VOICES FROM IRAN Iranians turn on Pezeshkian over protest death toll comments

President Masoud Pezeshkian drew angry reactions from Iranians after rejecting higher estimates of those killed in Iran's January protests and calling those who cite such figures "traitors" in an interview published on Wednesday. Pezeshkian described the protests as a "riot" and accused people abroad of falsely inflating the death toll. "Those sitting abroad who present themselves as intellectuals and scholars, yet say 30,000 or 40,000 people were killed, are dishonorable and traitors," he said in the video interview. His remarks prompted a wave of criticism from citizens who sent messages to Iran International, with many accusing the president himself of bearing responsibility for the killings.

"Mr. Pezeshkian, this is disgraceful. Stop lying and have some shame," one said. "Your hands are stained with the blood of tens of thousands of Iranian protesters. Curse all of you killers and the remaining figures of the Islamic Republic." Others argued that even the official death toll acknowledged by his administration warranted accountability. "Sitting there and saying 3,000 people were killed – first of all, this is not about the number," one citizen from Arak said. "Even if it were those 3,000 people you admit were killed, you should answer for every single one of them." Another viewer wrote that if Iran had "a normal government," Pezeshkian should face punishment simply for acknowledging that thousands had been killed. "So if, by your own account, 3,000 people were killed, that's acceptable?" another message read.

Government figures disputed

In mid-February, Pezeshkian's office published a list containing the names of 2,986 people it said were killed during the January protests, saying it had been compiled using data from the Legal Medicine Organization and cross-checked with the National Organization for Civil Registration. The figure is far below Iran International's editorial board estimate of at least 36,500 people killed during the crackdown. Several international media outlets have also cited similar estimates.

Pezeshkian has repeatedly accused protesters of carrying out armed attacks and sabotage. In his latest interview, he again described protesters as having been armed by US President Donald Trump, referred to the crackdown as an "incident" and said demonstrations had turned into a "riot" in which "difficult events" occurred. One person responded by invoking a Quranic verse. "If your memory serves you, the Quran you probably believe in says killing one innocent person is like killing all humanity," the message read. "Yet you speak about 3,000 deaths as though nothing important happened. Another accused the president of contradicting earlier official accounts. (Read more)

As the world looks away, Iran continues brutal hangings of protesters to crush the next uprising

IRAN AFFAIRS: Iran’s campaign of executions is part of a wider attempt to reverse the defiance of January, dismantle protest networks, and reassert control over society.

At dawn on July 28, the Islamic Republic of Iran publicly hanged Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi in Alikhani Square in Isfahan. Security forces had filled the square overnight, and videos circulating online appeared to show people gathering in an attempt to stop the executions, before they were dispersed, with several reportedly injured and arrested. The two men had been detained during January’s uprising and convicted in a mass case involving clashes in the square, the deaths of security personnel, and allegations of weapons possession and property destruction.

At dawn on July 28, the Islamic Republic of Iran publicly hanged Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi in Alikhani Square in Isfahan. Security forces had filled the square overnight, and videos circulating online appeared to show people gathering in an attempt to stop the executions, before they were dispersed, with several reportedly injured and arrested. The two men had been detained during January’s uprising and convicted in a mass case involving clashes in the square, the deaths of security personnel, and allegations of weapons possession and property destruction.

Rights groups said the convictions followed torture, forced confessions, and denial of independent legal representation. The two men were hanged at the same location where they had allegedly protested against the regime. Four days later, guards at Shahrud Prison hanged Arvin Kheirkhahan, a young man arrested during the same uprising, without informing his family in advance. His relatives were instructed to collect his body in the early hours and bury him at 5 a.m. under security supervision. The judiciary issued no public announcement. (Read More)

Iranian Leadership Response: Parliament Speaker Characterizes US Policy Shift As Theater Diplomacy

Iranian Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf publically criticized President Donald Trump's shift from military warnings to diplomatic negotiation, while Iranian officials disclosed structural details of proposed Strait of Hormuz maritime corridors. Iranian political leaders and state media outlets publicly mocked President Donald Trump on Thursday following the administration's strategic shift from public strike warnings to statements supporting diplomatic negotiations. Iranian Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf characterized the shifting position of the White House as theater diplomacy, rejecting Washington's pressure tactics as ineffective.

The public remarks come as technical negotiators outline potential interim maritime transit frameworks mediated by Omani officials. "A massive attack is coming... wait, never mind, they want to negotiate," Speaker Qalibaf wrote in a public social media post addressing the shifting US statements. "This is a repeating theater diplomacy."

Qalibaf further criticized the strategic tools utilized by the administration to extract concessions from Tehran during international talks. "Using bullying, broken promises, and fake news as leverage is a failed strategy," Qalibaf stated regarding American diplomatic posture. "Recognize the facts and fulfill your commitments. We do not need any more theater." Concurrently, Iranian state news outlet Nour News questioned the White House's announcement of rapid progress on Persian Gulf shipping arrangements. State media analysts questioned whether public statements from Washington indicated a functional agreement or a strategic political narrative.

