

Reuters , 17:39 , 04.05.21

In election aftermath, Netanyahu legal and political fates converge

While the evidentiary phase of his trial begins at the Jerusalem District Court, members of Netanyahu's Likud party are meeting with President Reuven Rivlin to recommend he be tasked with forming the next government after winning the greatest number of Knesset seats on March 23

Ynet, AFP , 07:36 , 04.05.21

Ra'am, Arab politics and becoming Shas

In-depth: This election revolutionized the political power of the Arab sector, with its representatives now the deciding voice who could either end the political stalemate or plunge the state into a fifth vote in some two years

Sivan Hilaie , 18:37 , 04.03.21

Israel’s dilemma: Can the unvaccinated return to workplaces?

While the country provides a glimpse into what may be possible with high immunization rates, it also offers insight into the problems that lie ahead, pitting public health concerns against individual rights

Associated Press , 14:57 , 04.02.21

Gaza man says Hamas forced him to divorce after torture

Palestinian activist Rami Aman says his life completely unraveled after he participated last year in a Zoom call with Israeli peace activists, with Hamas officials breaking up his marriage and charging him with 'weakening the revolutionary spirit'

Associated Press , 11:01 , 04.01.21

A drone's eye view of the Holy Land as Christians look to Easter

Before Israel launched its rapid vaccination drive, there was little hope any Easter festivities will take place; but now, sacred Christian locations are slowly reopening in order to celebrate Jesus's crucifixion and resurrections

Reuters , 22:04 , 03.31.21

$600M worth of food to be thrown away in Israel during Passover

Average household will spend more than $770 on meals during the weeklong holiday, but 13% will go to waste; Israeli food bank tries to make sure less fortunate Israelis will also enjoy a full stomach

Daniel Sonnenfekd/The Media Line , 13:42 , 03.30.21

Israel’s National Library highlights world’s oldest, rarest Passover Haggadot

Handwritten on parchment, the precious fragments were discovered among the 400,000 pages and fragments from an astounding collection of Jewish texts that were kept in the storeroom of the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo

The Media Line , 19:49 , 03.28.21

For Israelis, this Passover marks freedom from virus

A year on from singing Pesach songs from balconies during the first of three lockdowns, the country has vaccinated most of the adult population and with regulations eased, many are looking forwards to spending the festival with their families

Associated Press , 19:18 , 03.27.21

Record wins for Israeli women on Election Day, but progress still elusive

Just 25% of new Knesset will be female when it returns, compared to half of country's population; part of lack representation lies with the ultra-Orthodox parties who make up 15% of all lawmakers and who do not allow women to run for parliament

Tara Kavaler / The Media Line , 09:36 , 03.27.21

After another election stalemate, paths to victory are unclear

With more than 95% of ballots counted, it's clear PM's Likud will be the single biggest party, but even after four elections in two years, neither he or the disparate rivals ranged against him have a clear path to victory

Reuters , 16:34 , 03.25.21

As Israel tallies yet another vote, Palestinians eye historic polls

While some Palestinians are excited to see new political faces, others say the first elections in 15 years will not bring change; at least three quarters of those polled, say they will vote in elections, set to be held in Gaza and West Bank

AFP , 15:03 , 03.25.21

Elections give rise to extremist party in Knesset

Religious Zionism alliance has openly racist and homophobic members, including revival of Kahanist movement outlawed by Israel, U.S., other Western nations for incitement against Arabs; factions united due to pressure from Netanyahu

Associated Press , 07:34 , 03.24.21

Netanyahu ahead but election win remains uncertain

Despite PM's Likud holding a mammoth lead in polls, it will need coalition partners to secure a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, and failing to do so may lead to either an ideologically divided government united only by its opposition to him, or a looming fifth election

AFP , 20:48 , 03.22.21

Most Iranian people are pro-Israel, expatriate says

Ahmad Obali, the founder of the popular U.S.-based Azeri-language television station Günaz TV, tells Ynet in an interview about the oppression the Azeri minority suffers under the Islamic Republic and its warm attitude toward Israel

Itamar Eichner , 19:40 , 03.22.21

Will Netanyahu's 'vaccination nation' vote to keep him in power?

While Israel's coronavirus vaccine campaign drew international praise for the longest-serving prime minister, he is still short of a majority in the Knesset despite his alliance with the conservative and ultra-Orthodox parties

Reuters , 16:07 , 03.22.21

Israel's elections: How, where and when to vote

6,578,084 eligible voters can cast their ballots in one of 13,685 polling stations around the country, including 751 sites solely for COVID-19 patients or voters required to quarantine; most stations will be opened from 7am to 10pm

Sivan Hilaie , 13:09 , 03.22.21

Small parties set to decide Israel elections

While Netanyahu's Likud party is set to receive between 28 and 31 seats, in order to have enough seats to form a government, he may need to rely on former friends-turned-rivals, such as Naftali Bennett and Gideon Saar

AFP , 18:34 , 03.21.21

East Jerusalem's Palestinians torn between two elections

In recent years, thousands of local residents have taken up Israeli citizenship, which grants them the right to cast a ballot in Tuesday's elections, but not in the Palestinian Authority when it goes to the polls later this year

AFP , 14:54 , 03.21.21

Separated by politics, a Gaza family longs for Mother's Day reunion

Niveen Gharqoud sent her 5 children to live with their father in the West Bank 3 years ago; she longs for reunion but time and time again being denied by COGAT as she does not meet the necessary criteria

Reuters , 18:53 , 03.18.21

Netanyahu boosts far-right extremist in reelection bid

Desperate to make up for votes he'll likely lose to Saar and Bennett, PM formed a new alliance with far-right religious nationalists, who likely would provide Netanyahu with the needed seats to form government if they pass the threshold

AFP , 16:49 , 03.18.21

'Honeymoon is over': UAE opts out of Netanyahu election campaign

Emiratis reluctant to help PM's bid for reelection on back of diplomatic successes in Arab world; Emirati officials were 'stunned' when Netanyahu nixed Gulf trip by his own foreign minister, who is also a political rival

Associated Press , 15:45 , 03.18.21

Jordan counts on Biden as it asserts itself against Israel

The Hashemite Kingdom — which kept a low profile during Trump's tenure, a close Netanyahu ally — now believes the winds have shifted with the new U.S. administration regarding its regional standing and influence

AFP , 10:30 , 03.18.21

Pandemic breeds political angst among Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jews

Experts say the past year has ignited an internal debate within the community over whether its conduct during the health crisis was justified, with some Haredim questioning their allegiance to the sector's parties ahead of the election

AFP , 09:54 , 03.18.21

Netanyahu is fighting for reelection without wingman Trump

The incumbent, who cited his closeness with the former U.S. president to bolster his candidacy, now he finds himself on his own with Biden, who is less focused on Mideast and certainly less inclined to grant Netanyahu the favors his predecessor did

AFP , 21:56 , 03.17.21

Gazans say nothing will change for them no matter who wins Israeli election

While Israel prepares for its fourth election round in two years, many in Gaza believe that regardless of the make up of the next government, very little will change for the poverty-stricken seaside territory

Sanaa Alswerky/The Media Line , 22:28 , 03.16.21

Crime wave rattles Israel's Arab communities ahead of vote

With over 90% of shootings in 2020 taking place in Arab sector, Netanyahu has pledged to take action; however, local leaders and relatives of victims scoff at suggestion that he can ease the crisis given his past anti-Arab rhetoric

AFP , 15:00 , 03.16.21

Sex abuse allegations pile up against Israeli rescue chief

Just weeks ago, Yehuda Meshi-Zahav received the Israel Prize, country's highest civilian honor; that recognition appeared to have triggered dozens of ZAKA founder's victims to come forward after years of silence facilitated by some in Haredi community

Associated Press , 13:41 , 03.16.21

Naftali Bennett: Right-winger, likely kingmaker and possible PM?

