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​ Image copyrightAFPImage captionA fireball rises from Gaza city following an Israeli air strike on Friday Israel has attacked military targets in the Gaza Strip, after its soldiers came under gunfire at the border. The Israeli military announced that one soldier had died from his wounds, the first in the most recent clashes. Gaza officials … Continue reading Israel carries out revenge Gaza strikes as soldier dies from gunshot

Report The suspension of a South African official for saying Johannesburg was “a friend of Israel” is a serious threat to democracy, a campaign group has said. South African Friends of Israel lashed out at the decision to suspend Mpho Phalatse, the city’s health member of municipal council (MMC), by Mayor Herman Mashaba after a … Continue reading Suspension of SA official for supporting Israel is ‘a clear attack’

Billionaire Roman Abramovich of Russia became Israel’s wealthiest citizen on Monday, JNS.org reports A Jew entitled to Israeli citizenship by law, Abramovich is now a permanent Israeli resident. The owner of Chelsea, he had been living in London for years, but was informed that his UK visa would not be renewed. The UK has attempted to push out Russian oligarchs in recent months following the poisonings of Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury in March. Abramovich also reportedly holds close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. More than 30 powerful Russian Jewish businesspeople have opted to obtain Israeli citizenship in recent years. Not only is Israel the Jewish homeland, it provides a safe backup residence, as well as rights afforded to Israeli-passport holders, including tax benefits, some protection against extradition and the convenience of visa-free travel across the European Union. However, Abramovich’s representative said  his stron...

Billionaire Roman Abramovich of Russia became Israel’s wealthiest citizen on Monday, JNS.org reports A Jew entitled to Israeli citizenship by law, Abramovich is now a permanent Israeli resident. The owner of Chelsea, he had been living in London for years, but was informed that his UK visa would not be renewed. The UK has attempted to push out Russian oligarchs in recent months following the poisonings of Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury in March. Abramovich also reportedly holds close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. More than 30 powerful Russian Jewish businesspeople have opted to obtain Israeli citizenship in recent years. Not only is Israel the Jewish homeland, it provides a safe backup residence, as well as rights afforded to Israeli-passport holders, including tax benefits, some protection against extradition and the convenience of visa-free travel across the European Union. However, Abramovich’s representative said  his stron...

​ Tickets for an Israel-Argentina friendly in Jerusalem next month with Barcelona star Lionel Messi expected in the line-up sold out within 20 minutes, the Israeli company handling sales said,  AFP  reports. The Le’an agency said on its website that nearly 100,000 fans applied for 20,000 tickets when they went on general sale  on Sunday evening. “No sporting event has ever caused such hysteria in Israel,” it wrote. Prices ranged from 44 shekels (about $12) for children and soldiers to 825 shekels in the VIP area. Another 5,000 places went to supporters of the Israeli national team in a pre-sale reserved for them and over 4,000 tickets were to be distributed to children from needy families. The game will take place on June 9 at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem which has a capacity of 31,733 seats. On social media networks, tickets were being resold for up to 4,500 shekels on Monday. Argentina will play against Haiti on May 29 and then Israel just one week before the...

​ Tickets for an Israel-Argentina friendly in Jerusalem next month with Barcelona star Lionel Messi expected in the line-up sold out within 20 minutes, the Israeli company handling sales said,  AFP  reports. The Le’an agency said on its website that nearly 100,000 fans applied for 20,000 tickets when they went on general sale  on Sunday evening. “No sporting event has ever caused such hysteria in Israel,” it wrote. Prices ranged from 44 shekels (about $12) for children and soldiers to 825 shekels in the VIP area. Another 5,000 places went to supporters of the Israeli national team in a pre-sale reserved for them and over 4,000 tickets were to be distributed to children from needy families. The game will take place on June 9 at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem which has a capacity of 31,733 seats. On social media networks, tickets were being resold for up to 4,500 shekels on Monday. Argentina will play against Haiti on May 29 and then Israel just one week before the...

Share Seven major moments from Israel’s history, as the country turns 70. AFP Israel is marking 70 years, according to the Hebrew calendar, since independence was proclaimed. The day – 14 May 1948, according to the the Gregorian calendar – was a moment of tremendous joy for Jewish people around the world, and came just three years after the Holocaust. The move was rejected by neighbouring Arab countries and five armies attacked the newborn state the next day. KEYSTONE / GETTY IMAGES Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs fled or were driven from their homes in the war that followed Israel’s creation, marking the beginning of the Palestinian refugee problem that continues to this day. About 600,000 Jewish refugees from Arab countries, as well as some 250,000 Holocaust survivors in Europe, settled in Israel in the first few years of the state’s existence, more than doubling its Jewish population. GETTY IMAGES In 1961, Israel put on trial in Jerusalem th...