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The Daily Edition

What Matters Most On Tuesday, February 18, 2025

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Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas (Courtesy)

FM Sa'ar says phase 2 talks to begin this week

6 hostages to be freed Sat.; Hamas says bodies of Bibas mom, kids set for Thurs. return

By Lazar Berman

Family of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas ‘in turmoil’ over Hamas announcement, has not received Israeli confirmation; only 3 living hostages were to go free this week, but Hamas will instead release all 6 of phase 1’s remaining living hostages

US President Donald Trump walks from the Oval Office to departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, February 14, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Alex Brandon); inset: former hostage soldier Agam Berger in a video message published February 17, 2025. (Screenshot, X)

Trump reposts video from freed hostage Agam Berger imploring him to get all captives home

Demonstrators protest for the release of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip, outside the IDF's Kirya Base in Tel Aviv, February 17, 2025. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)

Israel says it is preparing for Hamas to return bodies of four hostages on Thursday

By Lazar Berman, Jacob Magid and ToI Staff

IDF withdraws from Lebanon border villages, keeps ‘buffer zone’; Lebanese army deploys

By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies

Israeli troops remain in 5 strategic outposts inside southern Lebanon; Katz warns Israel will ‘forcefully’ enforce terms of truce; Lebanon to seek UN’s help on ‘Israeli violations’

Lebanese citizens check the destruction on their house caused by the war between Hezbollah and Israel, in their hometown Khiam, southern Lebanon, February 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

South Lebanon residents say Hezbollah helping to pay for lost furniture, rent

By Agencies and ToI Staff

A map showing the locations of five IDF posts in southern Lebanon that troops will remain deployed to after a February 18, 2025, deadline. (Times of Israel; OpenStreetMap)

ToI podcastDaily Briefing Feb. 18: Day 501 – IDF withdraws to a possible ‘buffer zone’ on Lebanon border

By Amanda Borschel-Dan and Emanuel Fabian

Iair Horn is seen on screen at a rally marking 500 days since hostages were kidnapped by Hamas-led terroists to the Gaza Strip, at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on February 17, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

Mom of 2 hostages: 'This is the longest October 7 of my life'

Two days after release, ex-captive warns remaining hostages ‘don’t have any more time’

By Jessica Steinberg, ToI Staff and Noam Lehmann

Iair Horn addresses rally at Hostages Square that caps fast, events held throughout day to mark 500 days since Hamas-led attack; relatives urge deal to continue until all captives freed

Protesters hold a picture of David Cunio at the Knesset on February 17, 2025, on the 500th day since Hamas's invasion, slaughter and abductions in southern Israel. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Freed hostage tells family David Cunio alive in Gaza, in first sign of life

White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk arrives at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, April 18, 2024. (Kent Nishimura/ Getty Images/ AFP)

Biden’s Mideast czar says Trump ‘right to stand firmly by Israel’ on hostage deal

Live updates (closed)

Feb. 18: Hamas said offering to release all remaining captives in one big phase two exchange

By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff

Some hostage families said worried about Dermer heading negotiating team * UK said reconsidering UNRWA funding after freed British-Israeli hostage told Starmer she was held in agency facilities

9:41 pm

In apparent first, Israeli minister indicates removal of Gazans will be forced, rather than voluntary
9:09 pm

IDF says it carried out strikes against several weapons sites that belonged to fallen Syrian regime
9:07 pm

France's Macron expresses support for Bibas family

Defense Minister Israel Katz holds an assessment with defense officials, February 17, 2025. (Ariel Hermoni/ Defense Ministry)

Katz announces new panel tasked with advancing ‘voluntary’ emigration of Gazans

By Emanuel Fabian

Defense minister’s office says initial plan drawn up by COGAT calls for providing ‘extensive assistance’ to ‘any Gaza resident who wants to emigrate to a third state’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (not in picture) at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, February 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg,Pool)

Hamas said to agree to cede Gaza governance to PA; Netanyahu: ‘Not going to happen’

By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff

An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows tents amidst the destruction from war in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, on February 17, 2025. (Mohammad Abu Samra/AP)

Egypt developing plan to rebuild Gaza as counter to Trump’s call to depopulate area

By AP and ToI Staff

Scheme envisions establishing ‘secure areas’ where Palestinians can live, and an administration not aligned with either Hamas or PA to oversee territory during reconstruction

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, center, speaks to journalists at a press conference with GOP Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, left, and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, as part of a bipartisan US Senate delegation during their visit to Israel, in Tel Aviv, February 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

In Israel, US senators dismiss Trump’s Gaza plan, expect alternative from Arab states

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 17, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/ Pool/ AFP)

Rubio discusses Trump’s Gaza plan with MBS before Saudi summit on ‘Arab alternatives’

Israeli military vehicles cross a cement barrier on the border between Israel and the southern Lebanese village of Dhayra, on February 17, 2025 (Jalaa MAREY / AFP)

Hebrew media watch

Welcome to the era of the buffer zone

Whereas, in the past, Israel has semi-occupied adjacent territory, now it’s creating sterilized strips that potentially redefine its borders

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar meets with a bipartisan group of US senators and Deputy Middle East Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus, February 17, 2025 (Yafit Iliagoyav/Foreign Ministry)

FM Sa’ar to US senators: Turkey cooperating with Iran to smuggle money to Hezbollah

By ToI Staff and Agencies

Illustrative - A Middle-East Airlines (MEA) plane approaches Beirut International airport on October 3, 2024. (Joseph Eid/AFP)

Lebanon extends Iran flight ban after US says Israel might shoot down planes

By ToI Staff and Agencies

Mustapha Ezzarghani

This Moroccan says, yes, we are all Israelis

Moroccans, increasingly persuaded by Hamas messaging, must be taught that Israel is not an enemy, but a strategic ally

Meredith Rothbart

It is time to reframe peacebuilding

Peace initiatives that failed in the past had the right idea – they were just missing one key piece: the people

Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) president Morton A. Klein (Joseph Savetsky/courtesy of ZOA)

Interview

Head of hawkish ZOA group cheers Trump plan to clear Gaza, but wants Strip for Israel

Zionist Organization of America president Morton Klein says he is encouraged by new US administration, calling it ‘most pro-Israel I’ve ever seen’

InterviewTrump’s Gaza proposal will jeopardize Israel’s future, warns head of liberal JCPA group

Amichai Chikli attends a protest outside a court in Tel Aviv, November 27, 2024. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Chikli tells US Jewish leaders he will vote against stage 2 of hostage release deal

Sa’ar says judicial overhaul legislation can be passed within a month

By Jeremy Sharon and Sam Sokol

Foreign minister claims 70 MKs back far-reaching bill to change judicial appointments process, as report claims Justice Minister Levin aims to ram law through in next two weeks

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar leads a faction meeting of his New Hope party in the Knesset, February 17, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Prime Minister's Office Legal Adviser Shlomit Barnea Farago arrives for a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on May 1, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Deputy AG raises concerns PM’s office deliberately stalling on finding new legal adviser

By Jeremy Sharon

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the courtroom at the Tel Aviv District Court for the 10th day of his testimony in his corruption trial, February 17, 2025. (Gideon Markowicz/ POOL)

Netanyahu testimony likely to take another 9 to 14 months, court told

By Jeremy Sharon

PM’s defense team requests scheduled hearings be reduced from three to two times a week. ‘I insist on my right to answer every single clause’ of indictment,’ he tells court

Then-war cabinet ministers Gadi Eisenkot (right) and Benny Gantz hold a press conference at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, February 26, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Poll suggests growing support for Eisenkot to replace Gantz as National Unity leader

Israeli UFC fighter Natan Levy, left, teaches a seminar in New York City, February 16, 2025. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)

Exclusive

Israeli UFC fighter Natan Levy trains New York Jews in self-defense

Mixed martial arts star teaches seminar for Krav Maga program, part of a larger push for community security training in the wake of Oct. 7

Illustrative: Israelis shop at the Dizengoff Center shopping mall on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv, March 20, 2024. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

Israeli economy grew 1% as spending on war effort rose, exports and investment fell

By Sharon Wrobel

Growth in 2024 exceeded central bank and Finance Ministry forecasts as government expenditure on war needs soared 13.7% and consumer spending rose 3.9%

More Headlines

MK Ofer Cassif at the Knesset, November 11, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Far-left MK’s tweet comparing Israel to Nazi Germany sparks renewed calls for impeachment

University of Central Florida's Engineering Center. (Public Domain, Wikipedia)

University of Central Florida suspends fraternity for antisemitic hazing ritual

A undated handout picture released by the family of Craig and Lindsay Foreman through Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London on February 15, 2025, shows Craig and Lindsay Foreman posing for a selfie photograph at an unknown location. (Photo by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office/AFP)

Iran says British couple on round-the-world trip held on espionage charges

By AFP

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second left, meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, third left, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, left, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, second right, at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 18, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP)

Russia says talks with US will have no impact on cooperation with Iran

By Reuters and ToI Staff

Damage caused by a car bombing that killed one and injured two others in Taybeh on February 18, 2025. (Screenshot/X)

Taybeh shop owner killed in bombing, man shot dead in Lod as violent crime spikes

By Charlie Summers

(L to R) US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban, the Russian president's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend a meeting together at Riyadh's Diriyah Palace on February 18, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein / POOL / AFP)

Top Russian and US officials discuss ending Ukraine war, but Kyiv not at the table

By Matthew Lee, BARAA ANWER and Dasha Litvinova

Israel Football Association chairman Moshe Zuares in Jerusalem on May 24, 2023. (Yonatan SIndel/Flash90)

Israel soccer chief alleges widespread game fixing in third-tier league

By Stuart Winer

EMIH chief rabbi Shlomo Koves, center left, meets with Hungarian Education Minister Balazs Hanko, center right, in Budapest on February 10, 2025. (Courtesy)

Hungary’s Education Ministry approves new university-level Jewish studies program

This image taken from video provided by CTV shows emergency crews responding at Toronto Pearson Airport after a plane crash, February 17, 2025. (CTV via AP)

Delta jet flips upon landing on snowy Toronto runway; all 80 aboard survive

By JOHN WAWROW and Michael Casey

Team at Israeli cybersecurity startup Dream Security. (Courtesy)

Israeli AI cybersecurity startup valued at $1.1 billion after major funding round

By Sharon Wrobel

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January	February 2025					March
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					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
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24	25	26	27	28

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