Wednesday’s announcement by Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman that he is resigning over the government’s agreeing to a cease-fire with the Islamist terror militia Hamas, which he characterized as “a capitulation to terrorism” has increased speculation that the country could soon be holding parliamentary elections. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held urgent talks with the leaders of other factions within his governing coalition throughout Thursday in an effort to hold the government together, he was told by even some of his closest political allies that early elections are necessary and unavoidable.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gave a fiery speech Wednesday denouncing US policy towards the Islamic regime in Teheran, denouncing Washington’s recent reinstatement of sanctions which are designed to persuade Iran to discontinue its support for terrorism, ballistic missiles and renegade nuclear program. He added that it was common people in Iran who would be harmed most by US sanctions. Meanwhile, a US State Department report released this week indicates that Iran continues to spend massive amounts of money supporting Hezbollah and other terrorist entities around the world.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin was the guest of Pope Francis in the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City on Thursday morning, along with his wife Nechama. Rivlin is in Italy for meetings with various government officials and will meet with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Friday morning before returning to Israel.

The movement to Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) Israel suffered another defeat on Wednesday when Tel Aviv University and Illinois-based Northwestern University announced a joint project to develop the budding field of nanoscience. The joint research and development projects, privately funded by philanthropist Roman Abramovich, covers student exchange programs and grants for individual and shared research at both universities.

Four Israeli police officers were wounded in a stabbing attack Wednesday evening in Jerusalem’s Armon HaNatziv neighborhood. A terrorist climbed the fence in front of the Oz Police Station, slashing at an officer near the entrance and wouding his other victims in the ensuing scuffle. He was shot and seriously wounded by other officers and taken to Shaarei Tzedek Hospital where he was listed in stable condition Thursday morning.

The recent round of fighting between Israel and Hamas was seemingly sparked by the exposure of an Israeli special forces team during a covert operation in Khan Yunis. The Hamas leadership, which apparently is not interested in war, nevertheless chose to respond by escalating to the very brink. Why has the Israeli government refrained (yet again) from instructing the IDF to settle the Hamas threat?

U.S. Special Representative on Iran, Brian Hook, delivered a statement at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv this week. Appointed in August 2018, this is Mr. Hook’s first visit to the region. It is aimed to advance the U.S. President’s Iran strategy and to increase pressure on the Iranian regime to cease its destructive policies.

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