New Delhi: On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and they discussed ways to deepen bilateral strategic cooperation in a number of different areas. It was the first phone conversation between Modi and Netanyahu after the veteran Israeli leader was sworn in as the prime minister for a sixth term around two weeks back.
"Was a pleasure to speak with my good friend,@netanyahu. Congratulated him for his impressive election win and for becoming Prime Minister for a record sixth time. Delighted that we will have another chance to advance the India-Israel Strategic Partnership together," Modi tweeted.
According to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office, Modi extended an invitation to Netanyahu to visit India at an early date during their discussions.—Inputs From Agencies

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and they discussed ways to deepen bilateral strategic cooperation in a number of different areas

PM Modi speaks to Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu

Tel Aviv (Israel): People in their thousands took to the streets in Tel Aviv on Saturday night against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the changes his government has proposed to the Israeli judicial system, CNN reported.
Attendees carried placards comparing Netanyahu to Russian President Vladimir Putin and claiming that Israel was resembling semi-democratic Hungary and theocratic Iran. The protesters thronged central Tel Aviv's HaBima square and surrounded streets despite heavy rains, CNN reported, citing the local Israeli media. Several people also took to the streets in Jerusalem for similar protests.
The proposed amendments, according to Esther Hayut, president of Israel's Supreme Court, are "an uncontrolled attack on the legal system" and "intended to force a deadly blow on the independence of the judicial system."
Notably, the reforms introduced last week by Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin would aim to reform Supreme Court nominees through a review committee and give parliament the authority to reject Supreme Court verdicts. Protesters told CNN that they came out of concern for Israel's future and to send a message to Netanyahu that the public would not tolerate what they regard as the deconstruction of Israeli democracy.
Recently, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's new far-right Minister of National Security ordered the police to remove Palestinian flags from public areas because they constitute 'terrorism', Al Jazeera reported. Following a significant anti-government demonstration in Tel Aviv where some protesters carried Palestinian flags, Ben-Gvir issued his orders. Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in as PM on December 29, hoping to deliver political stability after five general elections since 2019.
Netanyahu, 73, took the oath after Israel's parliament, Knesset, passed a vote of confidence in his new government. Out of the 120 members, 63 voted in favour of the new government, The Times of Israel had reported earlier. This is the sixth government led by Netanyahu, who remains the country's longest-serving PM. The new government took shape following an alliance of the Likud Party with far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties. The government would be Netanyahu and the "country's most hardline to date", the report had claimed. —ANI

People in their thousands took to the streets in Tel Aviv on Saturday night against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the changes his government has proposed to the Israeli judicial system, CNN reported.

Over 80,000 People Turn Out For Protests Against Netanyahu Govt

Haifa (Israel): On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will join a ceremony to mark the Adani Group's successful entry into Israel through its acquisition of the Haifa port, which is being called a "strategic transaction" and is likely the largest foreign investment in this country in any field.
In July of last year, a group led by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) and including the Israeli firm Gadot Group won the bid to privatise the Port of Haifa for a whopping USD 1.18 billion.
It finalised the purchase on January 11 of this year, and improvement work at the port has been ongoing ever since. In this consortium, the Indian member owns 70% and the local member owns 30%.—Inputs from Agencies

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will join a ceremony to mark the Adani Group's successful entry into Israel through its acquisition of the Haifa port, which is being called a "strategic transaction" and is likely the largest foreign investment in this country in any field.

PM Netanyahu would attend Adani Group's entry into Israel through Haifa port acquisition

Tel Aviv (Israel): Israel's political crisis escalated on Monday as the country's largest trade union announced a "historic" strike shutting down transportation, universities, restaurants and retailers in protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned judicial overhaul, CNN reported.
"The Histadrut, Israel's largest labour union, instructed all government employees to go on strike, including Israel's diplomatic missions around the world. The embassy of Israel will be closed today until further notice and no consular services will be provided," Israel's embassy in India said in a statement.
The strikes were announced following Netanyahu's decision on Sunday to fire his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant who became the first member of the cabinet to call for a pause in the reforms.
An Israeli diplomat has confirmed that the Embassy of Israel worldwide will remain closed until further notice and that no consular services will be provided.
The letter, citing a Histadrut labour federation-called statewide strike in Israel, stated that only emergency services will be provided by the Foreign Ministry both domestically and overseas.
Notably, the Knesset (Parliament of Israel) recently proposed a series of judicial reforms. Israelis believe that the new changes will curb the power of the country's judicial system to question lawmakers. The reforms empower the Knesset to make judicial appointments at will. Citizens believe that the new changes are limiting the power of the Israeli Judicial System. Thousands are protesting against the reforms in the country.
Under the current system, the Supreme Court (SC) of Israel has the power to strike down legislation if they are in violation of the basic laws of the country.
Israel President Issac Herzog on Monday morning called on members of the governing coalition to immediately halt its planned overhaul of the country's judiciary after the country witnessed a night of major protests, reported Jerusalem Post.
"For the sake of the unity of the people of Israel, for the sake of responsibility, I am calling on you to stop legislation immediately. I turn to all the party leaders in the Knesset, coalition and opposition as one, put the citizens of the nation above all else and behave responsibly and bravely without further delay," Herzog said.
Major protests continued in the city of Tel Aviv throughout Sunday night after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defence Minister Yoav Gallant who in a speech on Saturday night expressed his opposition to the legislation.
All takeoffs from Israel's main airport, Ben Gurion Tel Aviv, were halted for several hours because of the strike. Workers at the country's largest port in Haifa stopped working, some universities were shuttered and some of the country's best-known retailers, including McDonald's and the shopping mall chain Azrieli Group, announced closures, CNN reported.
Massive spontaneous protests took over the Israeli city of Tel Aviv late Sunday night in response to the Gallant news, with people waving Israeli flags and chanting "democracy." Protesters lit several fires on the main highway in the city and blocked number of streets and bridges, including the Ayalon Highway, it added.
Netanyahu met with coalition party leaders on Monday morning in order to decide whether or not to push forwards with the controversial bill to remake the Judicial Appointments Committee, which was passed in the Knesset Constitution Committee this morning and is now ready to be brought to the Knesset plenum for its second and third reading, reported Jerusalem Post.
National Security Minister and Otmza Yehudit leader MK Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened today to quit the government if the judicial reform legislation freezes, according to reports by KAN and Channel 12 News.
Ben-Gvir was heard shouting from within the meeting that the government should not back down. If Ben-Gvir leaves the government and quits the coalition, the coalition will no longer have a majority and the government will likely fall.
Meanwhile, widespread strikes were announced in Israel to protest judicial reform. The country's Ben-Gurion Airport has banned flights leaving the airport until further notice and the Workers' Union too have announced a strike, reported Jerusalem Post.
The announcement of grounded flights was made by Israel's Airport Authority Committee Chairman Pinhas Idan. As for incoming flights, only flights already in the sky will be allowed to land.
Passengers continued the check-in process after the announcement without knowing if their flights would actually depart. The flight board in the airport showed flights later on the day still intending on leaving but they won't necessarily leave, reported Jerusalem Post.
A member of the Workers' Union said that if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stops the judicial reform legislation, flights will return to functioning properly.
The strikes are also being held in universities, hospitals and other sectors.
Netanyahu is believed to still be holed up in his office, having reportedly spent the past several hours in various "security and legal" consultations with key ministers and advisers, notably including Justice Minister Yariv Levin.
He can probably hear the calls for him to resign, perhaps even the youngsters' singing derisively that he's "messing with the wrong generation," The Times of Israel reported.
Netanyahu's government was sworn in at the end of December. By January 4, the great judicial reform was announced by Justice Minister Yariv Levin. The opposition, everyone understood, would rail and rage; old elites watching their displacement would not go quietly into the night. But in the end, the frustration of three decades of judicial overreach now hardened into a grim determination, would see the coalition through, reported The Times of Israel. —ANI

Israel's political crisis escalated on Monday as the country's largest trade union announced a "historic" strike shutting down transportation, universities, restaurants and retailers in protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned judicial overhaul, CNN reported.

Israeli Missions On Worldwide Strike Against PM Netanyahu's Judicial Overhaul

New York (The Hawk): The brief indirect exchange of statements between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu, in connection with the latter’s blind determination to execute a de facto coup d’état under the guise of judicial reforms, demonstrates how dangerously delusional Netanyahu has become. For Netanyahu to forget even for a brief moment how critical the US is to Israel’s very survival shows how deranged he has become and why he poses the real danger to Israel.
In response to President Biden, who said, “Like many strong supporters of Israel, I’m very concerned. I’m concerned that they get this straight. They cannot continue down this road,” and that Netanyahu won’t be invited to the White House “in the near term,” Netanyahu, who couldn’t wait until the morning to respond, issued an English-language statement at nearly 1am local time. If the word chutzpah (roughly translated to ‘grotesque audacity’) means anything, it defines Netanyahu himself and his defiant response: “Israel is a sovereign country which makes its decisions by the will of its people and not based on pressures from abroad, including from the best of friends.”
If there is any Israeli politician who has characterized US-Israel relations in such a completely irresponsible manner, it is Netanyahu, who seems to have reached a point of despair by being forced to postpone any overhauling of the judiciary. He has asked the US not to interfere in Israel’s domestic affairs; so be it.
From now on the US should not veto any future resolutions in the United Nations that condemn Israel for a variety of transgressions. The US should not block the Palestinians from suing Israel at the International Criminal Court for its egregious human rights violations against the Palestinians. The US should not continue to provide Israel military aid to the tune of $3.8 billion per year. The US should not guarantee Israel’s national security and deter any threats posed by Israel’s enemies. Yes, the US should simply leave Israel to its own devices, and let it sink or swim.
There is no greater friend of Israel than Joe Biden, and no US president who has been more committed to Israel’s national security than Biden. For any Likud member to suggest that ‘we are a sovereign country, and we can protect ourselves and nobody should tell us what to do,’ as many members of the Netanyahu coalition have said, they should look at themselves in the mirror and see how hypocritical, idiotic, and completely delusional they are.
It’s time for the Israelis to rise up—yes, rise up —as admirably as they have against Netanyahu’s sinister scheme to overtake the judiciary, again and again to force him out of power and spare Israel from his ominously dire behavior. There is no way to make this clearer. Time is overdue for the Netanyahu government to realize that its approach to domestic policies that have torn the country apart and its discord with Israel’s closest ally, the United States, is exactly what Israel’s enemies hope and wish for.
In his speech during the Summit for Democracy, Netanyahu stated that US-Israel relations remain “unshakable.” That may be so, but not as long as he is in power. Netanyahu is simply unfit to be prime minister of Israel. He is a liar, a schemer and a fraud. If he has an ounce of integrity left in him, he should resign and save the country instead of stopping short of nothing, however evil, to save his skin.

 The brief indirect exchange of statements between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu, in connection with the latter’s blind determination to execute a de facto coup d’état under the guise of judicial reforms, 

Netanyahu’s Reality Check Is Overdue

Dr. Alon Ben-Meir*
New York (The Hawk): Repulsive statements recently made by Israel’s finance minister demonstrate how corrupt and irresponsible the Netanyahu government is and the damage that it has inflicted on Israel. This damage will endure as long as this extremist nationalist and messianic government remains in power. The recent reprehensible statement made by Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, that the Palestinian village of Huwara be “wiped out,” is beyond contempt. And just a week later he stated that there no such a thing as the Palestinian people, which rightfully evoked widespread international condemnation. Smotrich’s extremely chilling statements will not only severely undermine the normalization process between Israel and the Arab states who are at peace with Israel, but will also prevent any other Arab countries from normalizing relations with Israel as long as the Netanyahu government is in power. Moreover, such ugly utterances will make the Israeli-Palestinian conflict front and center, which Israel, and especially this fanatic government, wanted to sidestep as it pretends that the occupation is normal and that the 75-year-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict is of no consequence. To understand the gravity of what Smotrich, the leader of the ultranationalist Religious Zionist Party, said, it is important to quote him verbatim. In the first instance, he stated that “I think the village of Huwara needs to be wiped out. I think the state of Israel should do it,” which evoked unprecedented international outcry. Instead of condemning him in the strongest terms, Prime Minister Netanyahu added insult to injury by characterizing Smotrich’s shocking declaration, in a tweet four days later, as “inappropriate.” Inappropriate? Stating that Israel should wipe out a whole Palestinian village with nearly 6,000 men, women, and children is just inappropriate? But then Netanyahu thanked his fascist minister for retracting his statement instead of reprimanding him. How absurd and disgusting. In Paris, only a week later, Smotrich made his second most outrageous assertion, stating: “There is no such thing as a Palestinian people,” arguing: “Who was the first Palestinian king? What language do the Palestinians have? Was there ever a Palestinian currency? Is there a Palestinian history or culture? Nothing.” Whereas this statement was outlandish, what has infuriated Jordan in particular and other Arab states beyond words is that the podium where he was standing at was decorated with a variation of the Israeli flag showing an enlarged map of Israel that comprised the West Bank, Gaza, and most of Jordan. The incensed Jordanian foreign ministry “warned of the seriousness of the continuation of these extremist actions issued by the same minister…” adding that Smotrich’s actions violated the Jordan-Israel peace treaty. Although the Israeli foreign ministry’s response that Israel is “committed to the 1994 peace agreement with Jordan and recognizes the territorial integrity of Jordan” was obviously necessary, the stain that was left behind will linger as long as Netanyahu is in power. Indeed, shouldn’t Netanyahu have been aware of his lunatic minister’s long-held views of disdain towards Palestinians and denial of their right to a state? This is a minister who Netanyahu also put in charge, no less, of the Israeli unit that controls border crossings and permits for Palestinians. This is even more acutely critical when it comes to Jordan, which is extremely sensitive to any suggestion that Jordan is Palestine, or even worse that Jordan is an integral part of greater Israel, as many extremist Israeli nationalists would like it to be. To claim that the abominable flag was just an ornament, as some Israeli officials have tried to do, only smacks the world in the face with the disingenuousness and dishonesty of Netanyahu and his dodgy clan. And what about the international community’s reactions to this loose cannon minister who caused irreparable damage to Israel’s standing in the eyes of its friends and allies? Scores of countries, including the US, Britain, Russia, Turkey, Canada, and Switzerland, along with the UAE, Egypt, Bahrin, the Palestinian Authority, and the UN, have expressed their deep revulsion. They characterized Smotrich’s unrestrained statements as being irresponsible, repugnant, unacceptable, intolerable, dangerous, reckless, inflammatory, contradicting moral and human values, inciting, provocative, shameful, and completely unhelpful. The waste that has spewed from Smotrich’s mouth will have serious repercussions on Israel’s relations with the Arab states on a number of fronts that cannot be mitigated as long as Netanyahu and his culprits are in power, as no Arab state will trust what this government will do or say next. The Netanyahu government has lost its credibility, and no assurances will assuage the Arab states’ concerns. To begin with, Netanyahu’s dream of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia will not be realized, not only because the Saudis do not trust him but also because they know perfectly well where he stands on the Palestinian issue. Netanyahu vowed time and again that there will be no Palestinian state under his watch. I have been told on a number of occasions by top Saudi officials that regardless of Riyadh’s tacit cooperation with Israel, which includes intelligence sharing, the sale of Israeli technology, and security collaboration, the kingdom will not normalize relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia remains committed to the Arab Peace Initiative that it introduced in 2002, which conditioned the establishment of Arab-Israeli peace to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution. Moreover, having just resumed diplomatic relations with Iran, the Saudis no longer see Iran’s regional ambition and nuclear program as an imminent threat.    Although the Saudis still want to continue to cooperate with Israel on regional security, the degree of cooperation will not be, over time, as pivotal as it has been when Iran was considered Saudi Arabia’s staunch adversary, especially if the rapprochement between the two countries endures. For Netanyahu, the Saudi move towards Iran was nothing but a real slap in the face, mainly because Tehran is Israel’s arch enemy. The debacle over Smotrich’s ill-fated statements did nothing but sour Saudi-Israeli tacit bilateral relations and it will be out of Netanyahu’s reach to mend.  Second, other than the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, which normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, there is no other Arab country that has signaled its readiness to normalize relations with Israel. If Oman and Qatar were remotely contemplating such a move, it is no longer on the table at this particular juncture. The Arab states view Smotrich’s terrible statements about the Palestinians as a reflection of the position of the Netanyahu government, which foreclosed completely any prospect of other Arab states normalizing relations with Israel.  Third, given the Netanyahu government’s overall new policy in connection with the Israeli settlements, the likelihood of further annexation of Palestinian territories raised serious concerns among the Arab states about the government’s intentions and true objectives. The UAE, which has moved rapidly to increase its commercial ties with Israel, including the import of military hardware, technology, intelligence sharing, and trade, cancelled Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to the Emirates, citing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Temple Mount.  The Emirates decided to freeze its purchase of military equipment to send a clear message about its profound displeasure with the Netanyahu government. UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan conveyed to Israel that “As long as we can’t be certain that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a government that he controls, we can’t cooperate.” The reaction to the new developments in Israel is not limited to the UAE alone; other Arab states who have normalized relations with Israel are now engaged in reassessing their ties and are unlikely to resume business as usual until there is a new Israeli government they can trust.  Finally, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was sidestepped by some of the Gulf and other Arab states, and they normalized relations with Israel due to their overriding geostrategic interests and because they have become, to some degree, weary of the Palestinians’ disunity and intransigence. The recent mishaps by the Israeli government have put the Palestinian conflict back at center stage. As a result, any future normalization of relations with Israel by any other Arab country and the expansion of relations with the current government will more than likely be tied directly to progress made by Israel on the Palestinian front.  This, in my view, will accelerate the demise of the Netanyahu government. The two most extremist ministers, Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, who are ravenous for Palestinian blood, will not accept any peaceful overture toward the Palestinians, especially now following Netanyahu’s defeat in his efforts to subordinate Israel’s judiciary to politicians’ whims, of which these two renegades are the staunchest supporters.  In the final analysis, what has happened in Israel in recent days may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. The Israelis may well be awakened to the reality that what they need now is a new generation of leaders who have a vision, but who are also practical and understand that Israel’s future security and well-being depends on developing solid and progressive relationships with the Arab states based on genuine mutual trust.  To achieve that, Israel must spare no efforts to end the conflict with the Palestinians based on a two-state solution, which will be the key to stability and a comprehensive Arab-Israel peace.
*Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He taught courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies for over 20 years.

Repulsive statements recently made by Israel’s finance minister demonstrate how corrupt and irresponsible the Netanyahu government

