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Israel Revokes Aliyah for Two Jewish Activists Over West Bank Protective Presence Work
15 days ago•Source: Haaretz
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14.815 min•20 days ago
Son of US Ambassador Yechiel Leiter critically injured in West Bank ramming attack
IDF reservist Neria Leiter, son of Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, was seriously wounded in a car-ramming attack at the Maccabim checkpoint on Wednesday. The attacker, identified as a 29-year-old Palestinian from Beit Ur al-Tahta, was killed by security forces. Neria, who is an American citizen, is in critical condition at Shaare Zedek Medical Center. His older brother, Moshe Leiter, was killed in Gaza in 2023.
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Desalination Shutdown Threatens Israel's Harvest Ahead of Holidays
jpost.com•1 month ago
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Ultra-Orthodox enlistment surge at Tel Hashomer as anti-draft protests unfold
The Jerusalem Post•1 month ago
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Shin Bet: Iran Plot Targeted Yair Netanyahu, Prompting Evacuation from Florida
Shin Bet confirmed a significant Iranian threat against Yair Netanyahu, prompting his urgent evacuation from Florida back to Israel with his security team; the threat, reported via Newsmax citing a US law enforcement source, alleged Iranian operatives were on the ground in Miami surveilling his residence, and Netanyahu has previously said Iran targeted one of his sons.
Israel pushes back after UNRWA raid draws international criticism
Israel rejected a joint statement by 15 countries and the EU condemning its entry into a UNRWA training center in Kalandia and seizure of UN facilities in eastern Jerusalem, accusing UNRWA of ties to terrorism based on a USAID inspector general report; it says UNRWA had no property rights to the site and that the compound will be repurposed as a school and community center, while the Knesset advances legislation to end UNRWA operations in Israel.
Israel mulls ejecting UK and European officials from Gaza ceasefire hub
Israel is considering expelling British and possibly other European officials from the US-led International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat, citing Britain’s conduct in recent months. The move follows anti-Israel measures by allies and a letter from French and British diplomats criticizing Israel, and the center remains a multinational hub to monitor the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire.
Netanyahu: Iran Tried to Assassinate One of My Sons, Prompting Heightened PM Security
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Channel 14 that Iran attempted to assassinate one of his sons, a claim he tied to security concerns during the election season; he said he spoke with Shin Bet chief David Zini and asked for enhanced protection for any prime minister candidate, and noted that extended personal protection has been granted to his wife Sara and their sons, though he did not specify which son was targeted.
Ben-Gurion Airport strike halts Israeli air travel; flights resume after disruption
A surprise staff strike at Ben-Gurion Airport grounded flights from 2:00 pm, causing heavy disruption with departures operating without luggage and roughly 100,000 travelers affected; operations resumed by 3:00 pm as authorities ordered a return to normal and warned of ongoing disruption during peak season. Netanyahu later removed the Airports Authority union chair’s Likud membership, and the strike’s estimated cost to the economy was put at NIS 25-30 million.
Israel and Venezuela Restore Consular Ties After 17-Year Gap
Israel and Venezuela agreed to renew consular relations and establish an official coordination mechanism to provide consular services to citizens of both nations, the first step after 17 years without ties. The move followed talks between Foreign Ministers Gideon Sa’ar and Félix Plasencia and includes ongoing cooperation on emergency relief and support for Venezuela’s Jewish community, with the potential for full diplomatic restoration in the future.
Colombia backs Israel’s Golan claim, signaling stronger Bogotá–Jerusalem ties
Colombia’s Foreign Ministry announced it recognizes Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights as an essential component of national defense, making Bogotá the second UN member to do so after the United States; the move aligns with Colombia’s broader push to strengthen ties with Israel, including restoring diplomatic relations, appointing ambassadors, and relocating its embassy to Jerusalem.
Mossad chief axes two senior officials over unexecuted Iran regime-change plan
Mossad Director Roman Gofman removed two senior officials tied to a clandestine plan to replace Iran's regime that was never carried out as intended. The moves are part of a broader Mossad reorganization, with the secret Mossad-CIA proposal reportedly involving Kurdish forces entering Iran under air cover and at one point noting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a potential leader; the plan was not implemented after being presented to Donald Trump. The officials may take other roles within the agency.
Israel Faces a Growing Emigration Wave as 270k Israelis Leave Since 2023
A Tel Aviv University study using Central Bureau of Statistics data finds 268,930 Israelis left Israel for three or more months between 2023 and 2025, with about 90,000 leaving in 2025 alone. MK Gilad Kariv calls this an emigration 'tsunami' and warns it could threaten Israel’s economy and security, urging a multi-year government plan. Researchers note the trend could worsen, and a longer 12-month departure index (not yet published, expected 2027) could push 2025’s figure to roughly 45,000–50,000 for a year or more.
Man dies by suicide at grave of Nova Massacre victim
Bar Asraf, 30, died by suicide at the grave of his girlfriend Liron Barda, who was killed at the Nova music festival massacre on October 7, 2023. Friends say he struggled with her loss; family notes the couple were soulmates, underscoring how trauma from the attack affects loved ones as well as survivors.