HAIFA, Israel (AP) — Israel’s navy is casting its net wider and deeper in an effort to stop Gaza militants from receiving weapons by sea, a difficult mission made harder, Israel says, by political turmoil in Egypt and the Egyptian decision to fully reopen its border crossing with Gaza. In recent weeks, Palestinian militants in Hamas-ruled Gaza have aimed rockets at … Read More
JERUSALEM (AP) – During a swing through Washington this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly said his country’s pre-1967 lines are “indefensible.” A total withdrawal from the West Bank, a strategic highland looming over central Israel, would certainly leave the Israeli heartland more vulnerable to attack or invasion. But some experts say that long-range missiles, weapons of mass destruction … Read More
MAJDAL SHAMS, Golan Heights (AP) _ Mobilized by calls on Facebook, thousands of Arab protesters marched on Israel’s borders with Syria, Lebanon and Gaza on Sunday in an unprecedented wave of demonstrations, sparking clashes that left at least 15 people dead in an annual Palestinian mourning ritual marking the anniversary of Israel’s birth. In a surprising turn of events, hundreds … Read More
BEERSHEBA, Israel — Israel raised the stakes in its battle with Hamas Monday by indicting a Palestinian engineer for masterminding the group’s rocket program and training fighters. Dirar Abu Sisi vanished from a sleeper train in Ukraine in February and mysteriously resurfaced days later in an Israeli prison, recalling the dramatic covert operations Israeli was once famous for. His abduction … Read More
BEERSHEBA, Israel (AP)—Israel deployed a cutting-edge rocket defense system on Sunday, rolling out the latest tool in its arsenal to stop a recent spike in attacks from the neighboring Gaza Strip. Israel hopes the homegrown Iron Dome system will provide increased security to its citizens, but officials warned that it can’t do the job alone. The system went into operation … Read More
JERUSALEM — Israel said Tuesday it seized a cargo ship loaded with weapons sent by Iran to Palestinian militants in Gaza, including sophisticated land-to-sea missiles that officials said could change the balance of power in the area. The takeover in the Mediterranean Sea was the latest in a series of Israeli naval raids meant to counter the growing influence of … Read More
JERUSALEM (AP) _ Israel hunted for the perpetrators of a grisly murder of a family of five in a remote West Bank settlement Saturday, appealing for help from the Palestinian Authority, which sent security forces to join the manhunt. The knife attack, which killed two young children, a baby and their parents as they slept, was the deadliest in years. … Read More
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) _ Thousands of marchers brought Israel’s cultural and financial capital to a standstill, urging the government to do whatever it takes to win freedom for a soldier captured four years ago by Gaza militants. Near Israel’s border with Gaza, thousands more gathered for a concert led by a world-famous conductor to press Hamas to let the … Read More
JERUSALEM – Israel lifted months of censorship on a military espionage case Thursday, confirming the house arrest of a former female soldier charged with leaking more than 2,000 military documents to a newspaper. Anat Kamm, 23, has been under house arrest since December, but the case was kept under wraps by a court-imposed gag order. The restrictions were eased Thursday … Read More
JERUSALEM — Open crates from a cargo ship seized Wednesday by Israel revealed dark green missiles inside. Containers from the vessel bore writing in English that said “I.R. Iranian Shipping Lines Group.” Israel alleged that the shipment of hundreds of tons of rockets, missiles, mortars, grenades and anti-tank weapons – the largest it ever seized – was headed for Hezbollah … Read More
SDEROT, Israel — Six months after Israel ended its bruising offensive against Gaza Strip militants, the people of this rocket-scarred border town are enjoying their calmest stretch in recent memory. The rocket attacks that made life unbearable have all but stopped. Playgrounds are filled with children on summer vacation, stores are bustling and the town’s public swimming pool is open for … Read More
RAMON AIRFORCE BASE, Israel (AP) – Apache helicopter pilot Capt. Orr, who has flown dozens of combat missions over Gaza the past few weeks, on Tuesday said he felt sorry for civilian casualties and had aborted missions to avoid them. He and his fellow fighter pilots are responsible for the vast majority of damage and casualties in Gaza, since Israel … Read More
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Palestinians say they know when an Israeli drone is in the air: Cell phones stop working, TV reception falters and they can hear a distant buzzing. They also know what’s likely to come next—a devastating explosion on the ground. Palestinians say Israel’s pilotless planes have been a major weapon in its latest offensive in Gaza, … Read More
ASHKELON, Israel — Residents of this beachside city are still coming to terms with being on the front lines of Israel’s battle against Hamas militants. A dozen long-range rockets slammed into Ashkelon over the weekend, marking a significant turning point in the conflict and compelling Israel to strike back hard. “Until yesterday, I never would have believed that I would … Read More
JERUSALEM — A drop in the percentage of Israelis serving in the military has Israel’s leaders warning that the Jewish state is losing touch with its most admired institution. “From the army of the people, the Israel Defense Forces are gradually becoming the army of half the people,” Defense Minister Ehud Barak said at an academic conference at Tel Aviv University … Read More