Netanyahu’s Dismal Failure To Guard Israel-Arab Relations

New York (The Hawk): Repulsive statements recently made by Israel’s finance minister demonstrate how corrupt and irresponsible the Netanyahu government is and the damage that it has inflicted on Israel. This damage will endure as long as this extremist nationalist and messianic government remains in power. The recent reprehensible statement made by Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, that the Palestinian village of Huwara be “wiped out,” is beyond contempt. And just a week later he stated that there no such a thing as the Palestinian people, which rightfully evoked widespread international condemnation. Smotrich’s extremely chilling statements will not only severely undermine the normalization process between Israel and the Arab states who are at peace with Israel, but will also prevent any other Arab countries from normalizing relations with Israel as long as the Netanyahu government is in power. Moreover, such ugly utterances will make the Israeli-Palestinian conflict front and center, which Israel, and especially this fanatic government, wanted to sidestep as it pretends that the occupation is normal and that the 75-year-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict is of no consequence. To understand the gravity of what Smotrich, the leader of the ultranationalist Religious Zionist Party, said, it is important to quote him verbatim. In the first instance, he stated that “I think the village of Huwara needs to be wiped out. I think the state of Israel should do it,” which evoked unprecedented international outcry. Instead of condemning him in the strongest terms, Prime Minister Netanyahu added insult to injury by characterizing Smotrich’s shocking declaration, in a tweet four days later, as “inappropriate.” Inappropriate? Stating that Israel should wipe out a whole Palestinian village with nearly 6,000 men, women, and children is just inappropriate? But then Netanyahu thanked his fascist minister for retracting his statement instead of reprimanding him. How absurd and disgusting. In Paris, only a week later, Smotrich made his second most outrageous assertion, stating: “There is no such thing as a Palestinian people,” arguing: “Who was the first Palestinian king? What language do the Palestinians have? Was there ever a Palestinian currency? Is there a Palestinian history or culture? Nothing.” Whereas this statement was outlandish, what has infuriated Jordan in particular and other Arab states beyond words is that the podium where he was standing at was decorated with a variation of the Israeli flag showing an enlarged map of Israel that comprised the West Bank, Gaza, and most of Jordan. The incensed Jordanian foreign ministry “warned of the seriousness of the continuation of these extremist actions issued by the same minister…” adding that Smotrich’s actions violated the Jordan-Israel peace treaty. Although the Israeli foreign ministry’s response that Israel is “committed to the 1994 peace agreement with Jordan and recognizes the territorial integrity of Jordan” was obviously necessary, the stain that was left behind will linger as long as Netanyahu is in power. Indeed, shouldn’t Netanyahu have been aware of his lunatic minister’s long-held views of disdain towards Palestinians and denial of their right to a state? This is a minister who Netanyahu also put in charge, no less, of the Israeli unit that controls border crossings and permits for Palestinians. This is even more acutely critical when it comes to Jordan, which is extremely sensitive to any suggestion that Jordan is Palestine, or even worse that Jordan is an integral part of greater Israel, as many extremist Israeli nationalists would like it to be. To claim that the abominable flag was just an ornament, as some Israeli officials have tried to do, only smacks the world in the face with the disingenuousness and dishonesty of Netanyahu and his dodgy clan. And what about the international community’s reactions to this loose cannon minister who caused irreparable damage to Israel’s standing in the eyes of its friends and allies? Scores of countries, including the US, Britain, Russia, Turkey, Canada, and Switzerland, along with the UAE, Egypt, Bahrin, the Palestinian Authority, and the UN, have expressed their deep revulsion. They characterized Smotrich’s unrestrained statements as being irresponsible, repugnant, unacceptable, intolerable, dangerous, reckless, inflammatory, contradicting moral and human values, inciting, provocative, shameful, and completely unhelpful. The waste that has spewed from Smotrich’s mouth will have serious repercussions on Israel’s relations with the Arab states on a number of fronts that cannot be mitigated as long as Netanyahu and his culprits are in power, as no Arab state will trust what this government will do or say next. The Netanyahu government has lost its credibility, and no assurances will assuage the Arab states’ concerns. To begin with, Netanyahu’s dream of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia will not be realized, not only because the Saudis do not trust him but also because they know perfectly well where he stands on the Palestinian issue. Netanyahu vowed time and again that there will be no Palestinian state under his watch. I have been told on a number of occasions by top Saudi officials that regardless of Riyadh’s tacit cooperation with Israel, which includes intelligence sharing, the sale of Israeli technology, and security collaboration, the kingdom will not normalize relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia remains committed to the Arab Peace Initiative that it introduced in 2002, which conditioned the establishment of Arab-Israeli peace to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution. Moreover, having just resumed diplomatic relations with Iran, the Saudis no longer see Iran’s regional ambition and nuclear program as an imminent threat. Although the Saudis still want to continue to cooperate with Israel on regional security, the degree of cooperation will not be, over time, as pivotal as it has been when Iran was considered Saudi Arabia’s staunch adversary, especially if the rapprochement between the two countries endures. For Netanyahu, the Saudi move towards Iran was nothing but a real slap in the face, mainly because Tehran is Israel’s arch enemy. The debacle over Smotrich’s ill-fated statements did nothing but sour Saudi-Israeli tacit bilateral relations and it will be out of Netanyahu’s reach to mend. Second, other than the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, which normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, there is no other Arab country that has signaled its readiness to normalize relations with Israel. If Oman and Qatar were remotely contemplating such a move, it is no longer on the table at this particular juncture. The Arab states view Smotrich’s terrible statements about the Palestinians as a reflection of the position of the Netanyahu government, which foreclosed completely any prospect of other Arab states normalizing relations with Israel. Third, given the Netanyahu government’s overall new policy in connection with the Israeli settlements, the likelihood of further annexation of Palestinian territories raised serious concerns among the Arab states about the government’s intentions and true objectives. The UAE, which has moved rapidly to increase its commercial ties with Israel, including the import of military hardware, technology, intelligence sharing, and trade, cancelled Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to the Emirates, citing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Temple Mount. The Emirates decided to freeze its purchase of military equipment to send a clear message about its profound displeasure with the Netanyahu government. UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan conveyed to Israel that “As long as we can’t be certain that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a government that he controls, we can’t cooperate.” The reaction to the new developments in Israel is not limited to the UAE alone; other Arab states who have normalized relations with Israel are now engaged in reassessing their ties and are unlikely to resume business as usual until there is a new Israeli government they can trust. Finally, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was sidestepped by some of the Gulf and other Arab states, and they normalized relations with Israel due to their overriding geostrategic interests and because they have become, to some degree, weary of the Palestinians’ disunity and intransigence. The recent mishaps by the Israeli government have put the Palestinian conflict back at center stage. As a result, any future normalization of relations with Israel by any other Arab country and the expansion of relations with the current government will more than likely be tied directly to progress made by Israel on the Palestinian front. This, in my view, will accelerate the demise of the Netanyahu government. The two most extremist ministers, Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, who are ravenous for Palestinian blood, will not accept any peaceful overture toward the Palestinians, especially now following Netanyahu’s defeat in his efforts to subordinate Israel’s judiciary to politicians’ whims, of which these two renegades are the staunchest supporters. In the final analysis, what has happened in Israel in recent days may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. The Israelis may well be awakened to the reality that what they need now is a new generation of leaders who have a vision, but who are also practical and understand that Israel’s future security and well-being depends on developing solid and progressive relationships with the Arab states based on genuine mutual trust. To achieve that, Israel must spare no efforts to end the conflict with the Palestinians based on a two-state solution, which will be the key to stability and a comprehensive Arab-Israel peace.&nbsp;

Netanyahu’s Dismal Failure To Guard Israel-Arab Relationsn

Tel Aviv (Israel): Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Arab Sector Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem.  The Committee decided to establish a sub-committee, to be chaired by the Prime Minister, on advancing the fight against crime in the Israeli Arab communities, which was authorized to decide on the issue of ISA assistance to the Israel Police in dealing with crime in the Arab sector.  The Committee also discussed various issues, including resolving the problem of mortgages for housing in the Arab sector, studying Hebrew among the Arab population, budgeting for economic projects in employment areas, etc. Prime Minister Netanyahu directed the various ministries to submit draft decisions on these issues to the Committee, within 30 to 45 days.  “We are seeking to reduce the gaps and fully integrate the Arab sector in Israel. We discussed the issues of credit, education, Hebrew, social welfare, legislation and many other matters,” said Netanyahu.  “We also have a special focus on the fight against crime in the Arab sector, which is making life miserable for Israel’s Arab citizens,” he added. “It already borders on a national problem. To this end, we established a sub-committee. Many issues have already begun to be dealt with. We intend to delve deeper into this in the coming days.”  “Government ministers and ministries are joining in to reduce these gaps for the benefit of Israel’s Arab citizens. They deserve it and we must deal with all of these issues.” —ANI

