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☆ Israel-Hamas War Israel Will End ‘Intensive’ Phase of War Soon, Defense Minister Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Hila Rotem Shoshani, 13, in New York on Friday. Hila Rotem Shoshani had invited her friend Emily Hand over for a sleepover in Kibbutz Be’eri, Israel. For about six hours, Hila and Emily hid in the home’s safe room with Hila’s mother, Raaya Rotem, 54, as Hamas attackers overran the kibbutz. About a month and a half into their captivity, the captors suddenly separated the girls from Hila’s mother. The separation of mother and child violated the terms of the exchange deal, drawing outrage in Israel.

Persons: Hila Rotem Shoshani, Kibbutz Be’eri, Emily Hand, Emily, Raaya Rotem, “, ” Hila, Hila, we’re, you’ll, ’ ”, hammam, ’ ” Hila, ”, Freedom, “ Mom, Raaya Locations: New York, Kibbutz Be’eri, Israel, Hila, Gaza

☆ Israeli Teenager Recounts Her Time as a Hostage in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Nadav Gavrielov | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Hila Rotem Shoshani had invited her friend Emily Hand over for a sleepover in Kibbutz Be’eri, Israel. For about six hours, Hila and Emily hid in the home’s safe room with Hila’s mother, Raaya Rotem, 54, as Hamas attackers overran the kibbutz. I didn’t notice,” Hila said on Friday in an interview in New York, before she spoke at a rally in support of the remaining hostages. She said she, her mother and Emily were taken to a home in Gaza, where they were put in a dark room with a couple of other hostages. At first, an armed guard stayed in the room, but eventually moved to the living room.

Persons: Hila Rotem Shoshani, Emily Hand, Emily, Raaya Rotem, “, ” Hila, Hila Locations: Kibbutz Be’eri, Israel, New York, Hila, Gaza

Mendes' account is one of seven given to Reuters by first responders or others dealing with the dead that attest to alleged sexual violence. VICTIMS DEAD, TRAUMATIZEDIn Israeli criminal law, sexual violence includes rape, but also indecent acts, harrassment and sexually demeaning a person – including forced nudity – among other offences. Some of those purporting to show sexual violence could not be authenticated – one seen by Reuters appeared to date to 2021. The news agency verified the locations of two other videos that suggest sexual violence, shared on social media within a day of the attack. Israeli lawyers say its evidentiary requirements on sexual violence are less challenging than Israel's.

Persons: Ronen, Shari Mendes, Mendes, It's, Deen al, Beeri, Taher al, Nono, Orit Soliciano, Neubach, Shelly Harush, Chen Kugel, Kugel, Dana Pugach, Rabbi Israel Weiss, Nachman Dyksztejn, Rami Shmuel, Shani Louk, Yael Vias Gvirsman, Vias Gvirsman, Geert, Jan Knoops, Israel, Peter Hirschberg, Anthony Deutsch, Stephanie Van Den Berg, Edmund Blair, Sara Ledwith, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Nova Festival, REUTERS, Rights, Shura, Reuters, Israel's Association, Association, Authorities, Israel National Center of Forensic Medicine, Ono Academic, Zaka, Police, Criminal Court, ICC, Israel's, Israeli Defence Force, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel's, Israel, Israeli, The Hague, Tel Aviv, Shura, Amsterdam, London

☆ Little food, a beating and lice: What freed Israeli hostages are saying about being held by Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Rachel Clarke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The details below have been compiled from comments by freed hostages to their families, their carers and sometimes to reporters. Under the terms of the deal between Israel and Hamas, most of those released are women, children and foreign workers. Ruth Munder, a released Israeli hostage, walks with an Israeli soldier shortly after her arrival in Israel on November 24. Emily Hand told her father that they always had breakfast and sometimes lunch or an evening meal. Emily Hand said she was not hit and her father said he believed harsh voices were enough to make her do what was wanted.

Persons: –, It’s, Adina Moshe, Eyal Nouri, “, ” Moshe, Nouri, keener, ” Nouri, Yocheved, Emily, Thomas Hand, Hand, “ It’s, ”, Hila Rotem, Raaya Rotem, ” Hand, “ She’d, Hila, bedclothes, Ruth Munder, Eitan Yahalomi, Deborah Cohen, Omer Lubaton Granot, ” Granot, Lifshitz, Grandmother Ruth Munder, Israel’s vise, ” Munder, ” Adina Moshe, Emily Hand, she’s, Uthai Saengnuan, Eitan, Yair Rotem, it’s, Yar Rotem, ” Chumpron Jirachart, Manee Jirachart, I’ve, Elma Avraham, Hagai Levine, ” Eitan Yahalomi, Efrat Bron, Harlev, ” Bron, ” Israel, CNN’s Rachel Clarke, Joseph Ataman, Wolf Blitzer, Kate Bolduan, Bianna Golodryga, Jessie Gretener, Poppy Harlow, Jacqueline Howard, Lauren Izso, Ed Lavandera, Phil Mattingly, Kocha OIarn, Clarissa Ward Organizations: CNN, Rotem, United Nations ’ Office, Humanitarian Affairs, BFMTV, Israel’s, UN, Sourasky Medical, Israeli Defense Forces, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Atlanta

☆ Israel-Hamas War Israel and Hamas Say Cease-Fire Has Been Extended
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Ben Hubbard | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Hostages and Missing Families, via ReutersRaz Ben-Ami was kidnapped by Hamas from the Be’eri kibbutz on Oct. 7. Her brother Lior, 16, who was hiding with her, was murdered, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. His uncle, Dror Or, and his cousins, Noam, 17, and Alma, 13, were taken hostage at the same time. Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters, via Associated PressIrena Tati, a physician, and her daughter, Yelena Trupanob, immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union and are dual Israeli-Russian citizens, according to the hostages and missing families forum. Yelena’s son Sasha, 28, and his girlfriend, Sapir Cohen, 29, were also taken hostage and are still being held in Gaza.

Persons: Ra’aya Rotem, Reuters Ra’aya Rotem, Hila, Emily Hand, Ra’aya texted, Itay Regev, Associated Press Itay, Raz Ben, Ami, Ben, Ohad, Lior, Tarshansky, Reuma, Kamelia Hoter Ishay, ’ ”, ”, Gat, Roman Gat, Be’eri, Alon, Gefen, Liat Binin, Reuters Liat, Atzili, Aviv, Nir Oz, Moran, Yanai, Liam, Associated Press Liam, Dror, Noam, Alma, Ofir Engel, Associated Press Ofir Engel, Yuval Sharabi, Yossi Sharabi, “, ” Yael Engel Lichi, Amit Shani, Amit Shani Credit, Amit Shani’s, Tal Shani, ‘, Ms, Shani, Amit, ” Ms, ” Irena Tati, Yelena Trupanob, Irena Tati, Vitaly Trupanob, Yelena’s, Sasha, Sapir Cohen, Nadav, Talya Minsberg Organizations: Wednesday, Ra'aya Rotem Credit, Reuters, The, Associated Press, Hapoel Ashkelon, Marvel, Yad Vashem, Nova, Hapoel Tel Aviv soccer, Hamas, Associated, Soviet Locations: Russian, Be’eri, Israel, The Times, Re’im, Gaza, Gali Tarshansky, Tarshansky, Tel Aviv, ‘ Gali, United States, Jerusalem, India, Kibbutz Be’eri, Alma, Soviet Union

Here’s what we know about the Israeli hostages released on Wednesday. Hostages and Missing Families, via ReutersRaz Ben-Ami was kidnapped by Hamas from the Be’eri kibbutz on Oct. 7. Her brother Lior, 16, who was hiding with her, was murdered, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Hostages and Missing Families Forum, via ReutersMoran Stela Yanai, a self-employed artist and jewelry designer from Be’er Sheva, had gone to the Nova music festival in Re’im to sell her handmade jewelry, according to the hostages and missing families forum. Hostages and Missing Families Forum, via Associated PressLiam Or, a kindergarten teacher in Kibbutz Be’eri, was taken hostage at the home of his uncle.

Persons: Ra’aya Rotem, Reuters Ra’aya Rotem, Hila, Emily Hand, Ra’aya texted, Itay Regev, Associated Press Itay, Raz Ben, Ami, Ben, Ohad, Lior, Tarshansky, Reuma, Kamelia Hoter Ishay, ’ ”, ”, Gat, Roman Gat, Be’eri, Alon, Gefen, Liat Binin, Reuters Liat, Atzili, Aviv, Nir Oz, Moran, Yanai, Liam, Associated Press Liam, Dror, Noam, Alma, Ofir Engel, Associated Press Ofir Engel, Yuval Sharabi, Yossi Sharabi, “, ” Yael Engel Lichi, Amit Shani, Amit Shani Credit, Amit Shani’s, Tal Shani, ‘, Ms, Shani, Amit, ” Ms Organizations: Wednesday, Ra'aya Rotem Credit, Reuters, The, Associated Press, Hapoel Ashkelon, Marvel, Yad Vashem, Nova, Hapoel Tel Aviv soccer, Hamas Locations: Russian, Be’eri, Israel, The Times, Re’im, Gaza, Gali Tarshansky, Tarshansky, Tel Aviv, ‘ Gali, United States, Jerusalem, India, Kibbutz Be’eri, Alma

☆ Israeli cyber VC fund Cyberstarts names new general partner
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

JERUSALEM, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Israeli venture capital fund Cyberstarts on Wednesday named Hila Zigman as general partner. Before joining Cyberstarts, Zigman worked closely with Cyberstarts portfolio company Noname Security as chief product officer, leading the company's development and product teams, and overseeing its Israeli headquarters. Zigman also served as a captain in the technology unit of the Israeli Defense Forces. Zigman's appointment comes two months after Cyberstarts announced its Scale fund with $480 million in committed capital slated for seed investments in cyber startups. Cyberstarts said it has $663 million of assets under management while its portfolio is valued at $30 billion.

Persons: Hila Zigman, Zigman, Cyberstarts, Steven Scheer, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Cyberstarts, Security, Israeli Defense Forces, Thomson Locations: Cyberstarts

☆ Freed Israeli hostages tell families of beatings and death threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Howard Goller | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Danny Brom, director of METIV: The Israel Psychotrauma Center, said some will need medical treatment but others will not. Since the latest round of releases began on Friday, with Israel releasing some jailed Palestinians in exchange, the freed hostages have been kept away from the media. Most of the 240 hostages that Israel says were seized on Oct. 7 are still in captivity. Hamas portrays the treatment of hostages as humane, and says it has treated the hostages in accordance with Islamic teachings to preserve their lives and wellbeing. Officials at Israeli hospitals say hostages experienced poor nutritional health, and many with chronic diseases were denied medical treatment, causing serious health problems.

Persons: Gal Goldstein, Danny Brom, Brom, Deborah Cohen, France's, Eitan Yahalomi, Thomas Hand, Emily Hand, Hand's, Emily, Yair Rotem, Hila Rotem Shoshani, Raaya, Merav Mor Raviv, Keren Munder, Ohad, Ruth, Elma Avraham, Tali Amano, Ahal Besorai, Alma, Noam, Besorai, Adva Adar, Yaffa Adar, Daniel Aloni, Emilia, Daniel, Howard Goller, Timothy Organizations: Hamas, Schneider Children's Medical, Israel Psychotrauma Center, CNN, Israel's, Reuters, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Palestinian, Israel, JERUSALEM, pita, Israeli

TEL AVIV—Their Hamas captors told 13-year-old Hila Rotem Shoshani and 9-year-old Emily Hand to keep their voices low when speaking. A day after the close friends’ release, safe in the arms of family and doctors, Hila was still whispering to Emily. Yair Rotem, Hila’s uncle, is now her primary guardian, as his sister Raaya remains a Hamas hostage. He said his niece doesn’t show emotion when talking about her time in captivity, held in the dark for 50 days with little food and no showers. He is reluctant to press her for details of what happened when Hamas’s bloody Oct. 7 attack on Israel interrupted a sleepover she was having with Emily at Hila’s house in Kibbutz Be’eri.

Persons: Hila Rotem Shoshani, Emily Hand, Hila, Emily, Yair Rotem, Hila’s Organizations: TEL AVIV — Locations: TEL AVIV, Israel, Hila’s, Kibbutz Be’eri

☆ Emily Hand: Father describes how his young daughter survived Hamas captivity
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Clarissa Ward | Rachel Clarke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Tel Aviv, Israel CNN —Emily Hand had to run from house to house, forced to move by Hamas as Israeli forces attacked Gaza, her father Thomas Hand told CNN. This September 2023 photo shows Emily Hand near Kibbutz Be'eri, Israel. Yael Shahrur Noah/APFrom death to captivity to hopeEmily had been at a sleepover at Hila’s house when Hamas terrorists stormed Kibbutz Be’eri. But Emily told her father she thought he had been taken hostage too. A year.”Emily Hand embraces her father at a hospital in Israel after being released by Hamas on November 25.

Persons: Emily Hand, Thomas Hand, “, ”, It’s, Emily, Hila Rotem, Raaya, Hand, Israel –, Yael Shahrur Noah, Emily’s, ‘, She’s, ’, Kibbutz Be’eri, ” Thomas, “ She’d, Thomas, Johnsie, ” Emily Hand, ” Emily, Hila, Raya, “ Don’t Organizations: Israel CNN, CNN, Kibbutz, Israel Defense Forces, AFP, Getty Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, Be'eri, Hila

☆ Hamas released a 13-year-old hostage but not her mom, despite promising not to separate them
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Despite Hamas agreeing not to separate parents from their children, Hila's mom remains in captivity. AdvertisementOn Saturday, Hamas released a 13-year-old Israeli girl, Hila Rotem Shoshani, who had been held in captivity in Gaza since the October 7 terror attack. But her mother, Raya, remains in captivity, despite Hamas vowing not to separate children from their parents as part of the truce agreement, according to Israeli media. Hila's uncle, Yair Rotem, told reporters this weekend that he does not believe Hamas' claim that they do not know where the girl's mother is. Rotem also told the Times: "Israel has to say this is unacceptable.

Persons: Hila Rotem Shoshani, —, Raya, Israel, Hila's, Yair Rotem, Hila, Rotem Organizations: Service, CNN, Times, Hamas, Sheba Hospital, The, Israel's, Minister's Locations: Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Kibbutz Be'eri

☆ Israel-Hamas War Israel Faces Decision on What to Do After End of Truce
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Hamas released a second group of 13 Israeli hostages on Saturday as part of a cease-fire deal, a day after it released another 13. (Read about the Israeli hostages who have already been released here.) “I want to start walking to where the decisions are made.”Sharon Avigdori, 52; Noam Avigdori, 12Image Sharon and Noam Avigdori Credit... Maya Regev, 21Image Maya Regev Credit... Regev Family, via Associated PressMaya Regev was at the Tribe of Nova music festival on Oct. 7 when Hamas attackers infiltrated Israel and massacred hundreds of young festivalgoers. Their mother, Yonat, was one of dozens killed in Kibbutz Be’eri.

Persons: —, Shoshan Haran, Rachel Gur, Associated Press Shoshan Haran, Avshalom Haran, Lilach, Evyatar Kipnis, Paul Castelvi, Haran’s, Adi Shoham, Shoshan, Naveh, Yahel, Tal Shoham, Shoham, Yuval Haran, Adi Shoham’s, “ I’m, ”, “, ” Sharon Avigdori, Noam Avigdori, Sharon, Sharon Avigdori, Avshalom, Hen Avigdori, Omer, Avigdori, Emily Hand, Yael Shahrur Noah, Associated Press Emily Hand, Natalie Hand, Emily, Thomas Hand, ” Ireland’s, Maya Regev, Regev, festivalgoers, Ilan Regev Derby, Omer Shem Tov, Mirit, Alma, Noam, Dror, Hila Rotem Shoshani, Hila Rotem, Rotem Shoshani, Raaya, texted, Noga, Shiri Weiss, Reuters Shiri Weiss, Noga Weiss, Kibbutz Be’eri, Oren Rubinstein, Rubinstein, Ilan Weiss, Shiri’s, Gil —, Jeffrey Gettleman Organizations: Associated Press, Associated, Noam, Israel’s, Embassy, The, Shiri, Reuters, YouTube, IDF, U.S . Special Forces, Be’eri Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Be’eri, Israel, Jerusalem, Hod Hasharon, Irish, Kibbutz Be’eri, London, ”, Hila Rotem Shoshani, San Francisco, WhatsApp

☆ 'Can't find words', Israeli families welcome second group of hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Eli Berlzon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"We can't find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days," her family said in a statement. "We are overjoyed to embrace Emily again, but at the same time, we remember Raya Rotem and all the hostages who have yet to return." You just can't imagine it, what they will do, if they will talk about it," said 10-year-old Talia, a friend of Emily Hand. Since then, Israel has vowed both to destroy Hamas and bring the hostages back home. Saturday's release of 13 hostages came after some six weeks of fighting as part of a deal to release 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

Persons: Emily Hand, Hila Rotem, Emily's, Emily, Raya Rotem, Talia, Inbal Tzach, Adi Shoham, Be'eri, Nave, Tal, James Mackenzie, Leslie Adler Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Reuters, REUTERS Acquire, Qatari, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Be'eri

"The released hostages are on their way to hospitals in Israel, where they will re-unite with their families," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. Israel released 39 Palestinians - six women and 33 minors - from two prisons, the Palestinian news agency WAFA said. Saturday's swap follows the previous day's initial release of 13 Israeli hostages, including children and the elderly, by Hamas in return for the release of 39 Palestinian women and young people from Israeli prisons. On Friday Hamas also released a Philippine national and 10 Thai farm workers. Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continued to release at least 10 hostages a day.

Persons: Israel, WAFA, Srettha Thavisin, Thais, Thongkoon Onkaew, Natthaporn Onkaew, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Osama Hamdan, Majed Al, Ansari, Maya Regev, Emily Hand, Hila Rotem, Emily, Raya Rotem, Shorouk Dwayyat, Emily Rose, Bassam Masoud, James Mackenzie, Maayan Lubell, Emma Farge, Aidan Lewis, Adam Makary, Nidal, Moaz Abd, Ali Sawafta, Sybille de La Hamaide, Jeff Mason, Humeyra Pamuk, Leslie Adler, Clarence Fernandez, William Mallard Organizations: Sunday, International Committee, Israel Defense Forces, West Bank, Hamas, Reuters, Brigades, IDF, United Nations, CNN, Al, Thomson Locations: Israel Egypt, Qatar, West Bank GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Palestinian, Rafah, Al, Bireh, Ramallah, Philippine, U.S, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Al Jazeera, Nantucket , Massachusetts

☆ Rocky hostage release underscores fragility of deal between Israel and Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hamas on Saturday blamed the delay on issues with the amount of aid being delivered and selection of Palestinian prisoners being released. Thirty-nine Palestinian teenagers and women were also released from Israeli prisons, per the terms of the exchange, on Saturday. All but one of the Israeli hostages released had been at the communal kibbutz of Nir Oz when they were abducted. Under the deal, Israel is freeing three Palestinians from jail for every Israeli hostage allowed out of Gaza. Released Palestinian prisoners arrive to Beitunia, west of Ramallah, on Friday.

Persons: ”, Neta Rosenberg, Alex Sherman, Ron, Israel –, Emily Hand, Noga, Shiri Weiss, Adi Shoham, Naveh, Regev, Noam Avigdori, Sharon Avigdori, Hila Rotem, Shoshan, Noam, Nir Oz, Yafa Adar, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, Yoni Asher, we’ll, we’re, We’ve, we’ve, “, Nutthawaree Munkan, ” Boonyarin Srichan, Joy, Aseel El, ” El, Titi, Issam, Nadav Rudaeff, ” CNN’s Oren Liebermann, Joseph Ataman, Clarissa Ward, Kocha, Manveena Suri, Eve Brennan, Lauren Izso Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Palestinian, Saturday, Reuters, Ofer, West Bank, Getty, West Bank . Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Irish, Alma, Philippine, Beitunia, AFP, Thailand, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Anadolu

☆ The last time Hamas released a hostage, it took 5 years for him to be freed
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The IDF said Hamas is holding nearly 200 people hostage after carrying out a deadly terror attack. The last time Hamas freed a hostage was in 2011, when it released the IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. AdvertisementAdvertisementHamas is holding nearly 200 people hostage after it carried out a deadly terror attack in Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The last time Hamas released a hostage was in 2011, when it freed the IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Israel has relentlessly bombarded the Gaza Strip since Hamas' October 7 terror attacks.

Persons: Gilad Shalit, —, Shalit, Mitzpe Hila, Gershon Baskin, Israel, Baskin, Osama al, Mia Schem, Schem Organizations: Service, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, NPR, Israel, International Communities Organization, IDF, Nova Locations: Israel, Gaza, American

☆ A Mother, Her Daughter, a Masterwork of Psychological Tension
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Flynn Berry | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

HOW TO LOVE YOUR DAUGHTER, by Hila Blum. A woman travels for thousands of miles to spy on a family at the start of “How to Love Your Daughter,” by Hila Blum. Inside are her daughter Leah and her two granddaughters, but they don’t know she is outside: Yoella hasn’t seen Leah in years and has never met her granddaughters. For six years, Leah has made sporadic calls to her mother from around the world, “from Dharamsala, Bangalore, Hanoi, Chiang Mai. She puts herself on trial as a mother, summoning witnesses, poring over the evidence, searching for a crime.

Persons: Hila Blum, Daniella Zamir, Yoella, Leah, Yoella hasn’t, Chiang Mai, “, poring Locations: Dharamsala, Bangalore, Hanoi, Netherlands

☆ Couple who transformed an abandoned Japanese home into a guesthouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

He also happened to have his heart set on a traditional Japanese house, typically known as kominka, which are usually passed down over generations. “I had a vision.”Guesthouse dreamDaisuke and Hila Kajiyama transformed an abandoned farming residence in Japan into a guesthouse. He saved money by collecting traditional wood from building companies who were in the process of breaking down traditional houses. “Usually, with traditional houses, some renovations are made to the walls, because the insulation is not so strong. After doing some research into Japanese guesthouse permits, he discovered that one of the simplest ways to acquire one would be to register the property as an agriculture guesthouse.

Qatar, which has strong ties with Washington and friendly relations with Tehran, has staked its reputation on delivering a smooth World Cup, beefing up security at Iran games and banning some items deemed inflammatory, like Iran's pre-Revolution flag. The Qatar official, when asked about fans' security concerns and complaints over restrictions, said authorities would ensure every match at the World Cup is "safe and welcoming for all spectators". Items that "could increase tensions and risk the safety of fans" would not be permitted at stadiums, the official said. The United States and Iran severed formal relations in 1980 after the Revolution and ties were hostile when their soccer teams clashed in the 1998 World Cup. Reporting by Maya Gebeily and Charlotte Bruneau; Writing by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Netanyahu comeback dominates Israel election 'all about Bibi'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"RIGGED"Israel has been stuck in an election loop since 2019, the same year which saw Netanyahu indicted for corruption on charges he denies. "The only thing that really matters is Bibi or not Bibi, unfortunately," said Hila Shay Vazan, former Knesset member and commentator. And he feels, evidently, that this for him is a political battle for life and death," said political analyst Amotz Asa-El at Shalom Hartman Institute. read moreLike Trump, Netanyahu says he is a victim of a political witch-hunt, counting on support from voters with little interest in the legal details of the trial, Asa-El said. "They say Bibi voters are stupid and ignorant," said Ramla-raised importer Moti Karo, 56.

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