Harris, Netanyahu Discuss ICC Investigation, COVID Cooperation in First Call
In first conversation since taking office, U.S. vice president speaks with Israeli prime minister about regional issues and shared interests
Ben Samuels
Ben Samuels is the U.S. correspondent for Haaretz, based out of Washington, D.C.
WATCH Netanyahu: SNL Vaccine Joke ‘Is So False, Many Many Arabs Are Voting for Me’
In a 'Fox & Friends' interview, Netanyahu says his opposition to Iran's bid to acquire nuclear weapons is 'absolute,' but that he hoped that he could see 'eye to eye' with Biden on the issue
U.S. 'Firmly Opposed' to ICC War Crimes Probe That 'Targets Israel Unfairly'
State Department argues the International Criminal Court 'has no jurisdiction' over the Palestinian territories, after prosecutor's statement that was hailed by Palestinian leadership and denounced by Israel
Democrats Introduce Bill Banning MBS From U.S., Conditioning Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia
Proposed legislation follows the release of intel report that determined Crown Prince Mohammed had authorized the murder of dissident journalist Khashoggi
Top Democrat Backs IHRA Definition to Tackle Antisemitism on 'Political Left and Political Right'
Rep. Ted Deutch is perhaps the most prominent figure yet to call on President Biden to adopt the controversial definition, which has faced stiff resistance from key liberal Zionist groups
For the Biden Administration, Saudi Arabia Is Both an Ally and a Problem
Anyone who expected the Biden administration to immediately sever ties with Crown Prince Mohammed is overlooking the Saudis’ strategic importance, several experts tell Haaretz
U.S. Strikes Iranian-backed Militias in Syria; Sources Say at Least 17 Killed
The 'multiple facilities located at a border control point used by a number of Iranian-backed militant groups' comes amid a tense standoff over the nuclear deal with Iran and rocket fire on U.S. sites in Iraq
Pro-Israel Senators to Call on Blinken to Take Stronger Action Over ICC War Crimes Probe
Sen. Ben Cardin, a Democrat, and Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican say that the ICC probe "unfairly targets Israel, biases any subsequent investigation or trial, and hinders the path towards regional peace."
Bernie Sanders Slams Israel for Sending COVID Vaccines Abroad While Palestinians 'Still Waiting'
U.S. senator says Israel responsible for health of Palestinians under its control, 'outrageous' for Netanayhu 'to reward his foreign allies'
A Week After Biden, Pelosi Calls Netanyahu to Talk COVID, Two-state Solution
U.S. House speaker highlights 'unbreakable bond' and 'unwavering support' for Israel in phone call, while Democrats are concerned Netanyahu has aligned too closely with the Republican Party
Jewish Groups Call to Reverse Trump Policy of Labeling Settlement Products 'Made in Israel'
Products from Israeli settlement couldn't have been marked with Israel as the country of origin since the signing of the Oslo Accords in the mid-1990s, but that changed after Pompeo's final visit to Israel as secretary of state
Top Democratic Lawmaker: I'm Against Annexation, but U.S. Aid to Israel Is Nonnegotiable
Rep. Gregory Meeks, who serves as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has previously said the U.S. should be willing to leverage aid to Israel over annexation
The Latest Jewish Newcomer to Congress Believes Biden Can Get a Better Iran Deal
Rep. Kathy Manning of North Carolina, the deputy chief of a key subcommittee, told Haaretz the nuclear agreement ‘needs to be for a longer period of time, it needs to be a stronger deal, it needs to be broader’
Blinken Tells Israeli Foreign Minister the Biden Administration Supports Two-state Solution
The U.S. Secretary of State also reiterated his commitment to supporting Israel against 'unfair attacks' in international institutions
Biden’s Pick for Attorney General Recalls His Family’s Experience Fleeing Antisemitism
During confirmation hearing, Merrick Garland talks of his family's experience as immigrants in the United States, vows to prosecute white supremacists who stormed Capitol
Lapid: Netanyahu Eulogy for Rush Limbaugh 'Not the Kind of Politics We Should Have'
Opposition leader Lapid, speaking at a Brookings Institution conference, accuses Netanyahu of turning Israel into a partisan issue. Another Netanyahu challenger, Sa'ar, says on Iran talks: 'We can't compromise our security'
Fauci Tells Haaretz That on Vaccine Rollout, ‘Israel Really Did It Right’
Dr. Fauci says he's optimistic about where the U.S. is heading on COVID-19 inoculations, but acknowledges in an interview that ‘We have a real discrepancy between supply and demand’
PA Says Israel Has Agreed to Vaccinate Palestinian Workers Against COVID
Israeli and Palestinian health officials also agreed to work together to curb the spread of new coronavirus strains, the Palestinian Health Ministry says following a joint meeting in Ramallah
Biden: Iranian Nuclear Threat 'Requires Careful Diplomacy'
In his first major speech aimed at an international audience, President Biden says the U.S. is willing to reopen talks on Tehran's nuclear program, warns of 'Iran's destabilizing activities across the Middle East'
Biden Calls Netanyahu for First Time Since Being Sworn in as U.S. President
The two leaders discussed continuation of the peace process in the Middle East, the Iranian threat and regional security challenges in hour-long conversation, PM's office says
Fauci Hails Israel's Vaccine Rollout as HMO Reports 95 Percent Effectiveness
Israeli HMO says data shows fully vaccinated person has chance of one in a 1,000 of contracting COVID
This Time, AIPAC Stays Silent on Netanyahu's Alliance With Far-right, Anti-gay Party
Two years ago, AIPAC and AJC howled at Netanyahu’s alliance with neo-Kahanists. This time, though, no comment. American Jews ‘won’t be particularly shocked or outraged by anything he does at this point,’ says Israel Studies expert Dov Waxman
Biden's First Call With Mideast Leader Will Be With Netanyahu, White House Says
Remarks come amid concerns that Biden is sending a message to the Israeli government after not calling during his first several weeks in office
Democrats Watching Israeli Election Hope for ‘Anyone but Bibi’
The Biden team will work closely with whoever wins next month's election, but one source close to the administration says Netanyahu has ‘personally undermined any goodwill about engaging with him’
U.S. Reform Group Condemns Jewish National Fund Plan to Expand Israeli Settlements
Union for Reform Judaism says JNF plan would 'endanger the possibility of a two-state solution,' adding they will work to mobilize the Jewish community against the proposal, which they claim could harm Israel-U.S. ties
Jewish National Fund Aims to Officially Work to Expand West Bank Settlements
The Israeli organization has until now operated in the West Bank through a subsidiary, and is set to discuss a proposal to allow it to officially purchase land in and near settlement blocs
Forget the Politicians: This U.S. Lawmaker Thinks High-tech Can Bring Israelis and Palestinians Together
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna says citizen diplomacy and a focus on innovation can cut through some of the ‘gridlock that has been created by the government-to-government approaches’ in the Middle East
Meet Biden's Point Person on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Hady Amr, the Biden administration’s deputy assistant secretary of state for Israeli-Palestinian affairs, is coming in with a fresh perspective, regional relationships and years of experience – and he has a lot of work to do
Important for Palestinians to Receive More COVID-19 Vaccines, U.S. Official Says
State Department official praises Israel’s decision to give 5,000 vaccines for Palestinian health care workers last week, says more are needed in the coming weeks
Blinken Downplays Lack of Biden-Netanyahu Call, Says They'll Speak 'In Near Future'
In wide ranging conversation on CNN, Secretary of State also stops short of endorsing Trump's groundbreaking recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights