Israel has failed to arrest a wave of violence against Palestinians, prompting military officials to urge the government to intervene.
The B’nei Menashe believe they are the descendants of Manasseh, a tribal patriarch from thousands of years ago. Evidence is thin, but Israel is welcoming them “home.”
The military is investigating the soldier. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret for any hurt caused to “believers in Lebanon and around the world.”
The atmosphere during preparations for the Jewish festival has been unusually subdued, with people afraid to stray far from their homes and shelters.
While detaining a CNN crew, a soldier said that Israeli troops were motivated by “revenge” against Palestinians and that all of the West Bank was “for the Jews.”
The police said one Iranian and three British-Iranians were detained as part of a counterterrorism investigation.
The temporary measure, during the holy Muslim fasting month, follows tensions as Jewish activists increasingly encroach on the contested religious site.
The case underlines how the Islamic State has seized on rising antisemitism in the wake of the Gaza war to radicalize and encourage would-be assailants.
In the post-Assad era, more Jews are visiting a country that some fled decades ago. One hotel restaurant offers a corner where religious dietary requirements are melded with the local cuisine.
Amid activists’ objections, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had invited President Isaac Herzog to visit to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting.