Israel

Two weeks ago, the IAF assassinated infamous Lebanese militant Samir Kuntar.

Kuntar was held by Israel for nearly three decades in connection with his role in a 1979 raid that killed four people including a four-year-old girl. He returned to Lebanon in 2008 in a prisoner swap with Hezbollah, which he subsequently joined.

To the Israelis, Kuntar is evil incarnate - the very embodiment of terrorism. For many in Iran and Lebanon, he’s something of a folk hero. Here he is with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah:

The Holy See has announced this weekend that the planned recognition of Palestine as a state last summer, is now in effect. The move has drawn criticism from Israel. Equilibrio Informativo reports: “With reference to the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine, signed on 26 June 2015, the Holy See and the State of Palestine have notified each other that the procedural requirements for its entry into force have been fulfilled”, the Vatican announced Saturday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Turkey and Israel must stick together in the Middle East, in a statement to journalists on his trip back from visiting Saudi Arabia. Speaking to a group of journalists, the Turkish leader said, “Israel is in need of a country like Turkey in the region. We have to admit that we also need Israel“.

Brazil is still refusing to accept an Israeli ambassador because he was a settler leader in the occupied West Bank. Back in September, the Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff rejected the appointment of hardliner, Dani Dayan, as Israel’s envoy to her country. She said that it could be understood as giving support for the illegal Israeli settlements.

ISIS leader Abu Bakr has officially declared war on Israel, saying that Palestine will turn into a graveyard for the Israelis.  Bakr issued an insurgency against Saudi Arabia rulers who he called  “apostates” perverting Islam. The audio statement issued on Saturday, claims that ISIS are getting closer to Israel “every day”, and that the terrorist group would soon surround Israel.