LEADIN:

Professionals from the Israeli wine industry have gathered in Tel Aviv for the annual wine event: "Sommelier".

Wine has been produced in the region for millennia - but Israeli wine has only recently caught the attention of foreign markets.

STORYLINE:

This is "Sommelier" - the biggest wine event in Israel.

Israel is enjoying a growing number of tourists each year - and with that has come opportunities to expand its wine-selling network.

Professionals from the Israeli wine industry are gathered in Tel Aviv for the annual event, which has 60 wineries taking part.

The region may have been a wine-producing one for millennia, but Israeli wines have only recently started getting the attention of foreign markets.

Adam Montefiore, from The Israel Wine Experience, organises wine tours and tastings for tourists. He says:

"I don't want to overstate Israel's importance but it's a very historic area. We're a new world wine country in one of the oldest wine producing areas in the world and people want to taste something new."

Whereas 20 years ago the country hardly produced any wine, now it boasts lots of boutique wineries.

Israel was once mainly seen as a producer of kosher wines but that culture is now changing.

"We don't sell our wine as a kosher wine even if it is, we sell it as an Israeli wine," explains Samuel Zermati, CEO of Clos du Temple winery.

He makes Israeli wine which he exports with two other friends. They've so far sold 50,000 bottles.

The 1848 winery is based in the settlement of Maale Adumim. For its 170 year anniversary they made a bottle which sells for 848 shekels (231 US Dollars).

"Of course it sounds crazy to put 848 shekels (231 US Dollars) in a wine but it was somehow our way to say that's what we are able to do and the winery name is 1848, so we decided to use the same numbers of course so that's also something unique," says Ilan Assouline, a winemaker at 1848.

Despite an increase in Israel wineries, the price of its wines in general are still high compared to those abroad.

Arie Hochberg, an importer of Israeli wine to the US, says: "The American market really doesn't know Israeli wines."

But he adds that he is trying to change that.

"We're selling them to the most expensive restaurants in New York. So we are trying really to promote Israel as a wine producing country."

Israeli winemakers have often been criticised by groups who condemn the treatment of Palestinians and support boycotting Israel.

Last year a major Japanese department store quietly removed a vendor specialising in wine from Israel's occupied Golan Heights after protests from citizens' groups.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in 1981. The US and others consider it to be disputed territory.

Tel Aviv, Israel - 28 January 2019

1. Wine being poured

2. Tilt up of man tasting wine

3. Wide tilt up on Sommelier wine expo

4. Men smelling wine

5. Tura wine stand

6. Tilt up on Tura bottles of wine

7. Adam Montefiore, Israeli wine specialist and partner in The Israeli Wine Experience, smelling wine with another man

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Montefiore, The Israel Wine Experience:

"We're the representatives of the eastern Mediterranean. Now the eastern Mediterranean gave wine culture to the world 2,000 years ago, and whether you're talking about Jesus or King David we have a long history of wine growing. But the wine has been pretty awful for 2,000 years and now all the countries in the eastern Mediterranean are making fantastic wine and we're part of it. So again I don't want to overstate Israel's importance but it's a very historic area. We're a new world wine country in one of the oldest wine producing areas in the world and people want to taste something new."

9. Various of visitors at Sommelier wine expo

10. Mid of two men drinking wine

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Montefiore, The Israel Wine Experience:

"I find planting a vineyard, uncorking a bottle of wine is far removed from politics. So we can enjoy wine and take it out of the political arena and that's what wine is all about. You know you open a bottle of wine and the wine works its magic, we all enjoy it, so I haven't seen a lot of political reaction. Those that don't want to buy Israeli wine don't buy it, those that want to support Israel do buy it and those wine fanatics that want to taste something new are fascinated by Israel. So we don't lose."

12. Wide of Sommelier wine expo

13. Ultra Orthodox Jewish men tasting wine

14. Various of Clos du Temple winery booth

15. Wide of Samuel Zermati, CEO of Clos du Temple winery, speaking to visitors

16. SOUNDBITE (French) Samuel Zermati, CEO of Clos du Temple winery:

"We don't sell our wine as a kosher wine even if it is, we sell it as an Israeli wine. We chose the vineyards in the Judean Hills for a unique reason, it's because it's really hot during the day and pretty chilled during the evening. We're 700 metres high, so it gives us grapes and a wine that are exceptional. So that's what we are selling to the people who want to buy this wine. It's people that understand where the wine comes from and the importance of the climate, and also the influence of the climate, of the temperatures, these are wines that get, thanks to the sun, to 14.5, 15 percent alcohol and that's also what we are selling."

17. Wide of winemaker Ilan Assouline walking into 1848 winery booth

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Ilan Assouline, winemaker at 1848:

"We are having 170 years of the winery so we decided to make an outstanding wine so we just pick the best plots in Galilee, choosing the best parcels, making the best wines, the best tanks, the best barrels and picking up each time only the best and we got to 100 bottles of the best wine we could have and we decided, of course it sounds crazy to put 848 shekels (230 US dollars) in a wine but it was somehow our way to say that's what we are able to do and the winery name is 1848, so we decided to use the same numbers of course so that's also something unique."

19. Various of special 1848 wine bottle

20. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Danny Rubin, Wine Portal:

"I tasted the wine, the wine is delicious, regarding the prize we can discuss it for two days but I know that some people are looking for this wine. It's a wine that was released as a collectors item only and will be released to shops in a very, very limited way."

21. Various of visitors sampling wine

22. Tilt down of bottles of wine

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Arie Hochberg, importer of Israeli wine to the US, Israeli Wine Direct:

"So the American market really doesn't know Israeli wines. Most of the wines from Israel in (to) US sold to kosher markets and kosher stores. Most of their wines are sold to religious Jews or non-religious Jews that are buying them for Passover and for Rosh Hashana. We are introducing not kosher Israeli wines like Shevo, like Assaf, Pelter and we're selling them to the most expensive restaurants in New York. So we are trying really to promote Israel as a wine producing country."

24. Various of visitors sampling wine

25. Wide of expo

the UK's Prince William's upcoming visit to Israel will be a "celebration of the strength" of the current relationship between the two countries, the UK ambassador to Israel said on Sunday.

Prince William is set to arrive in Israel and the Palestinian territories this week for the first official visit of a member of the British royal family, ending the monarchy's decades-long, mostly hands-off approach to one of the world's most sensitive regions.

In an interview with the Associated Press, David Quarrey said nothing has changed in British government policy regarding Jerusalem and emphasised the trip by the Duke of Cambridge "is not a political visit."

However, Israeli media reported that some of the terminology used in the itinerary of the Royal visit, describing Jerusalem as occupied territories angered Jerusalem Affairs Minister, Zeev Elkin.

Quarrey said the description of the Prince's visit "reflected decades of terminology used by British governments," adding that "absolutely nothing has changed" as far as the UK's policy regarding Jerusalem was concerned.

The Duke of Cambridge will be meeting with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and visiting landmark Jerusalem sites at the heart of the century-old conflict.

Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not internationally recognized.

Israel considers the city, home to holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims and the emotional epicentre of the conflict, as an inseparable part of its capital.

The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as a future capital.

The prince kicks off his Middle East four-day visit Sunday in Jordan, arriving in Jerusalem on Monday before travelling on to coastal Tel Aviv and Ramallah in the West Bank.

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Ramat Gan, central Israel - 24 June 2018

1. UK Ambassador to Israel, David Quarrey walking into room

2. SOUNDBITE (English) David Quarrey, UK Ambassador to Israel:

"It is a celebration of the strength of our contemporary relationship, between the UK and Israel. We've have never had such a strong relationship in terms of trade, investment, science and technology. We also work closely together against terrorism and other shared threats, so it's the right moment - we think - for a visit to really shine a light on that relationship and show how strong the contemporary relationship is between the two countries."

3. Close up of the ambassador's hands

4. Quarrey sitting in interview

5. SOUNDBITE (English) David Quarrey, UK Ambassador to Israel:

"The British government policy has been consistent regarding Jerusalem for years, for decades in fact, and absolutely nothing has changed regarding our policy, and the description for example of the Prince's visit reflected decades of terminology used by British governments. It is important to emphasise that the Duke is not a political figure, this is not a political visit."

6. Ambassador sitting during interview

7. SOUNDBITE (English) David Quarrey, UK Ambassador to Israel:

"We have a different view than the government of Israel does, that's clear. There are many, many things that we and the government of Israel agree on and there are many things that we work together on. There are some issues that we take a different view on and I think that's characteristic of a deep mature relationship as we have between the two countries."

8. Ambassador seated, at work

9. SOUNDBITE (English) David Quarrey, UK Ambassador to Israel:

"The Duke is very clear that he wants to come and get under the skin of the country, he wants to get a feel for Israel, he wants to get a flavour of the country, he doesn't just want to come and sit in meeting rooms and do what many visitors do. He actually wants to get out there and experience the place, including in particular meeting young people here."

10. Quarrey sitting and writing

11. SOUNDBITE (English) David Quarrey, UK Ambassador to Israel:

"I shall be watching the football match, we are going to have a two-hour pause this afternoon in our visit preparations to allow us all to be cheering on England against Panama and then we will be back to work this evening preparing for the visit, but I'm afraid there is no way, I mean the Duke is a massive football fan so I'm sure he will following it closely and there is no way the embassy won't be watching the football this afternoon."

12. Union Jack flying on top of the ambassador's residence

13. Wide of the entrance to the ambassador's residence

14. Flags of Israel and the UK in street

Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel early on Tuesday, killing a man in a strike on a residential building, and warning they would escalate their attacks if Israel continues bombing targets in the Gaza Strip.

The cross-border attacks, which were triggered by a botched Israeli undercover raid into Hamas-ruled Gaza late Sunday, marked the most serious escalation since an Israel-Hamas war in 2014.

The Israeli military said some 400 rockets and mortars have been launched from Gaza since the current round began on Monday afternoon, with about 100 of them intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence system.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said Israeli warplanes, tanks and naval vessels were involved in strikes against military compounds, observation posts and weapons facilities belonging to the two main Gaza militant groups behind the attacks — Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.

He said the Israeli military has enhanced its deployment along the border but had yet to mobilise its reserves.

He said Gaza militant groups were believed to have an arsenal in excess of 20,000 rockets and mortars of different caliber and range.

On Tuesday, Gaza's health ministry said two Palestinians in their 20s were killed in separate airstrikes, raising the number killed since the Israeli offensive began Monday to six, including four militants.

At least 25 people have been wounded.

Israeli medical officials said a 48-year-old man was found early Tuesday under the rubble of a building hit by a rocket in the southern city of Ashkelon.

Relatives in the West Bank town of Halhoul identified the man as Mahmoud Abu Usbeh, a Palestinian labourer who had been working in Israel.

He left a wife and six children behind.

At least 20 people have also been wounded in Israel, three critically, according to medical officials.

Ashkelon - 13 November 2018

1. Set up shot of IDF spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, Israeli military spokesman:

"Well the situation currently is that Hamas and other terrorist organisations from the Gaza Strip have fired more than 400 rockets and missiles at Israel aiming for Israeli civilians. What you can see behind me is an Israeli house. We're standing in Ashkelon which is a regular Israeli city. Approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) away from the Gaza border. And what Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad have tried to do is to fire rockets at Israeli civilians in order to kill Israeli civilians. Out of those 400 rockets that have been fired, we have been able to intercept more than 100 of those. Unfortunately, a few rockets have been able to impact and we have had casualties civilian casualties inside Israel which is what Hamas and the other terrorists have been aiming to do so. "

3. Cutaway of Conricus

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, Israeli military spokesman:

"Our response has been to focus first and foremost on the defence on the ground making sure that Hamas and other terrorists are not able to infiltrate into Israel and to terrorise Israeli civilians on the ground. For that purpose, we have enhanced our troop presence on the ground. Second, our aerial defence against rockets that have been fired from Gaza towards Israel. As you can see behind me. And the third aspect would be our retaliatory strikes that we have responded to the aggression from the Gaza Strip. And we, unlike Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, have responded against military targets only, whereas terrorist attack civilians, we target terror and we have struck more than 100 military targets inside the Gaza Strip. That is in order to deliver a message to Hamas that this rocket barrage on Israeli civilians is totally unacceptable. We will not stand for it and we will make sure that Hamas understands that there is a price to attacking Israel in such a way. We stand ready to continue these operations as we should be guided by the Israeli cabinet and government and we are ready for different scenarios and developments."

5. Set up shot of police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Micky Rosenfeld, Israeli police spokesman:

"The Israeli National Police are continuing to heighten security in and around the different areas of the country with focus on the cities in the south. As a result of the direct strikes that have taken place over the last 24 to 48 hours where there has been more than 400 rockets that have been fired from the Gaza Strip, inside Israel and with more than 100 interceptions by the Iron Dome. Here where we are, in Ashkelon, there was a direct strike where one man was killed, one woman was injured seriously. Altogether over the last 24 hours 71 Israelis have been taken to hospital in light condition after being injured from the rockets that have struck. When the sirens go off it's critical to go inside the safety zones and extra police units will continue to respond. Bomb disposal experts will be at each and every strike, if necessary."

7. Wide of building hit by rocket fired from Gaza that left one dead

Israel's Prime Minister has said his country is "in the midst of a campaign against terror in Gaza."

During his cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday, Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the deadly violence that has taken place near the Israeli-Palestine border during the past months.

