Live updates (closed)
The Times of Israel liveblogged Thursday’s events as they happened.
Trump: ‘Would be nice’ to solve problems with Iran without Israeli strikes
US President Donald Trump speaks to the media after signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, January 23, 2025. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP)
US President Donald Trump says he hopes the Iranian nuclear crisis can be solved without Israel having to carry out a military strike against Tehran.
Trump is asked by reporters whether he’d support such a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities after he signs a series of executive orders in the Oval Office.
“I’m not going to answer that,” he first replies, adding that he’ll be holding meetings with various senior officials on the matter shortly.
“Hopefully that can be worked out without having to worry about it. It would really be nice if that could be worked out without having to go that further step,” Trump adds.
“Iran will hopefully make a deal, and if they don’t make a deal that’s okay too,” he says.
His administration has signaled in recent days that it wants to try and reach a diplomatic agreement with Iran to curb its nuclear program, rather than carrying out a military strike.
There had been some in Israel who assumed that Trump’s return to the White House would lead to the US backing an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites or even carrying out such an attack itself.
Trump had criticized Biden for publicly telling Israel not to strike Iranian oil and nuclear sites in retaliation for Tehran’s ballistic missile attack last year. Trump had argued that Biden shouldn’t be publicly telegraphing Israel’s next move.
Man jailed for knife attack aimed at French magazine Charlie Hebdo
A Paris court sentences a Pakistani man to 30 years in jail for attempting to murder two people outside the former offices of Charlie Hebdo in 2020 with a meat cleaver.
When he carried out the attack, 29-year-old Zaheer Mahmood wrongly believed the satirical newspaper was still based in the building, which was targeted by Islamists a decade ago for publishing cartoons lampooning the Prophet Muhammad.
In fact, Charlie Hebdo had moved in the wake of the storming of its offices by two al-Qaeda-linked masked gunmen, who killed 12 people including eight of the paper’s editorial staff. The killings in January 2015 shocked France and triggered a fierce debate about freedom of expression and religion.
Originally from rural Pakistan, Mahmood arrived in France illegally in the summer of 2019. The court heard how Mahmood was influenced by radical Pakistani preacher Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who had called for the beheading of blasphemers.
Mahmood was convicted of attempted murder and terrorist conspiracy and he will be banned from France when his sentence is served.
Scholz speaks of ongoing German responsibility for Holocaust on 80th anniversary
A guard tower is pictured at Auschwitz-Birkenau, a former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp, in Oswiecim, Poland January 17, 2025. (Aleksandra Szmigiel / POOL / AFP)
Chancellor Olaf Scholz addresses Germans on their responsibility for the “civilizational rupture” of the Holocaust, in a speech marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz.
“Every single person in our country bears responsibility, regardless of their own family history, regardless of the religion or birthplace of their parents or grandparents,” he says.
“We must not and will not accept any relativization. And we will also remind each new generation of its ongoing responsibility.”
Scholz says this remains an ongoing challenge in schools and universities, in migrant integration courses, and in everyday life.
Monday marks 80 years since the World War II liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in what was Nazi-occupied Poland. Auschwitz has become a symbol of the Holocaust murders of six million European Jews, one million of whom died at the site between 1940 and 1945, along with more than 100,000 non-Jews.
Scholz says these were “more than a million unique people, individuals, wives and husbands, boys and girls, grandmothers and grandfathers. They were gassed, shot, they died of hunger, forced labor and medical experiments.” He honors other victims, including Sinti and Roma, political opponents of the Nazi regime, homosexuals, the sick and people with disabilities.
Scholz says “The uniqueness of the Shoah must be communicated again… to counteract the countless attempts to falsify and relativize history.”
Levin requests extension for appointing Supreme Court chief, citing claims against Amit
Justice Minister Yariv Levin attends a plenum session in the assembly hall of the Israeli parliament on November 13, 2024. (Chaim Goldbergl/Flash90)
Justice Minister Yariv Levin requests a further extension from the High Court of Justice to the January 26 deadline he was given to appoint a new Supreme Court president, saying fresh allegations of misconduct against the leading candidate, acting president Isaac Amit, require an investigation.
The Supreme Court, sitting in its capacity as the High Court, has ordered Levin three times to appoint a new president, the latest of those on January 16, when it gave him the January 26 deadline after allegations of misconduct were raised against Amit.
New allegations this week that Amit has sat on cases in which he had conflicts of interest prompted Levin to demand answers from Amit, and an investigation into the accusations by the Judicial Selection Committee’s legal adviser attorney Leah Rakuver. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara ordered Rakuver not to conduct an investigation however, and instead to pass the allegations and Amit’s responses to the charges to the Judicial Selection Committee — which appoints the Supreme Court president — for it to review and decide.
“Under these circumstances, it is not possible to place the responsibility on the minister to convene the committee at a time when his discretion over the issue has been revoked, and when [convening the committee] contravenes his obligation of duty to the public and his conscience,” Levin’s attorney Tzion Amir tells the High Court.
He says in addition that administrative regulations do not permit the Supreme Court president to be appointed until the allegations are clarified.
Levin therefore asks the court to delay the appointment of a president until a “proper process of examining the reports” can be completed.
The justice minister adds that even if the court does not agree to an examination process, it should still grant more time to make the appointment to allow the Judicial Selection Committee time to review the problems.
Elon Musk makes Holocaust jokes after Netanyahu defends him as ‘great friend of Israel’
After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to the defense of Elon Musk over accusations he made Nazi salutes at a presidential inauguration rally, the world’s richest man is cracking Holocaust jokes on social media.
In an X post today, Musk writes, adding laughing-face emojis: “Don’t say Hess to Nazi accusations! Some people will Goebbels anything down! Stop Gőring your enemies! His pronouns would’ve been He/Himmler! Bet you did nazi that coming.”
His post earns reprobation from Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, a group that previously stressed that Musk’s hand gesture was not a Nazi symbol.
Don’t say Hess to Nazi accusations!
Some people will Goebbels anything down!
Stop Gőring your enemies!
His pronouns would’ve been He/Himmler!
Bet you did nazi that coming 😂
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 23, 2025
“We’ve said it hundreds of times before and we will say it again: the Holocaust was a singularly evil event, and it is inappropriate and offensive to make light of it,” Greenblatt writes on X. Addressing Musk, he adds, “The Holocaust is not a joke.”
Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, denounces Musk’s jokes in stronger terms.
“Wordplay about Nazis isn’t funny. It isn’t clever. And it’s dangerous,” Deutch writes on X. Addressing Musk, he adds, “However you feel about the accusations being made against you, this is absolutely the wrong response. Nazi-themed ‘jokes’ are offensive and harmful. Don’t belittle the seriousness of the Holocaust; you give cover to those who seek to do the same.”
Delta Air Lines announces resumption of Tel Aviv flights on April 1
Illustrative: A Delta Air Lines plane lands at Logan International Airport, Jan. 26, 2023, in Boston (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Delta Air Lines is the first US carrier to announce a resumption of its Tel Aviv-New York route starting on April 1, ending its most recent hiatus of services that began in July as Israel fought wars on multiple fronts.
The move comes after Delta in October extended the cancellation of all flights to and from Israel through March 31, citing the “ongoing conflict in the region.”
Delta says its decision to resume services “follows a comprehensive security review, conducted in close coordination with government and private-sector partners.”
“The airline continues to prioritize the safety of its customers and crews and has implemented additional precautions for operations to and from Tel Aviv,” the US carrier says.
In addition, Delta announces that it has entered into a codeshare agreement with El Al Israel Airlines. The partnership will allow Delta customers to book El Al’s nonstop flights to Tel Aviv from major US cities such as Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale.
Poll: 83% of Israelis want state commission to probe Oct. 7 disaster
A new Channel 12 survey finds that 83% of the public wants a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attack — which the government has repeatedly shot down so far — while 8% oppose it.
The poll also finds that 94% of opposition voters and 73% of coalition voters back such a panel being formed.
Meanwhile, the survey finds that if elections were held today, Likud would win 24 seats, National Unity 18, Yesh Atid 14, Yisrael Beytenu 13, The Democrats 13, Shas 9, Otzma Yehudit 8, United Torah Judaism 7, Ra’am 6, Religious Zionism 4 and Hadash-Ta’al 4.
This would leave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s parliamentary bloc at 52 of 120 Knesset seats, while the opposition parties that formed the previous government would hold 64 seats (Hadash-Ta’al is unaligned).
The poll also found that if former prime minister Naftali Bennett enters the race, a party led by him could win 23 seats, building a coalition of 70 seats, with Netanyahu’s bloc shrinking to 46.
In a head-to-head between the two, Bennett is seen as most qualified to be prime minister by 39% of voters, with 34% preferring Netanyahu. However, Netanyahu wins other popularity contests with Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot.
The poll was conducted today through online and phone polling, among 505 respondents representative of the population, and has a margin of error of 4.4%.
Three men shot dead in criminal killings in Arab communities today
Three men were shot dead in criminal killings in Arab communities today.
A 53-year-old was shot and killed in Kabul in the Galilee; a 57-year-old was killed in Acre; and a 52-year-old was slain by gunfire in Sakhnin.
The Abraham Initiatives group, which monitors killings in the Arab community, says 13 people have been murdered since the start of 2025.
With today’s appointment of Haim Katz as interim national security minister, the organization says the cabinet “must appoint a permanent minister who can lead the governmental effort” to curb the killings.
Report: Gantz met Jared Kushner in US, discussed Saudi normalization efforts
From left to right: Blue and White Party MK Yair Lapid, party leader Benny Gantz, Special Adviser to the US President Jared Kushner, and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman during a meeting at the US Embassy in Jerusalem, October 28, 2019. (Jeries Mansour, US Embassy Jerusalem)
National Unity party leader Benny Gantz met last week with US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and former senior adviser Jared Kushner during his visit to the US, Walla reports.
The outlet says the two spoke of Trump’s plans for Israeli normalization with Saudi Arabia, as well as the political situation in Israel. Kushner does not have an official position in the new administration.
Walla says Kushner and Gantz declined to comment on the meeting.
IDF says troops in Gaza fired on several threats today during ceasefire
This picture shows a general view of the destruction as displaced Palestinians return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip, in Jabalia, on January 23, 2025 (Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
Over the past day, the IDF says troops still deployed inside the Gaza Strip amid the ceasefire with Hamas opened fire on several threats.
The military says troops spotted suspects approaching them in several areas of Gaza and fired warning shots.
In southern Gaza, several armed operatives were seen approaching forces and troops opened fire, the IDF says.
Another armed Palestinian was identified in a building in Rafah. The IDF says it opened fire on him as he “posed a threat” to troops.
“The IDF is determined to fully implement the terms of the agreement to return the hostages. The IDF is prepared for any scenario, and will continue to take all necessary actions to remove any immediate threat to IDF soldiers,” the military says. “The IDF once again calls on Palestinian civilians to obey IDF instructions and not approach the forces deployed in the area.”
FM Sa’ar thanks US Secretary of State Rubio for actions against ICC, Houthis and more
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio waves to employees upon arriving at the State Department in Washington, on January 21, 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar holds his first call with new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and thanks him for the steps US President Donald Trump has taken in his first days in office.
“I expressed Israel’s appreciation for President Trump’s decisive executive actions against the International Criminal Court, the Houthis, and removing the unjust sanctions against Israelis in Judea and Samaria,” says Sa’ar.
The foreign minister says the pair also spoke about “the politicized ‘international legal institutions’ and the steps that must be taken in that regard,” an apparent reference to actions against Israel in both the ICC and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Sa’ar says he invited Rubio to visit Israel and the pair agreed to meet soon. Israel is “committed to working hard and closely with President Trump and his administration to deal with our common challenges and to expand our alliances,” he adds.
Parents of 3 hostages freed Sunday speak with PM, urge him to free all captives
Parents of three hostages released from Gaza speak on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on January 23, 2025 (Video screenshot)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on the phone with the parents of Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher and Romi Gonen — freed from Hamas captivity on Sunday — who urge him to do everything he can to bring the rest of the hostages home.
“We didn’t give up and we won’t give up on the others,” Netanyahu tells them in a recording of the call distributed by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Merav Leshem Gonen, Romi’s mother, thanks him for doing the “moral, responsible thing, having the courage” to bring them home. She says the three women are starting their process of recovery, “and their strong wish is to bring back the rest of their brothers and sisters.”
Simona Steinbrecher, Doron’s mother, tells Netanyahu that “we are asking in the name of Doron, begging, not to stop — everyone needs to be with their families.”
Emily’s mother Mandy, speaking in English, thanks the prime minister “for finally signing a ceasefire agreement, I know it took a lot of courage, but it was so important to get Emily back, and all the hostages need to feel as happy as we feel.”
US welcomes Houthi release of ship crew seized in Nov 2023, but says it’s insufficient
This photo released by the Houthi Media Center shows Houthi vessels escorting the captured cargo ship Galaxy Leader on Sunday, November 19, 2023. (Houthi Media Center via AP)
The US welcomes the Houthis’ “long-overdue” release of 25 crew members from a ship the Iran-backed rebels seized in November 2023.
However, the State Department says in a statement, “We must not be distracted by this insufficient action by the Houthis.”
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order yesterday directing the State Department to prepare for the redesignation of the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
“Within Yemen, the Houthis continue to round up and detain hundreds of local staff members of the UN, NGOs, and diplomatic missions under abysmal conditions, including dozens of current and former Yemeni staff of the United States government unlawfully held based on false accusations,” the State Department says.
“The Houthis have also stated that they will continue their unlawful attacks in the Red Sea against certain vessels associated with Israel,” it continues. “The Houthis must permanently cease all attacks in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways without exception and immediately release all of the hundreds of detainees.”
The State Department thanks Oman for its efforts in securing the release of the MV Galaxy Leader crew, who hail from Bulgaria, Mexico, the Philippines, Romania, and Ukraine.
Israeli envoy: Moscow trying to help free 3 hostages without Russian citizenship
Maxim Herkin is presumed taken captive from the Supernova desert rave on October 7, 2023 by Hamas terrorists (Courtesy)
Israeli Ambassador to Russia Simona Halperin reveals that Jerusalem is working with Moscow to help free three hostages held in Gaza who do not have Russian citizenship.
In an interview with the Russian RBC news agency, Halperin notes the ongoing work to help free Russian-Israeli hostage Sasha Trufanov, who is on the list of 33 hostages expected to be freed in the first stage of the ceasefire. In addition, she says, there are conversations regarding hostage Maxim Herkin, a native of Ukraine whose mother and daughter have Russian citizenship, and who is not currently slated for release.
Halperin says in the interview that “it is important to say that I am working with the Russian side to release the hostages not only with Russian citizenship,” saying there is work toward the release of “Maxim Herkin and two other hostages, whose fate Russia is concerned about.”
The ambassador says she won’t reveal the other two names, and that they are not on the list of those being freed in the first stage: “We very much hope that the Russian side will be able to really help in this. I sincerely believe that if the Russian side insistently demands it, it will be able to help free these three hostages.”
During the weeklong November 2023 ceasefire and hostage release, Hamas freed Russian-Israeli Roni Krivoy outside of the deal framework, in what it said was a gesture toward Moscow.
IDF says it found Hezbollah weapons cache in Lebanon village
Hezbollah weapons found by IDF troops in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo issued on January 23, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
In the southern Lebanon village of Ayta ash-Shab, the IDF says soldiers located numerous weapons used by Hezbollah.
Troops of the 300th “Baram” Regional Brigade found rocket launchers, hundreds of rockets and mortars, anti-tank missiles, explosive devices, RPGs, grenades, and other weapons, the military says.
The IDF says the weapons were located in civilian buildings and in some 30 depots.
Israel has until Sunday to leave south Lebanon, though it has reportedly asked mediators to delay the withdrawal.
Trump said set to appoint Steve Witkoff to manage Iran nuclear file
President-elect Donald Trump listens as Steve Witkoff speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Tuesday, January 7, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
US President Donald Trump is planning to name his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff as the person who will lead efforts on Iran, the Financial Times reports, citing sources with knowledge of the matter.
Witkoff, known for his central role in brokering the Gaza ceasefire, will oversee efforts to tackle Iran’s nuclear ambitions as part of a broader attempt to curb conflicts in the region, the report says.
While Trump’s team has prepared action to restart the “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran through sanctions, there appears to be a desire to first attempt diplomacy with Tehran, it adds.
Trump tells Davos: ‘Hostages are returning and they’ll be coming in more and more’
US President Donald Trump appears on a giant screen as he addresses global elites via video conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 23, 2025. (FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)
US President Donald Trump touts the ceasefire and hostage release deal he helped finalize before entering office this month during remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“Before even taking office, my team negotiated a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East, which wouldn’t have happened without us,” Trump says in video link remarks.
“Earlier this week, the hostages began to return to their families. They are returning, and it’s a beautiful sight, and they’ll be coming in more and more,” he adds.
After Saudi Arabia announced in its readout of the call between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Trump that Riyadh will be investing at least $600 billion in the American economy over the next four years, Trump says he’ll be asking for the Gulf kingdom to up that number to $1 trillion.
Trump then goes on to criticize Saudi Arabia for its oil policies, saying it’s responsible for the Russia-Ukraine war dragging on due to its decision not to lower oil prices through OPEC.
As Trump speaks, the White House issues its readout on his call with MBS, saying the “two leaders discussed efforts to bring stability to the Middle East, bolster regional security and combat terrorism.”
“Additionally, they discussed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s international economic ambitions over the next four years as well as trade and other opportunities to increase the mutual prosperity of the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the US readout says.
Saudi Arabia optimistic about Lebanon under reforms, Saudi FM says in Beirut
Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud attends a session during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, January 21, 2025 (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
Saudi Arabia will continue supporting Lebanon and is optimistic about the country’s future after a ceasefire brought an end to a war between Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah, the kingdom’s foreign minister says from Beirut.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud tells reporters he stressed the importance of reforms in his meeting with Lebanon’s newly elected President Joseph Aoun, in the first trip to Beirut by Riyadh’s top diplomat in 15 years.
“I expressed to him that we believe in the importance of the reforms he presented so that Lebanon can overcome its crises,” Prince Faisal says.
The visit reflects seismic political shifts in Lebanon since Israel pummeled Hezbollah in last year’s war, and since Hezbollah’s Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad was toppled by rebels in December.
“The kingdom is looking at Lebanon’s future with optimism under the reformist approach that came in the president’s speech after his inauguration,” the prince says.
“These reforms will boost the confidence of Lebanon’s partners and open space for the country to regain its rightful place in the Arab and international spheres,” he adds.
Study: TikTok best social network in addressing Holocaust denial, YouTube worst
TikTok is the most effective of the major social media networks in removing reported content denying the Holocaust, while YouTube is the worst, according to research published today by CyberWell, a tech nonprofit focused on monitoring and combating antisemitism and Holocaust denial and distortion online.
TikTok’s moderation algorithms removed 92.3 percent of posts denying the Holocaust that CyberWell reported to them, while YouTube removed just 30.7%, the report says. Meta sites Facebook and Instagram removed 78.8% of reported content, and X (formerly Twitter) removed 68%.
Meta and X both significantly improved their moderation performance in 2024, the report noted.
Despite updates announced in early 2025 to its trust and safety processes, Meta continues to consider Holocaust denial as prohibited content, the report notes.
Levin pans Justice Amit’s allegations of smear campaign against him
Justice Minister Yariv Levin (left) attends a plenum session in the Knesset on November 13, 2024. (Chaim Goldbergl/Flash90); Acting Supreme Court President Justice Isaac Amit at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, November 14, 2024 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Justice Minister Yariv Levin castigates Acting Supreme Court President Isaac Amit over his accusation that an “organized smear campaign” is being conducted against him, in the wake of several media reports alleging misconduct by the judge.
Levin challenges Amit, who is seeking appointment as the permanent president of the court, to demonstrate proof of his charge, and says Amit’s allegation amounts to an accusation that a raft of journalists and news outlets banded together to besmirch him.
“Such an allegation has never been heard from a judge of your stature,” Levin says in a letter to Amit.
The justice minister also rejects Amit’s assertion that the reports against him are designed to make him “capitulate,” adding that Levin’s demand for an examination of “so many and such disturbing claims and publications is an obligation incumbent on those entrusted with appointment proceedings.”
Levin also dismisses Amit’s statement that the Judicial Selection Committee alone should evaluate the claims against him.
“Everyone who has the [legal] system’s best interests at heart, and everyone who cares about the integrity of public service recruitment procedures, wants to see that all reports and claims are thoroughly investigated,” concludes Levin.
Several media reports published in the last two weeks have alleged that Amit has served on cases in which he had a conflict of interest that he failed to report. Amit has argued that the allegations have ignored key facts regarding each case that he asserts preclude the possibility that he had a conflict of interest in them.
The Supreme Court, sitting in its capacity as the High Court of Justice, has ordered Levin to hold a vote on appointing a new court president, after 15 months in which he has refused to do so.
Hezbollah warns against Israel staying in south Lebanon beyond 60-day deadline
Troops of the 7th Armored Brigade operate in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo issued on January 23, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
Hezbollah calls on “everyone, especially the political authority in Lebanon,” to pressure countries overseeing the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon to ensure that the IDF withdraws at the end of the 60-day period since the start of the truce, which falls on Sunday, January 26.
Israel has reportedly asked for a 30-day extension to withdraw from southern Lebanon.
In a statement, Hezbollah says if Israel stays in south Lebanon beyond the 60 days, it would be “considered a flagrant violation of the agreement and an infringement on Lebanese sovereignty.”
NY anti-masking bill pushed by Jewish groups heads back to state legislature
Anti-Israel demonstrators protest outside Columbia University, September 3, 2024, in New York. (AP/Yuki Iwamura)
A New York State bill against masking in some situations is introduced to the state legislature, after the start of the legislative session that began with the new year.
A similar bill was introduced to the state government last year, but did not manage to get through the legislative process before the session ended.
The bill being introduced today would create the crime of “masked harassment” if a person conceals their face to threaten or menace others, or otherwise make others fear for their safety.
The legislation would also stiffen hate crimes penalties if the perpetrator is masked.
Banning masking at public gatherings has become a priority for some Jewish groups, who argue that masking hinders prosecution for crimes including harassment, vandalism and hate offenses. The legislation’s opponents say it will infringe on civil liberties and poses a health risk. A coalition of Black and Jewish groups, including the Anti-Defamation League and the NAACP, launched a campaign effort last year called UnMaskHateNY to boost support for the legislation. Dinowitz and some of the bill’s other sponsors are also Jewish.
Second suspect arrested for attack on Australia’s Newtown Synagogue
Illustrative: Swastikas are daubed on a synagogue in Newtown in Sydney, Australia, on January 11, 2025. (Screen grab via ABC News)
A day after a 33-year-old man was arrested for allegedly vandalizing and attempting to set fire to the Newtown Synagogue earlier this month, a second suspect has also been apprehended, Australia’s New South Wales Police Force says.
The 37-year-old man was caught this afternoon at a Darling Harbour hotel after Strike Force Pearl detectives located and tasered him. He was assessed by paramedics before being taken to a police station.
The Newtown Synagogue was attacked on January 11 before dawn, when vandals spray-painted red swastikas outside the synagogue’s entrance and tried to burn it down. Security videos showed that there were two men working together.
Strike Force Pearl was established in December 2024 after the arson attack on the Adass Synagogue to investigate antisemitic hate crimes in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. The team includes counter-terrorism and special tactics officers.
ICC prosecutor seeks arrest of Taliban leaders over persecution of women
FILE - A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait to receive food rations distributed by a humanitarian aid group, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)
The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor says he is seeking arrest warrants for senior Taliban leaders in Afghanistan over the persecution of women, a crime against humanity.
Karim Khan says there are reasonable grounds to suspect that Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani “bear criminal responsibility for the crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds.”
Khan says that Afghan women and girls, as well as the LGBTQ community, are facing “an unprecedented, unconscionable and ongoing persecution by the Taliban.
“Our action signals that the status quo for women and girls in Afghanistan is not acceptable,” adds Khan.
ICC judges will now consider Khan’s application before deciding whether to issue an arrest warrant — a process that could take weeks or even months.
Iraqi FM says Israeli-Russian held hostage in country is alive, PM trying to free her
Elizabeth Tsurkov in an undated photo (social media; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
Israeli-Russian Princeton researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who is being held hostage by an Iraqi militia, is alive, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein tells Axios reporter Barak Ravid.
Hussein says the Iraqi prime minister is working on her release.
Tsurkov, a 38-year-old student at Princeton University, disappeared in Baghdad in March 2023 while doing research for her doctorate. She had entered the country on her Russian passport. The only sign she was alive was a video broadcast in November 2023 on an Iraqi television station and circulated on pro-Iranian social media purporting to show her.
Ravid says Israeli hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch recently met with the president of the International Red Cross and asked that representatives work to facilitate a visit to Tsurkov and assess her medical condition.
Lapid slams move to give Haim Katz 4 ministerial portfolios
Opposition leader Yair Lapid slams the government for its appointment of Tourism Minister Haim Katz to temporarily head all three ministerial positions left vacant when the far-right Otzma Yehudit party quit the government.
“Even the most diligent minister in the world cannot invest effort in four ministries at the same time. Either they’re unnecessary, or it’s blatant disrespect for these ministries,” Lapid tweets.
Minister Haim Katz given all 3 Otzma Yehudit portfolios, including national security
Tourism Minister Haim Katz attends a Finance Committee meeting in the Knesset in Jerusalem on December 9, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet votes to appoint Tourism Minister Haim Katz to temporarily head three ministerial positions left vacant when the far right Otzma Yehudit party quit the government earlier this week.
Katz will now take over all three portfolios, in addition to the one he already holds. He will serve as an interim minister for three months, rather than receiving a permanent appointment.
On Sunday morning, Otzma Yehudit chief, then-national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced that his party was pulling out of the coalition in protest of the ceasefire-hostage deal reached with Hamas. Ben Gvir, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, and Negev, Galilee and National Resilience Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf all submitted their resignations, which went into effect on Tuesday morning.
Following Ben Gvir’s resignation, Netanyahu was widely expected to give the National Security Ministry to someone within his Likud party, to leave the door open for Ben Gvir to later return to the government.
Katz, along with Science Minister Gila Gamliel, will also join the high-level security cabinet.
Interior Minister Moshe Arbel (Shas) voted against Katz’s appointment, according to the ultra-Orthodox Radio Kol Hai.
Activists project ‘Heil’ with image of Musk saluting on Tesla plant in Germany
Political activists in Germany say they projected an image of Elon Musk’s infamous raised-arm salute and the word “Heil” onto the outside of his Tesla plant.
The gesture made by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Musk at US President Donald Trump’s inauguration has drawn comparisons to the Nazi salute, a claim Musk has rejected.
Campaigners from German group the Center for Political Beauty and British activists Led by Donkeys share pictures and footage online of the protest action they say they staged late Wednesday.
The word “heil” is seen projected onto the factory near Berlin in the font of the automaker’s logo next to the existing name Tesla, forming the message “Heil Tesla,” a paraphrase of the Nazi greeting that honored Adolf Hitler.
The world’s richest man @elonmusk is promoting the far right in Europe. Don’t buy a @Tesla.
Location: Tesla Gigafactory, Berlin.
(In collaboration with @politicalbeauty) pic.twitter.com/xaacsX4Qw4— Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) January 23, 2025
Philipp Ruch, founder of the Center for Political Beauty, says in comments to AFP that Musk had given “a Hitler salute, just like American neo-Nazis have been practicing for years.”
Musk has rejected as “dirty tricks” and “propaganda” any comparison between the Nazi salute and his gesture, which he made twice while saying “my heart goes out to you” to the audience.
Musk has already drawn criticism in Germany for his vocal support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and repeatedly insulting German political leaders on his X social media platform.
Hamas-run agency says 2 killed by IDF tank near Rafah; no immediate comment from IDF
The Hamas-run civil defense agency in Gaza says that two Palestinians were killed by an Israeli tank west of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, during the ceasefire.
There is no immediate comment from the IDF.
17-year-old arrested after hurling kitten off fifth-floor balcony in Jerusalem
Police have arrested a 17-year-old boy after he was caught on video throwing a kitten from the fifth-floor balcony of his apartment building in Jerusalem’s Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood, a police spokesman says.
Jerusalem cops caught and arrested the suspect in northern Israel, then brought him back to the city for questioning.
The video documenting the incident shows the young man holding a kitten, then proceeding to hurl it from the rooftop as his friends behind the camera laugh in the background.
https://twitter.com/danielamram3/status/1882181284442877999
“We take any harm to animals seriously, and will continue to operate in online spaces to locate and deal with these wrongdoings, decisively and without compromise,” the police say in a statement.
Netanyahu rises to Elon Musk’s defense after X owner accused of performing Nazi salute
This handout photo shows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara meeting with Tesla owner Elon Musk at the electric car company's factory in Fremont, California, September 18, 2023. (Avi Ohayon/GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issues a message of support for Elon Musk after the X owner was accused of making a Nazi salute.
Musk “is being falsely smeared,” Netanyahu writes on X. “Elon is a great friend of Israel. He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre… [and] has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes who seek to annihilate the one and only Jewish state.”
“I thank him for this,” Netanyahu adds.
Elon Musk gestures as he speaks during the inaugural parade inside Capitol One Arena in Washington, on January 20, 2025. (Angela Weiss/AFP)
Musk, who has been a vocal supporter and ally of US President Donald Trump, made a straight-armed gesture during the inauguration on Monday that many saw as a Nazi salute, though the ADL called it instead an “awkward gesture.” Musk has in the past shared white supremacist memes and theories on X that have drawn accusations of antisemitism.
Anti-Israel journalist tries to accost senior IDF general in London
An anti-Israel journalist tried to accost a senior Israeli general who was on an official visit to London yesterday.
In a video shared by Declassified UK — a British investigatory news site — journalist Alex Morris can be seen approaching Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, the head of the IDF Operations Directorate, outside a building that houses a British security think tank, adjacent to the UK Ministry of Defence headquarters.
“General Basiuk, what did you discuss with the MoD?” Morris says as he approaches the IDF operations chief.
“Are you worried about the ICC investigating you for war crimes?” he says, as Basiuk heads inside the building.
Morris continues to shout: “Are you a war criminal, General Basiuk?”
The incident comes amid efforts by pro-Palestinian organizations to target Israeli soldiers and officers traveling abroad with criminal prosecution over the war against the Hamas terror group in Gaza.
In meeting with Hungarian counterpart, Sa’ar thanks Budapest for opposing ICC warrant for PM
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar (left) and Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó during a meeting in Budapest on January 23, 2025. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to Hungary)
Hungary reiterates its invitation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit, vowing not to enforce the ICC arrest warrant issued last year for the Israeli leader.
During a diplomatic visit to Budapest, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar thanks Hungary for its stance, saying at a joint press conference with his Hungarian counterpart Péter Szijjártó that the ICC “is political and corrupt… it is unprecedented for the ICC to turn against a democratic country that is fighting terrorism, that is acting in accordance with international law and the rule of law.”
Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated after the warrants were issued that Hungary would not enforce them and invited Netanyahu to visit.
Szijjártó says at the press conference that the invitation to Netanyahu still stands, and criticizes the ICC for its decision, saying that “this ruling discredits the ICC and raises questions about its future cooperation with Hungary.”
Sa’ar says he also discussed Hungarian-Israeli hostage Omri Miran, who is still held captive in Gaza and is not on the list of 33 hostages slated for release in the first stage of the deal that began Sunday.