Former high-tech entrepreneur was not asked to join the Netanyahu-led unity government last year as an expression of contempt; but now, Yamina's potential seats will be decisive in determining whether majority government can be formed

AFP , 09:02 , 03.16.21

'Yehuda Meshi-Zahav was the Haredi Jeffrey Esptein'

Residents of Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood, Meshi-Zahav's birthplace, say they weren't surprised to learn about his alleged mischiefs, claiming that new accusations are 'just the tip of the iceberg' and that community leaders even considered castrating him once

Kobi Nachshoni , 23:05 , 03.15.21

'Do not eulogize the U.S. just yet'

Ido Aharoni, former consul in New York, tells Ynet why Jerusalem may not fully used good relations with Trump, thinks we are perceived as 'a nuisance that only talks about its problems,' and that Zionism was never really accepted among American Jewry

Itamar Eichner , 12:45 , 03.15.21

Weeks of angry rallies hound Netanyahu to the polls

Erez Yalon, who lives on disability benefits after losing his job, decided to join the protests back in the summer, but unlike his fellow demonstrators, the father of 3 never leaves, only occasionally going home to see his family

AFP , 12:00 , 03.15.21

Yair Lapid: from former TV anchor to top Netanyahu challenger

After bolting from his partnership with Blue & White in protest over Gantz's decision to join PM-led coalition, the Yesh Atid head is poised to become the leader of the anti-Netanyahu camp, with polls putting his party at 20 Knesset seats

AFP , 09:56 , 03.15.21

A tale of two pandemics

Unlike Israel, the PA was unable to procure enough vaccines for its population and was hit by claims of cronyism when it came to handing out the ones it did receive; now Ramallah is turning to Jerusalem for help in obtaining more doses, as well as transporting and storing them

Elior Levy , 13:11 , 03.13.21

Pandemic shifts election dynamics in Israel

After four election rounds in less than two years, Israel’s largest parties have changed their political strategies to reflect the changes brought on by the coronavirus pandemic with challengers to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promising stable and sane government

Maya Margit / The Media Line , 08:53 , 03.13.21

The COVID campaign is not Israel's first vaccine drive

From mandatory inoculations to threats of criminal proceedings against anti-vaccinators, the country has had to battle numerous potential medical catastrophes, such as smallpox, typhoid and polio outbreaks

Amit Naor, the National Library of Israel , 14:02 , 03.12.21

Israel’s political operatives have no permanent home

Veteran strategist Tami Sheinkman says that some affiliation to a client's politics is important, while seasoned campaign manager Roni Rimon says the lack of electoral races in Israel means 'you almost have to switch parties'

Uri Cohen / The Media Line , 09:02 , 03.12.21

Palestinian heavyweights loom over vote from a distance

Mohammed Dahlan and Marwan Barghouti are seen as key figures in the legislative and presidential vote, the first in over 15 years, influencing the power balance between Fatah and Hamas in the West Bank and Gaza

AFP , 08:46 , 03.11.21

Syria civil war inflicted 'cultural apocalypse'

The devastating conflict that erupted in 2011 is arguably the worst of the 21st century so far on a humanitarian level, but the wanton destruction of a nation's heritage was possibly the worst the world has seen for generations

AFP , 15:25 , 03.09.21

Ten years on, no peace after war in Syria

With 400,000 dead and over 11 million displaced — largest induced by conflict since WWII — Assad is still in power, offering no credible prospects of reconciliation or change for the Syrian people left as prey to foreign powers

AFP , 23:24 , 03.08.21

Bahraini minister on women in politics: Be confident, brave and patient

VIDEO: Dr. Rana Al-Khalifa discusses her role at Bahrain's Foreign Ministry, women’s empowerment in her country and the wider region, the Abraham Accords and the approach to coronavirus crisis

Felice Friedson / The Media Line , 19:38 , 03.08.21

In Mideast, women's rights are year-round issue

From limited freedoms and marital rape to lack of political representation and being seen as second-class citizens, the women of the region are fighting repression even in the 21st century and 'have a very long way to go'

Tara Kavaler / The Media Line , 13:07 , 03.08.21

Labor's new leader: feminist and battle ready

Merav Michaeli says the party's first priority is to replace 'Netanyahu and Netanyahuism,' and be the voice of center-left wing voters for an emerging anti-PM camp that could cobble together 61 seats to wrest power from the incumbent

AFP , 10:10 , 03.08.21

Most immigrants to Israel are women

Immigration data shows 52% of newcomers in Israel over past decades were women, most of them between the ages of 18–35; lion's share of female immigrants came from Russia, Ukraine and France

Itamar Eichner , 18:30 , 03.07.21

Israel's experts fear ‘fake news’ harming vaccine drive

Bogus information on the internet about the inoculations is making some Israelis reluctant to get inoculated, leading to potentially disastrous impact on public health as those who refused to get vaccinated fall ill

