Fifth round of Iran nuclear talks end, rocket fired from Gaza intercepted by IAF
US-Iran nuclear talks begin amid doubts; Netanyahu shares Zini report; Hezbollah seeks boost; Palestinian leaders exit Syria after harassment
Iranians doubt nuclear deal will be reached - report
This report comes amid talks resuming in Rome, with delegations led by Iran's foreign minister and the US Middle East envoy.
The fifth round of nuclear talks between the US and Iran seems unlikely to yield an agreement, CNN reported on Friday, citing two Iranian sources.
The sources told CNN that Iran's participation in this round of talks is "solely to gauge Washington’s latest stance rather than pursue a potential breakthrough."
The sources also told CNN that Tehran "harbors mounting doubts about US sincerity in talks."
Go to the full article >>Hezbollah seeks boost in Lebanon vote as disarmament calls grow
The election results so far indicate "the war didn't achieve the objective of downgrading Hezbollah's popularity in the community," said Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center.
Amid the rubble left by Israeli strikes on south Lebanon, campaign posters urge support for Hezbollah in elections on Saturday as the group aims to show it retains political clout despite the pounding it took in last year's war.
For Hezbollah, the local vote is more important than ever, coinciding with mounting calls for its disarmament and continued Israeli airstrikes, and as many of its Shi'ite Muslim constituents still suffer the repercussions of the conflict.
Three rounds of voting already held this month have gone well for the Iran-backed group. In the south, many races won't be contested, handing Hezbollah and its allies early wins.
Go to the full article >>Katz instructs IDF not to summon Democrats chair Golan to reserve duty
During Golan's military service, he served as the IDF deputy chief of staff, Home Front Command, and Northern Command head.
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Friday that he has instructed the IDF not to summon Democrats party chair Yair Golan for reserve duty in light of his statement on Monday.
Golan holds the rank of Major-General and has nearly 40 years of combat experience.
Golan addressed the war in the Gaza Strip during an interview with KAN Reshet Bet’s This Morning program, saying, “A sane country does not kill babies for a hobby.”
Go to the full article >>Democrats party loses ground after Golan's statements on war - poll
Golan, during an interview on Monday with KAN Reshet Bet’s This Morning program, said, “A sane country does not kill babies for a hobby.”
The Democrats party has lost ground following remarks by its leader, Yair Golan, about the war in Gaza, dropping four seats to 12 in total, according to a Maariv poll published on Friday.
The Maariv poll, conducted by Lazar Research on May 21–22, surveyed 509 respondents representing a cross-section of Israeli adults.
Golan, during an interview on Monday with KAN Reshet Bet’s This Morning program, said, “A sane country does not kill babies for a hobby.”
Go to the full article >>IDF control of Gaza Strip jumps over 50%, on the way to vast majority
Israel's primary goal is to seize territory to separate the Gaza civilian population from Hamas and control food distribution, IDF's recent updates indicate.
IDF control of the Gaza Strip has jumped more than 50% in recent weeks. At that pace, the IDF is well on its way to controlling the vast majority of the enclave.
Whether IDF control of Gaza will stop at about 70% or reach 100%, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a major speech on Wednesday night, is a matter of debate and interpretation.
Even before Operation Gideon’s Chariots intensified earlier this week to further defeat Hamas and take over more Gazan territory, the IDF had taken control of about 50% of Gaza since it renewed hostilities when negotiations for releasing more hostages broke down in March.
Go to the full article >>Netanyahu justifies Shin Bet head appt, says Zini will not be involved in 'Qatargate' probe
The statement said that a permanent successor to Bar must be appointed by the time Bar's term ends on June 15.
The Prime Minister's Office on Friday responded to criticism of the decision to appoint Maj.-Gen. David Zini as the new Shin Bet head to replace Ronen Bar, who was fired despite a High Court of Justice ruling that the decision was illegal.
Go to the full article >>Police arrest armed suspects, bomb disposal experts neutralize 27 explosives
Border Police undercover operatives in the West Bank arrested four armed suspects during two counterterror operations over the course of the past week that uncovered a large quantity of explosives and ready-to-use devices, which were destroyed on site, Israel Police announced Friday.
In parallel, bomb disposal experts neutralized 27 explosive devices intended to target security forces.
Across several focused operations, Border Police arrested 20 suspects and seized rifles, pistols, grenades, ammunition, and other weapons.
Deputy-Chief Nisso Guetta praised the fighters for their coordinated efforts to thwart terror attacks and protect the public.
Go to the full article >>IDF kills terrorists, strikes over 75 targets across Gaza Strip
The IDF killed terrorists and struck military compounds, weapons storage facilities, and sniper posts throughout the Gaza Strip over the past day, the military said Friday morning.
The Israel Air Force's airstrikes on over 75 terror targets also included targeting launchers and other terror infrastructure.
Go to the full article >>IDF maps homes of terrorists responsible for murder of Tzeela Gez last week
The mapping was carried out in preparation for the potential demolition of the terrorists’ homes.
IDF troops mapped the home of the two terrorists who aided in the terror attack that killed Tzeela Gez last Wednesday, the IDF announced Friday morning.
Engineering forces and IDF soldiers from the Ephraim Brigade operated in the village of Burkin to map the homes of the terrorists Maher Samara and Jamil Samara, who assisted the terrorist Na'al Samara in carrying out the shooting attack.
Go to the full article >>Netanyahu's office publishes excerpts of pre-Oct. 7 Maj.-Gen. Zini report on IDF preparedness
Maj.-Gen. Zini was asked in March 2023 to review the IDF's Gaza Division’s conduct and preparedness for a surprise attack.
Following the announcement of Maj.-Gen. David Zini’s appointment as Shin Bet head, replacing Ronen Bar, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Friday morning that Zini had identified several threats ahead of October 7, 2023.
Go to the full article >>Israel at war: What you need to know
- Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza.
- Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 at the Supernova music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities.
- 58 hostages remain in Gaza.
- 49 hostages in total have been killed in captivity, IDF says.
- The IDF launched a ground invasion of Lebanon on September 30.
- The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire came into effect on November 27 at 4 a.m.
- Netanyahu confirmed the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire on January 17, 2025.