Middle East

In letter to justice minister, religious leaders object to policies calls that ‘run contrary to human morality’ By Stuart Winer Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked attends a Constitution, Law, and Justice, Committee meeting in the Knesset on July 9, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Dozens of religious-Zionist rabbis declared their support for Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked’s ruling against […]

Islamic authority wants access to Temple Mount returned to situation before July 14 attack — more gates open, no railings, no cameras By Avi Issacharoff and Times of Israel staff Waqf (Muslim Trust) officials and others prepare to pray outside the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem’s Old City, rather than enter the compound via metal detectors

Legislation must openly say it will safeguard the rights of minorities, insists maverick Likud lawmaker By Marissa Newman Likud MK Benny Begin speaks during a vote on the so-called Regulation Bill, controversial legislation that seeks to legitimize illegal West Bank outposts, in the Knesset on December 7, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Maverick Likud MK Benny Begin

Israel’s removal of metal detectors from Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site has failed to appease Palestinians. Thousands prayed outside on Tuesday night, heeding a call not to enter in protest at Israel’s actions. Earlier Israel said it had decided to replace the detectors with what it calls “smart checking devices” at the site known to

Openly gay Likud MK Amir Ohana punished for skipping key Knesset votes in protest at government’s discriminatory policy By Times of Israel staff Likud Knesset Member Amir Ohana leads a House committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on July 26, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Likud’s first openly gay lawmaker was suspended from a powerful Knesset

Libya’s UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and and the divided country’s eastern commander General Khalifa Haftar agreed to a conditional ceasefire and elections at Paris talks on Tuesday. “We commit to a ceasefire and to refrain from any use of armed force for any purpose that does not strictly constitute counter-terrorism,” the rival leaders said

Cairo (dpa) – Jordan reached a deal with Israel to question an Israeli security guard who had shot and killed an alleged attacker in Amman before he was allowed to leave the country, Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi said on Tuesday. The security guard at the Israeli embassy in Amman, who enjoyed diplomatic