Israel

U.S. authorities last week announced the arrest of two men tied to the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah for plotting attacks against Americans and Israelis in the U.S. and Panama.

May 2017 set a monthly record for the number of tourists arriving in Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the launch of a drill this week to improve Israel’s preparedness for major earthquakes.

As Israeli actress Gal Gadot’s “Wonder Woman” film heads toward $400 million in earnings after debuting in early June, and numerous big-name musical acts line up to perform in Israel this summer, the influence of the BDS movement’s cultural boycott of the Jewish state appears to be waning.

Israel and Senegal announced the restoration of full diplomatic ties Monday, following a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Senegalese President Macky Sall on the sidelines of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) conference Sunday in Liberia.

Chances are, if you’ve been to Israel on an organized tour any time during the past four decades, you’ve visited the ancient Mediterranean harbor city of Caesarea. According to Israeli tourism officials, Caesarea National Park is the third-most-visited site in Israel after Jerusalem’s Old City and Masada.

The high-profile U.S. arms deal with Saudi Arabia, which President Donald Trump signed during his recent visit to Riyadh and is awaiting congressional approval, raised alarm in Jerusalem due to what officials describe as the potential diminishment of Israel’s military edge over regional foes.

Following Saturday night’s terror attack that killed seven people and injured as many as 50 in London, British Prime Minister Theresa May said “enough is enough” and vowed to crack down on the “evil ideology of Islamist extremism.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) broke ground May 29 on a new training compound in northern Israel where troops will be able to simulate combat situations involving terrorist operatives from groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.

Israel’s new cannabis decriminalization policy, approved by the government in March, officially came into effect on May 28, commencing a new legal approach toward the recreational use of marijuana in the Jewish state.

With the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War approaching, Jewish News asked Israelis now living in Arizona to share their memories of that monumental clash.

Prominent Democrats and major U.S. Jewish organizations are joining President Donald Trump in calling on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to stop making payments to imprisoned terrorists and their families.

At least 22 people were killed and as many as 59 were injured Monday in a suicide bombing during an Ariana Grande concert in the U.K.’s Manchester Arena.

About 20 veterans commit suicide across the U.S. each day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. An organization providing spiritual healing, suicide prevention and peer support programming for veterans believes Israel is part of the solution.

After presenting his diplomatic credentials to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on May 16 in Jerusalem, new U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman expressed his gratitude to President Donald Trump for an “unequivocal and unambiguous mandate to support the state of Israel in every way, and in all ways.” Rivlin welcomed Friedman and called for “the whole world to recognize Jerusalem as the official capital of the state of Israel,” ahead of next week’s celebrations marking 50 years since the reunification of Jerusalem.

For Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat – who has navigated numerous conflicts, while simultaneously supervising the rapid growth of residential neighborhoods, commercial centers, parks and transportation infrastructure during nearly nine years in office – conflict is part of his city’s DNA.

Amid a quiet-yet-massive arms race between Israel and Hezbollah, both sides are preparing for the possibility of a war branching out to sea.

Ismail Haniyeh, whom Hamas elected as the Palestinian terror group’s top leader last weekend, made his first public appearance in the new role by visiting a “solidarity tent” for hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in Gaza City Monday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Monday evening with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in Istanbul, where the two reportedly discussed ways to “protect Jerusalem against attempts of judaization.”

As Israel celebrated its Independence Day, the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO voted May 2 to deny the Jewish state’s sovereignty over Jerusalem.

Throughout the seven decades since it declared independence, Israel has waged an ongoing struggle for legitimacy, navigating the global arena to find its place among the nations.

On Sunday, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres made a series of statements that were unusual for the world body and its chief executive. He vowed to take action to end anti-Semitism and called denial of Israel’s right to exist a modern form of anti-Jewish hatred.

This month, Israel will be enveloped in a flurry of observances ranging from the solemn Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) ceremonies to the festive 69th Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) and the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War/Reunification of Jerusalem celebrations.

Gaza is rebuilt. The West Bank is flourishing. And the trains run from Tel Aviv to Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital.