19 june 2020
Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, denied that President Vladimir Putin had blocked a 2016 UN Security Council’s resolution that recognizes Palestinian statehood on the 1967 border lines.
Zakharov’s remarks came during a press briefing on Wednesday, in which she responded to claims by an Israeli online newspaper, Israel Today, that President Vladimir Putin promised Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu in 2016 that he would block a United Nations Security Council bid demanding Israel to recognize a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson described the claim as ‘ridiculous’ and that such media leaks are simply false and have nothing to do with the truth.
“Unfortunately, such media reports have increasingly become a part of a media display in today’s world. This is absolutely misleading information that creates a great deal of resentment”, she maintained.
In June 15, Israel Today online newspaper reported that in 2016, former US president Barack Obama presented a bill to United Nations’ Security Council, demanding Israel to recognize a Palestinian state on the 1967 border.
The newspaper noted that by then, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, asked President Vladimir Putin to veto such a bid and that the latter agreed, prompting Obama to withdraw his proposal.
Zakharova further commented by saying, “The Israeli newspaper which reported this seems to be unaware of the reality in the Middle East.”
She also pointed out that back in 1988, Russia recognized the Palestinian declaration of a Palestinian state, including East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Russian announcement comes as Israel is expected to annex large swaths of the West Bank, by early next month. The Israeli announcement for annexation has been met with rejection by Palestinians, European Union, United Nations, Arab countries and the Russian Federation.
By annexing those parts of the West Bank, a long-envisioned two-state solution will be grossly undermined, as Palestinians could be in control of only some disconnected Palestinian areas that could never make up a state.
The United States announced in January of this year its so-called ‘deal of the century’, in which the US claims that East Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel, despite international recognition to the contrary.
Notably, the 1967 borders include the entire West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which Israel occupied, along with the Syrian Golan Heights and the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, in June of 1967.
At that time, the United Nations Security Council passed its binding resolution 242 that demanded Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian land it occupied in 1967. Israel has never withdrawn, but has instead kept the Palestinian population of the West Bank and Gaza under martial law since then.
At the same time, Israel has steadily encroached on and annexed Palestinian land for the use of its own private citizens by establishing colonial settlements on the stolen land, in violation of international law.
Report: Putin nixed Obama initiative to create Palestinian state within 1948 borders
Phone call transcripts confirm Netanyahu lobbied both Kremlin and incoming Trump administration to curb initiative perceived as incompatible with Israel's long-term security needs
In late 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin prevented former U.S. President Barack Obama's attempt to pass a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution demanding Israel relinquish the West Bank territories and accept a two-state resolution based on 1948 borders, freshly declassified documents appear to show.
The Jerusalem Post reported Thursday that phone conversations between U.S. President Donald Trump's former adviser Michael Flynn and former Russian UN Ambassador Sergey Kislyak confirm that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lobbied both the Kremlin and the incoming Trump administration to curb the initiative he perceived as incompatible with Israel's long-term security needs.
Israel, it appears, learned of the planned move while working against the Obama administration-coordinated UNSC Resolution 2334, the first resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy. Memorably, the U.S. abstained from voting, enabling the resolution's passage, in one of Obama's last acts as president.
The U.S. has traditionally served as Israel's diplomatic protector, shielding it from resolutions it opposes; the abstention thus came as a shock, drawing harsh reactions from Israeli officials, who described it as an endorsement of "an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel’s back which would be a tailwind for terror and boycotts.”
Israel Hayom reported earlier this week that Netanyahu contacted Putin after learning about Obama's plan, saying such a development could destabilize the ever-fragile power equilibrium in the Middle East. The two leaders had been in close contact to coordinate military and security issues relating to Russia's presence in Syria.
Transcripts of the Kislyak-Flynn conversations cited by the Jerusalem Post quoted the Russian official as saying "we wanted to convey to you and through you to the president-elect that we have significant reservations about the idea of adopting now the principles for the Middle East that our American colleagues are pushing for."
Obama's Secretary of State John Kerry subsequently realized that a Russia veto spelled the end to their hopes of passing the resolution.
Zakharov’s remarks came during a press briefing on Wednesday, in which she responded to claims by an Israeli online newspaper, Israel Today, that President Vladimir Putin promised Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu in 2016 that he would block a United Nations Security Council bid demanding Israel to recognize a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson described the claim as ‘ridiculous’ and that such media leaks are simply false and have nothing to do with the truth.
“Unfortunately, such media reports have increasingly become a part of a media display in today’s world. This is absolutely misleading information that creates a great deal of resentment”, she maintained.
In June 15, Israel Today online newspaper reported that in 2016, former US president Barack Obama presented a bill to United Nations’ Security Council, demanding Israel to recognize a Palestinian state on the 1967 border.
The newspaper noted that by then, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, asked President Vladimir Putin to veto such a bid and that the latter agreed, prompting Obama to withdraw his proposal.
Zakharova further commented by saying, “The Israeli newspaper which reported this seems to be unaware of the reality in the Middle East.”
She also pointed out that back in 1988, Russia recognized the Palestinian declaration of a Palestinian state, including East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Russian announcement comes as Israel is expected to annex large swaths of the West Bank, by early next month. The Israeli announcement for annexation has been met with rejection by Palestinians, European Union, United Nations, Arab countries and the Russian Federation.
By annexing those parts of the West Bank, a long-envisioned two-state solution will be grossly undermined, as Palestinians could be in control of only some disconnected Palestinian areas that could never make up a state.
The United States announced in January of this year its so-called ‘deal of the century’, in which the US claims that East Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel, despite international recognition to the contrary.
Notably, the 1967 borders include the entire West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which Israel occupied, along with the Syrian Golan Heights and the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, in June of 1967.
At that time, the United Nations Security Council passed its binding resolution 242 that demanded Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian land it occupied in 1967. Israel has never withdrawn, but has instead kept the Palestinian population of the West Bank and Gaza under martial law since then.
At the same time, Israel has steadily encroached on and annexed Palestinian land for the use of its own private citizens by establishing colonial settlements on the stolen land, in violation of international law.
Report: Putin nixed Obama initiative to create Palestinian state within 1948 borders
Phone call transcripts confirm Netanyahu lobbied both Kremlin and incoming Trump administration to curb initiative perceived as incompatible with Israel's long-term security needs
In late 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin prevented former U.S. President Barack Obama's attempt to pass a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution demanding Israel relinquish the West Bank territories and accept a two-state resolution based on 1948 borders, freshly declassified documents appear to show.
The Jerusalem Post reported Thursday that phone conversations between U.S. President Donald Trump's former adviser Michael Flynn and former Russian UN Ambassador Sergey Kislyak confirm that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lobbied both the Kremlin and the incoming Trump administration to curb the initiative he perceived as incompatible with Israel's long-term security needs.
Israel, it appears, learned of the planned move while working against the Obama administration-coordinated UNSC Resolution 2334, the first resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy. Memorably, the U.S. abstained from voting, enabling the resolution's passage, in one of Obama's last acts as president.
The U.S. has traditionally served as Israel's diplomatic protector, shielding it from resolutions it opposes; the abstention thus came as a shock, drawing harsh reactions from Israeli officials, who described it as an endorsement of "an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel’s back which would be a tailwind for terror and boycotts.”
Israel Hayom reported earlier this week that Netanyahu contacted Putin after learning about Obama's plan, saying such a development could destabilize the ever-fragile power equilibrium in the Middle East. The two leaders had been in close contact to coordinate military and security issues relating to Russia's presence in Syria.
Transcripts of the Kislyak-Flynn conversations cited by the Jerusalem Post quoted the Russian official as saying "we wanted to convey to you and through you to the president-elect that we have significant reservations about the idea of adopting now the principles for the Middle East that our American colleagues are pushing for."
Obama's Secretary of State John Kerry subsequently realized that a Russia veto spelled the end to their hopes of passing the resolution.
One Israeli succumbs to COVID-19, raising death toll to 304; authorities tighten grip over virus hotspots as alarming uptick in fresh cases takes total number of infections over 20,000
The Health Ministry reported on Friday that 349 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing Israel's total virus infections to 20,243. This is the first time since April that authorities have reported over 300 fresh diagnoses in one day.
One patient overnight also succumbed to complications of COVID-19, the disease caused by the deadly pathogen, and virus fatalities currently stand at 304.
There are currently 4,372 active coronavirus patients across the country, among them 40 patients in serious condition, 44 in moderate condition, and 28 patients requiring artificial respiratory assistance.
Nevertheless, the majority of active cases are said to display only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.
The ministry also said that 16,369 tests had been performed on Thursday.
Israel has been experiencing an uptick in new daily cases as the country moved to reopen its economy following weeks of restrictions imposed to keep the virus in check.
Tel Aviv has emerged as the key infection cluster, its ratio of tests coming back positive several times above the national statistic.
The city's poorer southern parts were of special concern for authorities as a partial lockdown was imposed on the Jaffa neighborhoods of Ajami, Tzahalon, and Shikunei Hisachon.
Two Bedouin towns in the southern Negev area were also placed on a partial lockdown amid a worrying leap in local coronavirus diagnoses.
The Health Ministry reported on Friday that 349 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing Israel's total virus infections to 20,243. This is the first time since April that authorities have reported over 300 fresh diagnoses in one day.
One patient overnight also succumbed to complications of COVID-19, the disease caused by the deadly pathogen, and virus fatalities currently stand at 304.
There are currently 4,372 active coronavirus patients across the country, among them 40 patients in serious condition, 44 in moderate condition, and 28 patients requiring artificial respiratory assistance.
Nevertheless, the majority of active cases are said to display only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.
The ministry also said that 16,369 tests had been performed on Thursday.
Israel has been experiencing an uptick in new daily cases as the country moved to reopen its economy following weeks of restrictions imposed to keep the virus in check.
Tel Aviv has emerged as the key infection cluster, its ratio of tests coming back positive several times above the national statistic.
The city's poorer southern parts were of special concern for authorities as a partial lockdown was imposed on the Jaffa neighborhoods of Ajami, Tzahalon, and Shikunei Hisachon.
Two Bedouin towns in the southern Negev area were also placed on a partial lockdown amid a worrying leap in local coronavirus diagnoses.
18 june 2020
The Health Ministry reports that although no deaths were recorded in past 24 hours, the number of patients in serious condition has increased to 39, with 32 requiring ventilator support; another report says not enough tests being conducted in Arab, Druze communities
The number of coronavirus patients in Israel has for the first time in weeks passed the threshold of 4,000, health officials confirmed on Wednesday morning.
Israel over the past few weeks has seen a resurgence of COVID-19 as more and more businesses reopen, with the daily toll topping 200 new cases last week for the first time since April.
The Health Ministry reported that 257 have been diagnosed with the virus over the past 24 hours, with total number of active patients currently standing at 4,092.
Although no death from coronavirus-related complications have been recorded in the past 24 hours, the number of patients in serious condition has increased to 39, with 32 of them needing ventilator support.
The ministry said medical officials conducted 14,676 COVID-19 tests on Wednesday, bringing the contagion rate to 2%.
The number of patients recovering from the virus has also slowed down, with only 12 recoveries reported in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 15,499.
Since the start of the epidemic in Israel, 19,894 people have tested positive for the pathogen.
According to the Coronavirus National Information and Knowledge Center, in Arab and Druze communities, which over the recent days saw an outbreak of COVID-19, the number of coronavirus tests being conducted is significantly lower than the national average.
"It is advisable to increase the number of tests in the Arab and Druze sectors," said the report. "By increasing the availability of tests in these communities through HMOs, along with an awareness campaign that will encourage those with symptoms to get tested."
The number of coronavirus patients in Israel has for the first time in weeks passed the threshold of 4,000, health officials confirmed on Wednesday morning.
Israel over the past few weeks has seen a resurgence of COVID-19 as more and more businesses reopen, with the daily toll topping 200 new cases last week for the first time since April.
The Health Ministry reported that 257 have been diagnosed with the virus over the past 24 hours, with total number of active patients currently standing at 4,092.
Although no death from coronavirus-related complications have been recorded in the past 24 hours, the number of patients in serious condition has increased to 39, with 32 of them needing ventilator support.
The ministry said medical officials conducted 14,676 COVID-19 tests on Wednesday, bringing the contagion rate to 2%.
The number of patients recovering from the virus has also slowed down, with only 12 recoveries reported in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 15,499.
Since the start of the epidemic in Israel, 19,894 people have tested positive for the pathogen.
According to the Coronavirus National Information and Knowledge Center, in Arab and Druze communities, which over the recent days saw an outbreak of COVID-19, the number of coronavirus tests being conducted is significantly lower than the national average.
"It is advisable to increase the number of tests in the Arab and Druze sectors," said the report. "By increasing the availability of tests in these communities through HMOs, along with an awareness campaign that will encourage those with symptoms to get tested."
17 june 2020
Hamas movement has slammed US former envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt over his statements that the “West Bank is not a Palestinian land” and that “applying Israeli law in the West Bank is not illegal”.
Hamas’s spokesman Abed al-Latif al-Qanou’ described Greenblatt’s statements as “nonsense”.
Al-Qanou’ said that these statements are based on a blatant falsification of facts and history, and stem from Greenblatt’s hatred of the Palestinian people.
He stressed that the Palestinian people are the true right and history owners, and that all attempts to alter the history and facts will fail, adding that nothing will stop the Palestinian people from continuing their struggle for freedom.
Hamas’s spokesman Abed al-Latif al-Qanou’ described Greenblatt’s statements as “nonsense”.
Al-Qanou’ said that these statements are based on a blatant falsification of facts and history, and stem from Greenblatt’s hatred of the Palestinian people.
He stressed that the Palestinian people are the true right and history owners, and that all attempts to alter the history and facts will fail, adding that nothing will stop the Palestinian people from continuing their struggle for freedom.
15 june 2020
The army says in light of recent resurgence of COVID-19, it has recommended to the government to put restrictions on all mass gatherings, only a day after it was officially allowed to stage events with up to 250 people
Tel Aviv continues to be a hotspot for coronavirus with the infection rate in the city appears to be twice as high as in the rest of the country, government officials said Monday.
The city over the past few days has overtaken Jerusalem, which still boasts the highest overall number of COVID-19 infections, when it comes to the rate of the pathogen's spread.
The Coronavirus National Information and Knowledge Center reported that on Sunday the number of positive COVID-19 results out of the total number of people tested, stood at 3%.
The center, which is part of the IDF's Security and Intelligence Division, said the army has made a recommendation to the government, urging it to put restrictions on mass gatherings - only 24 hours after it was officially allowed for events with up to 250 people to take place.
"There’s a need to improve the effectiveness of cutting the chain of infection,” said the IDF in a memo. “This includes limiting mass events.”
The military also recommends to "step up the enforcement (fines and increased presence of enforcement officials) of the existing health guidelines (isolation and wearing of masks, especially in confined spaces and crowded environments)."
As of Monday morning, 19,128 in Israel have tested positive for COVID-19, with 302 patients succumbing to the disease.
Tel Aviv continues to be a hotspot for coronavirus with the infection rate in the city appears to be twice as high as in the rest of the country, government officials said Monday.
The city over the past few days has overtaken Jerusalem, which still boasts the highest overall number of COVID-19 infections, when it comes to the rate of the pathogen's spread.
The Coronavirus National Information and Knowledge Center reported that on Sunday the number of positive COVID-19 results out of the total number of people tested, stood at 3%.
