Asia Israel The National Library of Israel, founded in 1892, has digitized its collection of rare Islamic books and manuscripts; last year, more than 650.000 people across the Arab world visited the library's Arabic-language website
Asia Israel Netanyahu declared Israel “on the eve of a forceful entry to Gaza" as security cabinet voted to approve a plan for tens of thousands of additional soldiers to seize and hold Gaza territory, relocating Palestinians south, raising international bewilderment
Asia Israel Ronen Bar, chief of Shin Bet, whom cabinet voted last month to fire, will step down from his role on 15 June; opposition lawmakers urge Netanyahu to follow an Bar himself said ‘all’ who failed on October 7 must go
Asia Israel Hundreds of Israeli writers, poets, and literary figures signed a petition on Sunday calling for the immediate end of the war in Gaza, the return of the 59 hostages, and the formulation of a clear plan for the future of Gaza and its residents
Asia Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had received an invitation to meet the US president at the White House on 4 February; he would be the first international leader to visit Trump in his second term