In a statement on social media, Szijjártó says the ceasefire agreement appears to be working and “this means that the captive Hungarian hostage has a chance to be released!”
Sa’ar was slated to visit Hungary last week following a trip to Italy, but he cut his travels short to return to Israel in order to take part in the cabinet vote on the ceasefire-hostage release deal.
ICC governing body has ‘deep concern’ over attempts to impose sanctions on court, personnel
The governing body of the International Criminal Court says it has “deep concern” about sanctions against the court and its personnel, following efforts in the United States to penalize the institution in protest of its arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes in Gaza.
In a statement published on its website, the ICC warns that sanctions “can severely hamper ongoing investigations in all situations and other activities of the court and affect the safety of victims, witnesses and sanctioned individuals.”
Rejecting what it says are “attempts to undermine the Court’s independence, integrity and impartiality,” the ICC vows to “uphold and defend the principles and values enshrined in the Rome Statute and to preserve its integrity undeterred by any threats or measures” levied against the international body.
US President Donald Trump reversed an executive order earlier this week and renewed sanctions against members of the ICC who probe US troops.
At the same time, attempts by Congress to advance its own sanctions against the court in protest of the arrest warrants still need to get through a divided Senate.
Gantz vows to ensure government doesn’t collapse before all hostages released in deal
National Unity chairman Benny Gantz slams Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “extremist” government for failing to “formulate a path to overthrow the Hamas regime” in Gaza.
“It’s been over a year and a solution has still not been found on how to deliver humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza without some kind of mediation by Hamas,” the former war cabinet minister says during a speech at Reichman University in Herzliya.
“At the beginning of the war, I laid down principles for the establishment of an international administration that will operate in Gaza on behalf of the moderate Arab countries. We have an opportunity to implement this plan together with the Trump administration [and] we must not miss it,” he continues.
Turning to the current ceasefire-hostage return deal, Gantz reiterates his promise to provide Netanyahu with the backing he needs to keep to the agreement in the face of opposition from his far-right coalition partners.
“My colleagues and I promised a safety net for the return of the hostages and we will stand by it. There is no need to enter the government to ensure that it does not fall. A safety net can also be provided outside the government,” he says.
His party will stand in the way of legislation that exempts the Haredi community from military service and block passage of a budget that is bad for the economy, he says, adding, “But as long as the return of the abductees is really at the center of the action, we will find the solutions so that the government does not fall ‘until the final hostage.'”
A spokesman for Gantz likewise does not provide details on what sort of solutions are available to the National Unity chief.
IDF says troops still finding weapons, Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon
Troops of the 7th Armored Brigade operate in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo issued on January 23, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon are continuing to locate weapons and Hezbollah infrastructure, the military says.
The IDF says troops of the 7th Armored Brigade, during scans in south Lebanon, found Russian-made anti-tank missiles, grenades, and assault rifles.
Additionally, in a joint operation with the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit, the army says troops found several tunnels belonging to Hezbollah, some of which were used as weapon depots.
The weapons were seized and infrastructures were demolished.
The IDF says it is still deployed to some areas of southern Lebanon in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.
Israel has until Sunday to leave south Lebanon, though it has reportedly asked mediators for another 30 days.
Israel said to request additional 30 days to complete IDF withdrawal from Lebanon
IDF troops with the 769th 'Hiram' Regional Brigade operate in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo issued on December 31, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)
Israel has asked the US for an additional 30 days to carry out the withdrawal of its troops from southern Lebanon, according to Hebrew media reports, days ahead of the 60-day deadline stipulated in the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.
Under the terms of the November 27 truce agreement, the IDF is required to cede all of its positions in southern Lebanon to the Lebanese Armed Forces by January 26. In recent weeks, however, Israel has assessed that the Lebanese forces have deployed too slowly across the region, delaying the IDF’s withdrawal as a result.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, the Haaretz daily reports that the US and France are discussing the requested extension with Israeli and Lebanese officials. The source assesses that France sees no issue with granting the extension, so long as the other parties are in agreement.
Earlier this morning, Army Radio reported that US President Donald Trump’s administration is less inclined to grant a 30-day reprieve than his predecessor’s was, and wants the full withdrawal completed by Sunday.
Israel’s outgoing ambassador to the US nevertheless told the radio network that he believes Jerusalem and Washington will “reach an understanding” on the matter and the extension will ultimately be granted.
Three detained over display showing mock Hamas invasion in central Israel’s Kfar Saba
Three suspects have been detained in connection to the mock Hamas invasion display staged in Kfar Saba overnight, the Israel Police say.
The suspects were detained on suspicion of “disorderly conduct in a public place,” the police add.
Man shot, critically injured, in Acre industrial zone; police searching for suspects
A 57-year-old man was shot in the industrial area of Acre this morning, says a spokesperson for Magen David Adom.
MDA paramedics say they found the injured man lying unconscious on the ground, in critical condition with multiple bullet wounds. They are taking him to Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya.
Acre police have opened an investigation into the shooting and are searching for suspects, says a police spokesman. The circumstances of the incident remain unclear.
East Jerusalem resident arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Hezbollah
A resident of East Jerusalem was arrested last month on suspicion of having been in contact with members of Hezbollah and various other terror groups, the Israel Police and Shin Bet say in a joint statement.
The suspect, a 32-year-old from Issawiya, was arrested on December 25 and transferred to the Shin Bet for questioning.
Over the course of the investigation, the police and Shin Bet say the suspect revealed that he had been in frequent contact with Hezbollah operatives over several years, and was part of an online Hezbollah-affiliated group known as “Resistance Axis.”
Among those he contacted was a Hezbollah operative who had previously recruited other East Jerusalem residents to assist the terror group, the security bodies say, adding that several of the operative’s past recruitees have been apprehended and indicted by Israel in recent months.
The suspect has also visited Jenin, in the West Bank, to meet with terror operatives from other groups. The statement adds that while there, the suspect posed for photographs alongside weapons belonging to the groups.
An indictment is expected to be filed against him in the near future, it adds.
13 Palestinian gunmen killed since start of Jenin operation, IDF officer says
Israeli troops carrying out a major raid in the Jenin area in the northern West Bank since Tuesday morning have killed 13 Palestinian gunmen, a senior IDF officer in the West Bank division says.
According to the officer, Operation Iron Wall was launched to neutralize the so-called Jenin Battalion, made up of operatives affiliated with terror groups such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Previous raids on Jenin in the past year did not specify such a goal, the officer says.