The center, which is part of the IDF's Security and Intelligence Division, said the army has made a recommendation to the government, urging it to put restrictions on mass gatherings - only 24 hours after it was officially allowed for events with up to 250 people to take place.
"There’s a need to improve the effectiveness of cutting the chain of infection,” said the IDF in a memo. “This includes limiting mass events.”
The military also recommends to "step up the enforcement (fines and increased presence of enforcement officials) of the existing health guidelines (isolation and wearing of masks, especially in confined spaces and crowded environments)."
As of Monday morning, 19,128 in Israel have tested positive for COVID-19, with 302 patients succumbing to the disease.
14 june 2020
The Arab Group at the UN has announced its opposition to Israel’s nomination for vice-chairman of the Legal Committee at the 75th session of the General Assembly slated for next September.
Mansour Al-Otaibi, permanent representative of Kuwait to the UN, stated, in his capacity as head of the Arab Group, that the UN circulated a message on June 8 regarding the election of the chair and members of the bureau of the sixth legal committee at the 75th session of the General Assembly.
“With regard to the election of vice-chairmen of the committee, the group sent an objection to secretary-general Antonio Guterres against Israel’s nomination of a candidate for the vice-chairmanship of the bureau of the sixth committee at the upcoming session,” Otaibi said in a press release on Saturday.
“The Arab group has concerns and considers Israel ineligible for membership in the bureau because of its ongoing and systematic violations of international law and many UN resolutions for more than seven decades,” the Kuwait representative underlined.
He called for circulating his letter about the Arab Group’s position in this regard to all member states.
Mansour Al-Otaibi, permanent representative of Kuwait to the UN, stated, in his capacity as head of the Arab Group, that the UN circulated a message on June 8 regarding the election of the chair and members of the bureau of the sixth legal committee at the 75th session of the General Assembly.
“With regard to the election of vice-chairmen of the committee, the group sent an objection to secretary-general Antonio Guterres against Israel’s nomination of a candidate for the vice-chairmanship of the bureau of the sixth committee at the upcoming session,” Otaibi said in a press release on Saturday.
“The Arab group has concerns and considers Israel ineligible for membership in the bureau because of its ongoing and systematic violations of international law and many UN resolutions for more than seven decades,” the Kuwait representative underlined.
He called for circulating his letter about the Arab Group’s position in this regard to all member states.
13 june 2020
Confrontations renewed on Friday evening between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police in Jaffa over a plan to demolish an ancient Muslim cemetery to build a Jewish shelter. video
Israeli police forces blocked several roads and deployed in large numbers in the city, while the angry protesters set trash cans on fire and launched fireworks, local sources reported. video
Tension has prevailed in Jaffa since last Monday when Israeli bulldozers, escorted by the police, began digging up graves in the cemetery, which is known by the native citizens as “al-Is’af” graveyard, in preparation for the construction of a Jewish shelter. video
Earlier on Friday, dozens of Palestinian residents of Jaffa gathered in a protest tent near al-Is’af graveyard for the Friday prayer, which was led by al-Aqsa Mosque’s preacher Sheikh Ekrima Sabri.
The worshipers took to the streets after the prayer to protest the demolition of the cemetery, and later in the evening, confrontations intensified.
Israeli police forces blocked several roads and deployed in large numbers in the city, while the angry protesters set trash cans on fire and launched fireworks, local sources reported. video
Tension has prevailed in Jaffa since last Monday when Israeli bulldozers, escorted by the police, began digging up graves in the cemetery, which is known by the native citizens as “al-Is’af” graveyard, in preparation for the construction of a Jewish shelter. video
Earlier on Friday, dozens of Palestinian residents of Jaffa gathered in a protest tent near al-Is’af graveyard for the Friday prayer, which was led by al-Aqsa Mosque’s preacher Sheikh Ekrima Sabri.
The worshipers took to the streets after the prayer to protest the demolition of the cemetery, and later in the evening, confrontations intensified.
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