Israel Financial News

The Wire. "The Water Transport Workers Federation of India has decided to refuse to load or unload weaponized cargoes from Israel or any other country which could handle military equipment and its allied cargo for war in Palestine," The Wire quoted WTWFI press release – dated 14 February – as saying. “Port workers, part of labour unions would always stand against the war and killing innocent people like women and children.

India very soon entailing multi-billion dollar investment besides several chip assembly and packaging units, Minister of Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said. In an interview with PTI, the minister confirmed that the two projects include a USD 8 billion proposal submitted by Israel-based Tower Semiconductors and the other from Tata Group. «I am happy to share this with you and you are probably the first one I'm sharing this with. In the near term, two full-blown fabs are going to come up in India. These are going to be multi-billion-dollar fabs in the 65, 40 and 28-nanometer technology and there are going to be a host of other packaging proposals that we are evaluating,» Chandrasekhar said. He was responding to a question on USD 8 billion investment proposal submitted by Tower Semiconductors and the status of India's semiconductor roadmap.

Benjamin Netanyahu responded on February 17 to rising appeals from world leaders to avoid a ground operation in Rafah, remarking that doing so would mean «losing the war against Hamas,» as reported by The Times of Israel. «Those who want to prevent us from operating in Rafah are essentially telling us: 'Lose the war.' I won't let that happen,» he vowed at an evening press conference in Jerusalem. «We won't capitulate to any pressure,» he said.

United Nations Security Council is likely to vote on Tuesday on an Algerian push for the 15-member body to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, said diplomats, a move the United States signaled it would veto. Algeria put forward an initial draft resolution more than two weeks ago. But U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield quickly said the text could jeopardize «sensitive negotiations» aimed at brokering a pause in the war.

Wang was walking down the podium and Jaishankar was walking up the podium for a panel discussion with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister. The two foreign ministers were seen engaging in an animated conversation. The impromptu interaction, after months of no communication, added intrigue to the diplomatic setting.

Israel has sent negotiators for truce talks in Cairo as requested by US President Joe Biden but they did not go back for further talks because Hamas' demands were "delusional," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday. Netanyahu also said Israel would not give in to «international dictates» regarding a statehood agreement with the Palestinians, which he said could only be reached through direct negotiations without preconditions.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday dismissed the idea of holding early elections, while thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv for an anti-government protest.

DUBAI (Reuters) -Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility on Saturday for an attack on the oil tanker M/T Pollux, which U.S. officials said the previous day had been hit by a missile.

MUNICH (Reuters) — Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Saturday the pattern of negotiations for a framework ceasefire deal for the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was «not very promising» in recent days.

Also Read: Oil remains range-bound as rate cut hopes fade away: Here's how US Fed policy decision affects prices Back home, on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), crude oil futures due for a March 19 expiry, last settled 0.03 per cent higher at ₹6,484 per bbl, having swung between ₹6,381 and ₹6,518 per bbl during the session, against a previous close of ₹6,482 per barrel. On Thursday, Hezbollah said it fired dozens of rockets at a northern Israeli town in a "preliminary response" to the killing of 10 civilians in southern Lebanon, the deadliest day for Lebanese civilians in four months of cross-border hostilities. The oil market's reaction to news from the Middle East was moderate, according to analysts.

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell

Palestine issue and an increasing number of nations are now not only endorsing it but considering it as «more urgent» than before, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday amid concerns over the prevailing situation in Gaza. Jaishankar made the remarks at an interactive session at a security conference in Munich in presence of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The external affairs minister described the October 7 attacks on Israeli cities by Hamas as «terrorism» but at the same time, referring to Tel Aviv's response, said Israel has an international obligation to observe the humanitarian law. Jaishankar said it is important that Israel should have been very mindful of civilian casualties.

As Israel-Hamas cease-fire talks flounder, Israel is vowing to press ahead with its offensive in the southern Gaza Strip despite warnings from the US to work harder to protect civilians. Violence spiked across the volatile Israel-Lebanon border. This is what happened in the Middle East this week.

Wang Yi said China will be a «force for stability» in the world during a speech on Saturday at a major security conference in Germany. «No matter the changes in the international situation, China as a responsible major country will always maintain the continuity and stability of its major policies and resolutely stay a force for stability in a turbulent world,» Wang said.

two-state solution in the Mideast, but as part of a negotiated settlement. With talks long stalled and Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza deepening, some European countries are voicing support for recognising a Palestinian state sooner. "Recognising a Palestinian state is not a taboo for France," Macron said Friday at a meeting in Paris with Jordan's King Abdullah.

Iran unveiled new weaponry on Saturday including what it said was the locally made Arman anti-ballistic missile system and the Azarakhsh low-altitude air defense system, the official IRNA news agency reported. The announcement came amid heightened tensions in the region, with Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militants carrying out a string of attacks on vessels linked to the U.S., UK and Israel in the Red Sea in a show of solidarity with the Gaza Strip. Gaza has been under military assault by Israel since Hamas's attacks on Israel's south on Oct. 7.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Saturday that they had fired missiles at oil tanker Pollux, which U.S. officials said the previous day had been hit by a missile. The U.S. State Department said on Friday that the Pollux, a Panamanian-flagged tanker carrying crude oil bound for India, was hit by a missile on its port side. «The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a targeting operation against a British oil ship (Pollux) in the Red Sea with a large number of appropriate naval missiles, and the strikes were accurate and direct», the Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, said in a statement.

The US State Department announced on Friday that a Panamanian-flagged tanker transporting crude oil destined for India, was targeted by a missile in the Red Sea. According to the State Department, the missile, originating from Yemen, struck the M/T Pollux on its port side. Prior to this, both the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency and the British maritime security firm Ambrey had reported that a Panama-flagged tanker was allegedly hit approximately 72 nautical miles (133 km) northwest of Yemen’s port of Mokha.

gold closed with a gain of 0.46% at $2,013 on Friday, however, despite this the metal closed nearly 0.50% lower on the week, which is its second straight weekly loss. The ten-year US yields at 4.28% were up around 2.50% on the week, whereas the US Dollar Index was up around 0.15% on the week as it closed at 104.28.

United States, Israel's main ally, was working with several Arab countries on a comprehensive plan for long-term peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The plan included a firm timeline for the establishment of a Palestinian state, the newspaper reported.

Raymond James is extending its presence in South Florida as it welcomes a new team to its employee advisor channel. The Behar-Nagel Group, led by financial advisors David Behar and David Nagel, has officially joined Raymond James Associates in its Hallandale Beach office.