Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he does not plan to leave politics in exchange for a possible pardon in corruption cases. He emphasized that his fate would be determined by the citizens of Israel.
At the Doha Forum, Syria's interim president accused Israel of fighting 'ghosts' in the Gaza Strip and seeking a conflict that has already ended.
In Bethlehem, on the West Bank, public Christmas celebrations have resumed with the lighting of a giant Christmas tree in Manger Square. The decision was made after the ceasefire, despite the ongoing suffering in Gaza, to revive the city's tourism-dependent economy.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun declared the "irreversibility" of expanding negotiations with Israel to end the violence, while Hezbollah publicly criticized the move as a political mistake.
The naval forces of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted two-day military exercises, carrying out a massive launch of ballistic and cruise missiles. This demonstrated their readiness to counter external threats.
Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, his associate Steve Witkoff, and Tony Blair will play a key role in the reconstruction and governance of the war-torn Gaza Strip. Their involvement in resolving the Gaza conflict is part of new US plans, expected to be announced this month.
US President Donald Trump plans to announce a transition to the second phase of the Palestinian-Israeli settlement by Christmas. He will also present a new governance structure for the Gaza Strip.
A delegation of 15 UN Security Council members visited Syria for the first time since 1945, meeting with interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The visit took place on the eve of the anniversary of the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and aimed to build trust.
Weeks after Iraq recognized Yemen's Houthis and Hezbollah as terrorists, the authorities revoked the decision, citing a mistake.
The Netherlands, Spain and Ireland will boycott Eurovision 2026 due to Israel's permission to participate. This decision was made after members of the European Broadcasting Union voted for new rules protecting the integrity of the competition.
Germany has become the first European country to deploy the advanced Arrow air defense system. It is designed to intercept medium-range ballistic missiles, such as Russia's "Oreshnik," and will be deployed in three locations by 2030.
The Rafah border crossing, to allow Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip to leave its territory, may be opened by Israel in the coming days.
Through the mediation of the Red Cross, Hamas handed over to the Israeli side the remains of another hostage who died during the war in the Middle East.
During his first foreign visit to the Middle East, before flying to the Vatican, the Pope called on world leaders for peace and to prevent wars.
Donald Trump has tasked trusted individuals without diplomatic training, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with negotiating a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. They are scheduled to meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, despite criticism over their ties to Russian officials.
US President Donald Trump urged Israel to continue dialogue with Syria after a border incident that escalated relations. This happened after Israeli soldiers were wounded during an operation near the Syrian border.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, stated that Russia will seek to destroy Ukraine and annex its territories as long as Putin's regime remains in power. He emphasized that a return to peaceful life is impossible, and Ukraine must ensure its security with a strong army.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has submitted an official request for a pardon to President Isaac Herzog. The request concerns charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three cases.
Israel and the US are negotiating the fate of 200 Hamas militants trapped in the Rafah tunnels. Washington insists on a safe corridor, while Prime Minister Netanyahu considers it a risky move.
Kyrgyzstan held early parliamentary elections, with 467 candidates vying for 90 seats. This occurred amidst arrests of opposition figures and the closure of independent media outlets.
Pope Leo will visit Lebanon, which is under pressure from Israeli airstrikes, to address the country with a call for peace. This will be the second stage of his first foreign trip, following a visit to Turkey.
In Chernivtsi, a man set fire to the Sadhora Synagogue, having entered inside when the guard went outside the gate. The police detained the offender, who a month ago tried to set fire to a local church and, according to preliminary data, is mentally unstable.
The Swiss government has allocated nearly $150,000 for the construction of two football mini-pitches in the West Bank. This is part of the FIFA Arena initiative, which aims to install 1,000 mini-pitches by 2030.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan praised Pope Leo's approach to the Palestinian issue and his calls for peace in Ukraine. He expressed hope that the new Catholic leader's first foreign visit would contribute to world peace.
Donald Trump has involved his son-in-law Jared Kushner in promoting a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Kushner, who previously worked on normalizing Israel's relations with Arab countries, participated in negotiations in Geneva.
The presentation of the book by Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, in Krakow was disrupted by pro-Palestinian activists. The politician was forced to leave the event accompanied by security guards, and one of the activists attempted to attack him.
The Cabinet of Ministers appointed cultural observer Bohdana Laiuk as Deputy Minister of Culture. She will be responsible for book publishing, reading, the visibility of Ukrainian literature abroad, and language policy.
Israel received another batch of human remains from Palestinian militants via the Red Cross. The remains will be sent for forensic examination for identification, but it is unknown whether they belong to the three hostages who remain in the Gaza Strip.
Officials from Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar met in Cairo to discuss the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. They agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation to ensure the continuity of the truce and counter violations by Israel.
A new plant for the production of "Iron Dome" interceptors has been opened in the United States, which will accelerate the supply of air defense systems to Israel and international customers. The program is funded by the $8.7 billion US aid package approved by Congress in April 2024.
