April 15: PM says ready for possible Iran war resumption, as US mulls new talks in Pakistan

Security cabinet meeting on potential Lebanon ceasefire ends without a decision — report

The security cabinet meeting reportedly called to discuss a potential ceasefire in Lebanon has ended without a decision reached, Channel 12 reports, citing two Israeli officials familiar with the matter.

US: We didn’t ask Israel to hold fire at Hezbollah, but would welcome truce as part of Lebanon talks

The US claims it did not ask Israel to agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon amid reports that the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is weighing such a truce due to pressure from Washington.

“This is not something we have asked for, nor is it part of the peace negotiations with Iran, but the president would welcome the end of hostilities in Lebanon as part of a peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon,” reads a statement attributed to a senior US official that is sent to querying reporters.

Video: Extremist settlers break into Palestinian homes, sheep pens, residents say in an effort to steal livestock

Extremist settlers sought to steal sheep from Palestinian herders in the West Bank hamlet of Al-Mirkaz in the South Hebron Hills earlier today, with residents claiming that the extremists were accompanied by at least one soldier.

Footage taken by villagers shows the settlers entering their homes and their sheep pens, while a separate video shows others approaching a different pen accompanied by one IDF soldier in uniform, although without tactical equipment, and another individual who is in half-uniform.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit has been contacted for comment.

According to Mishirqi Quamar Assad, an attorney with the legal aid organization Haqel-In Defense of Human Rights, which represents Palestinians in the region, the extremists sought to steal the sheep and were trying to apply ear tags of their own on the Palestinian-owned sheep as part of a scheme to claim that they belonged to the settlers.

Palestinian herders in the West Bank, their legal representatives, and Israeli civil rights activists have frequently reported and documented efforts by settler extremists to intermingle their own herds with Palestinian herds in order to then steal the Palestinian livestock, as well as similar such tactics.

In recent years, settler extremists have stolen Palestinian livestock as a way to deprive vulnerable, rural Palestinian communities of their livelihood and force them out of their homes.

In January this year, settlers accompanied by IDF soldiers stole 150 head of livestock from the hamlet of Khirbet al-Halawa in an incident caught on security camera footage.

Al-Mirkaz lies just 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) west of Khirbet al-Halawa.

Extremist settlers broke into Palestinian homes and sheep pens in Al-Mirkaz in the South Hebron Hills today, apparently accompanied by [reservist/off duty?] IDF soldiers in what residents and their lawyer said was an attempt to steal their sheep… pic.twitter.com/yrRxNeYXAE

— Jeremy Sharon (@jeremysharon) April 15, 2026

Man found dead inside burnt car in Kafr Qasim; police suspect murder

The body of a man was found earlier tonight in a car that was set on fire in Kafr Qasim, Magen David Adom says.

It says the man was pronounced dead by medics upon their arrival at the scene of the fire.

Police suspect the incident to be murder, triggered by an ongoing feud between families, and are searching for suspects.

Longtime Netanyahu adviser Ofer Golan resigns from Prime Minister’s Office

Ofer Golan arrive at a court hearing for Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein in the so-called Qatargate investigation, at the Magistrate's Court in Rishon Lezion, April 3, 2025. (Jonatan Shaul/Flash90)

Ofer Golan, a longtime adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announces that he is resigning from his post in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Golan has worked for the premier for a decade, having also served as a spokesman for the Netanyahu family and a campaign manager for Likud during the 2019 elections.

In a statement announcing his resignation, Golan heaps praise on Netanyahu, saying he has “seen up close his unimaginable ability to skillfully navigate between desires, limitations and needs without compromising on the good of the state and its citizens, and to achieve remarkable accomplishments.”

He adds that he has watched “with reverence” as the prime minister “brought about historic moves that have shaped, strengthened, and fortified the State of Israel — and in fact, redefined it.”

Netanyahu says that Ofer acted over the years “with great professionalism and dedication” and contributed significantly “with wise advice and common sense.”

In 2025, Golan was indicted, along with two other senior prime ministerial aides, on charges of witness intimidation for having sent a car with a megaphone to the home of a key witness in Netanyahu’s criminal trial in 2019 in order to harass him.

Five IDF soldiers injured, one seriously, in Hezbollah rocket attack in southern Lebanon

Five IDF soldiers were wounded, including one seriously and four lightly, in a Hezbollah rocket attack in southern Lebanon earlier today, the military announces.

The troops were taken to a hospital and their families were notified, the IDF adds.

US Senate Republicans vote down resolution aiming to limit Trump’s Iran war powers

A majority of the US Senate backs US President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran, voting to block a Democratic-led resolution aiming to stop the war until hostilities are authorized by Congress.

As voting continues, the tally is 51-47 to block the war powers resolution, as almost all of Trump’s fellow Republicans vote against it.

Netanyahu: Israel ‘prepared’ for possible resumption of Iran war, fighting Hezbollah ‘in parallel’ with Lebanon talks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a recorded statement on the ongoing fighting with Hezbollah and the US ceasefire with Iran, on April 15, 2026. (Screenshot, Benjamin Netanyahu via X)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is prepared for the possibility that fighting with Iran could resume, as it continues operations against Hezbollah alongside newly launched talks with Lebanon.

“Our American allies are keeping us constantly updated on their contacts with Iran,” Netanyahu says in a video message, released amid continued American efforts to reach a deal with Tehran and reported US pressure for Israel to agree to a ceasefire with Hezbollah.

“Our objectives with the United States are aligned,” Netanyahu continues. “We want to see Iran’s enriched material removed, and we want to see the elimination of its enrichment capability inside Iran. And of course, we want to see the reopening of [key shipping] straits,” he says.

“It is too early to say how this will end, or even how it will progress. In light of the possibility that the war may resume, we are prepared for any scenario,” the premier says.

“In parallel” to fighting Hezbollah, “we are conducting negotiations with Lebanon, talks that…are happening now because we are very strong, and countries are approaching us – not just Lebanon,” Netanyahu says.

“In these negotiations, there are two main goals: first, to push Hezbollah away; and second, to achieve a sustainable peace – a peace through strength,” he adds.

“Our forces continue to strike Hezbollah,” Netanyahu says, saying the fighting is currently focused on dismantling a “major Hezbollah stronghold” in Bint Jbeil, and that he instructed the IDF yesterday “to continue reinforcing the security zone and to extend it eastward, toward the slopes of Mount Hermon,” in support of the Druze population there.

White House: If second round of Iran talks is scheduled, it will likely be held in Pakistan

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, April 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The next round of in-person talks between the US and Iran will likely be held in Pakistan, the White House says, while clarifying that a second meeting hasn’t yet been set, even though efforts toward that end are proceeding productively.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, during a briefing, denies reports that the US has formally requested an extension of the two-week ceasefire with Iran that is slated to expire on April 21.

However, she says that talks with Iran since the US abruptly left the first in-person meeting over the weekend have been “productive and ongoing.”

Asked if the second meeting would again be held in Pakistan, Leavitt responds that the talks “would very likely be in the same place as they were last time.”

“The Pakistanis have been incredible mediators throughout this process… They are the only mediator in this negotiation. While there have been many countries around the world who want to offer their help, the president feels it’s important to continue to streamline this communication through the Pakistanis,” she adds.

As for reporting that China has been supplying weapons to Iran, Leavitt says that Chinese President Xi assured US President Donald Trump that that is not the case, indicating that Washington takes Beijing at its word, as it did when similar allegations were made regarding Russia.

Report: Bennett met with Gantz last week amid push for accord

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett (left) and Blue and White-National Unity Party MK Benny Gantz in a composite image. (Flash90)

Blue and White chair Benny Gantz met with former prime minister Naftali Bennett last Friday, amid growing pressure within his party to reach an accord with Bennett ahead of the next election, according to a Channel 12 report.

According to the report, Gantz is seeking to promote the formation of a broad-based government and is open to sitting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Bennett, who has long been viewed as Netanyahu’s most formidable challenger and has vowed to replace him, nevertheless agreed to meet with Gantz in a move that could signal greater openness on his part to sit with the prime minister.

Recent polling shows Bennett’s party projected to win 19 seats — the highest among parties opposing Netanyahu and second overall to Likud’s 25.

Gantz, who served as defense minister in Bennett and Yair Lapid’s short-lived government in 2021–2022, has faced mounting pressure from opposition figures to quit the race ahead of elections as Blue and White has repeatedly failed to clear the electoral threshold in surveys for months.

Man wrongfully indicted for espionage says appointment of incoming Mossad director is ‘discouraging and frightening’

Ori Elmakayes says it is “discouraging and frightening” that Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman has been appointed as the next director of the Mossad, after Gofman “abandoned” him when Elmakayes was charged with severe espionage offenses for service he performed for the IDF on Gofman’s approval.

“On a personal level [I feel] mostly disappointment that someone like this can continue to be appointed and advance,” Elmakayes tells Channel 12 News in a teaser clip aired ahead of an interview to be broadcast tomorrow.

“It’s discouraging and frightening to think that someone who used me and abandoned me will be responsible for the trust of Mossad agents, and there is a chance that one day he’ll abandon them too,” says Elmakayes.

Elmakayes was held in various forms of detention for 19 months, and indicted by the State Attorney’s Office on grave security offenses before the charges were eventually dropped.

“The impact of what I went through, the memories, the trauma is forever,” Elmakayes told Channel 12.

In 2022, Gofman approved an authorized Arabic-language influence campaign while commanding the IDF’s 210th “Bashan” Regional Division in the Golan Heights, using Elmakayes, who was 17 at the time, to publish classified information online for the purpose of the operation.

As a result, Elmakayes was detained and interrogated by the Shin Bet domestic security agency, held in isolation for two months, charged with espionage offenses, and held in detention for 19 months before the charges were dropped.

Elmakayes has accused Gofman of “abandoning” after he was detained and investigated, and failed to speak up and acknowledge that he approved the operation and Elmakayes’ publication of classified information.

UK school fires DEI head over posts praising Hamas ‘heroes’ after Oct. 7

A school in southwest England has dismissed its head of equality, diversity and inclusion due to social media posts praising Hamas terrorists as “heroes” and “resistance fighters” shortly after the October 7, 2023, attack, according to local media.

The Cabot Learning Federation (CLF), which oversees Bristol Brunel Academy in Bristol, fired Saima Akhtar today after an investigation found that Akhtar wrote a series of inflammatory posts following the attack.

In one post, Akhtar wrote that Palestinians were “heroes fighting for justice,” and urged others to ignore what she called attempts to portray Israel as a victim. She also accused Western governments and media of enabling “ethnic cleansing and genocide.”

Employees of CLF are expected to promote inclusion and reject discrimination as core values “both inside and outside of school,” a spokesperson says, without commenting on the individual case.

Sacked!

The Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at the Bristol school that cancelled a visit from a Jewish Labour MP has reportedly lost her job.

Saima Akhtar held the role at Cabot Learning Federation (CLF), a multi-academy trust which runs Bristol Brunel Academy. The school…

— Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) April 15, 2026

Bristol Brunel Academy sparked controversy last year when it cancelled a planned appearance by Jewish member of parliament Damien Egan after teachers organized a protest over his support for Israel.

Security cabinet said weighing one-week Lebanon truce to begin within days amid US pressure

Smoke and fire rise from southern Lebanon during an Israeli military operation, as seen from northern Israel, April 15, 2026. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet is currently convening to discuss a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, amid growing expectations in Jerusalem that a truce may be unavoidable, Channel 12 reports.

“Our assessment is that within a few days, we will have no choice but to fully cease fire in Lebanon,” a senior Israeli political source tells the Hebrew network, following Israeli and regional reports on the matter.

The US is exerting heavy pressure on Israel to agree to a temporary ceasefire, hoping it will support both US-backed negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, and Washington’s efforts to reach an agreement with Iran, according to the report.

An Israeli security source tells Channel 12 that while Washington seeks to de-escalate the fighting with Hezbollah, it is also sympathetic to Israeli concerns and therefore proposed a temporary ceasefire lasting one week, with the option to return to fighting if a more secure deal is not reached in that time.

The proposal was first raised days ago by top US envoy Steve Witkoff in talks with senior Israeli and regional officials, the report continues, adding that Netanyahu and Israeli officials initially succeeded in persuading the US against the idea, but now understand the US wishes to move ahead with it.

High Court adjourns hearing on Ben Gvir’s dismissal without issuing immediate decision

After a nearly 10-hour hearing on petitions urging the dismissal of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, the High Court of Justice adjourns without issuing an immediate decision on the matter.

During the proceedings, judges repeatedly showed reluctance to grant petitioners their request and order Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismiss the far-right minister.

Instead, they hinted at a plan to enjoin the two to reach an agreement with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara meant to curb Ben Gvir’s influence over law enforcement, without removing him from his post.

Closing out the hearing, High Court president Isaac Amit sharply criticizes Ben Gvir, who appeared at court earlier that morning before a crowd that held signs decrying Israel’s legal system as a “judicial dictatorship.”

As the politician spoke outside the courthouse, his supporters chanted that Amit and other justices were “traitors.”

“Even this hearing that took place here today, to a certain extent, normalized very harsh expressions, to say the least, by Minister Ben Gvir,” Amit says. “When one talks about judges and calls them enemies of the nation, that’s not a criticism, it’s something else.”

UN allocates $12 million for humanitarian aid in Iran

UN Relief Chief Tom Fletcher says $12 million has been allocated for humanitarian support in Iran.

“Thousands of civilians killed. Infrastructure destroyed. Essential services disrupted,” he says on X, referring to the damage caused by 40-day war with Israel and the US.

“This funding will help our partners deliver life-saving assistance at scale,” he says.

Attorney general requests interim court order curbing Ben Gvir’s influence over police

During a High Court hearing on petitions advocating for the dismissal of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a lawyer representing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara requests that judges issue an interim order to curb Ben Gvir’s influence over police.

Shosh Shmueli, speaking for the attorney general, requests that the nine-judge panel forbid Ben Gvir from appointing officers to sensitive positions that deal with investigations, freedom of expression and the police’s legal counsel.

She further asks that the order prevent the far-right minister from participating in police operations that involve friction with civilians, such as house raids or face-to-face discussions with residents.

Her final request is that the court forbid police officers from meeting with Ben Gvir without police chief Danny Levy present.

David Peter, the lawyer representing Ben Gvir, opposes the prospective interim order. “We’re firing the minister without [actually] firing him,” he interjects.

Shmueli puts forth the request as judges appear reluctant to order Ben Gvir’s dismissal. Instead, they have hinted they plan to push for Ben Gvir, Baharav-Miara and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach an agreement meant to rein in the minister.

Shmueli notes that Baharav-Miara came to a legally-binding compromise with Ben Gvir already last year and claims that routine violations on his part rendered the document meaningless.

“We are convinced that our attempt to work according to the agreements failed,” she says. “We believe that this [an agreement] won’t necessarily be a cure for the harm done to individual freedoms.”

Western Galilee councils tell residents to stay close to shelters amid increased threat of Hezbollah rocket fire

The Mateh Asher Regional Council and Nahariya Municipality in the Western Galilee tell residents to remain close to bomb shelters, citing information they received from the military about planned Hezbollah rocket fire from Lebanon.

The IDF has not announced any official changes in guidelines for civilians as of yet. The Western Galilee has been repeatedly targeted by Hezbollah during the conflict.

Pakistani delegation arrives in Tehran for ceasefire talks

Pakistan’s army chief has arrived for talks in Tehran in the latest diplomatic move to ease tensions in the Middle East and arrange a second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran after almost seven weeks of war.

The Pakistani military says the delegation includes Field Marshal Asim Munir, the country’s interior minister and other senior security officials. The group is “part of the ongoing mediation efforts,” the military says, but it gives no details.

Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Saudi Arabia on an official visit to discuss regional issues. A statement from Sharif’s office in Islamabad says he was received at the airport in Jeddah by senior Saudi officials.

Sharif is accompanied by Pakistan’s foreign minister and information minister.

Consumer prices in Israel rose by 0.4% in March, data shows

Consumer prices in March rose from the previous month, led by increases in the costs of fresh vegetables, travel and housing, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics.

On a monthly basis, the consumer price index (CPI) — a measure of inflation that tracks the average cost of household goods — rose in March by 0.4% from February. Average analysts’ expectations were for a 0.5% increase.

The monthly reading takes annual inflation over the past 12 months to 1.9%, which is well within the government’s annual target range of between 1% and 3%.

In March, notable increases were seen in the costs of fresh vegetables, which were up 5.2%, clothing rose by 3%, housing by 0.5% and transportation by 0.4%.

Rents on renewal of contracts soared 2.2%, and rents on contracts for new tenants jumped 5.9%.

These were offset by declines in the prices of furniture and home furnishings and miscellaneous items, which slipped by 0.3% each.

Footage shows settlers breaking into Palestinian homes in South Hebron Hills

Palestinian media outlets publish footage of settlers entering Palestinian homes in Khirbet al-Mirkaz in the South Hebron Hills area of the southern West Bank.

The footage shows the settlers moving around inside a home before leaving the scene.

Israeli settlers stormed Palestinian houses and tents in the town of Khirbet Markaz in Hebron, West Bank.

If a Palestinian tries to defend his home from these terrorists, he will be killed or imprisoned for life. If settlers shoot and kill Palestinians in their own homes,… pic.twitter.com/LVh1wdNrMX

— Ihab Hassan (@IhabHassane) April 15, 2026

In additional footage, one of the settlers is seen alongside armed soldiers in uniform, standing next to the Palestinians’ livestock.

There is no immediate comment from the IDF.

???? فيديو | مستوطنون يحاولون سرقة مواشي في خربة المركز بمسافر يطا جنوبي الخليل، ويقتحمون عدداً من المساكن والكهوف في المنطقة. pic.twitter.com/QCvkGmQQVl

— شبكة يافا الإخبارية (@yaffa_ps) April 15, 2026

Report: US, Iran moving toward ‘framework agreement’ for deal to end war, as US officials say blockade is working

US Vice President JD Vance, right, speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran as Jared Kushner, left, and Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Peace Missions listen, on April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The US and Iran are moving closer to a “framework agreement” that could end the ongoing war, Axios reports, citing two US officials.

Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt have been trying to mediate a return to talks before the 14-day ceasefire ends next week.

According to the report, Trump’s senior negotiating team of US Vice President JD Vance and his top Middle East envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have been speaking by phone with Iran and the mediators, and have been exchanging draft proposals for a deal.

“They were on the phone and backchanneling with all the countries, and they are getting closer,” says one US official.

“We want to make a deal,” says a third official. “And parts of their government want to make a deal. Now the trick is to get the whole of government over there to make the deal.”

Officials tell the US outlet that US President Donald Trump’s blockade of Iranian ports is putting pressure on Iran. “Iran has no money. They’re broke. We know it. And they know we know it,” says an American official.

“What does it say if Iran, a country the world knows for its oil, can’t produce oil?” says an official. “It’s going to be worse than Venezuela under Maduro.”

If a framework deal is reached, the ceasefire would likely be extended to allow for talks to continue, according to the report.

“The details are complicated — you can’t do that in two days,” says a US official.

“The US has not formally agreed to an extension of the ceasefire. There is continued engagement between the US and Iran to reach a deal,” says another official.

IDF chief says new battle plans approved for Iran, Lebanon

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir (right) is seen with Nahal Brigade commander Col. Arik Moyal and other officers in southern Lebanon on April 15, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

During a visit to southern Lebanon today, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir says he approved new battle plans for both Lebanon and Iran.

He also says that over 1,700 Hezbollah operatives have been killed in Lebanon since hostilities escalated last month.

“Yesterday, I approved plans for the future, together with the General Staff Forum. We continue to conduct ongoing situation assessments and approve plans both in Lebanon and in Iran,” he is quoted by the IDF as saying during a visit to the 162nd Division in the Beit Lif area.

“In the joint operation with the US military, we struck the Iranian terror regime severely, stripped them of their defensive capabilities, and weakened them. Now we must not allow them [to attain] achievements in the nuclear issue, in [the Strait of] Hormuz, and in the other issues on the agenda,” Zamir says.

He says that the IDF is at “a very high level of readiness.”

“Air Force aircraft are armed and ready, and the targets are loaded on the systems. We know how to launch them for a powerful strike immediately,” Zamir continues.

“Hezbollah has more than 1,700 killed since the start of the campaign. This is a severe blow to the terror organization,” he says.

Zamir adds that he has instructed “that all the area in southern Lebanon up to the Litani [River] line will become a killing zone for Hezbollah terrorists.”

378 incidents of settler violence in West Bank over 40 days of Iran war, left-wing group reports

Palestinians inspect a torched vehicle following Israeli settlers' rampage through nearby Nablus-area villages on Sunday night, in West Bank village of Deir al-Hatab, Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP/Majdi Mohammed)

During the recent 40 days of hostilities with Iran, there were 378 incidents of extremist settler violence against Palestinians and their property in the West Bank, the Yesh Din organization reports.

These attacks were staged in 148 Palestinian communities and dwellings across the territory, says Yesh Din, which opposes the settlement movement and monitors settler violence.

Eight Palestinians were shot and killed, and 200 were injured by extremist settlers during the period of the Iran war, the group adds.

“Settler violence could be stopped if only there was a real desire on the part of the government and state authorities, but Israel has no motivation to change the situation,” Yesh Din says of the data.

“On the contrary, Israel’s policy encourages criminal settlers and leads to the spread of violent farming outposts across the entire West Bank,” it adds in reference to the tactics of settler activists to establish agricultural settlement outposts designed to displace rural Palestinians from their homes.

“The map of Palestinian communities where settler violence has occurred clearly illustrates the goal of state-backed violence: expelling Palestinians from their lands and pushing them into small, crowded enclaves.”

After three weeks of intense violence by settler radicals against Palestinian civilians, the IDF diverted a battalion that had been slated to enter Lebanon to the West Bank on March 22 in an effort to quell the extremist violence.

Nevertheless, extremists carried out over 120 further incidents of settler violence from that date until the end of the war, according to Yesh Din’s data.

The organization’s figures are based on cross-referenced public statements and reports on settler violence from different sources.

Lebanese official: Positive signs that ceasefire request will be accepted by Israel

An official Lebanese source tells the Qatari Al-Araby television channel that there are positive indications regarding Lebanon’s request for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, but that Beirut has not yet received an update on the matter.

No further details are reported.

Netanyahu holds ‘warm’ conversation with Hungary’s newly elected Magyar, who invites him to visit

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just concluded a “warm introductory conversation” with Hungarian prime minister-elect Peter Magyar, the Prime Minister’s Office says in a statement, three days after Magyar ousted Netanyahu’s longtime ally Viktor Orban.

Magyar told Netanyahu that “he intends to continue the close relations between Hungary and Israel,” and invited the premier to attend a ceremony marking 70 years since the Hungarian Uprising, according to the statement.

Magyar’s invitation indicates that he is open to hosting Netanyahu in Hungary, despite his pledge on Monday to return Budapest to being a member of the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on allegations of war crimes in Gaza. Orban quit the body last year in support of Netanyahu, who visited Budapest shortly after.

Netanyahu “welcomed [Magyar’s] remarks and responded positively,” inviting him to a government-to-government meeting in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu “expressed his confidence that the warm relations maintained with [Orban] will continue during [Magyar’s] tenure,” the PMO continues, adding that the two agreed that both countries’ foreign ministers will meet soon “to discuss the continuation of the close ties between Israel and Hungary.”

President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar congratulated Magyar on his electoral victory earlier in the week.

PM to convene security cabinet at 8 p.m., reportedly to discuss possible Lebanon ceasefire

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a security cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on December 11, 2025. (Ma’ayan Toaf/GPO)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene his security cabinet this evening at 8 p.m., the office of one of the ministers tells The Times of Israel.

A senior Israeli official tells Reuters the cabinet will discuss a possible ceasefire in Lebanon.

JD Vance heckled over Middle East policy at Turning Point USA event

People listen as US Vice President JD Vance speaks during a Turning Point USA event at Akins Ford Arena at the Classic Center in Athens, Georgia, April 14, 2026. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool via AP)

JTA — Vice President JD Vance was interrupted by anti-war hecklers during a Turning Point USA event yesterday, underscoring growing backlash over US policy in the Middle East among young Republicans.

“Jesus Christ does not support genocide,” one person shouted during the event at the University of Georgia. Shortly after, a voice yelled out, “You’re killing children! You’re bombing children!”

“I agree,” Vance responded. “Jesus Christ certainly does not support genocide, whoever yelled that out from the dark.”

But he said the audience should be thankful for the Trump administration’s negotiation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

“You know who’s the person who got a peace agreement in Gaza? Donald J. Trump,” Vance said. “So if you want to complain about what happened in Gaza, why don’t you complain about Joe Biden and the last administration? We’re the administration that solved that problem.”

Vance also addressed criticism of the Iran war later in his remarks during the evening. “I recognize that young voters do not love the policy we have in the Middle East, OK,” he said, adding, “I understand.”

The incident at Turning Point USA, an influential youth organization in conservative politics that was founded by Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who was killed last September, comes as the Republican party has faced blowback over the Iran war from top conservative activists, including Tucker Carlson.

Vance has defended the Iran war in public despite reports he privately opposed entering the conflict. He urged the crowd to remain politically engaged despite potential disagreement with the administration.

“I’m not saying you to have to agree with me on every issue,” Vance said. “What I am saying is: Don’t get disengaged because you disagree with the administration on one topic. Get more involved, make your voice heard even more. That is how we ultimately take the country back.”

Israeli soldier arrested on suspicion of killing West Bank Palestinian last month

An Israeli soldier who is suspected of shooting dead a Palestinian during a settler attack in the West Bank last month was arrested this morning, police say.

Palestinian media reported that during the incident on March 14, several Israeli settlers attacked the village of Qusra and opened fire, killing 28-year-old Amir Moatasem Odeh and wounding others.

IDF troops and police officers were then dispatched to the scene to “disperse the gathering.”

In a statement, the Israel Police says that this morning, a suspect in the shooting was arrested.

The suspect is a soldier “who acted outside the scope of his duties,” police say, adding that his firearm has been confiscated.

The soldier’s remand was extended by a court until Friday.

Senior Israeli official denies Iranian claim of imminent ceasefire in Lebanon

An Israeli official rejects Iran’s claim that a ceasefire will take effect in Lebanon tonight.

“There is no ceasefire in Lebanon,” a senior Israeli official tells The Times of Israel. “It’s in Lebanon and Israel’s mutual interest to dismantle Hezbollah.”

A senior Israeli source tells Hebrew-language outlets that Israel has not received any such ceasefire request.

EU Parliament president: Antisemitism is a ‘poison’ that must be rooted out

Speaking at the opening of the European Jewish Association (EJA) Conference in Brussels, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola delivers a stark warning about antisemitism on the continent, calling it a “poison” that must not be ignored.

“Synagogues attacked. Schools targeted. Ambulances set on fire. Jewish families afraid to walk the streets. These are not isolated incidents — every single one of them is an assault on everything Europe stands for,” Metsola tells the gathering of more than 100 European Jewish leaders.

“Antisemitism is a poison, and like any poison, it cannot be tolerated — it must be rooted out,” Metsola says. “Europe must be a place where Jewish people can live openly, safely, and without fear. Where wearing a kippah is not a risk, where children can go to school without armed guards, and where Jewish life can flourish again in every corner of our continent.”

“We have seen conspiracy theories replace logic, victims blamed, and age-old antisemitic tropes return in the mouths of a new generation,” she continues. “This is how it starts, and Europe, more than any place in the world, knows where it can lead if left unchecked.”

Thank you @EP_President EP president, for sharing this important message, and for your strong words reflected so clearly in your actions, in support of Jewish communities.@EJAssociation Annual Conference pic.twitter.com/rgNdnLb1Rx

— EJA – EIPA (@EJAssociation) April 15, 2026

Leaders at the gathering have called for urgent protections amid rising antisemitism, citing increased violence and fear in public spaces.

At the center of the two-day conference’s agenda is a policy demand for the establishment of Special Protected Minority Status for Jews in European countries, aimed at ensuring enforceable legal protections, security guarantees, and long-term safeguards for Jewish life.

Judge says ordering Ben Gvir’s dismissal would be ‘most extreme step,’ but doesn’t reject possibility outright

High Court Justice Alex Stein calls the prospect of ordering the prime minister to fire National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir “the most extreme step” as judges hear petitioners lay out their case for his dismissal.

“This request, and I’m not rejecting it out of hand, but it is certainly not trivial,” says Stein.

“No country in the world has a mechanism that allows a court to dismiss a minister from his position. It very much could be that this is what must happen here — maybe, maybe not, we must consider it — but we should also be aware that this is the most extreme step,” he continues.

A lawyer representing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who has endorsed the petitions, calls Ben Gvir’s case “much more grave” than that of Shas leader Aryeh Deri, who was removed as cabinet minister after the High Court deemed his appointment “unreasonable in the extreme” due to his history of criminal convictions.

Petitioners argue that Ben Gvir’s history of public statements and alleged illicit intervention in police promotions and decision-making have undermined the force’s independence to the benefit of his political agenda.

“This is at the heart of the court’s role — human rights, police independence, basic values… What is happening right now is a blow to democracy, it’s happening before our eyes,” says Shosh Shmueli, representing the attorney general.

Earlier in the hearing, the court seemed poised to suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ben Gvir and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara enter talks to reach a framework of principles meant to curb his influence over the police.

A similar framework between Ben Gvir and Baharav-Miara fell apart last year and she has accused him of violating the agreement repeatedly.

Iranian official claims one-week ceasefire to begin tonight in Lebanon

Israeli army vehicles and bulldozers operating in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

An Iranian official tells the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen news outlet that a ceasefire will take effect in Lebanon starting tonight.

According to the official, the move comes after pressure from Iran, and the ceasefire will last for one week, until the end of the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

There is no official confirmation from Israel, Lebanon or the US.

Police investigating attempted arson at London synagogue

Police in north London are investigating an overnight attempted arson attack on Finchley Reform Synagogue, treating it as an antisemitic hate crime, authorities and community leaders say.

No injuries were reported and damage to the building was limited, the Community Security Trust (CST) says.

Security has been significantly increased at the site, and the incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime.

Police say two men attempted to set fire to the building but failed. Police are searching for suspects.

We are aware of an attempted arson overnight at Finchley Reform Synagogue that is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime. There were no injuries and no significant damage to the building. We are supporting the affected location and are working closely with the police as they… https://t.co/Cb9k0qMZ2p

— CST (@CST_UK) April 15, 2026

The incident comes amid heightened concern within the Jewish community following recent attacks, including the firebombing of Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green last month and the terror attack on the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur in October, in which two people were killed.

Pakistani delegation likely to visit Iran today to discuss ceasefire efforts, Tehran says

Iran says that exchanges with the United States via Pakistan have continued following failed negotiations over the weekend.

“Since Sunday, when the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran, several messages have been exchanged through Pakistan,” says foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing.

“Today, we are very likely to receive a Pakistani delegation as a continuation of the discussions in Islamabad,” he adds.

The US-Iran negotiations at the weekend in Pakistan took place against the backdrop of a fragile two-week ceasefire announced days earlier, but they failed to produce a deal to end the war.

Shekel strongest since 1995, drops near psychological barrier of NIS 3 to the dollar

Illustration of New Israeli Shekels. September 24, 2023. (Hadar Youavian/FLASH90)

Israel’s shekel continues to appreciate, nearing the psychological barrier of NIS 3 to the dollar, driven by growing optimism for an improvement in Israel’s geopolitical situation.

The shekel is trading at NIS 3.0015 to the dollar. It marks the shekel’s strongest value since 1995. The currency has gained more than 5 percent so far this year.

US has not formally agreed to extend Iran ceasefire, senior US official says

The United States has not formally agreed to the extension of its ceasefire with Iran, a senior official says.

“There is continued engagement between the US and Iran to reach a deal,” a senior US official tells Reuters.

Iran foreign ministry insists on right to enrich uranium, says level negotiable

Centrifuges line a hall at the Uranium Enrichment Facility in Natanz, Iran, in a still image from a video aired by the Islamic Republic Iran Broadcasting company on April 17, 2021, six days after the hall had been damaged in a mysterious attack. (IRIB via AP)

Iran’s foreign ministry says that Tehran’s right to enrich uranium was “indisputable” although the level of enrichment is “negotiable.”

In a weekly press briefing, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy could not be “taken away under pressure or through war.”

“Regarding the level and type of enrichment, we have always stated that this issue is negotiable. We have emphasized that Iran should be able to continue enrichment in accordance with its needs,” he adds.

At Ben Gvir hearing, judge says new police incitement department evokes Soviet institutions

High Court Justice Alex Stein says police’s fledgling incitement department, established by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, evokes “parallel institutions” that existed in East Germany and the former Soviet Union.

Stein, who immigrated to Israel from the Soviet Union as a teen, makes the remark during a hearing on petitions demanding Ben Gvir’s dismissal, based on claims the far-right minister has illegally interfered in police decision making to benefit his political interests.

One of the examples petitioners cite in their argument is the recent establishment of a new body within the police to investigate online incitement.

The department’s activities were recently frozen on a court order after its head Ch. Supt. Udi Ronen, who was appointed by Ben Gvir, reportedly asked officers to send him names of individuals that “interest or concern them,” with the goal of monitoring their social media posts.

“I don’t get it. When did investigating incitement to terrorism become a problematic occurrence?” Ben Gvir’s lawyer, David Peter, says during the hearing.

“It’s not just incitement to terrorism, the definition [of the department’s mission] is very wide, and evokes parallel organizations in East Germany and the former Soviet Union,” Stein replies.

Mediators move closer to extending US-Iran ceasefire, officials tell AP

Mediators’ efforts to extend a ceasefire between the United States and Iran have made progress as the warring sides are expected to return soon to the table for another round of negotiations, regional officials tell the Associated Press.

The officials say mediators aim to extend the ceasefire, which is due to expire on April 22, for at least another two weeks to allow diplomacy another chance. They say that both sides gave an “in principle agreement” to extend the ceasefire.

One of the officials, who is involved in the mediation efforts, says mediators were working on a compromise to the three main disputed points, including the nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and war compensation.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter.

New Gaza flotilla sets sail from Spain after weather delay

A flotilla sets off, carrying activists and humanitarian aid bound for the Gaza Strip, from Barcelona, Spain, April 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra)

Dozens of boats carrying activists and symbolic aid for Palestinians in Gaza set sail from the northeastern Spanish city of Barcelona.

Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla say that more than 70 boats and 1,000 people from around the world will participate.

Nearly 40 boats were leaving Barcelona while the rest will join the fleet from other ports along the Mediterranean as they sail eastward, according to Thiago Ávila, one of the flotilla’s leaders, who spoke at a news conference in Barcelona on Sunday during a symbolic send-off event. Bad weather had forced organizers to delay their departure, which was originally planned for April 12.

As attention has turned to the Iran war, activists hope that their latest mission will revive attention to the plight of Palestinians living in Gaza.

“We sail because governments have failed,” says Saif Abukeshek, a Palestinian activist and member of the flotilla’s global steering committee.

Last week, Gaza marked six months since a ceasefire.

Much of the ceasefire work remains to be done, from disarming Hamas and ending its rule to deploying an international stabilization force and beginning vast reconstruction. Around 2 million Gaza residents are still living in ruins.

Israeli officials repeatedly denounced attempts to reach Gaza by sea as publicity stunts, noting that the aid the boats carry was insignificant compared to the hundreds of trucks routinely entering Gaza

Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of a blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from importing arms.

Ben Gvir’s lawyer tells court that effort to oust him is a bid to overturn will of his voters

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir speaks to the media outside the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, April 15, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Speaking before the High Court of Justice, the lawyer for National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir decries petitions demanding the far-right politician’s dismissal as a bid to “tear up the ballots” of all who voted for him.

“Today, there is not a police station in the State of Israel whose commander the minister [Ben Gvir] didn’t appoint,” says David Peter, Ben Gvir’s attorney. “There are people who just can’t swallow this, they can’t swallow the democratic outcome.”

Petitioners accuse the minister of interfering unlawfully in police decision making, subjecting law enforcement to political pressures that risk undermining its independence.

Among the many instances of the alleged interference cited in the petitions were his attempts to block the promotions of two police investigators, Rinat Saban and Ruti Hauslich. In Saban’s case, a judge said the minister was motivated by “external considerations” and ordered that she be promoted without his signature.

But Peter accuses petitioners of taking issue with Ben Gvir’s influence over police in general.

“The story isn’t Ruti Hauslich, it’s not Rinat Saban… This is about the one thousand police appointments that have occurred [during his term]. That’s the story, that’s what’s so hard to swallow,” he says, purporting that critics are frustrated that Ben Gvir is “succeeding in working within the framework of the law.”

Erdogan says Turkey working to extend Iran ceasefire, continue talks

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a signing ceremony during his official visit at the National Palace in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 17, 2026. (Marco Simoncelli/AFP)

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan says that Ankara was working to extend a ceasefire between the US and Iran, ease tensions, and ensure the continuation of talks, and added Turkey was hopeful of negotiations despite stumbling blocks.

Turkey, a neighbor of Iran, has been in close touch with the US, Iran, and mediator Pakistan.

“Statements by the sides show that, while the negotiation table has not been toppled, they have reached a road bump on the nuclear issue,” he tells lawmakers in parliament, adding tensions were also flaring again over the Strait of Hormuz.

“We are conveying the necessary suggestions and carrying out initiatives to ease tensions, extend the ceasefire, and maintain talks. There can be no negotiating with clenched fists,” Erdogan adds.

Iran military warns will block Red Sea if US naval blockade continues

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black conducts a routine maritime exercise with the Israeli Navy's Sa'ar 5-class corvette INS Eilat in the Red Sea following a previously scheduled port call, on February 1, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

Iran’s military warns it would block trade through the Red Sea, along with the Gulf and Sea of Oman, if the US naval blockade continues.

In a statement carried by Iranian state television, the head of Iran’s military central command center says if the US continues with its blockade and “creates insecurity for Iran’s commercial vessels and oil tankers,” it will constitute “a prelude” to violating the ceasefire.

“The powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea,” says Ali Abdollahi.

Blockading the Red Sea would like involve activating the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Trump says he asked China’s Xi not to give Iran weapons

US President Donald Trump, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose ahead of their summit talk at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

US President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping in a letter not to give Iran weapons, and Xi responded that China was not supplying Tehran, Trump told Fox Business Network in an interview that aired today.

Trump, in the interview taped on Tuesday, did not say when the letters were exchanged. Last week, he threatened countries with an immediate 50% tariff if they supplied Iran with weapons.

“I wrote him a letter asking him not to do that, and he wrote me a letter saying that, essentially, he’s not doing that,” Trump told FBN’s “Mornings with Maria” program.

He also said he did not expect shifts in the global oil market over the war on Iran and changes in Venezuela to impact the dynamics of his planned meeting with Xi next month. “He’s somebody that needs oil. We don’t,” Trump said.

IDF says Air Force hit over 200 Hezbollah targets in recent days

First responders and security forces work at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle the Lebanese town of Jiyeh, south of Beirut, on April 15, 2026. (Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT / AFP)

The Israeli Air Force struck over 200 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon over the past day, the military says.

The IDF says the targets included terror operatives, buildings used by the terror group, and some 20 rocket launchers — including some used in attacks on Israel.

Notably, the IDF has not conducted any strikes against Hezbollah in Beirut or deeper in Lebanon in the past week.

ביממה האחרונה הותקפו יותר מ-200 מטרות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בדרום לבנון. בין התשתיות שהותקפו: מחבלים, מבנים צבאיים וכ-20 משגרים, בהם משגרים ששיגרו לעבר שטח הארץ והושמדו בסגירות מעגל מהירות. pic.twitter.com/LeR2mr37Vv

— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) April 15, 2026

Thousands more US troops head to region with 7 days left in US-Iran ceasefire – report

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush sails in the Atlantic Ocean, Feb. 6, 2026 (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John R. Farren)

Over 10,000 more US troops will reach the Middle East this month, US officials tell The Washington Post.

There are 6,000 soldiers on the USS George H.W. Bush and its carrier group, which is sailing around Africa on its way to the region. Another 4,200 troops are in the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, which is scheduled to reach the region at the end of April, according to the report.

The Boxer group includes the over 800 marines, along with helicopters and landing craft.

US President Donald Trump’s two-week ceasefire with Iran ends next Wednesday, but could be extended.

When the USS George H.W. Bush arrives, it will join two other carrier groups — the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald Ford — in the region, both of which participated in the fighting against Iran.

Two US officials tell the outlet that planning continues for a range of ground operations in Iran, including landing special forces to take Iran’s highly enriched uranium, and landings on islands and the coast around the Strait of Hormuz.

Knesset panel chair rejects legal adviser’s call for transferring media bill to Economics Committee

Likud MK Galit Distel-Atbaryan, who chairs the special committee to advance the government’s controversial media overhaul bill, rejects a call by Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik to transfer deliberations on the bill from her leadership to the Knesset Economics Committee.

The dispute follows a heated session earlier this week in which the Distel-Atbaryan barred the panel’s legal staff from speaking, prompting them to walk out.

Distel-Atbaryan says before the committee today, “The legal adviser’s recommendation is not acceptable to me. I will continue to lead this committee.”

The chair reiterates her unsubstantiated accusations that the legal staff is deliberately delaying proceedings after she refused to accept their recommendations, which she claims were based on instructions from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who opposes the bill.

“Because I am not willing to transfer all control over the media to Baharav-Miara, today I receive a letter instructing that the law be moved to the Economics Committee,” Distel-Atbaryan says.

Judge tells hearing Ben Gvir’s backing of police officers is conditioned on politics

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (right) and Deputy Commissioner Nachshon Nagler (left), commander of the Border Police's National Guard force, tour the Bedouin town of Tarabin al-Sana during a police raid on December 31, 2025. (Charlie Summers/Times of Israel)

High Court Justice Isaac Amit says that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has routinely given public support to police officers, but only if they have done something to benefit a particular agenda.

“We see, and this isn’t [just] a feeling, that the minister very much supports the police officers — that’s fantastic — but only if they do something for one side,” the judge says to David Peter, the lawyer representing Ben Gvir in a hearing on his potential dismissal.

“No way,” the lawyer interjects.

“Wait a second, allow me to finish,” Amit continues, and proceeds to give examples. “He supports the officers that hit a protester… When someone [an officer] kills an Arab, whether in the West Bank, East Jerusalem or Tarabin [al-Sana], there is support,” he says.

Peter accuses the judge of quoting “a collection of news articles,” before Amit contradicts him: “This is all from the mouth of the minister.”

Meanwhile, when “police beat Haredim at Mount Meron [during Lag B’Omer], there is no support, they are immediately accused,” Amit continues.

“This isn’t true, it’s not true. Just because the court says something doesn’t make it true,” the lawyer responds, raising his voice.

Peter is representing Ben Gvir during a hearing on petitions demanding the court order the prime minister to fire the far-right minister, claiming he has exercised unlawful influence over the police, in part through public statements in support of officers implicated in potentially criminal offenses.

Knesset legal adviser urges transfer of media overhaul bill from special panel, citing flawed process

MK Galit Distel-Atbaryan leads a special committee meeting at the Knesset on December 16, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik calls for deliberations on Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s controversial media overhaul bill to be transferred from the special committee created to advance the legislation to the Knesset’s Economics Committee, warning that the current proceedings no longer meet the basic requirements of a proper legislative process.

The demand follows a heated committee session this week in which chair Likud MK Galit Distel-Atbaryan barred the panel’s legal staff from speaking, triggering a shouting match and the removal of opposition lawmakers. Afik said in her letter that she had instructed the legal advisers to leave the meeting after they were prevented from presenting their professional position.

In a sharply worded letter to Distel-Atbaryan, Afik rejects her claim that the committee’s legal advisers are responsible for “the many problems with the bill and its deliberations,” and says that “the committee’s conduct itself has created these problems, through the failure to receive answers from government bodies, the failure to transfer data, and the failure to make decisions on key issues alongside the accelerated reading of the bill.”

She asserts that it has become clear that “even the basic conditions of a proper legislative process are not being met” and reiterates her position that “a proper legislative process requires deliberation on the entire bill in the committee authorized to do so — the Economics Committee.”

The special media panel was established in December to bypass the Knesset Economics Committee, which would normally discuss this kind of legislation, because of opposition from its chair, Likud MK David Bitan, who previously blocked Karhi’s bill to shut down the Kan public broadcaster.

IDF says it shot terrorist trying to cross Gaza ceasefire line

The IDF says troops stationed in the northern Gaza Strip killed a Palestinian terror operative who crossed the ceasefire line today.

Soldiers of the Gaza Division’s Northern Brigade “identified a terrorist who crossed the Yellow Line and approached the troops in a manner that posed an immediate threat,” the IDF says, adding that “immediately after the identification, the troops eliminated the terrorist to remove the threat.”

Russia says Iran has ‘inalienable right’ to enrich uranium for civilian purposes

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov walks for a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Iori Sagisawa/Pool Photo via AP)

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that “the right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes is an inalienable right of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Whether Iran, in its negotiations with the United States, decides to “pause” or “insists on preserving this right,” Russia will accept “any approach based on this principle, the principle of the universality of the right to enrichment,” Lavrov tells reporters in Beijing, where he was on a two-day visit this week.

Lavrov emphasizes that Russia and China “firmly support” the talks to end the Mideast war, “so that the parties can advance realistic and fair goals, fully respecting the legitimate rights of each party, in accordance with international law.”

Iran is a signatory to the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which gives countries the right to peaceful nuclear energy programs with safeguards, but does not explicitly mention enrichment.

At Ben Gvir hearing, judge casts doubt on PM’s claim of no change to Temple Mount status quo

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, left, and Rabbi Elisha Wolfson of the Temple Mount Yeshiva at the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem on April 12, 2026. (Credit: Otzma Yehudit)

Justice Isaac Amit casts doubt on the government’s claim that there has been no change in the status quo on the Temple Mount, during a hearing on the potential dismissal of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Amit asks Michael Rabilo, the lawyer representing the government, whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that under Ben Gvir, there has been a change in the status quo at the flashpoint holy site. Rabilo confirms that Netanyahu believes the status quo remains intact.

“If I’m not mistaken, Minister Ben Gvir sort of flaunts the changes on the Temple Mount,” Amit responds, hinting at the apparent dissonance between the two politicians.

Ben Gvir, who oversees police, is attending a hearing on four petitions demanding his dismissal. The petitioners claim he has exerted unlawful influence over law enforcement during his term as minister.

Since he took office, police have become increasingly lax when it comes to Jewish worship on the Temple Mount, a tense holy site in Jerusalem venerated by both Jews and Muslims.

Under an informal agreement between Israel and Jordan, which administers the site, non-Muslim prayer is forbidden atop the Temple Mount. However, this is routinely flouted, with police permitting Jews to pray and even prostrate themselves in certain areas of the complex.

Ben Gvir himself has prayed several times at the site since becoming minister, and several days ago was seen singing at the steps leading up to the Dome of the Rock, sparking condemnation from Jordan.

Despite all this Netanyahu has repeatedly asserted there is no change to the status quo.

Judge hints court could seek compromise instead of ordering dismissal of Ben Gvir

A court hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, April 15, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Justice Noam Solberg hints that the High Court of Justice may attempt to revive a legally binding agreement meant to curb National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s influence over the police, rather than order his dismissal by the prime minister.

The nine judges are currently hearing petitions urging Ben Gvir be sacked over claims he has unlawfully interfered with and politicized law enforcement, mainly by way of stonewalling officers’ promotions and issuing statements against police investigations.

Solberg asks Michael Rabilo, the lawyer representing the government, whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ben Gvir and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara would be willing to return to negotiations and reach an agreement on curbing the minister’s interference in police decision making.

“The framework of principles was accepted by Minister Ben Gvir and there is a dispute as to whether he violated it. Ben Gvir argued that he did not violate it, and the prime minister accepted his position,” Rabilo responds.

Solberg urges him to “move beyond” the question of who violated the agreement and look to the future. “Is it agreed, from your perspective, to put [the agreement] into practice until the elections?” to which Rabilo responds, “Definitely.”

Palestinian shot during alleged stabbing attempt in West Bank

A Palestinian who allegedly attempted to stab an Israeli man at a West Bank farming outpost was shot and “neutralized,” the military says.

The IDF says troops were dispatched to the Emek Doron farm, near the settlement of Revava, following “a report of a terrorist who tried to carry out a stabbing attack.”

Aside from the suspect, no other injuries are reported.

Former armored brigade’s battalion commander returns to head unit after successor wounded in Lebanon fighting

Lt. Col. Daniel Ella, the commander of the 401st Armored Brigade’s 52nd Battalion, speaks to reporters in Gaza City's Tuffah neighborhood, January 21, 2024. (Emanuel Fabian/ Times of Israel)

Following the injury of the commander of the 401st Armored Brigade’s 52nd Battalion in southern Lebanon yesterday, Lt. Col. Daniel Ella, a previous commander of the battalion, will return to the role temporarily, the military says.

Ella, as the 52nd Battalion commander, was moderately wounded during fighting in Gaza in July 2024.

He was replaced by Lt. Col. Yehuda Shalev, who was later severely wounded in October 2024. Ella then briefly returned to serve as acting battalion commander until the latest commander — seriously wounded yesterday — entered the role.

Now, Ella will again serve as acting commander of the battalion.

Kanye West postpones Marseille concert after French authorities say they’ll seek a ban

Kanye West and Bianca Censori attend the 67th GRAMMY Awards on February 2, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images via AFP)

Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, postpones his upcoming show in the city of Marseille after French authorities said they would seek to ban the concert.

The decision by Ye came a week after he was banned from entering the UK, where he was scheduled to headline the Wireless Festival in July, following a backlash over the artist’s history of antisemitic remarks.

“After much thought and consideration, it is my sole decision to postpone my show in Marseille, France until further notice,” Ye writes on X. “I know it takes time to understand the sincerity of my commitment to make amends.”

The rapper, who changed his name in 2021, had been expected to play at Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome on June 11.

French Interior minister Laurent Nuñez had pledged to explore “all possibilities” to make sure the show would not go on as planned, according to his office.

Earlier this year, Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan opposed the rapper’s visit to one of France’s most multicultural cities, which has a history of immigration stretching back centuries.

“I refuse to let Marseille be a showcase for those who promote hatred and unabashed Nazism,” Payan said. “Kanye West is not welcome at the Vélodrome, our temple of community and home to all Marseillais.”

Ye has drawn widespread condemnation for making antisemitic remarks and voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler.

Ye released a song called “Heil Hitler” and advertised a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website last year. Officials in Australia canceled the musician’s visa in July after the release of the single.

The 48-year-old apologized in January with a letter published as a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal. He said his bipolar disorder led him to fall into “a four-month long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life.”

Ye says in his latest message on X, “I take full responsibility for what’s mine but I don’t want to put my fans in the middle of it. My fans are everything to me. Looking forward to the next shows. See you at the top of the globe.”

IDF reiterates evacuation warning for southern Lebanon

The IDF reiterates its wide-scale evacuation warning for southern Lebanon, as the fighting against Hezbollah continues.

“Hezbollah’s terror activities are forcing the IDF to act strongly against it. Strikes are ongoing… therefore, for your safety, we again urge you to evacuate your homes immediately and move at once to north of the Zahrani River,” says army spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee on X.

The IDF has repeated this warning numerous times in recent weeks.

عاجل‼️ انذار عاجل إلى سكان جنوب لبنان المتواجدين جنوب نهر الزهراني

🔸إن نشاطات حزب الله الإرهابية تُجبر جيش الدفاع على العمل ضده بقوة في تلك المنطقة وهو لا ينوي المساس بكم.

🔴الغارات مستمرة حيث يعمل جيش الدفاع بقوة كبيرة في المنطقة. ولذلك وحرصًا على سلامتكم نعود ونناشدكم… pic.twitter.com/wrsh0cO2zT

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) April 15, 2026

Ships seen using evasion tactics to travel through Hormuz

Vessels and a boat at the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman, April 12, 2026. (Reuters)

Amid the American naval blockade on Iran, maritime intelligence experts say they have observed a rise in evasive shipping behavior around the Strait of Hormuz, The New York Times reports.

Most large commercial vessels must travel with a transponder that broadcasts the ship’s name, location, route, and other identifying details.

“Now, we are starting to see vessels going dark or using ‘zombie’ or random identification,” says Ami Daniel, chief of Windward, a maritime intelligence firm, in an interview with the NYT.

During the war, Iranian ships had “almost no need to go off radar,” but in the past day, more ships appear to be spoofing or manipulating their signals, Daniel says, adding that vessels linked to Iran are being “a bit more cautious.”

Maritime analysts have cautioned during the recent weeks of conflict around the strait that ships’ signals in the region have been disrupted and manipulated, making precise tracking difficult.

Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported that more than 20 commercial ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the previous 24 hours.

Earlier, the US Central Command said no ships had made it past its naval blockade of Iran’s ports and coastal areas, and six merchant ships had followed orders to turn back.

Judge says Ben Gvir violated agreement not to interfere with police ‘dozens’ of times; 4 lawmakers ejected from hearing

MK Tally Gotliv (c) at court hearing on the dismissal of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, April 15, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Justice Khaled Kabub, during a hearing on the potential dismissal of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, says that the far-right politician has violated an agreement he signed that was meant to curb his interference in police decisions “dozens” of times.

Kabub is part of a nine-judge panel hearing petitions demanding the court order the prime minister to dismiss Ben Gvir from his position, claiming he has exercised unlawful influence over police decision making and undermined the force’s independence.

The agreement, which he signed last year as a compromise with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, was meant to prevent him from interfering in police’s handling of protests and investigations, as well as bar him from getting involved in the promotions of low and mid-level officers.

“When the minister makes statements against the police itself… that statement by the minister damages the police’s professional ability to fulfill its role,” Kabub says, noting that Ben Gvir has several times spoken publicly against police investigations and indictments filed by its prosecution unit. “It is a blow to the police, which he is responsible for, and this is the big paradox.”

The attorney representing the government objects to Kabub’s assessment and argues that one must see “what is actually happening” within the police itself.

Meanwhile, Justice Isaac Amit, the High Court’s president, removes four coalition lawmakers from the courtroom — MKs Tally Gotliv, May Golan, Limor Son Har Melech and Idit Silman — after they repeatedly interrupt the judicial proceedings.

Coalition members slam High Court for hearing petition to remove Ben Gvir

People demonstrate in support of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir outside the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, April 15, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition accuse the High Court of undermining Israeli democracy by holding a hearing to consider petitions demanding the removal of ultra-nationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Today is “a sad day for democracy,” coalition whip Ofir Katz (Likud) posts on X, arguing that today’s hearing, “which should not have taken place at all, makes clear to us the dangers inherent in the strengthening of the deep state,” echoing repeated claims by Netanyahu that an unelected cabal of officials is exercising illegitimate state power and is out to thwart him.

“In the current case, we see a panel of nine judges discussing without cause the dismissal of a minister who was legally elected and who is serving legally. We see an attorney general and the head of the Shin Bet joining forces to locate materials against a political echelon,” Katz continues, likely referring to unsubstantiated claims by Ben Gvir that the security agency is spying on politicians.

“The deep state is trying to take power, trying to take away the voter’s decision from you. We cannot let this happen. No matter what the decision is, Ben Gvir will remain minister, as the public wants,” he says echoing a statement from Justice Minister Yariv Levin that the government would ignore any order to remove Ben Gvir.

The ultra-Orthodox Shas party also slams the court for holding a hearing on Ben Gvir’s dismissal, stating that the very fact it is engaged in such deliberations “on political grounds” is “absurd and a symbol of the loss of restraint and the trampling of democracy by the justices of the High Court.”

“The authority to appoint and dismiss ministers is given by law only to the prime minister. The court has no authority to discuss this, and it should have rejected the petition outright,” Shas says.

Ukraine ‘angry’ about Israel allowing Russian ship with stolen grain to reach Haifa

Ukraine is “angry” about Israel allegedly allowing a Russian ship with stolen Ukrainian grain to dock in Haifa, Kyiv’s Ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk tells The Times of Israel.

“Israel wouldn’t be very happy if we started buying from Iran,” says the ambassador. “We avoid doing that. We believe we can request the same from you related to Russia.”

On March 27, he gave the Foreign Ministry’s Economic Department evidence indicating that the ship was carrying the stolen grain, but — according to Korniychuk — Israel has been waiting for an official request from the Ukrainian prosecutor general.

Israel’s Ambassador to Kyiv Michael Brodsky received the official request and Ukrainian court injunction yesterday and passed them to the Foreign Ministry.

“The Foreign Ministry, the Justice Ministry, and Israeli customs all knew about this,” Korniychuk says. “At least they could delay it until they received further information, but they didn’t.”

“This is clearly in violation of the international law and the agreements that have been made by both countries,” says Korniychuk. “So we are trying to go to work within the guidelines of the current bilateral rules.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reached out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office on Friday for a second time in recent weeks in an attempt to arrange the first phone call between the leaders in well over a year, an Israeli and a Ukrainian source tell The Times of Israel.

Zelensky’s office turned down the request, citing scheduling issue, but efforts continue to try to arrange a conversation.

Shas files complaint against judges for ruling on Shabbat

Anti-war protesters take cover at an underground parking lot in Tel Aviv as a siren sounds warning of incoming ballistic missiles fired toward Israel, April 4, 2026. (Flash90)

The ultra-Orthodox Shas party submits a formal complaint against High Court justices Isaac Amit, Khaled Kabub, and Yechiel Kasher to state ombudsman for judges Asher Kola over the trio’s recent ruling permitting anti-war protests on a larger scale than permitted under the IDF Home Front’s regulations, over the fact the ruling was made on Shabbat.

The interim order, which was made prior to the ceasefire with Iran, drew criticism from nationalist and religious politicians, who objected to the fact that it had been issued on Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest.

In a statement, Shas MK Yinon Azulai calls the ruling “a severe blow to the Sabbath and public sentiment,” alleging that the court had violated the Hours of Work and Rest Law and charging that “the very act of holding the proceeding on the Sabbath and the requirement to submit responses were unjustified” and did not stem from the kind of life-threatening emergency that would have permitted such activity.

In his complaint, Azulai argues that such actions “constitute a serious violation of the rule of law” and “public trust,” warranting an investigation.

High Court starts hearing on dismissal of Ben Gvir, public barred amid fear of unrest

Justice Isaac Amit, the High Court's president at the court in Jerusalem, April 15, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The High Court of Justice convenes to hear petitions demanding judges order the prime minister to dismiss National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

The public is barred from the court, but proceedings are being streamed live, amid fears that permitting public attendance will lead to disorder and disrupt the proceedings.

Right-wing Israelis continue to demonstrate outside the building against the minister’s potential dismissal, waving signs decrying the High Court as a “judicial dictatorship.”

Justice Isaac Amit, the High Court’s president, is chairing a nine-judge panel to hear the four petitions, all of which demand Ben Gvir’s dismissal on the basis that he has consistently and unlawfully interfered in police decision making, particularly when it comes to protests and investigations, eroding the force’s independence.

At the hearing’s outset, Amit orders Deputy Minister Almog Cohen, from Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party, be removed from the courtroom after he derides the judge as “corrupt” and demands he recuse himself from the case.

Foreign press group urges vigilance after IDF shares altered image of Lebanese journalist killed in strike

The Foreign Press Association is urging journalists to be “vigilant in accepting handout materials” from the IDF “at face value,” after the military circulated a digitally manipulated image of a Lebanese journalist it killed in an airstrike after alleging he was a Hezbollah operative.

On March 28, the IDF published an image of Hezbollah-affiliated journalist Ali Shoeib, showing him split between two depictions: one unedited, in a press vest, and another altered to show him in Hezbollah uniform. The military said he had been targeted as a Radwan Force operative acting “under the guise of a journalist.”

🔴ELIMINATED: For years, Ali Hassan Shaib operated as a Hezbollah Radwan Force terrorist under the guise of a journalist.

Turns out the “press vest” was just a cover for terror. pic.twitter.com/24F7MJ3Yth

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 28, 2026

“This image turned out to be fake,” the FPA says in a statement, adding that it was intended to “discredit” Shoeib, who was killed alongside two other journalists.

“During the recent wars, it has been common practice by the Israeli military to discredit journalists and sow doubt by releasing inaccurate information and raising allegations without providing clear evidence,” the group adds.

A day after the edited image was published, the IDF released what appeared to be an unaltered image of Shoeib in military attire, standing near a tank.

Ali Shaib was officially recruited as a member of Hezbollah’s military wing in 2020, but in practice had been cooperating with the terrorist organization since 2013. His role in the intelligence unit was to film intelligence information and transfer it to the Radwan Force, all… pic.twitter.com/Y0IWDov1CW

— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) March 29, 2026

Israel has faced repeated accusations of targeting journalists since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack, particularly in Gaza, where foreign press has been barred from entering since the war began.

The IDF has consistently denied the allegations, saying it takes steps to minimize civilian harm while maintaining that some journalists killed in strikes were affiliated with terror groups.

Satellite imagery shows Iran removing debris from blocked tunnel entrance at underground missile base

New satellite imagery shows that Iran has been removing debris from a blocked tunnel entrance at a subterranean missile base near Tabriz.

Digital mapping platform SoarAtlas says the Airbus images show equipment at the blocked tunnel entrance, “with a line of dump trucks waiting nearby as crews work to restore access.”

Satellite imagery from Airbus on Apr 10 shows equipment removing debris at a blocked tunnel entrance at a missile base south of Tabriz, Iran.

Georeferenced for before‑and‑after comparison here: https://t.co/fLZu9enJIN#IranWar #MiddleEast #Iran pic.twitter.com/L4bHxOJJI5

— Soar (@SoarAtlas) April 15, 2026

Additional satellite imagery published by SoarAtlas shows “active debris removal” from another missile base in Khomeyn.

Satellite imagery from Airbus on Apr 10 shows active debris removal in Khomeyn. Despite strikes destroying the entrances, the internal infrastructure appears intact.

Georeferenced for before‑and‑after comparison here: https://t.co/28bgzBLqiu#IranWar #MiddleEast #Iran pic.twitter.com/aViIcy9nib

— Soar (@SoarAtlas) April 15, 2026

In an effort to reduce Iran’s ballistic missile fire during the war, the Israeli and American militaries struck and collapsed tunnel entrances at underground Iranian bases, to prevent Iran from bringing out missiles and launchers stored there.

Nazareth woman charged with spying for Iran, filming Haifa oil refinery

A woman from the northern city of Nazareth is charged today with spying for Iran and filming sensitive sites, including the Haifa oil refinery, the police and Shin Bet announce.

The statement says that Shomua Abu Abed was detained in March and had been passing information to a foreign agent since October in exchange for cryptocurrency.

Abu Abed allegedly carried out numerous missions, including photographing security sites in Israel, IDF bases, and the refinery in Haifa, as well as transmitting information about an Israeli citizen — a former security official, the statement says.

Police have over the past two years arrested more than 50 suspected spies for Iran in roughly 38 cases that have been made public.

Bennett names 23-year-old reservist activist Yonatan Shalev to party slate

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett (right) with activist Yonatan Shalev in a photo released on April 15, 2026 (Courtesy Bennett 2026)

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett appoints Yonatan Shalev, the 23-year-old co-founder of the Shoulder to Shoulder movement, as the newest addition to his party’s electoral ticket.

In a joint statement, the movement, which represents reservists and young soldiers and advocates for Haredi conscription, says that Bennett’s party is its “moral and natural home” and that the group had joined Bennett “because only he has proven that he will fix Israel and build a better future for the youth of Israel.”

While the announcement does not state what spot Shalev is being given, it does say that he will be at the “forefront” of the party electoral list and leadership.

“Naftali Bennett is the only leader who can rehabilitate the people and rebuild the country,” says Shalev.

“On October 7, when Israel’s leadership collapsed, the younger generation stood up, fought and saved the State of Israel. We discovered that we have the best younger generation in the history of the State of Israel. Towards the day after, we need the energies of this wonderful generation to lift Israel up again,” says Bennett.

Earlier this week, Bennett announced the first two members of his slate: Keren Terner, who resigned as director general of the Finance Ministry in 2021, and Liran Avisar Ben-Horin, who resigned as director general of the Communications Ministry in 2023.

3 wounded in Tehran by improvised explosive devices

Two remotely operated, improvised explosive devices detonated in Tehran early today, Iran’s state media reports.

A Revolutionary Guard security source says the explosions slightly injured three people including a member of the paramilitary Basij, an all-volunteer force loyal to the Islamic Republic, the Islamic Republic News Agency says.

The state media agency reports a third device was defused.

Mohammad Balideh, a Revolutionary Guard commander for Tehran region 10, told the Hamshahri newspaper “the situation is normal and under control.”

“Nothing extraordinary happened here, just a limited explosion on the street at the hands of traitorous and unpatriotic elements, with no fatalities or serious damages,” Balideh says.

Outside court hearing on his future, Ben Gvir says he is not the AG’s ‘puppet’

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir speaks to reporters ahead of a hearing on his potential dismissal in the High Court of Justice in Jerusalem on April 15, 2026. (Charlie Summers/Times of Israel)

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir hits out against the judicial system, asserting he is not a “puppet for the State Attorney’s Office,” ahead of a High Court hearing on his potential dismissal.

“[Attorney General] Gali Baharav-Miara says that I am deciding policy and changing the police — she is correct,” he says to applause, speaking to reporters outside the court in Jerusalem.

This morning, a nine-judge panel is scheduled to hear petitions demanding the prime minister fire Ben Gvir, arguing he has unlawfully interfered with police decision-making, especially when it comes to their handling of protests and investigations, undermining their independence.

Several hundred protesters are gathered outside the building in support of Ben Gvir, sounding blowhorns and waving signs vowing to “put an end to the judicial dictatorship.”

Two vehicles said targeted by IDF near Beirut

Lebanese media reports that at least two vehicles were targeted in Israeli strikes on a coastal highway south of Beirut.

The vehicles were struck near the seaside towns of Jiyeh and Saadiyat, some 70 kilometers north of Israel’s border, according to the reports.

There is no immediate comment from the IDF.

بالفيديو: مشاهد من الغارة الاسرائيلية التي استهدفت السعديات pic.twitter.com/lgSCj3ycpz

— Lebanon Debate (@lebanondebate) April 15, 2026

UN nuclear chief urges strict Iran checks in any deal to end war

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi arrives for a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog says that “very detailed” measures to verify Iran’s nuclear activities must be included in a potential US-Iran agreement to end their war in the Middle East.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi stresses the need for a thorough verification regime for Iran’s nuclear program, as US President Donald Trump said that a second round of talks with Iran could happen over the next two days.

“Iran has a very ambitious, wide nuclear program so all of that will require the presence of IAEA inspectors,” Grossi tells reporters in Seoul. “Otherwise, you will not have an agreement. You will have an illusion of an agreement.”

He says that any agreement on nuclear technology “requires very detailed verification mechanisms.”

Iran has not allowed the IAEA access to its nuclear facilities bombed by Israel and the United States during a 12-day war in June, according to a confidential IAEA report circulated to member states in February.

Justice minister vows not to obey High Court if it rules ‘my friend’ Ben Gvir must be fired

Justice Minister Yariv Levin and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir talk at the Knesset in Jerusalem on September 29, 2024 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Justice Minister Yariv Levin vows that if the High Court of Justice rules that ultra-nationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir must be removed from office, the government will not respect the decision, referring to the far-right lawmaker as “my friend.”

“The hearing taking place this morning to oust Minister Ben Gvir is unlawful, and the decision of the judges will regardless have zero validity,” Levin declares.

“The authority to appoint or fire a minister is given in law to the prime minister and not the court,” continues the Likud minister and key ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“My friend, Minister Ben Gvir, will continue to serve in his position by virtue of the decision of the people and the trust of the Knesset,” Levin says of the far-right leader.

His comments come ahead of a key hearing today in which petitioners are asking the High Court to order the prime minister to fire Ben Gvir due to what they allege is his repeated and unlawful interference in operational police matters, his politicization of police appointments, and his overt interference on police investigations.

The petitions will be heard by a nine-judge panel instead of the usual three-member panel, including Supreme Court President Isaac Amit and Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg, indicating the potentially huge consequences and implications of the case.

In January 2023, the High Court of Justice ruled 10-1 that the appointment of Shas leader Aryeh Deri as a cabinet minister was “unreasonable in the extreme” due to a recent criminal conviction and the plea bargain he secured by promising to quit politics, which he subsequently reneged on. Deri therefore lost his positions as minister of the interior and health.

Man lightly injured by shrapnel amid Hezbollah rocket barrages on north, medics say

A man is lightly injured following Hezbollah’s rocket barrages on northern Israel this morning, medics say.

Magen David Adom says the 61-year-old was hit by shrapnel near the city of Tamra.

Hezbollah fires 5 more rockets at north, taking total to nearly 40 this morning; no injuries reported

Another five rockets were fired by Hezbollah at the Galilee Panhandle a short while ago, with two being intercepted and three striking open areas, according to the IDF.

Since this morning, nearly 40 rockets have been fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon at northern Israel.

There have been no reports of injuries.

Iranian citizen who was held in France returns: state TV

Iranian national Mahdieh Esfandiari, who was held in France for over a year, has returned home, Iranian state television reports, a week after Iran released two French citizens.

“Mahdieh Esfandiari, a Palestinian rights activist, has returned to Iran after her release from prison in France,” state television says.

Esfandiari’s release came a week after French citizens Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who spent more than three years in Iranian prisons on espionage charges, arrived in France.

Hezbollah fires another 10 rockets at north, no injuries

Another barrage of some 10 rockets was fired by Hezbollah at the Western Galilee a short while ago.

