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☆ Middle East Crisis Israeli Military Says Hezbollah’s Strikes Risk ‘Wider Escalation’
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Mike Ives | Randy Pennell | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

The change did not mean a cessation of fighting in the southern Gaza Strip, that statement said, adding that the campaign in the southernmost city of Rafah was continuing. The whipsaw statements appeared to reflect the competing pressures facing Mr. Netanyahu, as he juggles demands from the Biden administration and elsewhere around the globe with those of his own hawkish government. But Mr. Netanyahu insinuated that he did not learn of the plans until Sunday morning. Image Children waiting for food in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Saturday. Credit... Haitham Imad/EPA, via Shutterstock“It’s classic Bibi,” said Amos Harel, the military affairs analyst for the left-leaning Haaretz newspaper, referring to Mr. Netanyahu by his nickname.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Biden, —, Khan Younis, Haitham Imad, Bibi, ”, Amos Harel, ” Mr, Harel, Shani Sasson, Ms, Sasson, “, Eid, Omar Al, Yoav Gallant, Gadi, Benny Gantz, Mr, Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Ben, Waseem Mahmoud, Amir Levy, Bezalel Smotrich, Gabby Sobelman Organizations: Military, ., “, Mr, Cogat, United Nations Security Council, Agence France, International Criminal, Israel’s, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Khan, Israel, Gaza City, The Hague, Egypt, Beit Jann

☆ Benjamin Netanyahu disbands Israeli war cabinet
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Eugenia Yosef | Elliott Gotkine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has disbanded the country’s war cabinet, an Israeli official has told CNN, just over a week after opposition leader Benny Gantz withdrew from the body. Announcing his “complex and painful decision” to leave the war cabinet on June 9, Gantz said, “Netanyahu prevents us from moving forward to a real victory [in Gaza].” Eisenkot also quit the war cabinet. By dismantling the cabinet, Netanyahu avoids having to accede to that demand – or reject it. Another interpretation is that without Gantz – and Eisenkot – in it, there was no longer any point in keeping the war cabinet going. Instead, an Israeli official tells CNN, Netanyahu will in future hold smaller forums to discuss sensitive matters relating to the war with Hamas.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Netanyahu “, Netanyahu, Gantz, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben, Yoav Gallant, Ron Dermer, Gadi, ” Ben, “ Netanyahu, ” Eisenkot, hesitancy, “, ” Gantz, Ben, Gvir, Gantz – Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Finance, National Security, Defense Locations: Gaza

☆ 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

☆ Middle East Crisis U.S. Says It Is Trying to Bridge Gaps on Gaza Truce
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | Erica L. Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

But after more than eight months of war in Gaza, Israel and Hamas still appear to be far apart on an agreement. On Tuesday, Hamas issued a formal response to the cease-fire proposal to Qatari and Egyptian mediators, which officials in the Palestinian armed group said included some amendments. In the second phase, both sides would declare a permanent cease-fire, Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza, and more hostage-for-prisoner exchanges would take place. Mr. Biden described the proposal as an Israeli initiative, and Israeli officials confirmed it was approved by the country’s top leadership. Asked about the ambiguous Israeli public stance, Mr. Sullivan said he could confirm that Israel stood behind the proposal.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Biden, Mr, Sullivan, Israel, Hamas’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, Farnaz Fassihi Organizations: U.S, Hamas, United Nations Security, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, Revolutionary Guard Locations: Egypt, Qatar, Israel, Gaza, Italy, Hamas, United States

☆ Analysis: Hamas gambled on the suffering of civilians in Gaza. Netanyahu played right into it
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Nic Robertson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

He appeared to justify the deaths of Palestinian civilians as a “necessary sacrifice” according to the messages. In recent weeks, Ireland, Spain, Norway and Portugal, all frustrated Netanyahu won’t agree a peace deal, have formally recognized Palestinian statehood. The war Sinwar started has taken Palestinian suffering to the next level – and Netanyahu has played right into it. Sinwar’s power amid the war seems to be becoming part of the perceived wisdom about Gaza and the war. And if past experience is any measure, he will likely gamble that he can play mind games better than Netanyahu.

Persons: CNN — Yahya Sinwar, –, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sinwar, Israel, Netanyahu, hasn’t, they’d, they’ve, Biden, Netanyahu won’t, belligerence, Antony Blinken, “, Sinn Fein Organizations: CNN, Israel, Wall Street, ICC, Hamas, Democratic, Northern Locations: Israel, United States, Europe, Gaza, Palestinian, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Spain, Norway, Portugal, Rafah, Doha, Iran, Turkey

☆ Gantz Quits Israel Government in Dispute With Netanyahu Over Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Adam Rasgon | More About Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Israeli politician Benny Gantz, a key member of the country’s war cabinet, quit the government on Sunday over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza. The resignation dealt a blow to the appearance of unity that Mr. Netanyahu was able to marshal at the start of the conflict and exposed the divisions at the top of the Israeli leadership over the future of the war and its aftermath. Mr. Gantz, a centrist figure who last month threatened to resign unless Mr. Netanyahu addressed his concerns about how the war would end and what would follow it, said his party was leaving the emergency government “with a heavy but complete heart.” He said that Mr. Netanyahu’s leadership was “preventing us from advancing to the real victory.”The move is unlikely to force Mr. Netanyahu from office — the prime minister’s government will still hold a narrow majority in Israel’s Parliament. Mr. Gantz’s exit comes as frustration mounts over the failure to decisively topple Hamas or to bring home all the hostages held in Gaza after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on southern Israel. Mr. Netanyahu has also faced international criticism as the destruction and civilian casualties have mounted in Gaza.

Persons: Benny Gantz, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Gantz, ”, Netanyahu’s, Mr, Gantz’s Locations: Gaza, Israel’s Parliament, Israel

☆ As His Political Alliance Breaks Up, Netanyahu Faces a Battle at Home
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Isabel Kershner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Still fighting Israel’s outside enemies on multiple fronts, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu woke up on Monday to a new political battlefield at home. The departure this weekend of Benny Gantz and his centrist National Unity party from Israel’s emergency wartime government is unlikely to immediately sever Mr. Netanyahu’s grip on power. Mr. Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, another powerful member of National Unity, also left Mr. Netanyahu’s small war cabinet. Mr. Gantz accused Mr. Netanyahu of “political procrastination,” suggesting that he had been putting off critical strategic decisions to ensure his political survival. His decision to quit the wartime government ushers in a new period of political instability and left many Israelis wondering where the country goes from here.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Gantz’s, Netanyahu, Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot, Israel, Mr Organizations: National Unity Locations: Gaza, Israel, Iran, Israel’s, Lebanon

Eyewitnesses also said that they saw Israeli forces in disguise – dressed as Hamas fighters or civilians. The Israeli military denied using civilian vehicles, but declined to say whether the officers conducting the rescue were disguised as militants or dressed as Palestinian civilians. The Israeli military had previously used civilian clothing as a tactic in its operations. But soon after the mission got underway, Israeli soldiers and militants began to exchange fire, according to eyewitness accounts and statements from the Israeli military. A senior Biden administration official tells CNN that Israeli forces did not use an aid truck in the operation.

Persons: Mercedes, –, “, ” Khalil Al Tirawi, Mercedes van, — Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, Noa Argamani’s, Adm, Daniel Hagari, ”, Argamani, Arnon Zamora, Al Tirawi, Abdullah Jouda, ” Jouda, ” Hagari, Fadi Thabet, Trevor Ball, Richard Weir, ” Al Tirawi, Nidal Abdo, Zamora, Yaron Finkelman, that’s, Jake Sullivan, CNN’s Dana, ” Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Hagari, Alex Marquardt Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Nova, Israeli Security Agency, IDF, ” CNN, National Police, Hamas ’, Al, CNN CNN, Mercedes, Human Rights Watch, Biden, Southern Command, Union, Sheba Medical, Ichilov Locations: Nuseirat, Gaza, Israeli, Jabalia, Al Jazeera, Argamani, United States, Israel, U.S, “ State, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv

☆ Hostage rescue operation and Israeli political turmoil sharpen Biden’s damaging dilemma
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —President Joe Biden’s power to engineer a swift abatement of the war between Israel and Hamas just suffered two serious new blows. • The rescue mission also emphasizes the disparity in the death toll between Palestinians and Israelis in the conflict. • The absence of Gantz may also create an even greater obstacle to approval of any peace deal between Israel and Hamas. • The fracturing of the Israeli war cabinet and Gantz’s call for elections could have unpredictable consequences in Israel amid rising protests against Netanyahu. That is tragic.”But the national security adviser’s comments will do nothing to ease Biden’s domestic political exposure over the war.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Benny Gantz, Biden, •, estrange Biden, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Gantz, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Jake Sullivan, Dana Bash, Sullivan, “, Israel, ” Sullivan, “ Innocent, Mike Johnson, Sen, Tom Cotton, Cotton, ”, Biden Gantz, ” Gantz, doesn’t, Aaron David Miller, comport, ” Miller, Joe Biden, ” Biden, you’ve, ” Richard Haass, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Haass Organizations: CNN, Israel, Biden, Likud, Trump, Union, Eiffel, Republicans, Democratic National Convention, Fox News, Arkansas Republican, The New York Times, Washington Post, ” Gaza’s Ministry of Health, IDF, ” CNN, ”, Saudis, United, Palestinian Authority, Foreign Relations Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Michigan, Washington, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, France, “ State, American, Chicago, America, Netanyahu, East, United Arab Emirates

☆ Israeli minister Benny Gantz resigns from war cabinet in blow to Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz has resigned from Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, delivering a blow to the prime minister who has been celebrating the rare rescue of hostages held in Gaza. Israeli Minister Benny Gantz addresses the media after announcing his resignation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency government on June 9, 2024. Besides the prime minister, the only other remaining member of the emergency government with decision-making power is Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, also from Likud. Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty ImagesThe United States has repeatedly called on the prime minister to present a tangible post-war plan for Gaza. “The more identical his positions are to those of the prime minister, the more he’ll lose on both sides.

Persons: Benny Gantz, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, “ Netanyahu, ” Gantz, ”, Gantz –, –, Netanyahu, hesitancy, “, Gantz, Benjamin, Nir Elias, Benny Gantz –, Don’t, ” Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Gantz ’, Eyad Baba, Joe Biden, ” Alon Pinkas, Pinkas, ” Pinkas, centrists Organizations: CNN, Likud, Israeli Special Forces, Getty, Israel’s Haaretz Locations: Gaza, Israel’s, Israel, AFP, States, Saudi Arabia, Israeli

☆ Analysis: Why the departure of Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz does – and doesn’t – matter
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Elliott Gotkine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Benny Gantz is back where he was at the start of the war Hamas launched on October 7: an ex-defence minister, ex chief of staff – and Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu’s chief political rival. Perhaps the most important impact of Gantz’s departure is the one it won’t have: it won’t cause the government to collapse. “Benny Gantz is in a fix,” former Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller told CNN on Sunday before Gantz’s resignation. Nor for that matter is the third member of the war cabinet, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. With Gantz gone, that seems less likely – as does the likelihood of a hostage deal being consummated any time soon.

Persons: Benny Gantz, Benjamin, Bibi, Netanyahu didn’t, he’d, ” Gantz, “ Netanyahu, “ Benny Gantz, Aaron David Miller, Gantz’s, “, ” That’s, Netanyahu, Joe Biden’s –, Israel’s, Gantz, Miller, Deir, Abed Rahim Khatib, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Gantz wouldn’t Organizations: CNN, Hamas, “, Anadolu, Getty Locations: Gaza, Israel, East

Palestinians mourn their relatives who were killed by an Israeli bombardment at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, on June 8. Ismael Abu Dayyah/APThe Israeli military rescued four hostages held in central Gaza on Saturday in a major daytime operation. The strip’s government media office said at least 210 Palestinians were killed and more than 400 injured by the Israeli bombardment as it carried out the hostage rescue operation. Over 200 Palestinians dead:At least 210 people have been killed and more than 400 injured as a result of the Israeli operation, the enclave’s government media office said. IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the hostages had been locked in rooms of apartments in multistory civilian buildings.

Persons: Ismael Abu Dayyah, Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, Balah, Israel, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Benjamin Netanyahu, Argamani, that’s, Joe Biden, ”, Gantz postpones, Benny Gantz, Netanyahu, Gantz Organizations: Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Israeli, Israel Defense Forces, Nova, CNN, Al, Families, Sheba Hospital, Ichilov, White Locations: Al, Aqsa, Deir al, Gaza, Nuseirat, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, American, Israel

☆ Israel rescues four hostages in operation Gazan officials say killed more than 200
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Niamh Kennedy | Benjamin Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —The Israeli military rescued four hostages in a special operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza, that Gazan authorities said killed 236 people and injured more than 400 others. An Israeli policeman from a special counter-terrorism unit was killed in Saturday’s rescue operation, according to Israeli police. At least 236 people have been killed as a result of the rescue operation and more than 400 injured, hospital officials in Gaza said Saturday. The killed and wounded were taken to two hospitals in Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. An Israeli military spokesperson put the number of casualties from the operation at “under 100,” and had no information on how many of those were civilians.

Persons: Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, ’, Dr Marwan Abu Nasser, Balah, Daniel Hagari, Argamani, Hagari, ” Hagari, Nidal Abdo, ”, Abu Abdallah, “, Ismail Haniyeh, ” Abu Obaida, Al, Ori Megidish, Fernando Marman, Louis Har, Isaac Herzog, Avinatan, Liora Argamani, Noa, Joe Biden, Argamani’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, – Almog Meir Jan, Yehuda, – Shlomi Ziv, Ziv, Miren, – Andrey Kozlov, ” Orit Meir, ” Meir, Jennifer Master, ” Yaakov Argamani, ” Rozi Ziv Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Nova, HaShomer Medical Center, Awda, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Aqsa, Palestinian, Hamas, IDF, Brigades, Presidential Press, Reuters, Ichilov, Israeli Locations: Gaza, Nuseirat, ’ Tel, Al, Aqsa, Deir Al, Deir al, Israeli, “, Israel, Rafah, Chinese, Tel Aviv, Russian

☆ Why Israel-Hezbollah tensions risk boiling over now
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In Lebanon, Hezbollah is officially considered a “resistance” group tasked with confronting Israel, which Beirut classifies as an enemy state. Since then, the two sides have traded fire sporadically, but tensions boiled over in 2006 when Israel went to war in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers. More than 1,000 Lebanese were killed in that conflict, mostly civilians, as well as 49 Israeli civilians and 121 soldiers. The military capability of the Lebanese group has grown since 2006, when it relied largely on inaccurate Soviet-era Katyusha rockets. Hezbollah has fired 35 kilometers into Israel, while Israel has targeted areas of Lebanon more than 120 kilometers north.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, Rina Castelnuovo, Hassan Nasrallah, Heiko Wimmen, ”, Ramot Naftali, Peter Lerner, ” Amal Saad, ” Saad, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Ronni, Netanyahu, Bezalel Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Cohen, ” Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s, Al, ” Qassem, Jack Guez, Itamar Ben Gvir, Yair Lapid, ” Lapid, Matthew Miller, Biden, “, ” Shaked, Iran – Organizations: CNN, Hezbollah, Lebanese, Crisis, Wednesday, Israel Defense Forces, Cardiff University, Truman Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, Holocaust, Reuters, Crisis Group, Getty, Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, National, State Department Locations: CNN — Israel, Lebanese Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Beirut, Palestinian, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Brussels, Israeli, Cross, Jerusalem, Kiryat Shmona, Lebanese, Al Jazeera, AFP, United States, Iran

☆ Tensions ramp up on Israel-Lebanon border as IDF warns decision is approaching on fresh offensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | Mike Schwartz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Israel attributed the blaze to rocket fire from southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah said it had launched a “swarm of drones” at Israeli military sites. On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the northern city of Kiryat Shmona near the Lebanese border, saying that Israel is prepared for “very intense action” in the north. Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been trading fire since the start of Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza in October. In April, the IDF said it is “preparing to move from defense to attack,” referring to operations on the northern border. Ten Israeli civilians and 18 soldiers have also been killed on the border, the Israeli military said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Staff Herzi Halevi, ” Halevi, Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s, Al, Kiryat Shmona, ” Amos Harel, of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Benny Gantz, Jack Guez, Gantz, that’s, ” Harel Organizations: Abu Dhabi CNN, Hezbollah, Israel Defense Forces, Staff, Lebanese, Gaza, GPO, IDF, Reuters, Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, CNN, Haaretz, of National Security, “, ”, Getty, Israel Locations: Jerusalem, Abu Dhabi, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Kiryat Shmona, Lebanese, “, Gaza, Al Jazeera, Israeli, Alma, Golan, Syria, AFP, An Iran, East, United States

