ISRAELI EMBASSIES ON ALERT, AIR DEFENSES ADJUSTED IN FACE OF IRAN THREAT

srael’s Air Force has adjusted its air defenses, and several Israeli embassies around the world have raised their alert level in light of increased tensions from Iran.

According to reports in Hebrew-language media, a series of adjustments were made to IAF air defense systems in light of the fear that Iran might try to carry out an attack using cruise missiles or suicide drones, similar to the October attack against Saudi Arabia.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have warned in recent days of the increased threat posed by the Islamic Republic, which they say is getting bolder and more willing to respond to Israeli attacks on Iranian and Iranian-backed militias and infrastructure.

“Iran wants to develop precision-guided missiles that can hit any target in Israel within five to 10 meters: It’s doing it,” Netanyahu said Monday evening during an event at the Jewish Agency. “Iran wants to use Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen as bases to attack Israel with statistical missiles and precision-guided missiles. That is a great, great danger.”

At the event, United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin added that the US is planning more sanctions to place on Iran in its “maximum pressure campaign.”

While Iran has several rockets which could reach Israeli territory, including the Khoramshahr 2 with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers, it is unclear if they transferred such missiles to Yemen.

According to a report in the online magazine Breaking Defense, Israel has recently upgraded the Barak-8ER system with an extended range to protect against cruise missiles, a land-based configuration of the long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) or the Barak-8 naval air defense system.

Read more - https://www.jpost.com/International/Israeli-embassies-on-alert-air-defenses-adjusted-in-face-of-Iran-threat-606159?fbclid=IwAR3GoWXjIDiKXaSKYRu3KUrnxdfl4QTNHkMgSGxXvNtSwnY5uJlht34aPck

ISRAELI EMBASSIES ON ALERT, AIR DEFENSES ADJUSTED IN FACE OF IRAN THREAT

srael’s Air Force has adjusted its air defenses, and several Israeli embassies around the world have raised their alert level in light of increased tensions from Iran.

According to reports in Hebrew-language media, a series of adjustments were made to IAF air defense systems in light of the fear that Iran might try to carry out an attack using cruise missiles or suicide drones, similar to the October attack against Saudi Arabia.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have warned in recent days of the increased threat posed by the Islamic Republic, which they say is getting bolder and more willing to respond to Israeli attacks on Iranian and Iranian-backed militias and infrastructure.

“Iran wants to develop precision-guided missiles that can hit any target in Israel within five to 10 meters: It’s doing it,” Netanyahu said Monday evening during an event at the Jewish Agency. “Iran wants to use Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen as bases to attack Israel with statistical missiles and precision-guided missiles. That is a great, great danger.”

At the event, United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin added that the US is planning more sanctions to place on Iran in its “maximum pressure campaign.”

While Iran has several rockets which could reach Israeli territory, including the Khoramshahr 2 with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers, it is unclear if they transferred such missiles to Yemen.

According to a report in the online magazine Breaking Defense, Israel has recently upgraded the Barak-8ER system with an extended range to protect against cruise missiles, a land-based configuration of the long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) or the Barak-8 naval air defense system.

Read more - https://www.jpost.com/International/Israeli-embassies-on-alert-air-defenses-adjusted-in-face-of-Iran-threat-606159?fbclid=IwAR3GoWXjIDiKXaSKYRu3KUrnxdfl4QTNHkMgSGxXvNtSwnY5uJlht34aPck

All of Israel’s embassies around the world are on strike

(JTA) — As of Wednesday morning, Israel’s embassies and consulates across the globe are on strike.

“No consular services will be provided and no one will be allowed to enter,” one ambassador posted on Twitter. Those services include passport renewal and assistance to Israelis living abroad.

Why has Israel’s entire foreign service shut down? In a word: taxes.

Israeli diplomats get lump-sum expense stipends meant to cover a range of personal and official expenses. The Finance Ministry now says it wants the diplomats to submit individual receipts for those expenses and pay sales tax on the personal ones. The taxes would be applied retroactively, which would force the diplomats to pay back from previous years. Sales tax in Israel, which is known as a valued-added tax, or VAT, is currently 17 percent.

The Foreign Ministry is none too pleased.

“Israel’s representatives abroad strive to promote the country’s international standing and strength daily,” a ministry statement published Wednesday said. “The Ministry of Finance is impairing essential tools of the State of Israel and has unfortunately left us with no option other than the closing of all diplomatic missions.”

Here’s a shocker: The Finance Ministry sees thing differently. In a statement to JTA, the ministry said the diplomats are shutting down Israel’s international relations so they can maintain their comfortable lifestyles.

“Foreign Ministry employees are required to pay taxes like every other citizen of the state of Israel,” the ministry said. “It’s a shame that, in an attempt to improve their circumstances, Foreign Ministry employees are refusing to pay taxes and are hindering essential services. Foreign Ministry employees are not above the law.”

This is the latest in a string of grievances from Israeli diplomats, who have long complained of low pay and poor working conditions. Earlier this year, diplomats protested budget cuts to the ministry and, in September, briefly went on strike over another financial dispute. Earlier in September, Foreign Ministry spending was frozen briefly before an emergency cash infusion from the Finance Ministry.

