Israel news

Israel plans to restrict gun ownership

By Zoe Winograd, May 22, 2013

The Israeli Public Security Ministry has announced new regulations to limit the number of guns in the country.

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Israeli military chief warns Syria of 'consequences' over attacks

By Zoe Winograd, May 22, 2013

Israeli military’s chief of staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz has warned Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad that he will “bear the consequences” if Syria continues to attack Israel.

Lt Gen Gantz told an audience at Haifa University on Tuesday: “We will not allow the area of the Golan Heights to become a comfortable place for Mr Assad.”

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Israel and Syria exchange fire in the Golan Heights

By Marcus Dysch, May 21, 2013

Israeli and Syrian forces have exchanged fire in the Golan Heights in the latest in a series of incidents on the border.

The Syrian army claimed it had destroyed an IDF jeep that it said had infiltrated into Syrian territory in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

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Israel bank raider and victims identified

By Sandy Rashty, May 21, 2013

Israeli police have identified the man responsible for the bank raid shootings that led to the death of four civilians in Be'er Sheva on Monday.

Itamar Alon, a reservist captain for the Israeli Defence Force, took a number of hostages during the attack at the Hapoalim Bank on Jabotinsky Street.

Alon, 40, had been refused an overdraft loan by the bank for around £1,000 (NIS 6,000).

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Five killed in bank raid in Israel

By Sandy Rashty, May 20, 2013

At least five Israelis have been killed in what appears to be a bank robbery in Israel this morning.

Another person is in critical condition after the attack, in which hostages were held, at the Hapoalim Bank on Jabotinsky street in Be’er Sheva.

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In historic ruling, judge calls Palestinian rock attack murder

By Nathan Jeffay, May 17, 2013

Earlier this month, a Palestinian man began a 98-year jail term for murdering young father Asher Palmer and his baby son by throwing a rock.

The ruling against Waal al-Arja is unusual in the Israeli military courts that deal with Palestinian crime, and a coup for the British-born lawyer who represents the victims’ family.

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Cost of flights set to tumble

By Sandy Rashty and Sharron Livingston, May 17, 2013

Holidaymakers received a double dose of good news this week with a prediction that the cost of flights to Israel are set to be slashed, and a U-turn by the Israeli government over its proposal to levy 18 per cent VAT on tourism.

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Prize author: Hawking is wrong over boycott

By Jennifer Lipman, May 17, 2013

Two writers with links to the Hebrew University in Jerusalem have been nominated for a major British-based literary prize.

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Arab anger as BDS targets their festival

By Ben Hartman, May 17, 2013

The Palestinian and Jordanian organisers of a music festival in the Golan Heights have spoken out against a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign that is targeting their event.

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Jerusalem road ‘obstacle to peace’

By Anshel Pfeffer, May 17, 2013

The inauguration of a new road in northern Jerusalem last week has alleviated traffic jams but also drawn criticism over its implications for the peace process.

Route 20 is a mile-long dual carriageway connecting the north-eastern neighbourhoods of Pisgat Zeev and Neve Ya’akov with the main north-south Begin Highway and the western exit from Jerusalem towards Tel Aviv.

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