Browsing: Israel News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to present President Donald Trump with options for renewed strikes on Iran during a meeting later this month at Mar-a-Lago. The discussions are described as being driven by deepening Israeli concern over Iran’s continuing efforts to rebuild and expand key military capabilities after the June conflict known as Operation Rising Lion. While Iran’s nuclear activity remains a central worry for Jerusalem, the most immediate focus described in the early details is the ballistic missile threat, which Israeli officials see as urgent and rapidly evolving. Israeli officials have voiced concern that Iran is not…

Senior officials from Israel, Greece, and Cyprus are in early-stage discussions on establishing a joint rapid reaction military force, according to three sources familiar with the matter who spoke to i24NEWS. The initiative is being examined as part of a broader effort to strengthen military-strategic cooperation among the three countries amid rising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. According to the sources, the proposed force would not be permanent but would be designed for rapid deployment during crisis situations at sea, in the air, and on land. The discussions are described as preliminary, with planning and assessments still underway. One source…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that he had approved the largest energy deal in Israel’s history, with neighboring Egypt, which is expected to boost Israel’s economy by billions of shekels in the coming years. In a video statement alongside Energy Minister Eli Cohen, Netanyahu said that the natural gas deal with Cairo was worth NIS 112 billion ($34.7 billion), of which NIS 58 billion ($18 billion) would go into public coffers. In the first four years, he said, around NIS 500 million ($155 million) would go to the state yearly, and this was expected to climb to NIS…

The IDF recently tracked multiple drones flying from Egyptian territory directly into Gaza, suspected of ferrying small arms and other contraband to terror groups. Officials say several such flights have been detected in the past month, highlighting an evolving smuggling method aimed at bypassing traditional tunnel and ground routes. To counter the threat, the military is preparing a multi-layered response that includes direct fire on hostile UAVs, dedicated counter-drone units, and wider deployment of sensors and intelligence. A section of the Israel–Egypt frontier has been designated a closed military area to restrict access and give forces greater operational freedom. A…

Following Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s visit to India last September, where the two countries signed an investment protection agreement, Smotrich hosted Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday for a reciprocal visit focused on expanding economic cooperation. Goyal arrived with a large delegation of Indian business leaders as both governments explore a comprehensive free trade agreement that would include financial services. A first formal financial dialogue between the two finance ministries is expected in the coming months. Continue reading this article on i24news.tv

A dramatic shift may be underway in Israel’s strategic defense policy as officials in Jerusalem confirm to i24NEWS that Israel considers a gradual reduction of US military aid. The annual aid package stands at $3.8 billion, almost all of which is directed toward purchases from the American defense industry. This development ties in with an extraordinary statement made by the Prime Minister this morning in an interview with Australian television, in which he said that he wants to see a much more independent defense industry. He also noted that, as prime minister back in 1996, he initiated the process of…

The Israeli Manufacturers Association has presented a $1.25 billion plan to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aimed at boosting and strengthening the country’s post-war economy and industry, Ynet News reported on Monday. Two years of war have taken a toll on Israel’s industrial sectors, hurt by international boycott calls and negative media portrayals. However, Dr. Ron Tomer, president of the Manufacturers Association, expressed optimism about the future of Israel’s economy and industry. “We are confident that this postwar plan will secure Israel’s industrial production and exports for years to come,” Tomer told Ynet. The ambitious plan seeks to double Israeli exports within the next five…

Maxim Herkin was among the last 20 living hostages that were recently released by the terrorist organization Hamas as part of the Gaza agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. After spending 738 difficult days in Hamas captivity, the 36-year-old Capt. (res.) Herkin announced on Tuesday, at an Israeli military ceremony, that he would rejoin his IDF unit. He thanked the Israeli people and the IDF for bringing him back home to freedom. “Thank you so much,” Herkin said in his address to the crowd. “Thanks to you, I came home to my civilian family a few days ago, and today, thanks…

Ties between Israel and India are deepening, with a string of high-level visits planned over the coming months in what officials are describing as a “warming of strategic relations” between the two nations. According to diplomatic sources, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will travel to New Delhi in early November, followed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in December, Defense Minister Yoav Katz in February, and President Isaac Herzog in the first quarter of next year. The visits mark the most significant wave of Israeli engagement with India in recent years. Behind the renewed momentum lies Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s outspoken support…

In a targeted operation last week, Israeli Paratroopers from the Judea Brigade raided the offices of the “Islamic Charity Association” in Hebron, uncovering tens of thousands of shekels in funds allegedly linked to terrorist activities and a copy of Adolf Hitler’s notorious book Mein Kampf. The charity, which publicly presents itself as a humanitarian organization assisting the needy, is accused by Israeli authorities of functioning as a front for Hamas. According to military sources, the group channels money to support terrorist activities and disseminates materials that promote incitement to violence. The Hebron branch is one of several operating across the…