Israeli military announces new unit for long-range strikes

Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel’s military plans to form a long-range strike command. The military said the new unit would be commanded by a major general and help direct operations far from Israel’s borders. The commander was identified as Shai Avital, who headed the Army’s elite General Reconnaissance Unit and returned to the […]

Violent pushback from West Bank Jews shocks Israeli government

Violent pushback from West Bank Jews shocks Israeli government

Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite warnings by the intelligence community, has been stunned by the ferocity of Jewish resistance to demolition operations in the West Bank. Officials said Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak were taken by surprise by the violent opposition to the demolition […]

Israel sees ‘disturbing’ Egypt election outcome as ‘diplomatic catastrophe’

Israel sees ‘disturbing’ Egypt election outcome as ‘diplomatic catastrophe’

Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel’s intelligence community has assessed that Egypt’ existing government could decline rapidly in wake of the huge Islamic victory in parliamentary elections. Israeli sources said the intelligence community was stunned by the victory of the Muslim Brotherhood and its Salafist allies in parliamentary elections in late November. They said […]

Israel sees rising Islamist power behind new Egyptian unrest

Israel sees rising Islamist power behind new Egyptian unrest

Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel is increasingly worried over the prospect of another revolt in Egypt. Officials said the escalation in unrest in Egypt is threatening regional stability as well as relations with the Jewish state. They said the unrest reflected the growing power of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamist opposition. “This […]

Israel’s Barak on Iran: ‘Time has come’ to act

Israel’s Barak on Iran: ‘Time has come’ to act

AFP The “time has come” to deal with Iran, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Sunday, refusing to rule out military action to curb the Islamic republic’s nuclear ambitions. Barak, speaking on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS program, indicated that Israel’s patience was wearing thin — and provided an ominous response when asked about the growing […]

Israel braces for trouble when 1,000 Jews expelled from West Bank homes

Israel braces for trouble when 1,000 Jews expelled from West Bank homes

Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel’s military and police have been preparing for massive Jewish unrest amid plans to destroy unauthorized communities in the West Bank. Officials said the military and police were intensifying training and non-lethal weapons procurement ahead of plans to destroy nearly 100 unlicensed Jewish homes in the West Bank. They […]

Israel tests missile, warns ‘military option against Iran is not an empty threat’

Israel tests missile, warns ‘military option against Iran is not an empty threat’

Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel has reported the testing of a ballistic missile system. The Israeli Defense Ministry, in an unusual announcement, said it oversaw the testing of a rocket propulsion system on Nov. 2. The ministry said the test, which consisted of a launch from an Air Force base south of Tel […]