"It won't end with a single strike" Netanyahu said Sunday morning, adding, "our approach is clear, a complete ceasefire. We won't be satisfied with less than that."

He also stated that the Israeli military so far has destroyed "hundreds of Hamas military targets."

Three Palestinians were killed on Friday by Israeli fire during a Hamas-led protest along the Gaza border.

The incident came as Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel honoured a cease-fire Friday that ended two days of an intense flare-up in violence.

During Sunday's meeting, Netanyahu also spoke about mass protests taking place in Tell Aviv on Saturday evening against the new Nation-State law, which critics say marginalises Israel's non-Jewish citizens.

"We received conclusive evidence of opposition against the existence of the state of Israel, and the necessity of the nation-state law. We saw PLO flags yesterday flying in the heart of Tel Aviv," Netanyahu told cabinet ministers.

Saturday's rally marked further fallout from the explosive Nation-State law and came a week after thousands of Druze, also members of the Arab minority, packed the same city square last week.

Israel's 1948 declaration of independence defined the country as a Jewish and democratic state and the government says the recently passed bill merely enshrines the country's existing character.

But critics say it undercuts Israel's democratic values and sidelines the country's non-Jewish population, namely the Arab community that makes up 20 percent of the country.

Jerusalem - 12 August 2018

1. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arriving for cabinet meeting

2. Pan left from Netanyahu over cabinet ministers during meeting

3. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:

"We are in the midst of a campaign against terror in Gaza. There is an exchange of blows, and it won't end with a single strike. Our approach is clear: a complete ceasefire. We won't be satisfied with less than that. Until now we have destroyed hundreds of Hamas military targets, in every round of attacks, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has inflicted another heavy toll on Hamas. I won't disclose our operational plans here; they're ready."

4. Cutaway of cabinet meeting

5. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (speaking about mass protests in Tel Aviv on Saturday against a contentious new law that critics say marginalises Israel's non-Jewish citizens):

"Yesterday we received conclusive evidence of opposition against the existence of the state of Israel, and the necessity of the Nation-state Law. We saw PLO flags yesterday flying in the heart of Tel Aviv, in the heart of Tel Aviv. We heard the chants 'With blood and fire we will redeem Palestine.' Many of the protesters want to cancel the Law of Return (a law which gives Jews the right to come and live in and gain citizenship in Israel), they want to annul the anthem, they want to fold up our flag, they want to nullify Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people and turn it - as some of them say - into an Israeli-Palestinian state, others say a state of all its citizens. Precisely for this reason we passed the Nation-state Law. We are proud of our country, we are proud of our flag, we are proud of our anthem. Israel is a Jewish and democratic state. Individual rights of its citizens are well anchored in the basic laws and other laws, and now it's clearer than ever that the nation-state Law is needed to ensure the future of the state of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. We passed this law and we will keep this law."

6. Mid of meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday came to the defence of Israeli soldiers.

Speaking at a regular cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said soldiers protecting Israel "from annihilation" were being approached by people calling them terrorists, adding "nothing more absurd that this".

Netanyahu was referring to a video shot on the border with Gaza where a left-wing protester accused Israeli soldiers of being terrorists.

Netanyahu made his defence as Israel marked its annual Holocaust memorial day.

Since late March, 26 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli fire in mass border protests led by Hamas, but also driven by widespread desperation over the territory's decade-old border blockade by Israel and Egypt.

The protests are seen, in part, as an attempt by Hamas to break the blockade.

Israel has accused Hamas of using the protests as a cover for carrying out attacks and bringing infiltrators into Israel.

It has said some of those at the border tried to damage the fence, planted explosives or hurled firebombs.

Jerusalem - 11 April 2018

1. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arriving at cabinet meeting

2. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman (middle) arriving at cabinet meeting

3. Netanyahu and ministers at cabinet

4. Cutaway of Netanyahu

5. Mid of cabinet meeting

6. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:

"Today, actually this evening, we will commemorate Holocaust Memorial day. The memory of the Holocaust is always with us, and so is our appreciation to the courage that established the State of Israel and gives us hope to the future. This hope is first and foremost our ability to defend ourselves on our own against those who want to annihilate us. On this matter, I saw something outrageous and absurd, people approaching IDF (Israel Defence Forces) soldiers who are protecting us from annihilation and calling them terrorists. They are not calling Hamas terrorists, who are saying loud and clear that they intend to destroy the State of Israel, including those demonstrators - no terrorists calls to that. To the IDF soldiers who are acting to prevent this annihilation, they are being attacked. Nothing more absurd than this. I think that on every day, especially today, we all know IDF's soldiers incredible contribution to the security of Israel and the future of Israel. I am proud of our soldiers, and with the government ministers, we give the full and necessary back up to their sacred duty."

7. Wide of cabinet

The Israeli prime minister said on Tuesday that Hamas has turned Gaza into a "barrel bomb".

Benjamin Netanyahu was addressing a dedication ceremony of a bomb proof emergency room in the southern city of Ashkelon.

"We don't have a desire to harm the routine of Gaza's residents, but they must know that it is not Israel responsible for their hardship. The responsibility lays on the radicals that lead them," he said.

The Israeli military said on Monday it struck an underground militant infrastructure site in Gaza in response to rocket fire toward Israel.

The airstrikes came amid days of renewed tensions and violence along the Gaza border.

The military has struck various targets in Gaza in recent days and killed two Palestinians who tried to infiltrate Israel after a militant bomb on the border wounded four Israeli soldiers.

Israel holds Gaza's militant Hamas rulers responsible for all attacks emanating from the territory, regardless of who carries them out. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the strike on the underground site.

The border area has been generally quiet since a 50-day war between Israel and Hamas in 2014.

But it has seen an increase in violence since President Donald Trump's announcement in December recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Ashkelon, southern Israel - 20 February 2018

1. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara at dedication ceremony of bomb proof emergency room

2. Sign reading (Hebrew and English) "Emergency Department - Adult and Pediatric"

3. Netanyahu and wife Sara cutting ribbon

4. Cutaway cameras

5. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:

"Hamas rule and the terror organisations have turned Gaza into a barrel bomb. We build hospitals and they build terror tunnels and rockets. We don't have a desire to harm the routine of Gaza's residents, but they must know that it is not Israel responsible for their hardship. The responsibility lays on the radicals that lead them. We don't intend to look away from the attempts to violate our sovereignty, or to harm our soldiers and civilians. "

5. Audience

6. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:

"We will not accept any trickle of fire, we will not accept devices on the fence, as happened last weekend. Whoever harms us, will be hurt himself."

7. Netanyahu waving to crowd and stepping down from stage

LEADIN:

As the Israeli elections approach, Benjamin Netanyahu has zoned in on a prominent Arab lawmaker, portraying him as a threat to national security.

