A Hezbollah-linked member of Lebanon’s parliament took to Voice of Lebanon radio to declare that lawmakers from his Loyalty to the Resistance bloc would exercise what he described as their “constitutional right not to enter parliament,” setting up a deadlock in what will be that body’s third attempt to elect...

• Kindle

When Pope Francis arrives in Jerusalem at the end of May, among those to greet him will be the Lebanese-based Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, unless Lebanese politicians prevent his trip to an “enemy state.” In responding to threats and criticism, al-Rahi said: “I am the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and...

• Kindle

Although Israel’s national soccer team did not qualify for this year’s World Cup to be held in Brazil, there will be an Israeli presence at the games. An Israeli security firm, Risco Group, will be providing security at the newly built Arena Patanal soccer stadium, in Cuiabá, Brazil. According to the Israeli...

• Kindle

In the wake of a meeting between Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khaled Meshaal, the Foreign Ministry expressed its support for the recently concluded unity accord between Hamas and Fatah. The Foreign Ministry statement said: In the course of the meeting the main focus...

• Kindle

Israel’s 66th Independence Day  (Yom Ha’atzmaut) was celebrated today. Every year the day before Independence Day, is Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) honoring those who fell in battle in defense of the country, as well as the many victims of terror who have died since the Jewish state was founded once...

• Kindle

A Sri Lankan national arrested in India is suspected of planning terror attacks against the Israeli consulate in Bangalore (Bengaluru) and the American consulate in Chennai. Both cities are in southern India. The suspect is believed to be an agent of Pakistan’s intelligence service, ISI. Based on Indian media, Ynet...

• Kindle

The U.S. and the United Kingdom reported the first cases of the camel-borne Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus on their respective territories over the last few days, and aim to clamp down before it spreads and possibly kills. There have been 300-400 reported cases thus far, with 100 deaths. America...

• Kindle

Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Thursday conveyed angry remarks from Iranian officials in reaction to last week’s publication of the State Department’s annual country-by-country terrorism roundup: “Accusing Iran of supporting terrorism is politicized and based on double standards,” ministry spokesperson Marzieh Afkham said in a statement reported by the official IRNA...

• Kindle

Of all the achievements the Palestinians and Israelis have achieved despite the moribund peace talks, security cooperation in the West Bank has allowed for a tense, but mostly peaceful, co-existence. However, that cooperation is now being threatened by the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation and the announcement that 3,000 Fatah military personnel will...

• Kindle

In a speech last week at Georgetown University, former President Bill Clinton said that Israel and the Palestinians were extremely close to an agreement at the Camp David summit in 2000, when Yasser Arafat refused to close the deal that was offered to him. According to Clinton, Arafat insisted that a narrow...

• Kindle