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Kamala Harris Faces Unwarranted Criticism From Right-Wing Pro-Netanyahu Camp in Israel, The Jerusalem Post
J Street Israel Executive Director Nadav Tamir writes, “A toxic, racist, and misogynistic narrative has begun to flourish in the right-wing pro-Netanyahu camp in Israel since Kamala Harris was nominated Democratic Party candidate for the presidency of the United States. This narrative manifests itself in disdain for Harris, for her skills, and for her judgment, and in deliberate distortion of her impressive pro-Israeli record. This criticism is inspired by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has been generous with derogatory labels directed at Harris.”
Netanyahu, Defiant, Appears to Have Gone Rogue, Risking a Regional War, The New York Times
Steven Erlanger reports, “Absent a clear goal in the war, however, Netanyahu’s defiance is dividing Israel from its allies and the country itself. It has further shaken trust in his leadership. It is fueling suspicions that he is keeping the country at war to keep himself in power. It is intensifying a deep rift inside the society — about the fate of Israeli hostages, the conduct of the war and the rule of law — that is challenging the institutional bonds that hold Israel together.”
Blinken Told G7 Iran and Hezbollah Could Attack Israel in Next 24 Hours, Axios
Blinken said the U.S. doesn’t know the exact timing of the attacks but stressed it could start as early as the next 24-48 hours — meaning as early as Monday, the sources said. The secretary of state told his counterparts the U.S. is making efforts to break the escalatory cycle by trying to limit the attacks by Iran and Hezbollah as much as possible and then restrain the Israeli response.
Israel Bracing for Attack After Assassinations in Beirut and Tehran, NBC News
Israel is bracing for a potential multi-day attack by Iran and its ally Hezbollah following the assassination of two senior militant leaders last week, an Israeli official told NBC News. The official said Israel fears waves of missiles and drones could be fired over several days in response to the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.
Hostage-Ceasefire Deal Talks Stall Over New Netanyahu Demands, Israeli Officials Say, Axios
Hamas rejected Netanyahu’s new conditions, which include forming an international mechanism to prevent weapons transfers from southern Gaza to the north. Israeli officials say this and other new demands are making a deal impossible. Israeli’s Channel 12 reported on Friday that Netanyahu held a difficult meeting with the Israeli negotiations team on Wednesday that escalated into a shouting match. Two Israeli officials confirmed the details of the report and said the director of Shin Bet confronted Netanyahu and told him that if he wants to back away from the Israeli proposal for a hostage and ceasefire deal, he should just say it.
Palestinian Kills Two People in Stabbing Attack in Israel, Reuters
The stabbings took place during morning rush hour in the city of Holon, near Tel Aviv. Two senior citizens, a man and woman, were killed and two other people were wounded and rushed to hospital, medical officials said.
Casualties After Third Israeli Strike on School in a Week, BBC
Footage on social media purported to show bodies inside one of the schools as rescuers evacuated casualties, including children. Palestinian media said at least 30 people were killed in the strikes. Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defence, said most of the dead were women and children.
US Official: Biden Realized Netanyahu Lied to Him About Hostage Deal, Haaretz
A senior Biden administration official told Haaretz of Netanyahu’s “ungratefulness” toward the US, noting that the past two conversations between the Prime Minister and Biden have been difficult and tense.
Netanyahu Warns Iran: We Are Ready, We’ll Exact a Heavy Price for Any Aggression, The Times of Israel
“The State of Israel is in a multi-front war against Iran’s axis of evil,” Netanyahu said. “We are striking every one of its arms with great force.” “I reiterate and tell our enemies: We will respond and we will exact a heavy price for any act of aggression against us, from whatever quarter,” Netanyahu declared.
Iran Says It Does Not Want Regional Escalation but Must ‘Punish’ Israel, Reuters
“Iran seeks to establish stability in the region, but this will only come with punishing the aggressor and creating deterrence against the adventurism of the Zionist regime (Israel),” Nasser Kanaani said, adding that action from Tehran was inevitable. Kanaani called on the United States to stop supporting Israel, saying the international community had failed in its duty to safeguard stability in the region and should support the “punishment of the aggressor.”
Hezbollah Says It Launched a Drone Attack on Northern Israel, ABC News
The Iranian-backed Hezbollah said in a statement it targeted a military base in northern Israel in response to “attacks and assassinations” carried out by Israel in several villages in south Lebanon.
US to Allow IDF to Renew Fighting in Gaza After First Phase of Deal, Haaretz
It is intended to ensure the release of all hostages held by Hamas and to prevent a scenario in which the group continues to hold Israeli men and soldiers after the deal’s so-called humanitarian phase is completed, keeping them as a human shield for Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, and other senior Hamas members.
Smotrich: Might Be ‘Justified and Moral’ to Cause 2 Million Gazans to Die of Hunger, but World Won’t Let Us, The Times of Israel
“We are bringing in aid because there is no choice,” Smotrich says at a conference in Yad Binyamin hosted by the Israel Hayom outlet. “We can’t, in the current global reality, manage a war. Nobody will let us cause 2 million civilians to die of hunger even though it might be justified and moral until our hostages are returned.”
Gaza Needs Trained Doctors. Israel Is Blocking Palestinian Physicians Like Me, CNN
Ali Elaydi, an orthopedic surgeon who practices in Texas, shares, “On the first mission I was on, I was able to take 10 suitcases of medication with me. On the one I wasn’t allowed to take part in, we were allowed one bag and no medications other than those for personal use. The international community must stand firm in condemning such practices and advocate for the sanctity of humanitarian assistance. The denial of a Palestinian doctor’s right to volunteer — in the process hindering the delivery of humanitarian efforts — is an affront. Governments around the world, international organizations and individuals of influence should do what they can to help reverse this inhumane policy.”
Hamas May Emerge Battered, but Not Beaten, From Israel’s Latest Blows, The New York Times
Erika Solomon reports, “The history of Hamas, the evolution of Palestinian militant groups over the decades and the logic of insurgencies more broadly suggest that not only will Hamas survive, it may even stand to emerge politically stronger. Analysts and regional observers in contact with Hamas leaders see the latest blows it has suffered — including Mr. Haniyeh’s assassination, widely believed to be at Israel’s hand — as offering Israeli forces a short-term victory at the cost of long-term strategic success.”
Why Israel Chose to Escalate, Foreign Affairs
Dalia Dassa Kaye argues. “Israel is going for broke without any political strategy. Putting faith in brute military force to restore deterrence and doubling down on confrontation with Iran and its allies without a political or strategic game plan is unlikely to change the emerging regional dynamics that so worry Israeli military planners. It is unlikely to deter the members of the ‘axis of resistance,’ who may themselves double down in unexpected ways and surprise Israel once again.”
Bedouin Teen Was Shot Dead After Climbing a Kibbutz Fence. His Father’s Seeking Justice, Haaretz
Eden Solomon reports, “Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir backed the shooter, saying he ‘acted decisively and made contact with and killed a man who tried to kill the members of the security squad. The blood is on the head of anyone who enters a community with a knife and wants to kill the security forces.’”
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