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Lebanese health officials warned the public to avoid using handheld communication devices on Tuesday after powerful Iran-backed militant and political group Hezbollah said pagers had exploded throughout the country. “The ministry requests all citizens who own wireless communication devices to stay away from them until the truth of what is happening is revealed,” the National News Agency quoted the health ministry as saying. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati office said ministers were informed of “security incidents” occurring in a number of regions across the country. It was unclear whether the incidents were part of a coordinated attack, which would represent a significant security breach for Hezbollah. News agency Reuters reported that dozens of Hezbollah members were seriously wounded in Lebanon’s south and in the southern suburbs of the country’s capital Beirut.

Persons: pagers, Najib Mikati, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, “ Organizations: Health Emergency, Center of Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, National News Agency, Lebanese, Israel, U.S, Reuters Locations: Iran, Lebanese, Lebanon, Lebanon’s, country’s, Beirut, Dahiyeh, Israel’s, “ Israel, Gaza

Israel has a new war goal, adding to mounting signs that the conflict could soon expand to the country's north as it warned the U.S. that “military action” would likely be the only way to addressing mounting hostilities with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. "Israel will continue to act to implement this objective," the prime minister's office said. Noam Galai / Getty Images fileIt added that the defense minister and a number of other senior Israel Defense Forces officials "presented the IDF's operations against Hezbollah forces" to Hochstein. The U.S. and others have voiced fears that an expanded military operation from its ally could spark a broader regional war. But the prime minister’s office told NBC News in a statement on Monday that reports of any negotiations with Sa’ar were “not correct.”

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Amos Hochstein, Joe Biden, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Noam Galai, swirled, Netanyahu, Gideon Sa’ar, Sa’ar, ” Organizations: U.S, Hezbollah, Israeli, Israel Defense Forces, New, NBC News Locations: Israel, Iran, Israel's, Lebanon, Gaza, U.S

☆ Israeli military says 3 hostages were ‘most likely’ killed in November strike
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-15 | by ( Dana Karni | Lauren Izso | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Israeli military says that three Israeli hostages whose bodies were recovered from Gaza in December were “most likely” killed as a result of an Israeli airstrike. The hostages were two soldiers - Corporal Nick Beiser and Sergeant Ron Sherman – and and civilian man, Eliya Toledano. “The investigation shows that the three hostages were held in the tunnel complex where Andor operated. The bodies of the three hostages were retrieved from the tunnel where Andor had been staying on December 14. Later that month Hamas claimed that the three hostages were “killed by IDF weapons.”A total of 101 hostages are still being held in Gaza, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Persons: Nick Beiser, Ron Sherman –, Eliya Toledano, Ahmed Andor, ”, Andor, Hersh Goldberg, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Prime Minister’s, Israeli Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Egypt

CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lambasted his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday and accused him of adopting an “anti-Israel narrative,” revealing a deep rupture at the top of the Israeli government as the Middle East risks spiraling into a full-scale regional conflict. “When Gallant adopts the anti-Israel narrative, he harms the chances of reaching a hostage deal,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement. Critics have accused Netanyahu of being more interested in defeating Hamas and preserving his government than returning the hostages. He has previously called on Netanyahu to declare that Israel would not establish civilian or military control over Gaza, although the prime minister has remained vague on his plans for the “day after” the war. “The conditions today for a Lebanon war are the opposite of what they were at the beginning of the war,” Gallant reportedly told lawmakers.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, ”, Saul Loeb, Ismail Haniyeh, Fu’ad Shukr, Haniyeh’s, Haniyeh, Netanyahu, –, Joe Biden, ” Gallant, Yahya, Sinwar, Daniel Hagari, “ Organizations: CNN, Israeli, US State Department, Getty Images, Qatari, ” CNN, American Enterprise, Institute for Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, United States, Washington ,, Getty Images Iran, Tehran, Beirut, of Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Cairo, Doha

October 23 Lebanon Image location Israel Aita al-Shaab Lebanon Image location Israel Aita al-Shaab Lebanon Image location Israel Aita al-Shaab July 13 Lebanon Image location Damaged buildings Israel Aita al-Shaab Lebanon Image location Israel Damaged buildings Aita al-Shaab Lebanon Image location Damaged buildings Israel Aita al-Shaab July 13 Lebanon Image location Damaged buildings Israel Aita al-Shaab Lebanon Image location Israel Damaged buildings Aita al-Shaab Lebanon Image location Damaged buildings Israel Aita al-Shaab Source: Planet LabsIsraeli forces and Hezbollah militants, who are backed by Iran, have been fighting off and on for years. May 23 Lebanon Image location Israel Malkiya Lebanon Israel 0.5 miles Dishon Lebanon Image location Israel Malkiya Lebanon Israel Dishon 0.5 miles Lebanon Image location Israel Malkiya Lebanon Israel Dishon 0.5 miles May 29 Lebanon Image location Israel Burned Area Malkiya Lebanon Israel 0.5 miles Dishon Lebanon Image location Israel Burned Area Malkiya Lebanon Israel Dishon 0.5 miles Lebanon Image location Israel Burned Area Malkiya Lebanon Israel Dishon 0.5 miles May 29 Lebanon Image location Israel Burned Area Malkiya Lebanon Israel 0.5 miles Dishon Lebanon Image location Israel Burned Area Malkiya Lebanon Israel Dishon 0.5 miles Lebanon Image location Israel Burned Area Malkiya Lebanon Israel Dishon 0.5 miles Sources: Planet Labs, OpenStreetMapIt is not only Israel that is burning. Lebanon Beirut Israel killed a Hezbollah commander near Beirut Golan Heights A rocket from Lebanon killed 12 civilians in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Jerusalem Gaza Israel Lebanon Beirut Israel killed a Hezbollah commander near Beirut. Golan Heights A rocket from Lebanon killed 12 civilians in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.

Persons: Israel Aita, Corey Scher, Israel, Diego Ibarra Sánchez Organizations: Planet Labs, Hezbollah, CUNY, Lebanon Israel Dishon, Labs, Hamas, The New York Times Locations: Israel, Lebanon, Lebanon Golan, Lebanon Israel Golan, Aita, Iran, Gaza, Lebanon Israel, Syria Majdal Shams Israel Lebanon, Galilee Haifa Lebanon, Area Israel Syria, Galilee Haifa Nazareth Jordan, Detections, Golan, Beirut’s, Lebanon Beirut Israel, Beirut Golan, Jerusalem Gaza Israel Lebanon Beirut Israel, Beirut, Jerusalem Gaza Israel Lebanon's, Lebanese, Yarine

☆ Police officers injured as far-right activists face off against anti-racism groups across U.K.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Elsewhere, bricks were thrown at police officers in Stoke-on-Trent in central England while scuffles have also been reported in Belfast, Manchester and Nottingham. James Speakman / PA via APThe violence erupted earlier this week, ostensibly in protest of Monday’s stabbing attack in Southport. False rumors spread online that the young man was a Muslim and an immigrant, fueling anger among far-right supporters. “During the course of the evening, our officers were met with serious and sustained levels of violence,” he said. Starmer has blamed the violence on “far-right hatred” and vowed to end the mayhem.

Persons: ”, scuffles, Keir Starmer, James Speakman, Andrew Menary, Axel Rudakubana, Mark Hall, “, —, Taylor Swift, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King, Starmer, Yvette Cooper Organizations: Police, Merseyside Police, ”, Humberside Police, Somerset Police, Trent, Blackpool, Palestinian, Labour, Northumbria Police, ” Police Locations: Liverpool, Southport, England, Hull, Bristol, Avon, Stoke, Belfast, Manchester, Nottingham, London, Gaza, Sunderland, Wales, Rwandan, Northumbria, “, Southport —

The demonstrations – a regular occurrence – were notable for taking place despite urgent security warnings as Israel braces for a possible strike from Iran. Videos showed protestors waving Israeli flags and holding up signs with images of the Israeli hostages. Of that number, 111 hostages were taken during the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people. “The head of the Mossad did not say that there was a deal ready and that it should be accepted. “While Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed to the deal outline, Hamas has been trying to introduce dozens of changes that, de facto, nullify the outline,” the statement said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Ismail Haniyeh, “ We’re, ”, “, ‘, Netanyahu’s, Yair Lapid, Netanyahu, Gil Cohen, David Barnea, Shin Bet, banged, CNN’s Eugenia Yosef, Larry Organizations: CNN, Hamas, IDF, Minister’s Office, Gaza’s Ministry of Health, United Nations, Israeli Prime, Magen, Getty, ” Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iran, Tehran, Tel Aviv, AFP

☆ Israelis fear for hostages as Netanyahu celebrates ‘crushing blows’ against enemies
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | Mike Schwartz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Tel Aviv, Israel CNN —As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrates what he sees as major victories against Hamas and Hezbollah this week, the mood in Tel Aviv is far from celebratory. On Wednesday, Netanyahu said that his country “struck crushing blows” to the “the three H’s” – Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah, all Iranian-backed, all fierce Israeli foes. Hamas also blamed Israel for the assassination of their political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed on Wednesday in Tehran. Netanyahu’s tone stands at odds with the mood on the ground in Tel Aviv, including among families of the hostages still in Gaza. Polls have repeatedly shown that most Israelis prioritize the release of hostages over continued war.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ”, Mohammed Deif, Fu’ad Shukr, Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, –, Shiri, Yarden, Ariel, Kfir, Bibas, Zailer, CNN’s Clarissa Ward, ” Zailer, “, Kibbutz Nir, ” ‘, “ We’re, Itay, Let’s, ” Oved, Alona Lelchuk, ” Netanyahu Organizations: Israel CNN —, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, CNN, Minister’s Office, Israel Democracy Institute, IDI, “ Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Yemen, Tehran . Israel, Gaza, Rafah, ”, United States, Tel

Smoke billows from the area of an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese village of Khiam near the border with Israel on March 23. RabihIsrael and Hezbollah have been trading rocket fire on a near-daily basis with increasing ferocity since Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel. Following Saturday’s strike on the soccer field, Israeli warplanes conducted airstrikes against Hezbollah targets “deep inside Lebanese territory” and along the border overnight Sunday, according to the military. Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency security cabinet meeting, and members “authorized the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense to decide on the nature of the response against the terror organization Hezbollah, and on its’ timing,” according to the Prime Minister’s Office. Israeli officials have blamed Hezbollah for the strike and vowed to retaliate, while the Lebanese militant group has denied responsibility.

Persons: Rabih, Israel, – Sami Taleb Abdullah, Muhammed Neamah Naser –, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ Organizations: Defense, Hezbollah Locations: Lebanese, Khiam, Israel, Rabih Israel, Gaza

Tensions were running high on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border on Monday in anticipation of an escalation in hostilities, after Israel’s security cabinet authorized its leaders to decide on the nature and timing of an Israeli military response to a deadly rocket attack from Lebanon last weekend. The Israeli military said overnight that its aerial defense systems successfully intercepted an unmanned aircraft that crossed from Lebanon into northwestern Israel. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on those attacks. Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the rocket attack Saturday that struck a soccer field in Majdal Shams. But the Israeli military said the type of rocket used in the attack is Iranian-made and carries more than 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of explosives.

Persons: Majdal Shams, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Antony J, Blinken, Isaac Herzog, “, Matthew Miller, Adrienne Watson, Gallant, ”, Mohamed Awada, Hwaida Saad, Edward Wong, Gabby Sobelman, Myra Noveck Organizations: Hezbollah, Israel’s, United, State Department, U.S . National Security Council, Lufthansa Group, East Airlines, Lebanon’s Locations: Lebanon, Majdal, Golan, Israel, Iran, United States, Gaza, Tokyo, Majdal Shams, Iranian, Beirut’s, Beirut, Jerusalem

☆ Why Thailand is making it easier for travelers to stay longer
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Karla Cripps | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The popular Southeast Asia destination recently introduced a new five-year visa targeted at remote workers and other travelers looking to stay in the kingdom for extended periods. According to a statement issued by the Thai prime minister’s office, the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) will allow eligible travelers a period of stay up to 180 days per visit, on a multiple-entry basis, within five years. Thailand certainly isn’t alone in its desire to bring travelers in for longer periods. “A global trend we have observed throughout the post-Covid-19 period has been that travelers are staying at destinations for longer,” he says. “These measures will likely enhance the appeal of Thailand for long-term visitors, potentially increasing these proportions over time.”

Persons: It’s, it’s, ”, Gary Bowerman, ” Bowerman, “ You’ve, Olivier Ponti, Ponti, “ Organizations: Bangkok CNN, Muay, Thailand Visa, CNN, ” Locations: Bangkok, Phuket, Muay Thai, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Thai, Asia, –, Asia Pacific

☆ Bangladesh’s top court rolls back some job quotas after deadly protests, local media report
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( Alex Stambaugh | Manveena Suri | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on Sunday rolled back some of the controversial quotas on government jobs which sparked violent protests, Reuters reported, citing local media. Since the roles are linked to job security and higher pay, the quota system has angered many in the country, particularly students and young people, as Bangladesh faces high unemployment levels. In 2018, the civil service quota system was scrapped following similar protests but in June the High Court reinstated it, ruling its removal unconstitutional. On July 10, the Supreme Court suspended the quotas for one month while it took up the case. According to local media, the curfew was extended until after the Supreme Court hearing and will continue for an “uncertain time” following a two-hour break for people to gather supplies, Reuters reported.

Persons: CNN —, Anik Rahman Organizations: CNN, CNN — Bangladesh’s, Reuters, Bangladesh Army Locations: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Dhaka

Three Israeli hostages were rescued from his family’s building on June 8. “Hamas only trusts Hamas when it comes to those very sensitive issues such as Israeli hostages,” he said. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office told CNN she was held by the Abu Nar family but did not provide further details. Three relatives of Abu Nar also posted on social media announcing he had been killed by Israeli forces that day. Many locals questioned why so many Palestinians had to die for the Israeli forces to rescue just four hostages.

Persons: Gaza’s, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, Noa Argamani, Abu, Ahmed Aljamal, “, Abu Muhammad El Tahrawi, Aljamal, Dr Fadel Naim, Abdelrahman El Tahrawi, ” Dr, Aljamal’s, Abdallah, ”, Gilad Shalit, ” Abdallah Aljamal, Abdallah Aljamal, Mkhaimar Abusada, Ashraf Amra, Benny Gantz, Hussein Ibish, Israel “, ” Andrey Kozlov, ‘, Kozlov, Aviram Meir, Israel’s, Nuseirat, Zainab Aljamal, Abdallah’s, Fatima, Ahmed, Zainab, Thomas Bordeaux, Zainab, –, Argamani, Mohamed Ahmad Abu Nar, Abu Nar, Bilal Mazhar, ” Mazhar, Khalil Al, ” Noa Argamani, Yakov Argamani, Kahlot, CNN he’d, Mohamed Ahmed Organizations: CNN, Nova, Palestine, Neighbors, Gaza’s Ministry of Labor, Facebook, Qassam Brigades, Hamas, Palestinian Center, Policy, Survey Research, Science, Al, Azhar University, Civil, Getty, Gulf States Institute, Palestine Chronicle, Israel Defense Forces, Minister’s, Israeli Army, Reuters Locations: Gaza, Nuseirat, Israel, Cairo, Anadolu, Israeli, Washington

Israel and Egypt have privately discussed a possible withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from Gaza’s border with Egypt, according to two Israeli officials and a senior Western diplomat, a shift that could remove one of the main obstacles to a cease-fire deal with Hamas. After more than nine months of war in the Gaza Strip, the discussions between Israel and Egypt are among a flurry of diplomatic actions on multiple continents aimed at achieving a truce and putting the enclave on a path toward postwar governance. Officials from both Hamas, which ruled Gaza before the war, and Fatah, the political faction that controls the Palestinian Authority, said Monday that China will host meetings with them next week in an effort to bridge gaps between the rival Palestinian groups. And Israel is dispatching its national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, to Washington this week for meetings at the White House, according to a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office.

Persons: Fatah, Tzachi Organizations: Hamas, Palestinian Authority, White Locations: Israel, Egypt, Gaza’s, Western, Gaza, China, Washington

☆ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reverses on key Israeli concession in ceasefire talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Jerusalem CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reneged on a key Israeli concession in ceasefire negotiations, demanding that armed men be barred from returning to northern Gaza during an eventual ceasefire, an Israeli source familiar with the talks told CNN. Israel had previously agreed to allow Palestinians fully unrestricted access to northern Gaza during an eventual ceasefire, but the Israeli Prime Minister told his negotiating team this week to demand that armed men be barred from northern Gaza as part of any ceasefire and hostage deal, the source said. The new demand could potentially upend progress in hostage negotiations and raises further questions about Netanyahu’s commitment to Israel’s own proposal for a deal that has become the basis for detailed negotiations. Israel had said it wouldn’t end the war until all hostages are freed and Hamas is eliminated. CNN has reached out to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office for comment.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, ” Israel, CNN’s Nadeen Ebrahim, Ibrahim Dahman, Eugenia Yosef, Tim Lister Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Israeli, CNN, Qatari, Doha, Prime Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, Israel, ”

☆ Developments in Gaza ceasefire talks raise hopes but challenges persist. Here’s what to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Last week, a US official told CNN that a framework agreement is “in place” and talks resumed Friday in Doha. Hatem Khaled/ReutersOn Thursday, a senior US administration told CNN that the framework for a deal is “now in place,” following a call between Biden and Netanyahu. Hamas has long demanded that Israel agree to a permanent ceasefire before signing any deal, which Israel has so far refused. Netanyahu also said there will be “no return of thousands of armed terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip,” the statement said. “If the Americans are still optimistic (after Netanyahu’s Sunday statement), then they are really living in La La land,” Baskin told CNN.

Persons: ”, ” Israel, Israel, ” Gershon Baskin, Baskin, Joe Biden, “, who’ve, Khan Younis, Hatem Khaled, Biden, Netanyahu, –, Donald Trump, Yair Lapid, ” Lapid, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Ilan Rosenberg, Reuters Baskin, ” Baskin Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Reuters, Sunday, Trump, “ Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Doha, Cairo, ”, Egypt, Israeli, Rafah, Jerusalem, La La

CNN —Hamas is ready to reconsider its insistence that Israel commit to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza before signing an agreement that would usher in a temporary truce and begin a process to release hostages still held in Gaza, a senior Hamas official confirmed to CNN. The change in Hamas’ position was first reported by Reuters, and comes amid intensified efforts towards reaching an agreement. The group has long demanded Israel agree to a permanent ceasefire before signing any deal, terms Israel sees as unacceptable. Hamas would instead accept that talks on reaching a permanent ceasefire would take place throughout the first phase of any deal, which would last six weeks, the official told CNN. Efforts to reach a deal between Hamas and Israel have stalled for months.

Persons: Israel, ’, –, Netanyahu, David Barea, Netanyahu –, Israel won’t, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Reuters, Minister’s Locations: Gaza, Israel, Qatar

☆ Biden and Netanyahu are expected to meet later this month in Washington, source says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —President Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to meet in Washington, DC, in several weeks when the Israeli prime minister visits to address Congress on July 24, a source familiar told CNN. US and Israeli officials are still in the process of nailing down logistical details for the Biden-Netanyahu meeting, which would likely take place at the White House, the source said. A White House official told CNN that Biden has known Netanyahu for decades, and that “they will likely see each other when the Prime Minister is here over the course of that week. But we have nothing to announce at this time.”CNN has also reached out to the prime minister’s office for comment. Last month, Biden said in an interview that Netanyahu may be dragging out the war in an attempt to cling to power and said it was “uncertain” whether Israel had committed war crimes.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Biden, “, ”, ” Biden, Israel, Antony Blinken “, Amos Hochstein, Netanyahu’s, CNN’s Jack Forrest, Christian Edwards, Tara John, Kevin Liptak, Natasha Bertrand, Arlette Saenz, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood, Melanie Zanona, Oren Liebermann, Piper Hudspeth Blackburn Organizations: CNN, Biden, White, ” CNN Locations: Washington , DC, Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Washington

☆ Far Right’s Surge in France Lays Bare Deep Divisions
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Catherine Porter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For many, France feels like a very different place on Monday. The results from the first round of legislative elections, held on Sunday, revealed a country deeply fractured, with a surging far right winning a record number of votes and the near collapse of President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party. “The far right at power’s door,” the cover of Le Parisien, a daily newspaper, pronounced the morning after the first half of the snap election called by Mr. Macron. “Twelve million of our fellow citizens have voted for a far right party that is clearly racist and anti-Republican,” the left-leaning Libération newspaper declared in an editorial, referring to Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party. If the National Rally takes an absolute majority in the runoff on Sunday, Mr. Macron will be forced to appoint a prime minister from its ranks, who will in turn form a cabinet.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron’s, Le Parisien, Macron, ” Organizations: Republican, Rally Locations: France

CNN —Israel has sparked condemnation after the finance minister announced plans to legally recognize five unauthorized Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. As CNN has reported, the Israeli government has been looking to “strengthen” Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank after several countries unilaterally recognized a Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority, which administers some areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, told CNN on Sunday that it has not yet received the funds from Israel. He has long advocated for the building of settlements, pointing to them as a means of preventing the West Bank becoming part of such an independent state. Such settlements are considered illegal under international law and by much of the international community.

Persons: CNN — Israel, Bezalel Smotrich, ”, Amir Cohen, Peter Stano, “, Smotrich Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Israel, Israeli, Reuters, Union, Oslo Accords Locations: Palestinian, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Oslo

☆ Far-right Israeli minister sets out plan to prevent West Bank from becoming part of a Palestinian state
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Lauren Izso | Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has spoken about preventing the occupied West Bank from becoming a part of an independent Palestinian state, according to leaked audio of a speech he gave earlier this month. Smotrich, a leading far right member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, said the way to prevent a Palestinian state that would endanger the state of Israel was to develop Jewish settlements. Israel’s Supreme Court defines Israeli control over the West Bank as a temporary military occupation rather than the annexation of territory under a civilian administration. But Smotrich, who lives in a settlement himself, has opposed the creation of an independent Palestinian state. The official position of the government is that the status of the West Bank is subject to future negotiations.

Persons: Bezalel Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Smotrich, ” Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ Organizations: CNN, Israeli, West Bank, Ministry of Defense, Directorate, Ministry, Defense Ministry, Oslo Accords Locations: Israel, State, Judea, Samaria, Oslo, Gaza

☆ Calls for accountability grow over October 7 failures, but Israel’s leadership is unlikely to act
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

On Monday, Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan 11, added to the growing mountain of evidence that the country’s leadership could have – or, at the very least, should have – known an attack was possible. In December, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman announced he would open an investigation into intelligence failures before the October 7 Hamas attack. Historically, Israel has had a public inquiry roughly every two years, he says, but not under its present and longest-serving leader. The most likely means of understanding the failures of October 7 was by dissecting it into smaller and more manageable issues, he said, like separating intelligence failures from those of operational doctrine. Major General Aharon Haliva, who was the commander of the IDF’s military intelligence, quietly announced in April that he would be stepping down.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, “, it’s, Netanyahu, Israel, Kan, Eyad Baba, ’, Matanyahu Englman, Englman, Raanan Sulitzeanu, Kenan, ” Sulitzeanu, ”, Sulitzeanu, Stringer, Yossi Fuchs, Yohanan Plesner, ” Plesner, I’m, Plesner, CNN’s Dana Bash, Aharon Haliva, Haliva, Avi Rosenfeld, Staff Gadi Eisenkot, Shin, ” Eisenkot Organizations: CNN, “, Israel Defense Forces, Israeli Special Forces, Getty, New York Times, Office, IDF, Israel’s, Hebrew University, International Court of Justice, Israel Democracy Institute, Brig, Staff, Southern Command, Military Intelligence Directorate, Defense, Israel’s Channel Locations: Israel, foreseeing, Gaza, AFP, Jerusalem, Lebanese, Jebbain, Gali Baharav, Gaza ., “

☆ Israeli military official says Hamas cannot be destroyed, as rift with Netanyahu widens
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Christian Edwards | Tamar Michaelis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hagari’s comments prompted a terse response from Netanyahu’s office, which said Israel’s security cabinet “has defined the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities” as one of the aims of its war in Gaza. Palestinians inspect damage after an Israeli strike on the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, June 9, 2024. Shaul Golan/Pool/ReutersHagari’s comments sparked the latest in a growing series of public disagreements between Israel’s government and military. Last weekend, the IDF announced a daily “tactical pause” of military activity along a route in southern Gaza to allow aid to be distributed – a decision that rankled Netanyahu, an Israeli official told CNN. The IDF’s decision to implement tactical pauses also drew fierce criticism from the increasingly rancorous far-right wing of Netanyahu’s coalition.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Read, Daniel Hagari, Hagari’s, Hagari, Netanyahu, Eyad Baba, ” Hagari, David Mencer, ’, Mencer, Netanayhu, –, Shaul Golan, rankled Netanyahu, Itamar Ben, Gvir, ”, Yoav Gallant Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Israel’s, IDF, Getty, Kan, National, Israeli Locations: Gaza, United States, Israel, AFP, Hamas, Givatayim, Rafah

☆ Israel to ‘strengthen’ Jewish settlements in West Bank after countries recognize Palestinian state
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Israel’s government says it is looking to “strengthen” Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank after several countries unilaterally recognized a Palestinian state. The statement also said Israel would look at what actions to take against the Palestinian Authority as it took actions against Israel in international bodies. Earlier this month, the Palestinian Authority applied to join South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said in May that Israel should approve 10,000 settlements in the West Bank, establish a new settlement for every country that recognizes a state of Palestine, and cancel travel permits for Palestinian Authority officials. It is unclear if any of these radical ideas are part of the proposals currently under consideration in Israel.

Persons: CNN —, Israel biblically, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Israel’s, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Minister’s, Ministry, Palestinian Authority, Israel, International Court of Justice Locations: Palestinian, Israel, Judea, Samaria, Norway, Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, Palestine

☆ Netanyahu says no Gaza ceasefire until Israel’s war aims are achieved, raising questions over Biden peace proposal
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Benjamin Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place. The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter,” the statement said. The earlier PMO statement insisted the “exact outline” of the proposal allows Israel to “maintain” its goals in the conflict. Gvir, Israel’s National Security Minister, had previously threatened to leave Netanyahu’s coalition if a ceasefire is reached before Israel achieves its declared war aims. The international pressure Netanyahu’s government is facing to end the war in Gaza has been mounting, as the conflict approaches its ninth month.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Israel, Biden, —, Israel ” —, Netanyahu, ’ Biden Netanyahu, Yair Lapid, Biden’s, ” Lapid, Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, ” Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Hamas, UN, Prime, “, Prime Minister’s, Times, National Security Minister, Israel Locations: Gaza, Israel, France, Rafah

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