By Anna Ahronheim, Tovah Lazaroff, and Lahav Harkov, Jerusalem Post— Israel will make a series of goodwill gestures to the Palestinian Authority, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Monday after a rare meeting with PA President Mahmoud Abbas the night before in Ramallah. Among the economic gestures offered to Abbas was a NIS 500 million loan,…
By Yonah Jeremy Bob, JPost— Defense Minister and Acting Justice Minister Benny Gantz alarmed government officials on Tuesday when he told Reuters Israel estimates that hundreds of its citizens might be subject – in the near future – to war crimes probes by the International Criminal Court. Gantz, who took over the Justice Ministry when…
By Times of Israel— After the government approved almost 800 new housing units in West Bank settlements this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday tried to also legalize six unrecognized outposts, but was thwarted by Defense Minister Benny Gantz. The proposal came a day before the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden, potentially further…
By Caroline Glick, Jpost— In an interview with the New York Times Tuesday, presumptive President-elect Joe Biden reaffirmed his plan to return the US to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. The US will rescind its economic sanctions on Iran if it complies with the nuclear deal’s limitations on its nuclear activities. Once this happens,…
By Gil Hoffman, Jerusalem Post— The Knesset Law Constitution and Justice Committee voted nine to six on Tuesday morning to approve changes to the Coronavirus Law that would limit protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The amendments, which must still pass in the Knesset plenum, would limit the protests during the current lockdown to people…
By Times of Israel Staff— Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat down Sunday with US Ambassador David Friedman, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin to discuss plans to unilaterally annex parts of the West Bank in accordance with the Trump administration’s peace plan. Friedman has met with all the…
By Gill Hoffman, JPost— Israel will soon have a new coalition government after an agreement was signed on Monday evening between Likud and Blue and White, putting an end to a 17-month political stalemate that resulted in three elections. As part of the deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has served as caretaker prime minister…
By David Isaac, World Israel News— Against what appeared all odds, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz signed an agreement for a unity government. The breakthrough came late Monday shortly before the start of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. The agreement brings to a close a political crisis that has…
By Danielle Roth-Avneri , Yehuda Shlezinger, Israel Hayom— Two hours of talks to finalize a deal for a unity government fell apart Monday morning after Blue and White leader Benny Gantz walked out of the meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It appears that the talks came up against a brick wall over the Judges…
By Associated Press— Israel’s president on Sunday turned down a request from Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz for a two-week extension to form a new coalition government. The announcement by President Reuven Rivlin means that Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have a midnight deadline on Monday night to reach a power-sharing deal.…