☆ Biden hints Netanyahu is dragging out Gaza war for political survival
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“Whether he would change his position or not, it’s hard to say, but it has not been helpful,” Biden said. Speaking on Tuesday after the interview was published, Biden again acknowledged the pressures facing Netanyahu when asked if the prime minister was “playing politics” with the war in Gaza. Relations between Biden and Netanyahu have become strained in recent months as the war drags on. The ICC is something that we don’t, we don’t recognize,” Biden said when asked whether he believed Israel had committed war crimes in Gaza. In the interview, Biden declined to place blame directly on Netanyahu for any security failings.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, ”, Netanyahu, ” Biden, Netanyahu’s, “ Bibi, Biden, John Kirby, Biden’s, “, we’ll, Bibi Netanyahu, ” Kirby, they’ve, ” CNN’s Donald Judd Organizations: Washington CNN, White, National Security, International Criminal, ICC Locations: Gaza, Washington, Israeli, Israel

☆ Netanyahu may be forced to choose between his government’s survival and a ceasefire deal – unless Hamas rescues him
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Jerusalem CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may soon be forced to choose: Agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas or keep his government in power. “I think that Bibi is cornered now,” said Aviv Bushinsky, a former adviser to Netanyahu, using the prime minister’s nickname. While Biden squarely framed the proposal as a way to end the war, Netanyahu is insisting Israel will not end the war until and unless Hamas is eliminated. His efforts to convince the far-right ministers in order to avoid choosing between a ceasefire deal and the survival of his government have so far fallen flat. Netanyahu is confronting the choice between his government’s survival and a hostage deal at a time when his political fortunes have begun to improve.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Hamas’s, ”, Joe Biden, – Netanyahu, Bibi, Aviv, Biden, Israel, Itamar Ben Gvir, Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich don’t, Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, Amir Levy, ” Biden, I’ve, Yahya Sinwar Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Israeli, Hamas, National, Unity, Likud, Israel’s, Monday Locations: Jerusalem, Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza

☆ Timing for Netanyahu address to Congress uncertain after floated date is ruled out
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A date for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress remains uncertain after one date initially floated was ruled out because it fell on a Jewish holiday. A US congressional leadership aide initially said Monday that Netanyahu was scheduled to speak on June 13, which falls on Shavuot. Scheduling the speech while Biden is on another continent would skirt that question, though with the timing still uncertain, a meeting could take place. But the New York Democrat nonetheless signed on to the letter inviting the prime minister to speak to Congress. “We’re comfortable that it represents fairly and honestly an Israeli proposal – a very forward-leaning Israeli proposal, and we’re confident that Hamas needs to take it,” he said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Chuck Schumer, “, ”, Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, Republican, Democratic, White, New York Democrat, Foreign Affairs, Defense, National Security Locations: Shavuot, Italy, Washington, Puglia, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel, of Israel, Israeli

☆ Biden’s Announcement Puts Netanyahu on the Spot
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | Mike Ives | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

But he has been put on the spot this weekend by President Biden’s announcement outlining a proposal for a truce. Mr. Netanyahu, a conservative, has long juggled competing personal, political and national interests. Now, analysts say, it is crunch time for Mr. Netanyahu, or Bibi, as he is popularly known. Mr. Biden “booted Netanyahu out of the closet of ambiguity and presented Netanyahu’s proposal himself,” Ben Caspit, a biographer and longtime critic of Mr. Netanyahu, wrote in Sunday’s Maariv, a Hebrew daily. Instead, they were conditional and open to interpretation — seemingly designed to leave Mr. Netanyahu’s options open.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Biden’s, Mr, Netanyahu, Biden, Bibi, Biden “, ” Ben Caspit, Sunday’s, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben, Gvir, —, Netanyahu’s, Benny Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot, Ophir Falk, Falk, “, ” Organizations: American, Qatari, Mr, Hamas, National Unity, Britain’s Sunday Times Locations: Gaza, Israel, Sunday’s Maariv

☆ Israel-Gaza War: Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | Mike Ives | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Two Israeli officials confirmed that Mr. Biden’s proposal matched an Israeli cease-fire proposal that had been greenlit by Israel’s war cabinet. “Put your money where your mouth is.”But at home, Mr. Netanyahu faces a host of competing pressures. Yair Lapid, the leader of Israel’s parliamentary opposition, also urged Mr. Netanyahu to take the deal as outlined by Mr. Biden. He repeated that his party would back Mr. Netanyahu’s government if hard-liners like Mr. Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, left over a hostage release deal. Political analysts said Mr. Netanyahu has tried to avoid that scenario, as it would make him dependent on some of his harshest critics.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, Biden’s, ” Mr, Mr, — Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Ben, ”, “ Biden, ‘, Uzi Arad, “, Cheriss, Gil Dickmann, Carmel Gat, Kibbutz, Dickmann, Benny Gantz, Gantz, Yair Lapid, Mr . Biden Organizations: Hamas, ”, Gaza Health Ministry, Palestinian, White, ., The New York Times, Kibbutz Be’eri, Mr Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv

☆ Two far-right Israeli ministers threaten to topple the government if it accepts Biden peace plan
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Eugenia Yosef | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Two far-right Israeli ministers have threatened to resign and bring down the governing coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he accepts a peace proposal laid out by US President Joe Biden. “It’s time for this war to end,” he said, a clear indication that – as far as he is concerned – Israel’s war goals have been met. But the Israel government’s two most prominent far-right members, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, made it explicitly clear they reject an immediate ceasefire. The plan has been widely welcomed, with the UN and other international powers urging Israel and Hamas to accept it. Netanyahu’s government is facing growing international calls to end the war in Gaza as the conflict approaches its ninth month.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, “, ”, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir, Smotrich, Netanyahu, ” Smotrich, Ben Gvir, Otzma, Israel, ” Netanyahu, Yair Lapid Organizations: CNN, White, Hamas, Finance, National Security, ” National Security, UN, Saturday Locations: Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, ”

☆ Opinion | Yoav Gallant Has Shown Defiance. Will He Again?
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Dahlia Scheindlin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Last month, Yoav Gallant told Israelis that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was leading the nation astray. In a government known for ironclad loyalty to the prime minister, and in the heightened intensity of war, Mr. Gallant’s statement made headlines. In March 2023, Mr. Gallant became the most prominent member of the governing coalition to publicly call for a halt to Mr. Netanyahu’s attempt to undermine the judiciary, an effort that he said was harming the country’s security. When Mr. Netanyahu tried to fire him, hundreds of thousands of protesting Israelis brought the country to a standstill, and Mr. Gallant became an instant symbol of a bulwark against what the protesters viewed as an autocratic putsch. At both these moments, liberal Israelis have grasped at the possibility that Mr. Gallant could be a lifeline out of national perdition.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr, Gallant, ”, Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, Israel unrecognizably Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ What seven more months of war would mean for Palestinians, Israelis and the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Abbas Al Lawati | Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Israel has warned that its war in Gaza could extend until the end of the year. Prolonging the war could have catastrophic consequences for Palestinians in the already ravaged territory and significant repercussions for Israel and beyond, experts said. “And currently Hamas doesn’t seem to be ready to release them.”Impact on Israel’s economyThe war hit Israel’s economy hard in the immediate aftermath of October 7. As of January, the Israeli military was spending $272 million per day on the war, according to the Israeli news site Ynet. Despite these efforts, the war persists, civilian casualties rise and famine spreads in Gaza, intensifying pressure from some of his electorate.

Persons: CNN — Israel, Tzachi Hanegbi, ”, Joe Biden, “, Assaf Orion, Juliette Touma, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Yohanan Plesner, Plesner, Israel, Malcolm Shaw, Yaron Wax, Johanna Geron, INSS, Amir Levy, Orion, Daniel Hagari, ” Plesner, Biden Organizations: CNN, National, Institute for National Security Studies, Israel Defense Forces, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, Johns Hopkins Center, Humanitarian Health, Israel, United Nations, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Israeli, Israel Democracy Institute, International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice, United, P Global, Moody’s, Service, Troops, American, West Bank Locations: Gaza, Israel, Tel Aviv, Rafah, Europe, Palestinian, British, The Hague, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Egypt, United Arab Emirates

☆ After Biden’s Push for Truce, Netanyahu Calls Israel’s War Plans Unchanged
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In his statement, Mr. Netanyahu did not explicitly endorse or reject a proposed cease-fire plan that Mr. Biden had laid out in an unusually detailed address on Friday. Two Israeli officials confirmed that Mr. Biden’s proposal matched an Israeli cease-fire proposal that had been greenlit by Israel’s war cabinet. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations. But the timing of Mr. Netanyahu’s remarks, coming first thing the next morning, seemed to put the brakes on Mr. Biden’s hopes for a speedy resolution to the war, which has claimed the lives of more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. “Israel’s conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu’s office said in the statement released on Saturday morning.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, Biden’s, ” Mr Organizations: Hamas, ”, Gaza Health Ministry Locations: Israel, Gaza

☆ 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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