Tara Kavaler / The Media Line , 19:34 , 03.05.21

Israeli military faces battle over beards

New 'Beard Exemptions for All' campaign seeks to cut discrimination in the IDF against secular soldiers, who are compelled to be clean-shaven, while their religious counterparts are exempt from the rule

AFP , 14:00 , 03.03.21

Kosovo ties with Israel face strong resistance from Turkey

Turkish envoy holds talks with Kosovar PM-designate Albin Kurti following establishment of diplomatic ties with Jerusalem and announcement of mission in Israeli capital - the first European country and Muslim-majority one to make such plans

Associated Press , 10:15 , 03.02.21

The Peace Formula

As the ink slowly dries out on Israel's peace deals with Arab nations, Israelis now can connect with people from areas that were out of reach only a little while ago through Zoom events aimed at building bridges and personal connections

Eyal Biram , 17:31 , 03.01.21

State-run coronavirus hotels became drugs and sex abuse hubs

Recent rape of a 13-year-old girl at one of Home Front Command's virus facilities for at-risk youth has opened floodgates to testimonies from former residents and workers, who describe a daily routine of drug abuse, violence and sexual harassment

Hadar Gil-Ad , 11:14 , 03.01.21

Has Abbas reached the end of the political road?

In-depth: With very high voter registration hinting at a hunger for change, it is not clear that the veteran Palestinian president will be able to outmaneuver his enemies again in the first elections to be held in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 15 years

Mohammad al-Kassim/The Media Line , 23:22 , 02.27.21

Israel's divisions caused by coronavirus magnified at Purim

The Jewish holiday does not only commemorates how Jews were rescued from an evil plan to kill them centuries ago, a rabbi says, but also can serve as the basis to solve the discord and infighting the pandemic has brought upon

Tara Kavaler/The Media Line , 18:57 , 02.26.21

Israeli vaccine refuseniks fear exclusion as economy reopens

With over half of citizenry having received at least first vaccine, country opens up 'green pass' holders who had both doses; several activities deemed off-limits to unvaccinated, angering those who cannot get jab for health reasons or refuse as matter of principle

Reuters , 13:54 , 02.26.21

After oil spill, Israel’s fishermen net catch despite ban

Fishermen from coastal Arab village, already feeling pains of pandemic’s economic fallout, continue to go out to sea, dismissing government and scientific advice; 'Fish do not eat things that are not natural,' says one fisherman

Associated Press , 23:30 , 02.25.21

Gaza is open again, to the south, but for how long?

Many Gazans, who rely on the border crossing into Egypt being opened for their livelihood, say as long as the conflict between Israel and the Hamas leadership persists, the gates will not reopen permanently

Reuters , 15:52 , 02.25.21

Gas to Gaza? The pipeline that might provide a lifeline

Plan would see natural gas from Israel's Leviathan gas field transferred to new extension into Palestinian enclave, providing its lone power plant a steady energy source and ending the ongoing rolling blackouts plaguing its economy

Reuters , 22:31 , 02.23.21

Rare Israeli Bedouin audio archive sheds light on nomadic society

National Library works to transcribe and digitize over 350 hours of recordings in Arabic made by leading scholar Clinton Bailey, a project aimed at enriching Bedouin studies in Israel, the Arab world and beyond

AFP , 10:18 , 02.23.21

Jews split over storied charity's support for settlements

Jewish National Fund Israeli branch KKL proposal could potentially channel hundreds of millions of dollars into the expansion of settlements, some of them deep inside the occupied territory; North American CEO Russell Robinson there will be no impact on fundraising

Reuters , 09:11 , 02.23.21

Israelis suit up to save tar-soaked beaches

Green bags filled with tar-coated shells and detritus quickly piled up on the beach. The ministry and environmental groups estimate at least 1,000 tons of tar washed up on the coast as cause of spill still dubbed worst ecological disaster, investigated

Associated Press , 22:43 , 02.22.21

Palestinian elections are attempt to settle political landscape

In-depth: Internal warring may spell the end of President Mahmoud Abbas's long career as his Fatah party rows over potential successors Barghouti and Dahlan, even as its popularity erodes due to perceived corruption

