Middle East & North Africa

JERUSALEM (AP) — When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has run into political trouble in the past, he has lashed out at the media, the political opposition and Israel’s Arab minority with incendiary and divisive language to galvanize his nationalist base.

Ahead of April 9 elections, Netanyahu has zoned in on prominent Arab lawmaker Ahmad Tibi.

08 Mar 2019; DW: Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews were bussed in to disrupt a prayer service by the liberal Women of the Wall group. Members of the group had to be escorted out for their safety after being spit on and threatened.

Clashes broke out between thousands of young, ultra-Orthodox Jews and the Women of the Wall (Neshot Hakotel) movement at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Friday.

JERUSALEM, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Israeli aircraft struck Friday overnight several military targets of Hamas in the Gaza Strip hours after a projectile was fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said early Saturday in a statement that "several military targets" in a Hamas compound in the southern Gaza Strip and "underground structures" in the northern Gaza Strip were struck.

ANKARA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Russia will begin joint patrols in Syria's northern province of Idlib, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Friday.

Speaking in an interview with the state-run Anadolu news agency, Akar said the joint patrols in the de-escalation zone will be an important step for maintaining cease-fire and ensuring stability.

Akar denied concerns that Turkey was in direct contact with the Syrian government, saying Ankara was only holding talks with Russia and Iran when needed.

Jerusalem, Mar 5 (AFP) An Israeli spacecraft on its maiden mission to the moon has sent its first selfie back to Earth, mission chiefs said on Tuesday.

The image showing part of the Beresheet spacecraft with Earth in the background was beamed to mission control in Yehud, Israel -- 37,600 kilometres (23,360 miles) away, the project's lead partners said in a statement.

JERUSALEM/GAZA, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Israeli fighter jets struck on Tuesday night a Hamas military compound in Gaza after "explosive balloons" from the Palestinian enclave reached southern Israel, the Israeli army said.

Israel Defense Forces fighter jets and aircraft struck a number of targets in a "Hamas military compound in the northern Gaza Strip," a military spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson said that the strike was carried out in response to balloons carrying explosive material launched from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory earlier on Tuesday.

RAMALLAH, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Palestinians are holding their breath as Israel's general elections are due to take place on April 9, amid fears of further regional escalation to serve the electoral aspirants.

Observers believe that the Palestinian issue is the most tackled on the campaign trail of Israeli parties, including more hostile steps to gain public support ahead of the upcoming elections.

BEIRUT, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian said on Monday that China will continue to support the Lebanese army, the National News Agency reported.

"China intends to approve donations for Lebanon's military institutions," Wang said.

Wang's remarks came during his meeting with Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab to congratulate him on his new role in the new government.

BAGHDAD, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi President Barham Salih Monday discussed with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas bilateral relations, and expressed Iraq's support to the rights of the Palestinian people to achieve peace and stability on their land.

A statement by the presidency office said that Salih received Abbas and accompanying delegation, and the two sides held a meeting to discuss means to enhance cooperation and coordination in a way that serves the aspirations of the two brotherly peoples.

MOSCOW, March 4. /TASS/. The US-led coalition once again carried out airstrikes on the inhabited community of al-Baghouz in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province on Sunday using white phosphorus munitions, the SANA news agency reported.

According to the Syrian news agency, civilian casualties are reported.