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Arab Sector 

Israel PM Netanyahu Chairs Ministerial Committee On Arab Sector Affairs

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was hospitalised on Saturday for examination, but his office said that he is doing well.
According to his office, on Saturday, Netanyahu, at the age of 73, was admitted to Sheba Medical Centre in the Tel Aviv district of Ramat Gan.
The initial assessment pointed to dehydration being the main factor behind the dizziness he experienced. —Inputs from Agencies

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was hospitalised on Saturday for examination, but his office said that he is doing well.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted to hospital; says feeling 'very good'

Alon Ben-Meir*
The prospect of normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia will have enormous implications on Israel and the entire region. Since it will certainly take a personal sacrifice to put Israel’s national interests first, the question is, will Prime Minister Netanyahu muster the courage to do what’s best for the country  New York (The Hawk): Prime Minister Netanyahu faces a historic opportunity to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia and set the country on an unparalleled path of progress, security, and peace. But for that to happen, Netanyahu will have to agree to accept the Saudis’ reported demand to establish a path that will lead to the end of the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Given, however, Netanyahu’s personal legal woes and his dependence on the most hard-core racist government in Israel’s history to stay in power, will he sacrifice his personal interests by accepting the Saudi demands, which would certainly precipitate the collapse of his government and force him to face his legal peril? His other choice would be to forfeit such a historic opportunity by continuing to pursue policies that will dismantle Israel’s democracy, convert Israel into an autocracy, intensify the violent conflict with the Palestinians, and put Israel always on the defensive while its enemies lay in wait.  Saudi Arabia is the de facto leading Arab state and is representative of Sunni Islam. Whether or not the Saudis care about the Palestinian cause, they cannot simply abandon the Palestinians to their own devices and still claim the leadership role they highly covet. The Saudis cannot and should not, under any circumstances, agree to normalize relations with Israel unless the Netanyahu government agrees to end the conflict with the Palestinians based on a two-state solution.  For the Palestinians, Saudi Arabia offers the last hope to protect their national interests. Should the Palestinians feel abandoned by the Saudis and have nothing left to lose, they will feel that they have no choice but to resort increasingly to violence against the Israelis with the intent of destabilizing the region and disrupting the normalization process between Israel and the Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia. The Palestinians know that should a major conflagration ensue between them and Israel, the Arab states will have little choice but to land on their side.  The advantages to Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia knows how much it can benefit directly from the normalization of relations with Israel in terms of technology, intelligence sharing, and above all regional security. Riyadh also knows that Israel wants normalization as much, if not more than they themselves. In addition, the Saudis know how much the Biden administration would like Riyadh and Jerusalem to reach an agreement because it would greatly serve the US’s overall regional geostrategic interests. This includes curbing China’s influence, containing Iran’s nuclear weapon program, weakening extremism, and stabilizing the region to ensure the US’ long-term unchallenged power over a region of pivotal strategic importance.  Knowing how much both the US and Israel would benefit from normalization and how eager they are to conclude such an agreement, the Saudis put forth three major requirements from the US as a prerequisite to normalizing relations with Israel:  Guaranteeing Saudi Arabia’s national security along the line of the US’ commitment to NATO, where an attack on any member state constitutes an attack on all member states, including the US. Providing nuclear facilities for civilian purposes including the production of clean energy and for medical purposes along with the prestige that goes with it. Approving the purchase of the US’ most advanced weapons systems, including the F-35 airplane among other arsenals. The Saudis are fully aware that President Biden wants to secure a major win just before the elections by building on the Abraham Accords. Obviously, they are in a position to hand him such a win provided that he meets their requirements.  Regardless of how desirable and far-reaching the implications of normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia are, for President Biden it remains an extremely difficult task to achieve due to two major factors. First, the Saudis’ conditional requirements from the US will certainly evoke significant Congressional resistance. But if the deal ends the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution, over which many Democratic leaders including Senators Chris Van Hollen and Tim Kaine insist, the Senate will more than likely approve it with some modifications because they understand and appreciate how significantly it will benefit the US’ geostrategic interest.  The second and more daunting difficulty President Biden faces is Netanyahu’s objections to making any major concession to the Palestinians, especially one that would lead to the creation of a Palestinian state. In addition, Netanyahu’s current coalition partners vehemently oppose any major concession to the Palestinians and any such move could lead to the dissolution of his government should Netanyahu make even a partial concession, such as the freezing of settlement expansion or ending any further annexation of Palestinian territory.  Juxtaposed to the position of Netanyahu and his government, it is critical for the Israeli public and a few of the less extreme members in the government to understand how paramount the consequences are for Israel’s future should it normalize relations with Saudi Arabia.  The advantages to Israel It is hard to exaggerate the enormous advantages Israel would reap. To begin with, it will open the door for normalization of relations with most, if not all, of the Arab and Muslim-majority states, end once and for all Israel’s isolation, and dramatically strengthen its national security, as normalization of relations would inevitably entail security collaboration. And since any Israeli-Saudi agreement will have to include a definitive roadmap to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it will pull the rug from underneath Israel’s staunch enemy Iran and its proxy Hezbollah, and force Hamas to reconsider its militant posture toward Israel.  Moreover, Israel’s export of technology and other scientific knowhow in all fields of endeavor, along with the export of military hardware, will exponentially grow along with foreign investments, making the country an economic powerhouse with a corresponding political influence. With that, Israel’s friendship and collaborative relations with the US and the EU will reach new heights and dramatically enhance their shared regional geostrategic interest and mitigate any friction in policy or strategy in dealing with any regional conflict.  Finally, ending the occupation will restore Israel’s moral foundation, mitigate the poisonous hatred between Israel and the Palestinians, restore the dignity and the integrity of the Israeli military, and most importantly, end the dehumanization of Palestinians under occupation.  Should an agreement be reached, given the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflicting issues, Saudi Arabia and the US should establish a road map and timeline for the implementation of the various components of the agreement while monitoring the progress made to ensure that both sides are fully complying with the provisions included therein. Moreover, the Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement should be enshrined in a treaty between the two sides that binds future Israeli and Palestinian governments and is guaranteed by the US and Saudi Arabia.  I concede that the prospect of Netanyahu changing his position is remote. But given his inflated ego and his concern over his legacy, coupled with increasing pressure from the US, there might be a small chance that he changes his mind, albeit such a leap is laden with considerable personal risk. The question is, will he nevertheless muster the courage and rise to the historic occasion, show statesmanship, and leave a legacy of one who sacrificed himself politically for the sake of the nation?  I doubt he will, but miracles do happen, and Israel today is desperately in need of one.
*Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies.

Prime Minister Netanyahu faces a historic opportunity to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia 

Can Netanyahu Rise To The Unparalleled Historic Occasion And Normalize Israeli-Saudi Relations?