Several special forces units are operating in the Jenin refugee camp, along with Border Police officers and other IDF units. The officer says troops are scanning homes, capturing weapons, and eliminating terror operatives.
Two of the gunmen killed in the operation were eliminated outside the Jenin camp, in the Wadi Burqin area, last night.
The military says the pair were behind a deadly terror shooting attack in the village of al-Funduq earlier this month.
A third suspect was detained in the incident, and the Shin Bet is currently investigating if he was also involved in the al-Funduq shooting, or whether the third gunman from the attack is still at large.
Right-wing activists stage display of mock Hamas invasion in central Israel’s Kfar Saba
The Israel Police have opened an investigation after a display reminiscent of the October 7, 2023, terror assault was set up in the central city of Kfar Saba overnight.
The exhibit, staged by a group of right-wing activists, featured mannequins dressed to resemble Hamas operatives with military fatigues, green headbands and fake weapons standing atop a white pickup truck, the likes of which were driven across the Gaza border into Israel by invading terrorists.
A small sign pasted on the back of the truck read: “The display is for illustration purposes only!” However, a resident of the city tells the Walla news site that the notice didn’t help assuage the fear she experienced when she came across the scene.
“I was afraid they would kill me,” she tells the outlet. “I was so scared and I was sure that terrorists had entered Kfar Saba from Samaria (in the West Bank).”
According to Walla, the protest was intended to show opposition to a ceasefire-hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on Sunday morning. During the first 42 days of the deal, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages — alive and dead — while Israel will release close to 2,000 Palestinian security prisoners in return.
הבוקר בכפר סבא
מיצג שממחיש קמצוץ ממה שיקרה
אם מדינת ישראל לא תחיש לכבוש את ג'נין, לגרש את מחבליה ולהקים שם התיישבות יהודית.
לא מבצע ולא גרביים.
מלחמת חורמה,
או שהנוחבות יגררו את בנות כפר סבא לג'נין pic.twitter.com/wP6LpNSqPu— איילת לאש (@ayeletlash9) January 23, 2025
In a post on X, right-wing activist Ayelet Lash claims that the scene was intended to display “a glimpse of what will happen if the State of Israel does not hurry to occupy Jenin, expel its terrorists and establish a Jewish settlement there.”
If it does not, Lash says, then the “Nukhba terrorists will drag the girls of Kfar Saba to Jenin.”
Jenin is a hotbed of Palestinian terror activity in the northern West Bank, where the IDF has been operating in recent days.
The scene was reported to the police by residents of Kfar Saba and it was taken down shortly after, and an investigation was opened into the incident.
אלמונים הציבו הבוקר מיצג בדמות מחבלים על גבי טנדר בכפר סבא. המיצג, כנראה במחאה על עסקת החטופים או על האיום המתמשך מצפון השומרון. pic.twitter.com/2RyDgioPRC
— חנן גרינווד (@hanan_green) January 23, 2025
IDF says Palestinian gunmen behind deadly al-Funduq terror attack killed near Jenin
Israeli forces seen during a military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, January 22, 2025. (Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90)
Two Palestinian gunmen killed by troops near the West Bank city of Jenin last night were among the perpetrators of a deadly terror shooting attack in the village of al-Funduq earlier this month.
Hamas took responsibility for the January 6 attack, and confirms that Qutaiba al-Shalabi and Mohammed Nazal, who were killed last night, carried out the shooting that killed three Israelis.
The IDF says that troops of the Duvdevan commando unit, Shin Bet agents, and other soldiers surrounded a building in Wadi Burqin and carried out a tactic known as “pressure cooker,” which involves escalating the volume of fire against a building to flush suspects out.
After an exchange of fire that lasted some four hours, the two gunmen were killed. One IDF soldier was moderately hurt, the military says.
While Hamas claimed the two gunmen as members, the IDF says they are members of a different terror group, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The IDF adds that several suspects who assisted in carrying out the deadly terror shooting were also detained amid an ongoing raid in the Jenin area.
At least three gunmen carried out the January 6 shooting in al-Funduq, killing off-duty police officer Master Sgt. Elad Yaakov Winkelstein and civilians Rachel Cohen and Aliza Raiz.
Master Sgt. Elad Yaakov Winkelstein (left), 35, Rachel Cohen (center), 73 and Aliza Raiz (right), 70, were killed in a terror shooting attack in the West Bank village of al-Funduq on January 6, 2025. (Courtesy)
Trump administration unwilling to grant extension for IDF withdrawal from Lebanon, wants it done by Sunday — report
The Trump administration expects the IDF to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Sunday, per the terms of the ceasefire agreement with the Hezbollah terror group, Army Radio reports.
The position of the new administration under US President Donald Trump, Army Radio says, differs from that of the Biden administration, which was said to be considering granting Israel an additional 30 days beyond the 60-day withdrawal period stipulated in the truce agreement.
Outgoing Israeli ambassador to the US Michael Herzog confirms to the radio network that Jerusalem is in talks with the US on the matter, and believes that they will “reach an understanding” and be granted the extension.
Al Jazeera says correspondent arrested by Palestinian Authority over coverage of IDF Jenin op
Al Jazeera reports that one of its correspondents was arrested by the Palestinian Authority in Jenin overnight due to his coverage of the ongoing IDF counterterrorism operation in the northern West Bank city.
According to the Qatari-based news outlet, Mohamad Alatrash was arrested from his home by PA security forces.
The reported arrest comes after the PA ordered the temporary suspension of Al Jazeera broadcasts across the West Bank earlier this month against the backdrop of its critical coverage of Ramallah’s crackdown on terror groups in the territory.
The PA accused the outlet at the time of “broadcasting inciting content and reports characterized by misinformation, incitement, sedition and interference in Palestinian internal affairs.”
Rubio stresses ‘need to continue implementation’ of Gaza ceasefire as he talks to Emirati FM, MBS
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio waves to employees upon arriving at the State Department in Washington, on January 21, 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call earlier this evening with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed.
“They discussed the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the release of the hostages and humanitarian aid for Gaza,” the US readout says, adding that Rubio “reinforced the significance of this agreement for regional security and stability and the need to continue implementation.”
The comments in strong support of maintaining the hostage deal for all of its three phases appeared noteworthy, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners are demanding that he resume the war after the completion of the first stage, which would collapse the agreement.
Also during the call, Rubio stressed the importance of furthering discussions regarding “post-conflict planning for the governance and security of Gaza for the longer-term,” the US readout says.
