Tiny, gas-rich host of 2022 soccer World Cup has mediated in conflicts far afield, from Afghanistan to Israel and the Palestinians, while often providing conduit for US diplomacy

Hours ahead of Knesset swearing in, would-be defense minister Smotrich says incident 'a painful reminder' of pressing issue facing emerging government

Renewed attack by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets exiled Iranian Kurdish opposition group in Iraq's Sulimaniyah province

Members of emerging coalition under Netanyahu are vowing to roll back many achievements of predecessors covering environment, LGBTQ community and funding for Arab minority

Department of Transportation says Israeli airline to pay $61.9 million to passengers on top of $900,000 penalty for delaying refunds in violation of consumer-protection rules

Medics treat stabbing and car-ramming victims in three locations in Ariel Industrial Park and on nearby highway; IDF searches for suspected accomplice

Shalom Sofer, 63, died two weeks after attack in West Bank village on October 25; military arrests seven wanted Palestinians in overnight raids

Former PM, set to return to office, promises to pen further volumes on his life story, accepts platinum award from Israeli Association of Book Publishers

Netanyahu-led bloc holds clear majority but hasn't finished talks to vote in a government alongside new parliament; 25th Knesset features 23 freshmen, dip in female representation

Marian Offman, Munich's interfaith commissioner, says he called demonstrator who made Nazi reference an 'asshole,' was dragged away by officers; lawmaker demands police explanation

One Israeli official says abstention on reparations for Ukraine unrelated to Kyiv-backed vote requesting ICJ legal opinion on Israeli 'occupation'

Hanamel Dorfman is Otzma Yehudit's representative in negotiations with Netanyahu; new MK in same party hires spokesman who was arrested for ransacking Palestinian's warehouse

Jonathan Greenblatt says comedian's SNL bit on Jews in Hollywood 'diminishes, popularizes' Jew-hatred, but most Jewish leaders refrain from weighing in on controversy

Decline intensified at start of pandemic when elective surgeries were limited; masking reduced other illnesses and fear of contracting illnesses kept people away from hospitals