A New York appeals court judge has paused a gag order that barred Donald Trump from commenting on court staffers in his civil fraud trial.

Israel’s Defense Ministry says it has secured its largest-ever defense deal selling a sophisticated missile defense system to Germany for $3.5 billion.

The U.S. decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara has drawn criticism from the U.N. as well as American allies in Africa and beyond. During the 1990s, Israel and Morocco established low-level diplomatic relations, but Morocco closed its representative office in Tel Aviv after the eruption of the second Palestinian uprising in 2000. Even so, the two countries have maintained good behind-the-scenes contacts, and some 30,000 to 50,000 Israelis continue to visit Morocco each year. On the tarmac in Israel, Kushner said that he hopes the delegation's visit will “pave the way for another warm peace between Israel and Morocco,” pointing to the emerging ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The agreement with Morocco deals a major setback to those in Western Sahara who have fought for independence and want a referendum on the territory’s future.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, speaks during a ceremony to sign amendments to a series of scientific cooperation agreements with U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, at Ariel University, in the West Bank settlement of Ariel, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. (Emil Salman/Pool via AP)JERUSALEM – Israel's leader on Sunday praised President Donald Trump's Mideast policies, even as he avoided openly taking sides ahead of the U.S. presidential election. After taking office, Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, winning praise from Netanyahu. While Trump is popular with the Israeli public, Netanyahu’s close relationship with the president appears to be deepening a divide with American Jews.

WASHINGTON The State Department has informally confirmed to Congress that Republican super-donor Sheldon Adelson is the buyer of the U.S. ambassadors official residence in Israel, a congressional aide told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The U.S. Embassy in Israel announced the deal this week -- a sale that is meant to cement President Donald Trump's controversial move of the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. A congressional aide said the State Department has confirmed public reports of the sale to Adelson. However, the State Department also said it is not at liberty to comment on the details related to contracts underway with private entities. Nearly all foreign delegations have their embassies in Tel Aviv because of Jerusalems contested status.