JERUSALEM — Israel went back into a full lockdown on Friday to try to contain a coronavirus outbreak that has steadily worsened for months as its government has been plagued by indecision and infighting. The three-week lockdown, which began at 2 p.m., will require the closure of many businesses and...
Trump: Israeli Pacts With 2 Arab States Signal ‘New’ Mideast
WASHINGTON — Israel on Tuesday signed historic diplomatic pacts with two Gulf Arab states at a White House ceremony that President Donald Trump declared will mark the “dawn of a new Middle East," casting himself as an international peacemaker at the height of his reelection campaign. The bilateral agreements formalize...
Trump To Preside Over Historic Arab-Israel Recognition Deals
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is set to preside over the signing of historic diplomatic deals between Israel and two Gulf Arab nations that could herald a dramatic shift in Middle East power dynamics and give him a boost ahead of the November U.S. election. In a White House ceremony...
Bahrain To Allow Israel Flights To UAE Over Its Airspace
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Bahrain will allow “all flights coming to and departing from the United Arab Emirates” to cross through the island kingdom's airspace — a statement apparently allowing Israeli flights after neighboring Saudi Arabia issued a similar announcement. The state-run Bahrain News Agency made the announcement without...
First Direct Israel-UAE Flight Lands in Abu Dhabi Amid Deal
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — A Star of David-adorned El Al plane flew from Israel to the United Arab Emirates on Monday, carrying a high-ranking American and Israeli delegation to Abu Dhabi in the first-ever direct commercial passenger flight between the two countries. The Israeli flag carrier’s flight marked...
Palestinians in Gaza Rally Against Israel-UAE Deal
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Hundreds of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday rallied against the U.S.-brokered deal to normalize ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Protesters burned Israeli and American flags, trampled on posters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, and chanted...
Palestinians Say UAE Deal Hinders Quest for Mideast Peace
JERUSALEM — Israel's agreement to establish diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates marks a watershed moment in its relations with Arab countries, but the Palestinians say it puts a just resolution of the Middle East conflict even farther out of reach. The UAE presented its decision to upgrade longstanding ties...
Israeli PM’s Uneasy Alliance Seems Headed Toward Collapse
JERUSALEM — When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, Benny Gantz, agreed to form an “emergency” government in May after three bitter and deadlocked election campaigns, the goal was to stabilize Israeli politics in the face of a global pandemic. But less than 100 days later, their fractious coalition...
Israeli Police Use Water Cannons on Protesters, Arrest 55
JERUSALEM — Israeli police used water cannons to disperse protesters in central Jerusalem and arrested at least 55 of them as clashes broke out overnight after thousands staged a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israelis have held a series of demonstrations in recent weeks calling on Netanyahu to resign,...
Israeli-Palestinian Peace? Local Dems, GOP Voice Positions on West Bank Annexation
Local congressmen are giving peace a chance between the Palestinians and Israel. But they disagree on how to forge what would be a historic reconciliation. Both local Democrats and Republicans are chiming in on the latest plan for Israel to annex land in the West Bank. Two Valley Democrats signed...