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Raphael Ahren
Raphael Ahren
Raphael Ahren is the diplomatic correspondent at The Times of Israel.
Screenshots of two anti-Semitic tweets that have since been removed (screen grab)
October 27, 2020, 6:34 pm
South African Jews celebrate first criminal conviction for online anti-Semitism
Local man had tweeted at Jewish umbrella group that the Holocaust would ‘be like a picnic when we are done with you Zionist bastards’; sentence to be handed down Friday
By Raphael Ahren
Hezi Kugler, left, and Marc Zell, right. (Screenshot/YouTube, Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
October 26, 2020, 7:46 pm
Israeli Democrats, Republicans spar over election impact on normalization deals
No additional agreement if Trump loses, GOP’s Marc Zell warns; Arab-Israel ties are nothing new and trend toward peace deals would continue under Biden, says Dems’ Hezi Kugler
By Raphael Ahren
PM Netanyahu addresses the cabinet before it votes on the peace treaty with the UAE, October 12, 2020 (GPO)
October 25, 2020, 1:04 pm
Cabinet ratifies UAE treaty, sends Bahrain agreement to Knesset for approval
Landmark accord to establish ties with Emirates will enter into force once government in Abu Dhabi issues ratification decree
By Raphael Ahren
This combination of pictures created on October 23, 2020, shows an Israeli flag during a rally in the coastal city of Tel Aviv on September 19, 2020; and a Sudanese flag during a gathering east of the capital Khartoum on June 3, 2020. (JACK GUEZ and ASHRAF SHAZLY / AFP)
October 25, 2020, 6:30 am
An Israeli embassy in Khartoum? Not so fast. This peace deal may take some time
Friday’s normalization announcement speaks of end to ‘state of belligerence,’ promises economic and trade relations; it doesn’t specify full diplomatic ties or reciprocal embassies
By Raphael Ahren
Sudanese demonstrate in support of their people in Sudan, in south Tel Aviv, on April 13, 2019. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
October 23, 2020, 6:31 am
‘Yes, yes, yes’: Why peace with Khartoum would be true paradigm shift for Israel
The big, poor African state and the small, rich Gulf monarchies couldn’t be more different; for a start, unlike Bahrain and the UAE, Sudan actually went to war against Israel
By Raphael Ahren
Emirati official Omar Saif Ghobash (R) handing a letter to Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi at a ceremony in Israel on October 20, 2020. (Foreign Ministry)
October 20, 2020, 4:56 pm
UAE asks Israel to move quickly on establishing mutual embassies
Jerusalem says Emirati foreign minister sent official request to establish mission in Tel Aviv as soon as possible, is hoping Israel does the same in Abu Dhabi
By Raphael Ahren and TOI staff
PM Netanyahu, left, greets US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs Obaid Humaid Al Tayer ahead of a ceremony during which Israel and the UAE signed four bilateral agreements at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, October 20, 2020 (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)
October 20, 2020, 1:36 pm
Senior UAE delegation comes to Israel; Netanyahu: ‘Today we are making history’
Israeli and Emirati officials sign visa exemption agreement and announce, together with the US, a $3 billion regional development fund
By Raphael Ahren
Sudanese cleric Sheikh Abdel-Rahman Hassan Hamed issuing a fatwa in support of normalization with Israel (video screenshot)
October 20, 2020, 6:48 am
Top Sudan cleric: There is no general Islamic opposition to salaam with Israel
After Sudan’s leading scholars ruled against normalization, their peer Abdel-Rahman Hassan Hamed assessed that Islamic principles are more flexible, and wrote a fatwa backing ties
By Raphael Ahren
The crew of an Etihad Airlines flight wave Israeli flags after landing at Ben Gurion Airport, October 19, 2020 (Sivan Farag)
October 20, 2020, 1:14 am
Israel to sign visa exemption agreement with UAE, its first with an Arab state
Netanyahu, Ashkenazi set to welcome first senior Emirati delegation to Israel, headed by country’s finance and economy ministers; sides will sign several bilateral agreements
By Raphael Ahren
The head of the Israeli delegation, National Security adviser Meir Ben Shabbat (L), and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, sign the Israel-Bahrain accord formalizing diplomatic relations, in the Bahraini capital Manama, on October 18, 2020. US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin (C) looks on. (Ronen Zvulun/Pool/AFP)
October 18, 2020, 9:04 pm
‘From friends to family’: Israel and Bahrain establish diplomatic relations
At Manama event, Israel’s Meir Ben-Shabbat welcomes deal with another state from ‘family of Abraham’; Joint Communiqué establishes ‘diplomatic, peaceful, and friendly relations’
By Raphael Ahren
An Israeli-US delegation being welcomed with a ceremony at the Bahraini International Airport on October 18, 2020. (Haim Zach/GPO)
October 18, 2020, 4:16 pm
Landing in Bahrain to sign deal, Israeli official stresses ‘genuine peace’ hopes
In first, El Al plane carries Israeli delegation to Manama to formalize relations: Bahrain FM: ‘I hope this visit marks another step on road to truly peaceful Middle East’
By Raphael Ahren and TOI staff
US officials make statements at Ben Gurion Airport ahead of the first direct Israel-Bahrain passenger flight. October 18, 2020 (Haim Tzach/GPO)
October 18, 2020, 6:16 am
Israeli delegation heads to Bahrain to establish formal diplomatic relations
‘For Bahrain, this is a historic day,’ Israeli official says ahead of departure of special El Al Flight 973; Jerusalem and Manama won’t sign bilateral treaty but a Joint Communiqué
By Raphael Ahren
New York Rabbi Elie Abadi (YouTube screenshot)
October 16, 2020, 3:26 pm
Small but growing, UAE’s Jewish community to get second full-time rabbi from NY
Beirut-born Elie Abadie, a prominent scholar of Sephardic Judaism, to relocate to Dubai by November 1, as Emirati community expects to expand following Abraham Accords
By Raphael Ahren
Screen shot of Zoom call attended by Sudanese pro-Israel activists and a group of Israelis, October 15, 2020. (Screenshot)
October 16, 2020, 1:37 am
In rare Zoom call with Israelis, Sudanese activists say country ready for peace
Violating local laws, group of journalists and artists from Sudan tell Israelis about the trials and tribulations of promoting normalization with the Jewish state
By Raphael Ahren
US President Donald Trump, center, with from left, Bahrain Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump, and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, during the Abraham Accords signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, September 15, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
October 15, 2020, 9:04 pm
Knesset approves UAE normalization 80-13; mainly Arab party is sole opposition
Overwhelming support for historic peace agreement, which now heads to cabinet for final ratification
By Raphael Ahren
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