Ahmad Tibi has told the Associated Press that Netanyahu's campaign against him is aimed at "de legitimising the Arab voters and the Arab public".

STORYLINE

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 one prominent Arab lawmaker Ahmad Tibi.

The Israeli leader, slumping in the polls after the dramatic announcement of his pending corruption indictment, is portraying Tibi as a threat to national security in a charged campaign that critics say questions the loyalty of the country's Arab citizens.

Using his own nickname, Netanyahu has been repeating a campaign mantra: "Bibi or Tibi."

The snappy slogan, eagerly parroted by his hard-line allies, highlights Netanyahu's efforts to paint his challengers as weak "leftists" conspiring with Arab Israelis and a hostile media to oust him.

It also shines a spotlight on Tibi - an affable, media-savvy political veteran who speaks fluent Hebrew. Tibi is known for his harsh criticism of government policies toward the country's Arab citizens and toward Palestinians who live under Israeli control in territories Israel captured in 1967.

"The slogan of "Either Bibi or Tibi" is a continuation of the 2015 slogan that Arabs are heading in droves to ballot boxes. It aims at de legitimising the Arab voters and the Arab public," says Tibi.

Fearing a possible loss on election day in 2015, Netanyahu mobilised his supporters by releasing a frantic midday video in which he warned that Arab voters were heading "in droves" to the polls. The move, for which he later apologised, appeared to help turn the tide and secure another term for him.

Arabs make up about 20 percent of Israel's 9 million residents. They hold full citizenship rights but have faced decades of discrimination.

And Tibi says Arabs should vote if they want to challenge the status quo.

"We must join together to respond, and for our response to be strong against Benjamin Netanyahu, to go to the ballot boxes and to take advantage of our right to bring him down, but not only to bring him down but also to strengthen the Arab representation to raise our issues in the most important forums: the parliament," he says.

Tibi says if Netanyahu wins the upcoming elections, his government will be more extreme.

Recently Netanyahu faced heavy criticism for his decision to form an alliance with a small extremist faction that is inspired by the banned Kahanist movement, which dreamed of turning Israel into a Jewish theocracy and promoted a racist agenda that called for the forced removal of Palestinians.

60-year-old Tibi illustrates many of the contradictions faced by Israel's Arabs. He's worked as a gynaecologist in Israeli hospitals and served for years as a member of parliament, but also advised Yasser Arafat, the late Palestinian leader.

For the past two decades, Tibi has advocated for Arab rights in Israel and for a Palestinian state. Hard-line lawmakers frequently brand him a fifth-column in the Israeli legislature.

But he is also considered the most popular Arab lawmaker, even among Israeli Jews. He is a regular on their television screens, known for his witty quips.

In parliament, he's earned praise for his environmental and consumer legislation and for his promotion of Holocaust commemoration that touched many Jews.

"The Arab representation in the Knesset is important," Tibi says. It is true that there are racist laws that we could not resist (stop)."

However he adds: "There were other successes."

The outgoing Netanyahu-led government further stoked tensions by passing a controversial law that defines Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. But on the other hand, it has earmarked unprecedented budgets to Arab communities to try to close the wide economic gaps between Arabs and Jews.

"The most precious thing that a man has on election day is his vote, this is the only day in which there's equality between Jews and Arabs, a voice for every citizen. The greater our number and ability to influence is, the more we can raise our issues and achieve," Tibi says.

Jerusalem - 18 March 2019

1. Wide of Ahmad Tibi, Arab lawmaker, speaking to reporter

2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmad Tibi, Arab lawmaker:

"The slogan of "Either Bibi or Tibi" is a continuation of the 2015 slogan that Arabs are heading in droves to ballot boxes. It aims at de legitimising the Arab voters and the Arab public. In the face of this we must stand together to respond, and for our response to be strong against Benjamin Netanyahu, to go to the ballot boxes and to take advantage of our right not only to bring him down, but also to strengthen the Arab representation and raise our issues in the most important forum: the parliament."

ARCHIVE: Jerusalem - 14 May 2018

3. Scuffles between Arab citizens of Israel and police - Tibi seen amongst them

4. Tibi behind barriers with other parliament members

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmad Tibi, Arab lawmaker

"We are here to say pure and clear - Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine. (answering question) Yes, I am a member of parliament, and I am saying as a member of parliament , and as a Palestinian that occupation should be ended, not supported by the American administration. This is a bullet in the head of the vision of two-state solution, and Trump is responsible for the massacre with Netanyahu."

ARCHIVE: Jerusalem - 3 November 2014

6. Mid of Tibi sitting in parliament chamber

7. Wide of Knesset chamber

8. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Ahmad Tibi, Arab lawmaker:

"Jerusalem is a united capital? How can you say its united? United? Nonsense. The east of Jerusalem is a town under occupation, a territory that was occupied in 1967."

9. UPSOUND (Hebrew) Alex Miller, Israeli Knesset member of right-wing party, Yisrael Beiteinu (interrupting):

"If you suffer so much, if the situation is so bad, why do you stay here?"

Tibi: "I stay here, I stay in this homeland, because this is our country. I stay here because I did not arrive here in a ship or in a plane, Knesset Member Miller."

Miller: "Except for ruining the country you didn't do anything here, we see how much you have built in the country."

Jerusalem - 18 March 2019

10 . SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmad Tibi, Arab lawmaker:

"It seems that Netanyahu feels free to unleash his racism, while in the White House there are those who support him and make the same statements against the other in America. Look what happened in New Zealand because of the incitement against Islam, Muslims and Islamophobia. Netanyahu and Trump are among those who have incited the most against Islam in the recent years."

11. Mid of reporter and Tibi

12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmad Tibi, Arab lawmaker:

"We used to say that Netanyahu was the head of the worst governments, the most extreme and the most right-wing. It seems that if he wins the next time, his government will be more extreme than the previous one, because he will add to it the supporters of Kahana such as Itamar Ben Gvir and others and it seems that the Nation State law won't be the worst if Netanyahu succeeds. Therefore we must stop and think and put the reservations, anger and frustration aside: vote and influence."

FILE: Jerusalem - 6 July 2014

13. Various of Tibi with Tariq Abu Khdeir, the 15-year-old Palestinian American who was injured during clashes with Israeli security forces, and his parents coming out of courthouse

Jerusalem - 18 March 2019

14 . SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmad Tibi, Arab lawmaker:

"The Arab representation in the Knesset is important. It is true that there are racist laws that we could not resist (stop) because we are a minority, we are opposition. We are not in the coalition. Usually in the coalition, because it is bigger in numbers, they are able to pass what they want. But there have been successes such as the law of "prevention of Muezzin", this law has disturbed the Arab and Islamic world and upset the Palestinian society inside Israel, we succeeded in freezing it and burying it through the dialogue that we have conducted with the religious parties with Yhadut Hatorat. There were other successes: the budgets that we contributed, helped and pushed toward transforming them to the local Arab authorities."