According to the IDF, three of the rockets launched from Lebanon were intercepted, while the rest were allowed to hit open areas.

There are no immediate reports of injuries.

Hezbollah has fired over 30 rockets at northern Israel since this morning, according to the IDF.

Deni Avdija’s late heroics lift Blazers past Suns, into playoffs

Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts after scoring and drawing a foul against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 14, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP)

Deni Avdija scored 41 points, and his three-point play with 16.1 seconds remaining capped the Portland Trail Blazers’ comeback from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 114-110 victory over the host Phoenix Suns in a play-in game.

The Trail Blazers ended a four-year playoff drought and will open a best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series against the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

Jordan Goodwin sank a reserve layup with 32.5 seconds left to put the Suns up 110-109, but he missed a free throw after being fouled on the play. The Blazers rebounded and called timeout to set up Avdija’s drive through the lane.

Phoenix’s Jalen Green missed a 3-point attempt with six seconds remaining. On the rebound, Portland’s Matisse Thybulle stole the ball from Goodwin and found Jerami Grant alone for a dunk with six-tenths of a second remaining.

Avdija had 14 points in the fourth quarter, and he finished with 12 assists and seven rebounds.

Hezbollah fires 20 rockets at northern Israel, no injuries

Hezbollah fired more than 20 rockets at the Galilee Panhandle this morning, triggering sirens in the border city of Kiryat Shmona and nearby communities.

According to the IDF, eight of the rockets fired from Lebanon were intercepted by air defenses, while the rest were allowed to hit open areas.

No injuries are reported.

Trump doubles down in criticizing Pope Leo over Iran

US President Donald Trump, whose war and immigration policies have been condemned by Pope Leo, reiterates his criticism of the religious leader.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump urges that “will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months” and that “for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable.”

Trump’s comments come after Pope Leo warned earlier in the day of the risk of democracies sliding into “majoritarian tyranny.”

The first US pope, Leo wrote in a letter issued by the Vatican about the use of power in democratic societies, and said democracies remained healthy only when they were rooted in moral values.

The pope has criticized Trump’s decision to launch the war against Iran, saying God rejects the prayers of those who launch wars and have “hands full of blood.” The pope termed Trump’s threat this month to destroy the Iranian civilization as unacceptable and previously declined to join the US president’s so-called “Board of Peace” initiative for Gaza.

President Trump continues to lash out at Pope Leo on Truth Social. pic.twitter.com/BxeSQCZDRo

— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) April 15, 2026

The religious leader has also urged a “deep reflection” on the way migrants are treated in the US while Trump has pursued a hardline immigration policy.

On Sunday, Trump called the pope “weak” and “terrible” on crime and foreign policy issues.

Troops locate Hezbollah anti-tank guided missile launcher in southern Lebanon

A Hezbollah anti-tank missile launcher and missiles found by troops in southern Lebanon, in handout photos published on April 15, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon located a Hezbollah anti-tank guided missile launcher that was aimed at Israel, the military says.

Reservists of the 8th Armored Brigade, operating under the 91st “Galilee” Regional Division, found that alongside the launcher were several anti-tank missiles, as well as other weapons and equipment.

The IDF says the division in recent days also directed airstrikes on buildings in southern Lebanon that were being used by Hezbollah, including a command center, and killed several members of the terror group.

IDF confirms Gaza airstrike on pickup truck carrying armed Hamas members

A Palestinian inspects the remains of a Hamas police vehicle destroyed in an Israeli strike that killed several people, in Gaza City on April 14, 2026. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)

The IDF says it struck a Hamas pickup truck with armed members of the terror group in it, in the central Gaza Strip yesterday.

According to the military, the Hamas gunmen planned “imminent” attacks on Israeli troops stationed in the area.

“Immediately after the identification, the troops struck the armed terrorists to remove the real threat,” the IDF says.

Palestinian media reported yesterday that four people were killed in an IDF strike on a Hamas police vehicle in Gaza City.

Iran used Chinese spy satellite to target US bases, FT reports

Iran secretly used a Chinese spy satellite that gave the Islamic Republic a new capability to target US military bases across the Middle East during the recent war, the Financial Times reports.

The TEE-01B satellite, built and launched by Chinese company Earth Eye Co, was acquired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Aerospace Force in late 2024 after it was launched into space from China, the report says citing leaked Iranian military documents.

The Iranian military commanders directed the satellite to monitor major US military sites, the newspaper says, citing time-stamped coordinate lists, satellite imagery and orbital analysis. The images were taken in March before and after drone and missile strikes on those locations, FT says.

Trump says not thinking about extending Iran ceasefire, predicts ‘an amazing two days ahead’

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk from the White House to greet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, April 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

US President Donald Trump tells ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl he was not thinking about extending the ceasefire with Iran, because it most likely won’t be necessary.

“I think you’re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead,” Trump says amid renewed talks with Iran for a deal. “I really do.”

“It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild,” Trump tells the reporter. “They really do have a different regime now. No matter what, we took out the radicals. They’re gone, no longer with us.”

Trump then asserts that “If I weren’t president, the world would be torn to pieces.”

CENTCOM says blockade of Iran ‘fully implemented,’ declares US ‘maritime superiority’ in Mideast

Admiral Charles Bradford 'Brad' Cooper II, Commander of US Central Command speaks during a joint press conference at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, on March 5, 2026. (Octavio JONES / AFP)

The US military says that American forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea through a blockade, declaring that it has achieved “maritime superiority” in the Middle East

The blockade on Iranian ports has been “fully implemented” within 36 hours of its launch, according to a social media post by US Central Command that quotes CENTCOM head Brad Cooper.

Statement from Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander: pic.twitter.com/dJxKJcEcmO

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 15, 2026

In interview excerpt, Trump says Iran war ‘very close to over,’ adds US ‘not finished’

In clips showing excerpts of an interview he taped with Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria,” US President Donald Trump says of the Iran war, “I think it’s close to over, yeah. I mean, I view it as very close to over.”

He adds, “If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country. And we’re not finished. We’ll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly.”

Trump has declared a US victory in Iran repeatedly since mere days after the war started — even as the reality on the ground has been far more complicated.

The full interview is set to air starting Wednesday morning.

Vance stresses Trump wants ‘grand bargain’ with Iran, not ‘a small deal’

US Vice President JD Vance speaks at a Turning Point USA tour stop at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Addressing a Turning Point USA event in Georgia, US Vice President JD Vance discusses the 20-plus hours of negotiations with Iran in which he lead the US delegation. He says Trump “doesn’t want to make, like, a small deal. He wants to make the grand bargain.”

“That’s the trade that he’s offering,” Vance says of Trump, who is telling Iran that “if you guys commit to not having a nuclear weapon, we are going to make Iran thrive.”

“We’re going to make it economically prosperous, and we’re going to invite the Iranian people into the world economy in a way they haven’t been in my entire life,” the vice president says.

Teasing interview, Fox News host says Trump told her the Iran war is over

FOX Business Network anchor Maria Bartiromo, right, arrives at the White House, March 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Fox News host Maria Bartiromo says US President Donald Trump told her the US-Israel war with Iran is over.

She says Trump expressed the stance during an interview that will air on Wednesday.

The comments would appear to undermine Trump’s threats to resume the war if Iran doesn’t agree to his terms for a permanent ceasefire.

Join me tomorrow for my #exclusive ⁦@MorningsMaria⁩ @foxbusiness w @POTUS @WHITEHOUSE 6-9am et pic.twitter.com/y8d6AR1qfi

— Maria Bartiromo (@MariaBartiromo) April 14, 2026

Pakistani finance chief says his country will ‘not give up’ on US-Iran negotiations

In this photo released by the Pakistan Finance Ministry Press Service, Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb speaks before the National Assembly in Islamabad, Pakistan, June, 12, 2024. (Pakistan finance Ministry Press Service via AP)

Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb says in an interview with the Associated Press that “our leadership is not giving up” on its efforts to help the US and Iran negotiate. He notes the talks marked the first direct discussion between the two in nearly 50 years.

“We would very much like to see if we can continue to pursue the dialogue,” he adds, speaking on the sidelines of the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. “We’ll keep at it, and our leadership is at it.”

Aurangzeb says he also this week met with US officials including Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to discuss trade and finance concerns. He plans to meet Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday.

Ukraine asks Israel to detain Russian ship carrying stolen grain that docked in Haifa

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar alongside his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv, Ukraine, July 23, 2025. (Shlomi Amsalem/GPO)

Israel allowed a Russian ship carrying stolen Ukrainian grain to dock in Haifa, Ukraine alleges.

The Russian vessel ABINSK was loaded by boats sailing from ports in Russian-occupied Ukraine, according to Ukrainian journalist Kateryna Yaresko of the Myrotvorets Center’s SeaKrime project.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar to discuss the cargo.

According to Kyiv, Sybiha “drew attention to a Russian vessel carrying grain stolen from Ukraine that was allowed to dock in one of Israel’s ports.”

He stressed “that the illegal export of stolen Ukrainian agricultural products is part of Russia’s broader war effort. Such illegal trade with stolen goods must not be allowed.”

Ukrainian Ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk met with senior Foreign Ministry officials on March 27 and asked them to prevent the ship from docking, Axios reports.

Ukraine’s attorney general met Israel’s Ambassador to Kyiv Michael Brodsky on Tuesady to ask Israel to stop the ship from leaving the port, according to the report.

Settlers destroy lone road linking two Palestinian villages in central West Bank — activists

Settlers have destroyed the only road linking two Palestinian villages in the central West Bank, left-wing activists say.

Footage from Tuesday evening posted by the Herd of Justice activist group shows the road between Marajam and Duma completely dug up and covered with boulders to prevent vehicles from passing.

Activists say the destruction was among a host of steps taken by settlers — with varying levels of support from Israeli authorities — aimed at making life miserable enough for Palestinians so they’ll agree to pick up and leave.

The strategy worked in nearby Auja, where a new nature reserve for settlers was recently opened after repeated violent attacks on several Palestinian hamlets that had been there for decades convinced residents to flee.

@saritm0 reports from the ground: pic.twitter.com/7o60N9tfHv

— Herd of Justice (@JustHerds) April 14, 2026