Tel Aviv [Israel]: The head of the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, Ofir Liebstein, was killed in the deadly rocket fire from Hamas into Israel on Saturday morning, The Times of Israel reported, citing local sources. "Ofir was killed when he went to defend a town during the terrorist attack," the report said, quoting a statement from the Council.
The deputy head of the Council, Yossi Keren, has taken interim charge of the body following Liebstein's death, The Times of Israel reported. According to the latest reports, at least 5 people have been killed and over 100 injured in the Hamas rocket fire. The centre and south of Israel came under heavy rocket fire for over 3.5 hours on Saturday morning, The Times of Israel reported. Further, Hamas claimed to have kidnapped five Israel Defence Force (IDF) soldiers, The Jerusalem Post reported, adding that the IDF did not confirm the statement. After the attack, the IDF launched retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip. However, according to The Jerusalem Post, while the IDF launched retaliatory operations in the Gaza Strip, Israeli action remained minimal even two hours after the rocket attacks started. Israeli media reported that Hamas currently has 33 prisoners of war, including civilians and soldiers. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement saying that the Security Cabinet would convene around 1pm after assessing the situation, The Jerusalem Post reported. Opposition leader Yair Lapid is set to meet PM Netanyahu after the security meeting, the report added. Earlier, Lapid received a security briefing from the Israeli Prime Minister's military secretary, Avi Gil, following the rocket strikes. "Israel is in an emergency" and Lapid would back a "harsh military response" to Hamas's coordinated attack, a statement from the Opposition's leader's office said. Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant approved the draft of reserve soldiers in accordance with the IDF's requirements. He further announced a "special security situation" in Israel's Homefront, within a 0-80 km radius of the Gaza Strip, The Jerusalem Post reported, adding that this further enabled the IDF to provide civilians with safety instructions at "close and relevant sites". "Hamas is the ruling entity in the Gaza Strip, responsible for this attack, and will bear the consequences and responsibility for the events," the IDF said. At least one rocket directly hit a building in the Gederot Regional Council, killing a woman in her 60s, according to a report.
—ANI

The head of the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, Ofir Liebstein, was killed in the deadly rocket fire from Hamas into Israel on Saturday

Mayor of Israel town killed in Hamas rocket fire

Tel Aviv [Israel]: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday after hundreds of rockets fired by Hamas terrorists hit Israel today. "Citizens of Israel, we are at war. Not an operation not an escalation- at war," Netanyahu said in a video posted on X, formerly Twitter.
"We are at war and we will win," he asserted in a video statement according to translation provided by Reuters. "Our enemy will pay a price the type of which it has never known," he added. The Israeli PM's statement followed after rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel.
<a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1710574677385445775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1710574677385445775%7Ctwgr%5E61319e12a5c3da15c92350079dc20395bba5c648%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aninews.in%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fmiddle-east%2Fwe-are-at-war-our-enemy-will-pay-price-israel-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-after-hamas-attack20231007143202" target="_self">https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1710574677385445775?</a>
According to the latest reports, at least 5 people have been killed and over 100 injured in the Hamas rocket fire. The centre and south of Israel came under heavy rocket fire for over 3.5 hours on Saturday morning, The Times of Israel reported. "Israel is in an emergency" and Lapid would back a "harsh military response" to Hamas's coordinated attack, a statement from the Opposition's leader's office said. Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant approved the draft of reserve soldiers in accordance with the Isreael Defence Force's requirements. He further announced a "special security situation" in Israel's Homefront, within a 0-80 km radius of the Gaza Strip, The Jerusalem Post reported, adding that this further enabled the IDF to provide civilians with safety instructions at "close and relevant sites". The daily reported earlier that after a barrage of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel. Following the attack, red alert warning sirens were activated in Tel Aviv, located around 70 kilometres from the Gaza Strip, as well as, Sde Boker, Arad, and Dimona in the south.
—ANI

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday after hundreds of rockets fired by Hamas terrorists hit Israel today.

"We are at war, Our enemy will pay price" Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu after Hamas attack

Tel Aviv [Israel]: In his first reaction after Hamas launched a "surprise attack", Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday said Israel "was at war" and has ordered mobilization of reserves to give it back with the magnitude the enemy has not expected, asserting that they will "win it" In a video statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Netanyahu stated, "We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war. This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been in this since the early morning hours. I convened the heads of the security establishment and ordered, first of all, to clear out the communities that have been infiltrated by terrorists. This currently is being carried out."
Netanyahu has ordered the mobilization of reserves. He called on citizens of Israel to adhere to the directives of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Home Front Command. "At the same time, I have ordered an extensive mobilization of reserves and that we return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price. In the meantime, I call on the citizens of Israel to strictly adhere to the directives of the IDF and Home Front Command. We are at war and we will win it," Netanyahu said. The death toll in Israel from the Hamas rocket fire rose to 22, The Times of Israel reported. At least 22 people have been killed since Hamas terror group began its attacks, according to Magen David Adom emergency service. The spokesperson further said that more than 70 people have been injured. The Israel Defence Forces on Saturday launched operation 'Iron Swords' in response to Hamas's surprise attack on Israel, the Times of Israel reported.  In response to the barrages of rockets launched by Hamas from Gaza at Israel, the IDF is currently striking Hamas targets in Gaza," Israel Defense Forces said in a post on 'X'. The Israeli military is fighting Hamas terrorists in different locations in Southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip, including the towns of Kfar Aza, Sderot, Sufa, Nahal Oz, Magen, Be'eri and the Re'im military base. IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that over 2200 rockets were fired into Israel since 6:30 am on Saturday, the report said. The firing took place for more than 3.5 hours.Hagari said that Hamas terrorists infiltrated from land, sea and air. He further added that the re are at least seven sites of fighting between Hamas and IDF troops. Israel's military is expecting to draft tens of thousands of soldiers, the report said. Hamas claimed to have kidnapped five IDF soldiers.  Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant approved the draft of reserve soldiers in accordance with the Isreael Defence Force's requirements.He further announced a "special security situation" in Israel's Homefront, within a 0-80 km radius of the Gaza Strip, The Jerusalem Post reported, adding that this further enabled the IDF to provide civilians with safety instructions at "close and relevant sites". The daily reported earlier that after a barrage of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel. Following the attack, red alert warning sirens were activated in Tel Aviv, located around 70 kilometres from the Gaza Strip, as well as, Sde Boker, Arad, and Dimona in the south.
—ANI

In his first reaction after Hamas launched a "surprise attack", Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday

"We are at war and we will win": Israel PM Netanyahu after Hamas attack

Tel Aviv [Israel]: In the midst of escalating pressure to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a multifaceted battle. Families and supporters of the nearly 240 hostages marched from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, demanding government action and expressing frustration at the limited meetings with Netanyahu, CNN reported. Gil Dickmann, a relative of one of the abductees, urged the Prime Minister to prioritise the hostages' safe return, saying, "Right now, in Netanyahu's current political situation, this could be a real victory for the state of Israel."
As Israel's war in Gaza extends beyond six weeks, public opinion is turning against Netanyahu. Despite widespread support for the military campaign against Hamas, polls indicate a decline in favour of the Prime Minister and his coalition. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called for Netanyahu's resignation, emphasising the loss of public trust. However, he stopped short of calling for new elections, suggesting that Likud should present an alternative leader. "We cannot allow ourselves to have a prime minister who has lost the public's trust, whether from a social or a security point of view," Lapid told Israel's Channel 12, according to CNN. Efforts to reach an agreement for a ceasefire and the release of hostages have faced challenges. Negotiations involve contentious issues such as the duration of a potential pause, the number of hostages to be released, and Hamas' demand for an end to Israeli drone surveillance over Gaza. The Israeli government's attempts to ease conditions for Gaza's civilian population have drawn criticism from within Netanyahu's right-wing coalition.  Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticised the decision to allow fuel tankers into Gaza, claiming it contradicted the views of the governing cabinet. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir argued against providing "humanitarian gifts" to the enemy while hostages remained unvisited by the Red Cross. Some families advocate for an "everyone for everyone deal," proposing an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. The families leading the campaign have tried to remain apolitical, but many blame Netanyahu for failing to anticipate the October 7 attack by Hamas. They accuse him of prioritising judicial reform over security preparations, considering the breach of Israel's security contract with voters. Despite the tragic outcome for some, there remains hope among the families for the return of their loved ones. Criticism of Netanyahu's perceived lack of empathy and failure to take responsibility for security lapses has grown. Accused of spending more time with troops for photo opportunities than addressing past failures, Netanyahu faced backlash for blaming security chiefs for not warning him about the impending attack.  While expressing support for the security heads, he refused to answer questions about taking responsibility for the October 7 security failures. Many, like Asher Elyahol, one among the those marching on Saturday, express a desire for change, hoping for a new government once the war concludes and hostages are returned, CNN reported.
—ANI

In the midst of escalating pressure to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a multifaceted battle

Benjamin Netanyahu faces battles on multiple fronts amid mounting calls to free hostages

Tel Aviv: The Israeli Cabinet has agreed to a four-day ceasefire and a deal with the Hamas to secure the release of 50 hostages, including women and children, being held in Gaza since the war erupted on October 7.  However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Cabinet meeting late Tuesday night that the country will not stop the war.  In a statement, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said under the deal, the release of every additional 10 hostages will extend the pause in fighting by a day  On Wednesday morning, the Hamas said that 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails will be released as part of the deal re.  The prisoners are women and children, the statement said.  The deal also involves the entry of hundreds of trucks carrying aid relief, medical supplies and fuel to all parts of Gaza, the Hamas statement added.  According to an earlier IANS report, the release of first group of hostages will take place soon.  Qatar and the US have been involved in active mediatory talks with both Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire.  Those opposed to the truce warned the Israeli Cabinet that this partial hostage deal would derail the process of securing all those in captivity and that it would complicate the military offensive against the militant group in Gaza.  Netanyahu however dismissed the scepticism and said: “ We are at war and continue to be at war until our objectives are met including destroy Hamas and all our captives are released.”  Wednesday's development comes more than a week after a major breakthrough was reached on November 12 when the Hamas -- after refusing for days -- had relented in offering identifying information about several dozen hostages, such as their age, gender and nationalities.  The information confirmed that numerous children and toddlers had been taken captive on October 7.  Israeli authorities have said that there are at least 236 hostages being held in Gaza.
—IANS

The Israeli Cabinet has agreed to a four-day ceasefire and a deal with the Hamas to secure the release of 50 hostages

Israel agrees to 4-day ceasefire, Hamas to release 50 hostages

Doha: Qatar, which helped broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas for a four-day humanitarian pause in their ongoing war in Gaza, announced on Wednesday that the effective date of the ceasefire will be announced within 24 hours.  The "starting time of the pause will be announced within the next 24 hours", the BBC quoted the Qatar government as saying in a statement.  The pause will then last for four days, the statement said, adding that it will be "subject to extension".  The latest development comes after the Israeli cabinet -- after a lengthy meeting that ran into the early hours of Wednesday -- approved the agreement with Hamas to secure the release of 50 hostages being held in Gaza since the October 7 attack.  "The government of Israel is obligated to return home all of the hostages... The government has approved the outline of the first stage of achieving this goal, according to which at least 50 hostages – women and children – will be released over four days, during which a pause in the fighting will be held," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.  "The release of every additional 10 hostages will result in one additional day in the pause. The government of Israel, the IDF and the security services will continue the war in order to return home all of the hostages, complete the elimination of Hamas and ensure that there will be no new threat to the State of Israel from Gaza," it added.  The agreement will also allow hundreds of lorries of humanitarian, medical and fuel aid to enter all parts of the Gaza Strip via Egypt's Rafah crossing.  Those opposed to the truce however, warned the Israeli Cabinet that this partial hostage deal would derail the process of securing all those in captivity and that it would complicate the military offensive against the militant group in Gaza.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu however dismissed the scepticism and said: “ We are at war and continue to be at war until our objectives are met including destroy Hamas and all our captives are released.”  Meanwhile, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman said on Wednesday morning that the military is still working out details for the pause in fighting included in the hostage release deal.  IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told CNN: "Until we are told to do so by the Israeli government, we will continue fighting Hamas and when such a deal will come into effect, we will respect that. But we will be very vigilant on the ground."  The spokesman also warned that he feared Hamas will use the pause in fighting to resupply and regroup.  "Of course we would rather continue to apply pressure on Hamas. But this pause is for a very important cause. I can assure that we will be respectful of any agreement, that we will honor the commitments made by the Israeli government," he told CNN.  Hailing the move, US President Joe Biden said in a statement that “I welcome the deal to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist group Hamas during its brutal assault against Israel on October 7".  “Jill and I have been keeping all those held hostage and their loved ones close to our hearts these many weeks, and I am extraordinarily gratified that some of these brave souls, who have endured weeks of captivity and an unspeakable ordeal, will be reunited with their families once this deal is fully implemented.  “Today’s deal should bring home additional American hostages, and I will not stop until they are all released," the statement added.  Wednesday's development comes more than a week after a major breakthrough was reached on November 12 when the Hamas -- after refusing for days -- had relented in offering identifying information about several dozen hostages, such as their age, gender and nationalities.  The information confirmed that numerous children and toddlers had been taken captive on October 7.  Israeli authorities have said that there are at least 236 hostages being held in Gaza  —IANS

Qatar, which helped broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas for a four-day humanitarian pause in their ongoing war in Gaza

Effective date for Gaza humanitarian pause to be announced within 24 hours: Qatar