15. Wide of interview

16. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmad Tibi, Arab lawmaker:

"The most precious thing that a man has on election day is his vote, this is the only day in which there's equality between Jews and Arabs, a voice for every citizen. The greater our number and ability to influence is, the more we can raise our issues and achieve."

17. Various of Tibi outside his house

A tense quiet took hold on Tuesday morning after a night of heavy fire as Israeli aircraft bombed targets across the Gaza Strip and Gaza militants fired rockets into Israel in what threatened to devolve into a major conflict, just two weeks before the Israeli election.

Schools in southern Israel were cancelled for the day and the military imposed restrictions on public gatherings near the Gaza border, after dozens of rockets were fired toward communities in the area, including one that struck a house in the town of Sderot.

The Israeli air force pounded militant sites of Gaza's Hamas rulers and the smaller Islamic Jihad group.

The targets included a multi-storey building in Gaza City that Israel said had served as a Hamas military intelligence headquarters and the office of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Gaza's Health Ministry said seven Palestinians were wounded in the airstrikes.

The cross-border fighting was triggered by a surprise rocket fired early Monday from Gaza that slammed into a house in central Israel and wounded seven people.

The Israeli military mobilised two armour and infantry brigades and drafted some reserve forces before striking back at sites in Gaza.

Gaza's Hamas rulers announced later in the day that Egyptian mediators had brokered a cease-fire but the firing continued overnight before calm appeared to return early Tuesday.

Between Yad Mordechai and Sderot, Southern Israel - 26 March 2019

1. Various tracking shots past trucks carrying armoured personnel carriers

2. Various of border police standing next to vehicles

3. Various of border police stopping a car at a checkpoint

Sderot, southern Israel - 26 March 2019

4. Wide exterior of closed school

5. Tilt down school's closed entrance

6. Close of lock

7. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Haim Yellin, Labor party candidate and former head of Eshkol regional council in southern Israel:

"It was not an easy night because the firing was targeted at Israeli communities at the border with Gaza. And when they only fire toward Israeli communities at the border with Gaza, the Hamas signals the Israeli security cabinet, 'look, it's only at that area, don't retaliate harshly.' And therefore, from 03:15AM there was relative calm. That's when the last barrage happened. But I say again, the Israeli government can't , under no circumstances, settle. Firing at Israeli communities at the border with Gaza is the same as firing toward Tel Aviv and it's impossible to show restraint at the continuous firing at the Israeli communities at the border with Gaza."

8. Exterior shot of home hit by Gaza rocket

9. Various of hole in wall from the rocket

10. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Eliav Vanunu, man whose home was hit by a Gaza rocket:

"It was a rough night. We did not sleep. It's something we're experiencing for years. There was a siren, we went into the bomb shelter and a few seconds later it exploded and I realized it fell here."

(Reporter: "Was it was scary?")

"Scary, of course really scary."

11. Close of Vanunu's hand holding shrapnel

12. Shlomo Moskovitz, who lives in same duplex with Vanunu, looking at the hole in wall caused by the Gaza rocket

13. Various of destroyed furniture

14. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Shlomo Moskovitz, man whose home was hit by a Gaza rocket:

"There was a siren and as I'm used to doing, I live in Sderot for 54 years, I ran to the bomb shelter. I closed the door. After a minute or two, I heard a huge explosion. The entire house was shaking and I heard pieces falling. I did not imagine it's in my house. After a few minutes, I opened the shelter's door to see the living room all in smoke."

Between Yad Mordechai and Sderot, Southern Israel - 26 March 2019

15. Trucks passing carrying armoured personnel carriers

The Israeli army closed Zikim beach on the coastal border between Israel and the Gaza Strip on Saturday, in wake of the recent rocket and mortar fire from the Palestinian enclave.

The closure came as Israel carried out its largest daytime airstrike campaign in Gaza since the 2014 war as Hamas militants fired dozens of rockets into Israel.

Israelis heading to Ashkelon's Zikim beach were turned away by police, such as Ashkelon resident Oren Even, who had planned a fishing trip with his family.

Sirens wailed overnight and throughout the day on Saturday in southern Israel as waves of rockets and mortars were launched from Gaza amid the airstrikes.

No casualties or major damage was reported on either side, and Israel said it was focused on hitting military targets and was warning Gaza civilians to keep their distance from certain sites.

The renewed violence threatens to spark a wider conflagration after weeks of tensions along the volatile border.

Zikim beach, Southern Israel - 14 July 2018

1. Pan from street sign reading (Hebrew, Arabic, English) "Ashkelon" to military police officers with their vehicle blocking road to Zikim beach

2. Various of officers blocking road, stopping vehicles

3. Zoom in from officers near vehicle to sea

4. Various of street signs reading (Hebrew, Arabic, English) "Ashkelon" and "Ziqim"

5. Military vehicle driving by

6. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Oren Even, Ashkelon resident:

"Very sad, I'm used to fishing on this beach, this is a beach that I love to fish on. Today there's no option to fish, too bad."

7. Even and his family sitting at a table eating

8. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Oren Even, Ashkelon resident:

"I think this is very sad, because we live in our country, we want our freedom, we want our space, and we've got Saturdays and Fridays to enjoy the time with our kids, also it is (summer) vacation, they take it from you and that's very sad. Too bad they can and we can't."

9. Various of Even eating with his family

Massive earthworks and mounds of sandy soil line much of the Israel-Gaza border as the Israeli military forges ahead with an ambitious subterranean barrier to detect and prevent attack tunnels from running into southern Israel from the Palestinian enclave.

The 40-mile (64 kilometre) long wall - construction of which got underway last summer - aims to thwart one of the major strategic assets Palestinian militant groups have to attack Israel.

The barrier - a subterranean wall plunging hundreds of feet (metres) below ground, studded with sensors and topped by a 26-foot (eight metres) metal fence - has an estimated price tag of 700 million US dollars and is on track for its slated completion in mid-2019.

Thus far, crews working 24 hours a day, six days a week have completed 2.5 miles (four kilometres) of the border barrier.

During a tour of the barrier on Thursday, Israeli military officials were loath to discuss particulars concerning the barrier's tunnel detection capabilities, or how deep the wall goes.

But a spokesman said that the anti-tunnel barrier under construction would provide a significant challenge for anyone tunnelling below.

Thus far, Hamas has not tried to disrupt construction, and giant earth berms protect workers from spying eyes and small arms fire.

Israel and Hamas, the Islamist militant group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, have fought three wars since 2008.

During most recent conflict in 2014, Hamas militants on several occasions caught Israel off guard by attacking through its underground tunnel network.

While Hamas fighters didn't manage to reach civilian centres, five Israeli soldiers were killed in such attacks, which rattled the Israeli public.

Israel destroyed 32 tunnels during that conflict, and has prioritised anti-tunnel operations since.

A combination of intelligence, infantry operations and hi-tech sensors have already helped the military detect and destroy at least three tunnels running from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory in the past few months.

Kissufim, Israel-Gaza border - 18 January 2018

1. Army jeep driving by watch tower, located near barrier tunnel

2. Soldier guarding barrier tunnel entrance

3. Watch tower as seen through barbed wire

4. Officer standing outside entrance to tunnel

5. Soldiers

6. Officer entering tunnel

7. Tracking shot inside tunnel

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, Israeli military spokesman:

"The tunnel that we see here is one of three tunnels that have been destroyed over the last two months by the IDF. Thanks to new capabilities that we have, which are a combination of technological, intelligence and operational capabilities that are new, and a game changer."

9. Various of inside tunnel

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, Israeli military spokesman:

"The obstacle being built is another layer of the security - that is the hard part of the security - which will be basically a concrete wall. A deep, underground concrete wall, which will be a hard barrier, and very difficult to tunnel through - not impossible but very difficult to tunnel through - and that will also provide us the basis for our defences, in addition to other components of that same defence system. Some of them we can speak about, some of them we cannot speak about."

11. Tracking shot inside tunnel

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, Israeli military spokesman:

"Threats will continue to exist. Hamas still holds a significant arsenal of rockets that are aimed at Israeli cities and civilians, and Hamas has been overt about their intentions to kill Israeli civilians with whatever means they have capable. So the threat has not passed and the terror from Hamas has not passed, and we will continue to mitigate these other military capabilities that Hamas has. Concerning tunnels, today the situation is greatly improved."

13. Underground entrance to tunnel

14. Various exteriors of tunnel

Israel's army said early on Wednesday it has intercepted four missiles launched from Gaza.

The army said 13 launches were identified. Sirens warning of the missile launches were heard in several Israeli towns along the border with Gaza.

No injuries have been reported.

Tensions have been high between Israel and Hamas since border protests began in Gaza on March 30, raising fears the escalation might lead to another war.

Missiles have been launched from Gaza with more frequency and Israel has responded with retaliatory airstrikes on suspected Hamas targets.

Since near-weekly mass protests began along the Israel-Gaza border, more than 120 Palestinians have been killed and over 3,800 wounded by Israeli army fire.

The overwhelming majority of the dead and wounded have been unarmed, according to Gaza health officials. Israel says Hamas has used the protests as cover for attacks on the border fence.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Netivot - 20 June 2018

++NIGHT SHOT++

1. Wide of Iron Dome defence system intercepting missiles launched from Gaza, UPSOUND Explosions in distance

Relatives of a Palestinian family killed in a firebomb attack blamed on Jewish settlers are suing the Israeli government for damages.

Saad Dawabsheh, his wife Riham and 18-month-old son Ali were killed in the 2015 attack.

The Dawabsheh's lawyer, Ahmad Amara, said on Monday that the family lived in a West Bank village under Israeli control and therefore the government is liable for not protecting them.

"The Dawabsheh family sues Israel for a compensation of tens of millions of shekels," said Amara.

The family accuses Israel of ignoring the incitement and violence of Jewish West Bank settler extremists.

The attack in the village of Duma and the drawn-out investigation helped fuel months of Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Then four-year-old Ahmad was the only family member to survive.

Israel has charged two Jewish extremists with murder. Their trial is ongoing.

Tel Aviv - 8 May 2017

1. Wide of news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmad Amara, Lawyer for Dawabsheh family:

"This morning a lawsuit on behalf of Dawabsheh family was filed against the State of Israel in the Nazareth district court. In the lawsuit the family places the responsibility on the State of Israel for the terror attack that led to the burning to death of three of the Dawabsheh family, the parents Saad and Riham and the infant Ali and to the serious injury of Ahmad. The Dawabsheh family sues Israel for a compensation of tens of millions of shekels."

3. Cutaway of reporter

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmad Amara, Lawyer for Dawabsheh family:

"The lawsuit is also a harsh public indictment against the policies of the Israeli government that undermine the security of the Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories that encourage the building of settlements and outposts, that closes its eyes to the growing incitement and violence against the Palestinians by the emerging terrorist Jewish organizations and groups:"

5. Hussein Dawabsheh, grandfather of remaining family member sitting at table

6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic ) Hussein Dawabsheh, grandfather of remaining family member:

"Ahmad found himself without a father and without a mother. Ahmad suffers from lots of problems due to his psychological state. When Ahmad goes to take a shower, he looks at his body and asks why is my body like that, what shall I do? Why did they did that to me? And he says that when he is alone. Ahmad is suffering from huge psychological problems. Ahmad needs lots of time to continue his treatment. He is not the child that I knew before, he was an active child, a serious child. Today he is afraid, he asks for his mother, his father, and his brother daily."

7. Cutaway of media

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday Israeli security forces are getting ready to demolish the homes of those who carried out Friday's attack in Jerusalem in which a female police officer was killed.

During his weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu accused Mahmoud Abbas, Fatah and the Palestinian Authority of supporting the "murderers" and paying compensation to their families.

Netanyahu said permits for Palestinians visiting Israel during Ramadan had been revoked and he had ordered an increase in security measures and screening at the Damascus Gate.

Three men armed with an automatic weapon and knives killed a young female officer on duty near Jerusalem's Old City in near simultaneous attacks at two locations Friday evening, before they were shot and killed.

The Islamic State (IS) group issued a statement taking responsibility for the stabbing and shooting attacks Friday evening.

But Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said "the attack was carried out by three Palestinians, two PFLP members and a Hamas member," adding that IS claims that it carried out the attack are meant to sow confusion.

Jerusalem - 18 June 2017

1. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at cabinet meeting

2. Ministers at cabinet meeting

3. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister:

"The security forces have been operating since Friday in the area of the village which the terrorists came from, and they are getting ready to demolish their homes. We revoked the permits we approved for Palestinians visiting Israel for Ramadan. I instructed the police to increase the security measures and screening at the entrance to Damascus Gate."

4. Close of Netanyahu

5. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister:

"Instead of condemning the attack, the Fatah organisation, headed by Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) published a message in which it condemns Israeli border police fighters who killed the terrorists, and praises the murderers as heroes. It seems there is no limit to the lies and audacity. The Palestinian Authority is of course refusing to condemn the murder, the same (Palestinian) Authority will pay compensations and money to the families of the murderers. I call the nations of the world to condemn the murder and those how praise and demand the immediate cessation the payments by the Palestinian Authority to families of terrorists, something that only encourages terror."

6. Cabinet meeting in progress

7. Sign reading (Hebrew and English) "Prime Minister's Office"

8. Border police patrolling at Damascus Gate

9. Palestinians walking in street

10. Border police checking Palestinian woman ID

11. Close of border police holding ID

12. Wide of Border police checking Palestinian woman ID, ultra-orthodox Jewish man on bicycle riding toward Damascus Gate

13. Security camera

14. Border police patrolling

Israel's prime minister on Tuesday vowed to annex the strategic heartland of the West Bank if he wins national elections next week, offering a vision that would likely end any remaining hopes for establishing a Palestinian state.

Benjamin Netanyahu said he would annex the Jordan Valley, an area seen as the breadbasket of any Palestinian state, shortly after forming a new government and move later to annex remaining Jewish settlements.

Such action would gobble up most of the West Bank territory sought by the Palestinians, leaving them with little more than isolated enclaves.

Netanyahu's announcement was the latest in a series of frenetic moves he has made in recent days aimed at rallying his hard-line voters ahead of the 17 September election.

His plan would hinge on a number of factors, most critically whether President Donald Trump would support him.

Nonetheless, it was the most detailed vision for the region that Netanyahu has presented during more than a decade in power.

Appearing some 90 minutes late at a hastily called news conference, Netanyahu said that it was important to act as Trump prepares to unveil his MidEast peace plan after Israeli elections.

"This is a historic opportunity, a one-time opportunity, to extend Israeli sovereignty on our settlements in Judea and Samaria, and also on other important regions for our security, for our heritage, and for our future," he said, using the biblical terms for the West Bank.

He gave no indication on whether he had discussed his plans with Trump, but said he would wait for his peace plan and coordinate all steps with the president, whose team of MidEast advisers is dominated by supporters of the settlements.

US officials said Netanyahu had told them about his proposal ahead of time and had not raised any objections because they do not think it will affect prospects for an eventual agreement.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

++STORYLINE UPDATED AT 1814GMT++

Ramat Gan - 10 September 2019

1. Wide of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arriving at news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel:

"We are on the eve of elections. (US) President (Donald) Trump said that after the elections he will present his 'deal of the century' for a permanent agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. In all likelihood this plan will be presented immediately after the elections, even a few days after the elections. And that is right around the corner. This places before us a great challenge, and it also puts before us a great opportunity. This is a historic opportunity, a one-time opportunity, to extend Israeli sovereignty on our settlements in Judea and Samaria, and also on other important regions for our security, for our heritage, and for our future."

3. Cutaway of Netanyahu

4. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel:

"And therefore when it's clear that the Trump plan will apparently come before us very soon, in the immediate future, I ask to receive from you a clear mandate to enact Israeli sovereignty over all the settlements. Out of respect for President Trump, and out of great trust in our friendship, I will wait to impose Israeli sovereignty over all the settlements until after the presentation of the president's diplomatic plan."

5. Audience applauding

6. Netanyahu leaving news conference

UK'S PRINCE WILLIAM ARRIVES IN ISRAEL

Prince William arrived in Israel on Monday (25 JUNE 2018) for the first-ever official visit of a member of the British royal family to the tumultuous region London once ruled.

Arriving from neighboring Jordan, the Duke of Cambridge landed at Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport and then departed to Jerusalem, where he will stay at the elegant King David Hotel, site of the former administrative headquarters of the British mandate.

Three decades of British rule between the two world wars helped establish some of the fault lines of today's Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Britain's withdrawal in 1948 led to the eventual establishment of Israel and Jordan.

Britain has since taken a back seat to the United States in mediating peace efforts, and the royal family has mostly steered clear of the region's toxic politics.

For the 36-year-old William, second in line to the throne, it marks a high-profile visit that could brandish his international credentials.

Ben Gurion airport, Israel - 25 June 2018

1. Various of airplane arriving

2. Various of Prince William leaving plane

3. Various of Prince William shaking hands with Israeli officials

4. Prince William entering car

5. Various of motorcade leaving

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he had discussed the security situation along Syria's border with Israel with Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Israel has warned it wouldn't allow Iran to maintain a military presence in Syria.

Netanyahu made the comments during a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Meanwhile on Sunday, the Israeli military said its aircraft had struck a vehicle belonging to someone they say has sent burning kites into Israel from Gaza.

Israeli Education Minister, Naftali Bennett, compared the kites to rockets, and said the response should be the same.

"We should not wait until Israeli citizens are hurt and only then wake up," he said.

No one was wounded in the strike but it marked an escalation in Israel's response to a phenomenon that has damaged agriculture in southern Israel in recent weeks.

Fields were once again set ablaze on a hot, windy, dry Saturday.

Gazans began flying kites with burning rags attached to them during mass protests against the crippling Israeli blockade of the territory.

Israeli troops have fired on the protesters, killing more than 100 since the weekly demonstrations began in March.

Jerusalem - 17 June 2018

1. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at cabinet meeting

2. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:

"Over the weekend I spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. We discussed regional issues and focused, of course, on Syria. I reiterated our guiding principles regarding Syria. First of all, Iran needs to withdraw from all of Syria. Second, we will take action - and are already taking action - against efforts to establish a militarily presence by Iran and its proxies in Syria both close to the border and deep inside Syria. We will act against these efforts anywhere in Syria."

3. Pan from ministers to Netanyahu during meeting

4. Netanyahu walking in corridor

5. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Naftali Bennett, Israeli Minister of Education:

"A burning kite is exactly like a Qassam (rocket), and launching them (kites) is like launching a Qassam, and therefore my position is that those launching an explosive or burning balloon is as if he launched a Qassam. I am pleased that the security systems are gradually adopting this position. We should not wait until Israeli citizens are hurt and only then wake up."

6. Bennett walking away

The Israeli Prime Minister reiterated his support on Sunday for the airstrikes carried out by the US, France and Britain in Syria in the early hours of Saturday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during the cabinet meeting in Jerusalem that the joint operation showed there would be "zero tolerance" to the use of unconventional weapons in warfare.

Netanyahu also warned Syrian President Bashar Assad against allowing Iran to build-up its military presence on Syria's border with Israel.

Israel has issued several stern warnings about Iran's increased involvement along its border in Syria and Lebanon.

Netanyahu has been a strong supporter of US President Donald Trump and complimented his "resolve" in countering the threat.

The airstrikes carried out early on Saturday in Syria were in response to a suspected chemical attack against civilians last weekend that killed more than 40 people.

Netanyahu also voiced support at the cabinet meeting for Israel's army after it said Sunday that it has destroyed a Gaza attack tunnel built by Hamas militants that penetrated Israeli territory.

Infrastucture Minister, Yuval Steinitz echoed Netanyahu's comments welcoming the action taken by the US, Britain and France.

Jerusalem - 15 April 2018

1. Wide of cabinet meeting

2. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel:

"Israel supports and will continue to support President Trump's decision to act against the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Israel congratulates the coming together of Britain's Theresa May and France's Emmanuel Macron in this action. I talked yesterday to the British Prime Minister Theresa May, I told her that the important international message that was given with this attack is zero tolerance to the use of unconventional weapons. I added that this intolerance should be also implemented towards the development of nuclear capabilities by terrorist states and terrorist organisations. I repeated that what destabilizes the Middle East is Iran and what (Syria's) President (Bashar) Assad needs to understand is that when he allows an Iranian military build-up in Syria he endangers Syria and he endangers the stability of the Middle East."

3. Cutaway of Netanyahu

4. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel:

"At the same time we continue to deal with the underground threat (from Gaza) During Saturday the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) neutralized another tunnel in the Gaza Strip aiming at Israel. We act on all fronts for the security of Israel. And we support the soldiers of the IDF who are standing on guard on the borders. "

5. Minister of Infrastructure Yuval Steinitz

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Yuval Steinitz, Israeli Minister of Infrastructure:

"Look, the situation in Syria is very grave for six or seven years now. Of course, the fact that the United States together with Britain and France took action and signaled to the entire world, not just to Assad, that it's totally unacceptable to use chemical weapons at all, especially against civilians, this is very important. But, on the other hand we have our own problem we cannot allow Iran to transform Syria into an Iranian military base on our northern border and this is beyond the chemical weapons issue."

7. Prime Minister's office building

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to continue to defend the country against "enemies on all fronts", amid recent increased tensions with Muslims from around Israel and Palestinian areas.

The latest crisis over one of the most combustible spots in the Middle East has been defused for now, but standoff over a Jerusalem shrine holy to Muslims and Jews also signalled that the festering Israeli-Palestinian conflict is shifting further from what was once seen as a territorial dispute toward a religious one.

Speaking on Sunday in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said that he is "sensitive to the feeling of the public" but that, as the leader of the country, he has taken decisions "calmly and with logic".

Jerusalem - 30 July 2017

1. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walking to weekly cabinet meeting

2. Medium shot of cabinet ministers sitting in meeting

3. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:

"These two weeks were intense for our security forces who are in a state of continuous alert against additional big challenges during these days."

4. Cutaway

5. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:

"I am sensitive to the feeling of the public, I understand the feelings, I know that the decision we took is not an easy one. That being said, as the prime minister of Israel, as the person who carries the responsibility of the security of Israel on his shoulders, I must make decisions calmly and with logic. I do this, as I see the entire picture."

6. Cutaway

7. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:

"To our enemies on all fronts I say - the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Beit (security agency) and Israel's police, are ready to act with all their force against anyone who tries to hurt our civilians, soldiers and police forces. This is how we acted (in the past) and this is how we will continue to act."

8. Various of Israeli cabinet members

US President Donald Trump's Mideast Envoy Jason Greenblatt announced that Israel and the Palestinians have reached a water agreement linked to a massive planned Red Sea-Dead Sea pipeline project.

Greenblatt said at a news conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday that the US-mediated deal gives the parched Palestinian territories roughly a quarter of its annual water needs at a reduced rate.

Israel will start to provide the West Bank and Gaza Strip with 32 million cubic metres (42 million cubic yards) of water per year in the immediate future.

That water will eventually be supplied by a desalination plant linked to Red Sea-Dead Sea pipeline.

The pipeline project is expected to be completed in four or five years.

The US, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators hope the deal could be a platform for future negotiations.

Jerusalem - 13 July 2017

1. Mid of news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jason Greenblatt, President Donald Trump's Mideast envoy:

"The United States welcomes the agreement signed by the Palestinian Authority and the government of Israel, which will allow for the sale of up to 33 million cubic metres of water from Israel to the Palestinian Authority. In addition, we hope that this deal will contribute to the healing of the Dead Sea. It will help, not only Palestinian and Israelis, but Jordanians as well. (US) President Trump has made it clear that working toward achieving a lasting peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians is a top priority for him. This agreement is an example of the parties working together to make a mutually beneficial deal."

3. Pan of news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Tsahi Hanegbi, Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister:

"The Red-Dead project is the biggest most ambitious project ever initiated and exercised in our area and it will supply a significant amount of water to Jordan, to Israel and to the Palestinians. It will help us challenge the biggest problem that Dead Sea is facing, evaporation of a metre every year and it will also produce green energy. So all of us in this room proved last night that water can serve as means for reconciliation, for prosperity, for cooperation, rather than be a cause for tension and dispute."

5. Wide of news conference

6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mazen Ghuneim, head of the Palestinian Water Authority:

"We will work with all Palestinian parties to try to implement this deal and also we want to thank Mister Greenblatt for his hard efforts, and easy (ones) at the same time."

7. Greenblatt, Hanegbi and Ghuneim posing for photos

Residents of an Israeli southern city gathered outside a home destroyed by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip early Wednesday.

A woman and her three children, whose home in Beersheba was struck, were being treated for shock after they fled to their shelter upon being awoken by warning sirens shortly before 4 a.m.

Her swift response likely saved their lives, as the home was destroyed and debris was scattered throughout the street, damaging parked cars and adjacent structures.

Locals expressed relief that no one was physically hurt. "It's a miracle they are alive," said Yoram Bokobza, a Beersheba resident.

A neighbour said he hoped that the Israeli government would restore calm to the town.

The rocket attack against Israel is the first in months, and the first that hit an Israeli home since the 2014 summer war between Israel and Gaza's militant Hamas rulers.

It comes a day after Israel's Defence Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said the time had come to deliver a "heavy blow" to Hamas, after weeks of escalating violence along the border.

Hamas held weekly border protests for the past six months, aimed in part at easing a crippling Israeli blockade.

Beersheba, southern Israel - 17 October, 2018

1. House damaged from rocket fired from Gaza Strip

2. Various of damage to house

3. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Eli Harush, local resident:

"It doesn't feel right, we got used to this, we think it will not leave us in the near future. I believe that we'll need to cope, and to cope well, to wait until someone will solve this problem, which is very hard to solve, but I believe it will be solved in the end."

4. Painting and rubble inside house

5. Second floor of house damaged from rocket fired from Gaza Strip

6. Close of destroyed bed and rubble

7. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Yoram Bokobza, local resident:

"After I see this place I feel sorry for those who live here, the woman and her three children. When I see something like this, it's a miracle they are alive."

8. Wide of damaged house

9. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) David Avisrur, local resident:

"This is not a normal situation that you can live with and for sure when something like this happens, we were in luck, a real miracle that no one was hurt and let's hope it will be all right, and I hope that our government will know how to act accordingly and to do the right thing so there will be calm."

10. Bokobza (left) and Avisrur

11. Damaged house