The UAE has been one of the only countries that Israel has sought to recruit to play a role in the postwar management of Gaza.
Abu Dhabi has said it’s prepared to do so but has repeatedly stressed this will only happen if the effort is accompanied by the establishment of a political horizon for the Palestinians, and if a reformed Palestinian Authority is part of that process. Netanyahu has long rejected both of those conditions.
Rubio also held a call Wednesday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the State Department says. The latter held a separate call earlier Wednesday with US President Donald Trump as well.
Rubio “conveyed that he looked forward to advancing shared interests in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and beyond,” the US readout says, adding that the secretary also “stressed the threats posed by Iran and its proxies.”
Rubio “expressed his appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s partnership and efforts to promote regional peace and stability,” according to the US readout.
Rubio speaks with Indonesian FM, welcomes Jakarta’s ‘willingness to engage on Mideast peace’
Days after a report that the US is considering temporarily relocating some of Gaza’s two million residents in Indonesia while the post-war construction of the enclave takes place, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds a phone call with Jakarta’s Foreign Minister Sugiono.
“Rubio welcomed Indonesia’s willingness to engage on Middle East peace and post-conflict reconstruction,” says a US readout on the call.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said last year that his country was willing to send peacekeeping troops to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza if required.
The Times of Israel revealed in 2021 that the Trump administration was on the verge of brokering a normalization deal between Israel and Indonesia but ran out of time before the end of the term.
Trump speaks with Saudi crown prince, in first call with foreign leader since White House return
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 20, 2017. (AP/Evan Vucci)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman becomes the first foreign leader to hold a phone call with US President Donald Trump since he returned to office this week for a second term.
The decision to first speak with MBS indicates the Trump administration’s priorities, with the president expressing his desire to expand the Abraham Accords with a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The deal would likely be part of a massive defense agreement that Riyadh is looking to sign with Washington, which would provide Saudi Arabia with security guarantees from the US if it faces attack and be accompanied by huge investments in the American economy.
Bin Salman told Trump that Saudi Arabia would like to expand its investments in the US over the next four years to $600 billion and that the figure could further increase “if additional opportunities become available,” according to a readout published by Saudi state media.
Trump told Saudi crown prince that he looks forward to working with Riyadh to advance common interests, the Saudi readout adds.
There is no readout immediately available from the White House.
Trump moves to reimpose foreign terror designation on Yemen’s Houthis
A Houthi supporter raises his dagger during an anti-US and Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, January 17, 2025, as fellow backers of the Iran-backed rebel group hold up banners with its slogan. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)
US President Donald Trump moves to reimpose the designation of the Iran-backed Houthi rebel movement in Yemen as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Trump’s first administration designated the Houthis as a FTO, but the move was reversed by former US president Joe Biden due to concerns that the highest-level sanction was preventing aid organizations from delivering humanitarian assistance to civilians in Yemen.
Toward the end of his term, Biden did reapply a lower level terror designation of the Houthis after the rebel group began a campaign of missile attacks on Israel and on Red Sea shipping routes, which severely hampered the global economy. The Houthis claimed they took the step in solidarity with Palestinians following Hamas’s October 2023 attack and pledged to maintain their attacks until Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza.
On Wednesday, Trump signs an executive order that directs the State Department to prepare a report within 30 days recommending that the FTO label be reapplied to the Houthis. Within 15 days of receipt of that report, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to sign off on the recommendation to again designate the Houthis as a Foreign Terror Organization, the executive order states.
Once the designation has been reapplied, the executive order stipulates that the US Agency for International Development and the State Department sever ties with any entity in Yemen that has made payments to the Houthis or has worked against international efforts to combat the rebel group.
Levin tells acting chief justice to withdraw his candidacy, citing alleged conflicts of interest
Justice Minister Yariv Levin (left) attends a plenum session in the Knesset on November 13, 2024. (Chaim Goldbergl/Flash90); Acting Supreme Court President Justice Isaac Amit at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, November 14, 2024 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Justice Minister Yariv Levin sends a letter calling on acting Supreme Court President Amit Isaac to withdraw his nomination to be chief justice on a permanent basis, citing reports claiming he oversaw cases in which he had a conflict of interest.
“I will continue to do everything I can to ensure the selection of the Supreme Court president will only be done after a probe into the claims is completed,” Levin writes to Amit.
The letter marks Levin’s latest effort to prevent the acting chief justice from being approved by the Judicial Selection Committee, the composition of which he is seeking to remake as part of his push to curb the judiciary’s independence, and comes ahead of a January 26 deadline that the court gave him to appoint its new president.
After Levin publishes the letter, Amit releases a statement in response, saying “I have no intention to surrender to the organized smear campaign that has recently been led against me, the entire purpose of which is to thwart my appointment as Supreme Court president and harm public trust in the judicial branch. This goal was set in advance.”
Amit also stresses that he won’t withdraw his candidacy, saying detailed responses “have been sent or will be sent” addressing the reported allegations, “which will disprove each one of them.”
Coalition lawmakers approve law limiting bar association’s control of its finances
Israel Bar Association leader Amit Becher during a meeting of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, November 25, 2024. (Noam Moskowitz, Office of the Knesset Spokesperson)
Coalition lawmakers pass into law a bill enabling the justice minister and the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee to determine, in part, how the Israel Bar Association may use its own funds.
The law, initiated by MK Hanoch Milwidsky of the ruling Likud party, is approved 52-45 in its second and third plenum readings.
“The law against the bar association that was passed by the Knesset tonight is part of the campaign of destruction against the judicial system and gatekeepers,” Amit Becher, the head of the legal body, says in response.
Becher charges that “the legislative process was accompanied by attempts to intimidate and blackmail the bar association and me, so we would enable the thwarting of the selection of a Supreme Court president and allow the selection of judges who [Justice Minister Yariv] Levin wants.”
New Secretary of State Rubio holds first call with Netanyahu: US support for Israel ‘a top priority’
Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu (R) meets with US Sen. Marco Antonio Rubio (R-FL) in Jerusalem February 20, 2013. (photo credit: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO/FLASH90)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just held his first phone call with new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio “underscored that maintaining the United States’ steadfast support for Israel is a top priority” for US President Donald Trump, a readout from the State Department says.
The secretary “congratulated” Netanyahu “on Israel’s successes against Hamas and Hezbollah and pledged to work tirelessly to help free all remaining hostages held in Gaza,” the US readout adds.
Rubio “also conveyed that he looks forward to addressing the threats posed by Iran and pursuing opportunities for peace,” according to the State Department.
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