Washington DC [US]: United States President Joe Biden on Tuesday 22 morning expressed his welcoming of the deal to accept a ceasefire in return for 50 hostage held by the Hamas militant group, sharing his gratitude to the acceptance of a ceasefire. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a statement on Wednesday, confirming roughly 50 hostages abducted by the Hamas terror group in Gaza during the October 7 attack, will be released, reported The Times of Israel.
A post shared on Netanyahu's X, formerly Twitter, page stated, "Tonight, the Government has approved the outline of the first stage of achieving this goal, according to which at least 50 hostages - women and children - will be released over four days, during which a pause in the fighting will be held." Similarly, the US President, taking to his social media X, declared that he was glad the deal was secured, adding that he was grateful that the hostages will be reunited with their families. "I welcome the deal to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its brutal assault against Israel on October 7th." The US president said. "I'm gratified that these brave souls, who have endured an unspeakable ordeal, will be reunited with their families once this deal is fully implemented." The US President expressed his gratitude to regional partners, who were "critical" in ensuring the deal was passed.  Biden shared on X, "I thank Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt for their critical partnership in reaching this deal. And I appreciate Prime Minister Netanyahu's commitment in supporting an extended pause to ensure this deal can be fully carried out" US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken further added, "We welcome the release of 50 hostages, including Americans, from captivity in Gaza. I thank Qatar and Egypt for their partnership, and appreciate Israel's support for a humanitarian pause that will allow additional humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians in Gaza." Although a ceasefire has been permitted, the ongoing Gaza conflict has not come to an end, Netanyahu has stated, "The Israeli government, the IDF and the security forces will continue the war to return all the abductees, complete the elimination of Hamas and ensure that Gaza does not renew any threat to the State of Israel." Hamas have agreed to allow 50 hostages to return, however, there are still roughly 150 who will be under Hamas control, with over 200 hostages being abducted during the October 7 offensive into Israel. The US President says that he "will not stop until they are all released", claiming that he has "no higher priority than ensuring the safety of Americans held hostage", in a post shared on X.
—ANI

United States President Joe Biden on Tuesday 22 morning expressed his welcoming of the deal to accept a ceasefire in return for 50 hostage

US President Biden comments on the release of 50 hostages by Hamas

Tel Aviv [Israel]: The Israeli Prime Minister's Office shared a list of all 13 hostages, who returned home to their loved ones after being taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 terror attacks.
The Israeli PM Office informed that among those rescued as part of a swap deal with Hamas were 11 foreign nationals. In exchange for 24 Hamas hostages, who were rescued as part of the deal brokered by the US and Qatar, Israel also freed 39 Palestinian prisoners.
"The Israeli government embraces our citizens returning home. The Israeli government is committed to the return of all abductees and missing persons," the PM Office said in a statement. "Our citizens underwent an initial medical examination and their families were informed by the appointed officials that they were back," it added. The Israeli PM Office also put out details of the 13 nationals who returned to their homeland.  Three members of the Asher family who returned home were identified as Doron Katz-Asher (34), Raz Asher (4), and Aviv Asher (2) Two members released from the Aloni family were identified as Daniel Aloni (45) and Amelia Aloni (5) Three rescued members of the Monder family were identified as Ruth Munder (78), Keren Monder (54), and Ohad Monder (9). Apart from them, five more Israeli nationals -- Adina Moshe (72), Hana Katzir (76), Margalit Mozes (77), Hanna Perry (79) and Yaffe Adar (85) -- were also released from captivity. The PM Office said the government along with all the security forces accompanied the released hostages as they returned to their kin, who had been spending anxious days over their fates.  Earlier, on Friday, the first group of Israeli hostages were handed over to the staff of the International Committee for Red Cross as part of the hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, Times of Israel reported The truce brokered by Qatar between Israel and Hamas went into effect at 7 am (local time) on Friday. After the release of hostages on Friday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that the nation is committed to returning of all the hostages from Gaza as it is "one of the aims of the war". In a video message posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu said, "We just completed the return of the first of our hostages: children, their mothers and additional women. Each of them is an entire world." US President Joe Biden hailed the development calling it just the "start of a process". He further affirmed hope that "dozens of hostages" will be returned to their families over the next few days. Hamas might eventually free more hostages, in exchange for an extension of the ceasefire by an extra day for each 10 Israeli hostages, according to The Times of Israel report. However, the released hostages are only a small group out of some 240 people held hostage by Hamas terrorists since October 7, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel.
—ANI

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office shared a list of all 13 hostages, who returned home to their loved ones after being taken hostage by Hamas

Israel PM Office shares list of hostages released by Hamas

Tel Aviv: Businessman and investor Elon Musk on Monday visited the Kfar Aza in Israel where the October 7 attack took place in which at least 1200 people were killed by Hamas.  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accompanied Elon Musk to the residence of Ofir Liebstein, who fought back and died while fighting Hamas.  The IDF Spokesperson Liad Diamond gave a detailed presentation to Elon Musk about the October 7 attacks.  The head of the Negev Council, Yossi Keren also met Elon Musk at Kibbutz Kfar Aza.  Musk was also taken to the site Abigail Idan, where a 4-year-old American-Israel citizen was kidnapped during October 7 attack.  Israel President Issac Herzog is scheduled to meet Elon Musk later in the day. The relatives of the hostages will also meet Musk.
—IANS

Businessman and investor Elon Musk on Monday visited the Kfar Aza in Israel where the October 7 attack took place in which

Elon Musk visits Oct 7 attack site in Kfar Aza

Tel Aviv [Israel]: The Israeli government has approved the inclusion of 50 women prisoners in the list of prisoners eligible for release as part of an agreement to extend a temporary truce with Hamas in Gaza, reported The Times of Israel. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made this announcement on X, stating, "The Government has approved the inclusion of 50 female prisoners in the list of prisoners eligible to be released in the event that a release of additional Israeli hostages is carried out."
<a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM/status/1729276924763967749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1729276924763967749%7Ctwgr%5E89d1f07445f1935573cd94a0a626b85368b8d904%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aninews.in%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fmiddle-east%2Fisrael-approves-list-of-50-women-prisoners-to-be-released-for-extended-truce20231128063109" target="_self">https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM/status/1729276924763967749?</a>
The government approved the list of these 50 female prisoners to secure the release of nearly 20 more Israelis held hostage by the Hamas terror group since October 7, reported The Times of Israel. The truce will be extended by two days, and Qatar and the US confirmed this and will see the release of about 10 more Israeli hostages per day.  As per the initial four-day truce agreement, which will expire today (Tuesday), Israel agreed to halt its military operations in Gaza for four days and emphasized that it would release three Palestinian security prisoners for each of the 50 hostages freed from Gaza, The Times of Israel reported. Since Friday, over 50 hostages have now been released, whereas, 117 Palestinians have been freed. US President Joe Biden on Monday welcomed the additional two-day truce between Israel and Hamas after Qatar's successful mediation. Biden issued a statement, welcoming the extended truce, as reported by The Times of Israel. "I have remained deeply engaged over the last few days to ensure that this deal--brokered and sustained through extensive US mediation and diplomacy--can continue to deliver results," the US President said.  Moreover, Qatar also successfully negotiated an agreement between Israel and Hamas to extend the four-day truce between them by an additional two days, Doha's foreign ministry spokesperson said. "The State of Qatar announces, as part of the ongoing mediation, an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip," posted spokesperson Majed Al Ansari on X.
—ANI

The Israeli government has approved the inclusion of 50 women prisoners in the list of prisoners eligible for release as part of an agreement

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