In May, a State Comptroller report found that some Israeli diplomats live in dilapidated conditions.

Read more - https://www.jta.org/2019/10/30/israel/all-of-israels-embassies-are-on-strike

All of Israel’s embassies around the world are on strike

(JTA) — As of Wednesday morning, Israel’s embassies and consulates across the globe are on strike.

“No consular services will be provided and no one will be allowed to enter,” one ambassador posted on Twitter. Those services include passport renewal and assistance to Israelis living abroad.

Why has Israel’s entire foreign service shut down? In a word: taxes.

Israeli diplomats get lump-sum expense stipends meant to cover a range of personal and official expenses. The Finance Ministry now says it wants the diplomats to submit individual receipts for those expenses and pay sales tax on the personal ones. The taxes would be applied retroactively, which would force the diplomats to pay back from previous years. Sales tax in Israel, which is known as a valued-added tax, or VAT, is currently 17 percent.

The Foreign Ministry is none too pleased.

“Israel’s representatives abroad strive to promote the country’s international standing and strength daily,” a ministry statement published Wednesday said. “The Ministry of Finance is impairing essential tools of the State of Israel and has unfortunately left us with no option other than the closing of all diplomatic missions.”

Here’s a shocker: The Finance Ministry sees thing differently. In a statement to JTA, the ministry said the diplomats are shutting down Israel’s international relations so they can maintain their comfortable lifestyles.

“Foreign Ministry employees are required to pay taxes like every other citizen of the state of Israel,” the ministry said. “It’s a shame that, in an attempt to improve their circumstances, Foreign Ministry employees are refusing to pay taxes and are hindering essential services. Foreign Ministry employees are not above the law.”

This is the latest in a string of grievances from Israeli diplomats, who have long complained of low pay and poor working conditions. Earlier this year, diplomats protested budget cuts to the ministry and, in September, briefly went on strike over another financial dispute. Earlier in September, Foreign Ministry spending was frozen briefly before an emergency cash infusion from the Finance Ministry.

In May, a State Comptroller report found that some Israeli diplomats live in dilapidated conditions.

Read more - https://www.jta.org/2019/10/30/israel/all-of-israels-embassies-are-on-strike

IDF jets shoot down drone over Gaza Strip

Israeli fighter jets shot down a drone that was flying at an “irregular altitude” over the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said.

The military said fighter jets were scrambled when the aircraft was detected and they shot it down.

“An unmanned aircraft flying was detected flying at an irregular altitude over the Gaza Strip. IDF fighter jets were sent toward it and they intercepted it,” the army said in a statement.

In general, the Israeli military does not interfere with drones flying over the Gaza Strip unless they approach the border or fly at especially high altitudes.

The incident came after a series of false alarms around Gaza in which rocket sirens were apparently triggered by terror groups’ training exercises in the coastal enclave.

On Sunday, rocket sirens sounded in the community of Kibbutz Erez just north of the Gaza Strip in a false alarm.

And last Thursday, a more serious incident occurred in which Israeli troops unnecessarily fired at least two Iron Dome interceptor missiles, apparently after misidentifying two rocket launches from the Gaza Strip that were directed out to sea as heading toward Israel.

Read more - https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-jets-shoot-down-drone-over-gaza-strip/

Lebanon’s prime minister resigns after weeks of protests

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Saad al-Hariri, Lebanon’s prime minister, has caved in to the demands of protesters after almost two weeks of nationwide demonstrations by announcing his resignation.

Mr Hariri on Tuesday said he had “reached a dead end” on finding a way forward, suggesting he had been unable to reach a compromise deal with partners in Lebanon’s power-sharing government to address the demands of protesters angry about economic decline and government corruption.

His resignation throws heavily indebted Lebanon deeper into uncertainty as the country is gripped by a wave of popular anger unleashed by now-revoked plans to impose a tax on WhatsApp calls.

Mr Hariri is likely to remain as the caretaker prime minister, but analysts said it was difficult to see a way forward until a government could be formed that was capable of addressing protesters’ demands and the economic crisis. In the past it has taken months, sometimes years, to agree on a new government.

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Lebanon’s prime minister resigns after weeks of protests

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Saad al-Hariri, Lebanon’s prime minister, has caved in to the demands of protesters after almost two weeks of nationwide demonstrations by announcing his resignation. Mr Hariri on Tuesday said he had “reached a dead end” on finding a way forward, suggesting he had been unable to reach a compromise deal with partners in Lebanon’s power-sharing government to address the demands of protesters angry about economic decline and government corruption. His resignation throws heavily indebted Lebanon deeper into uncertainty as the country is gripped by a wave of popular anger unleashed by now-revoked plans to impose a tax on WhatsApp calls. Mr Hariri is likely to remain as the caretaker prime minister, but analysts said it was difficult to see a way forward until a government could be formed that was capable of addressing protesters’ demands and the economic crisis. In the past it has taken months, sometimes years, to agree on a new government.

Read more - https://www.ft.com/content/67978e32-fa55-11e9-98fd-4d6c20050229?fbclid=IwAR3xZxtGD4NjdGWTs0u0D_OykCdWI154Un_EhUR9RIASDrnZRAAVq1p2Euk