Mohammad al-Kassim/The Media Line , 18:49 , 02.20.21

For Israel's male prostitutes, escape can be a dim dream

Most have a history of childhood sexual abuse and many get into sex work at a young age, they have very high rates of STDs and almost no way to get out; already limited state options for rehabilitation are getting slimmer, and no one seems to care

Or Sopher , 09:12 , 02.20.21

Relationship between Haredim, non-Haredi Jews at breaking point

In-depth: Pandemic exacerbates long-existing tensions that, according to one expert, can only be quieted through political resolution with leaders abandoning personal and sectoral interests for the good of the country

The Media Line , 08:53 , 02.19.21

Israel's housing crisis, a decade after its 'tent revolution'

Despite reform attempts following 2011 mass protests, mostly unregulated market and high demand for housing outstripping supply create price bubble which has made affordable housing a faraway dream for many young Israeli couples

AFP , 11:43 , 02.18.21

A slice and a shot: Tel Aviv pushes COVID-19 vaccine with free food

In cooperation with local restaurants, Tel Aviv begins offering food at two pop-up vaccination centers, hoping to persuade inoculation holdouts to take a shot, with city officials hoping the 'family-like atmosphere' will attract the hesitant

Reuters , 21:58 , 02.16.21

IDF bases have become easy pickings for thieves

Army personnel are forbidden to use lethal force against criminal elements who infiltrate military facilities if they are unarmed and are not perceived as a threat to troops - even if they do attempt to steal sensitive weapons systems

Yoav Zitun , 19:49 , 02.12.21

Gaza burn victims get 3D-printer face masks made close to home

Medecins Sans Frontieres-France clinic provides compressive masks for Gaza facial burn victims to help them heal and prepare some for reconstructive surgery after COVID restrictions made it impossible for patients to make the journey to Jordan for such masks

Reuters , 15:45 , 02.11.21

In Israel's largest Arab city, a Nazarene defends Netanyahu

Ali Salam, the mayor of Nazareth, says he sees 'no better choice' for Israel's Arab minority than Netanyahu, while Joint List chair Ahmad Tibi says Arab leaders embracing PM is akin to 'Stockholm Syndrome'

Reuters , 14:19 , 02.11.21

Israel's ultra-Orthodox reject criticism, defy virus rules

Members of the Haredi community say Israeli society doesn't understand their way of life and has turned them into a scapegoat over their lack of adherence to coronavirus rules; 'We have rabbis. We don't just do what we have in our minds,' says one man

Associated Press , 08:47 , 02.10.21

High above Jerusalem's crowds, skating the Old City rooftops

Palestinian youth, lacking facilities at the eastern half of the capital, descend on the city's medieval alleyways and skateparks, relishing the chance to release pent-up frustrations of COVID lockdown

Reuters , 18:32 , 02.09.21

At anti-Netanyahu protests in Israel, pink is the new black

'Pink Front' group participates in demonstrations against PM each Saturday, calling for him to step down over corruption charges; many members are artists hit hard by lockdowns, who have chosen color they say represents love, optimism and female leadership

Reuters , 14:58 , 02.07.21

Small Haredi network is offering COVID-19 treatment to all

With just 12 volunteers, Chasdei Amram started as local endeavor in ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood of Mea Shearim; now it has helped more than 5,000 patients with home consultations and equipment, almost half in the secular community

The Media Line , 18:27 , 02.06.21

Israel, a global leader in COVID vaccinations, finds limits

While infection rates, serious cases are dropping among over-60s, experts say reopening country will still take months, complicated by coronavirus mutations, refusal among some sectors to adhere to safety rules and wobbles in pace of inoculations

Associated Press , 15:24 , 02.05.21

Crossing COVID chasm between Israel and Palestinians

While Israeli-Palestinian Businessman Ismail Daiq, 62, has already had his second vaccine shot, his siblings and 95-year-old mother from the West Bank are still awaiting a vaccine rollout that has only gone underway in PA

Reuters , 20:28 , 02.03.21

Tarnished by its Gaza rule, Hamas may struggle in elections

In-depth: With leader Ismail Haniyeh living in luxury abroad and officials trading street clothes and motorbikes for suits and SUVs, terror group will struggle to campaign as underdog above trading principles for material comforts

Associated Press , 11:18 , 02.03.21