Israel

Israel: Border Region with Lebanon sees Rockets, Artillery Fire

Date: November 30th, 2011 |

Tensions are once again high along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Rockets were fired from southern Lebanon into Israel, instigating rounds of artillery shells in response from the Israelis. While the exchange was relatively small considering the history of the region, it marked the end of two years of quiet along the notoriously volatile border region. It [read more]

Israel: Temporary Ceasefire Announced

Date: August 30th, 2011 |

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Following five days of conflict, Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian group that governs the Gaza Strip, were reported to have reached a ceasefire. Tensions have risen steadily since Aug. 18 when a group of Palestinian gunmen shot dead eight Israelis in the Negev desert. Israel pursued the gunmen and also launched a series of retaliatory [read more]

Israel and the West Bank: Bethlehem Will Be Packed Solid for Christmas

Date: December 15th, 2010 |

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Tourism to Bethlehem this Christmas season is expected to be up almost 30 percent over last year and a record 1.4 million tourists have already visited the city this year. Bethlehem’s hotels are fully booked for Christmas week, and in a sign of optimism for the future, four more are under construction. A lack of [read more]

Israel: iPad Ban Lifted

Date: April 28th, 2010 |

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Israel’s short ban on Apple iPads is over, with the Communications Ministry allowing the digital device into the country as of April 26 following a second technic [read more]

Israel: Clashes on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount and in Hebron

Date: March 3rd, 2010 |

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Palestinian youths clashed with police at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount Feb. 28 after the youths hurled objects at tourists. The unrest spilled into the narrow lanes of the Old City but no injuries were reported. Palestinian religious authorities said the youths were defending the site after rumors spread that Jewish extremists would take it over. The [read more]

Israel/West Bank: Settlement Construction to be Expedited

Date: November 7th, 2011 |

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After the Palestinians gained entry to UNESCO, Israel announced that it was speeding up the construction of settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. Israel has also indicated that it will suspend the transfer of tax funds to the Palestinian Authority, which may seek official entry to more UN agencies after the UNESCO success. [read more]

Israel: Concerns over Possible West Bank Violence

Date: July 5th, 2011 |

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Israel’s military is preparing for an outbreak of violence around the West Bank over the U.N. vote in September on Palestinian recognition as a state. Israeli reservists have been mobilized—a rare step that underscores the severity of the issue. The U.S. is expected to veto any resolution granting Palestine full membership in the U.N., which [read more]

Israel and the Palestinian Territories: New Rules Allow Israeli and Palestinian Tour Guides to Visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem

Date: November 10th, 2010 |

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In time for the Christmas holidays, authorities agreed to permit Israeli tour guides to accompany tours to Bethlehem and to allow Palestinian tour guides to accompany groups from the West Bank to Jerusalem. The plan authorized 200 Israeli guides and drivers to continue into the West Bank and 40 Palestinian guides to work in Israel. [read more]

Israel: No iPads Allowed, At Least for Now

Date: April 21st, 2010 |

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Don’t take your Apple iPad if traveling to Israel. The Israeli Communications Ministry has banned them and ordered customs agents to confiscate them from overseas passengers, where the device presumably would be held until departure. The reason is the U.S. version operates at a higher WiFi strength than the Israeli or European standard, and Israeli [read more]

Israel: Troubles Continue at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount

Date: October 29th, 2009 |

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Two weeks of quiet around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem ended Oct. 25 when stone-throwing Arab youths clashed with police, then took refuge inside Al-Aksa Mosque. Authorities closed the Temple Mount following the riots but reopened it the next day. Conflict over the past month at the site that is sacred to both Muslims and [read more]

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