"Trump's unusual rush to announce success in the Strait of Hormuz issue reveals more than anything his central vulnerability," Nour News reported. "The question is: is he rushing to implement a real agreement, or is he merely seeking to sell the American public news of a good agreement right before the Congressional elections." Amid the public exchanges, officials in Tehran disclosed operational details regarding the temporary maritime corridor framework negotiated alongside Omani diplomats. A source within the Iranian Foreign Ministry told Fars News Agency that the proposed maritime agreement is structured to function for a designated time period. (Read More)

Trump, ‘exasperated’ with Iran war, bashed Hegseth over munition shortages – reports

President’s team can’t agree on path forward, report says, as official warns US risking ‘strategic defeat’; Trump says talks ‘going well,’ but Iran says it’s only speaking to Oman. US President Donald Trump clashed with his defense secretary last week, accusing Pete Hegseth of misleading the White House about the state of American munitions stockpiles amid a potential return to major combat operations in Iran, according to a Wednesday report.

The exchange took place at Camp David, The Washington Post reported, on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting. According to the report, which cited two people familiar with the exchange, Trump told Hegseth he thought the problem – a shortage of long-range and interceptor missiles – “had been fixed.” CNN reported Wednesday that the US military has used up close to 80 percent of its interceptors for the THAAD anti-ballistic missile defense system and approximately 50% of its Patriot interceptors, leaving the supply of those munitions “dangerously low.”

When confronted about the problem, Hegseth punted the blame to his deputy, Stephen Feinberg, the Post report said. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied the story completely, telling the Post it was: “100% fake news. Literally never happened. And President Trump has the utmost confidence in Secretary Hegseth.” Likewise, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said: “Secretary Hegseth did not mislead anyone about our munitions posture, and he did not blame Deputy Secretary Feinberg.” 

“These claims about depleted stockpiles, internal disagreements, the Secretary’s position on Iran… are equally fictional,” he said. Trump himself also addressed the reports on Thursday, insisting the United States has a vast supply of munitions and threatening those who suggested otherwise with jail terms. (Read More)

Palestinian Arab Culture, Part 1: Origins

Cultures take centuries or millennia to form organically, but Palestinian Arab culture, or "Palestinianism," sprang into being quickly and artificially. In March 2023, Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich claimed at a conference in France that, "there is no such thing as a Palestinian people." News outlets quoted him saying "There is no such thing as a Palestinian nation. There is no Palestinian history. There is no Palestinian language," and asking rhetorically "Is there a Palestinian history or culture? There is none."

Smotrich was correct in many respects. There is no nation called "Palestine" and no "Palestinian" language, but there is a Palestinian culture, of recent origin. It was forged mostly by Yasser Arafat, the PLO's leader for five decades, and is singularly defined by violence. Unique among all other Arab cultures and national identities, Palestinian Arab culture and the Palestinian Arab identity are predicated on a single political goal - the unceasing desire to destroy an existing country, in this case Israel. Take away the resistance, and there's nothing left of a distinctly Palestinian culture.

Origins of the Palestinian Arab Identity

Cultures take centuries or millennia to form organically, but Palestinian Arab culture, or "Palestinianism," sprang into being quickly and artificially.Historians might not agree on the precise date of the new Palestinian Arab identity and its concomitant culture, but no serious scholar claims it to be much more than a century old. The designation "Palestinian" only became applicable to the inhabitants of the region because the British named it the Palestinian Mandate after acquiring it following World War I.

Daniel Pipes dates the origin of the Palestinian Arab identity at 1920 when the British created the Palestine Mandate which all Muslims in the Middle East universally rejected because they perceived it as "a victory for Zionism." So instead, they decided to form their own independent state, a project taken up by Amin al-Husseini, Mufti of Jerusalem.

Even Rashid Khalidi, once a PLO spokesman and later a Columbia University professor, concedes in his book Palestinian Identity (1997) that only after the first World War did "Palestinian" become "a new and powerful category of identity that was simply nonexistent a generation or two before, and was still novel and limited in its diffusion before World War I ... result[ing] in the emergence of a Palestinian national identity where a few decades before no such thing had existed."

In 1958, Mike Wallace interviewed Israel's Ambassador to the U.S., Abba Eban, for the CBS news show 60 Minutes. In the 22-minute segment, neither Eban nor Wallace utters the word "Palestinian" even once. Rather, both men refer to the people who today call themselves Palestinians as the "Arab refugees." (Read More)

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan sign major defense pact amid Iran tensions

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a joint defence agreement on Friday, Pakistan's foreign ministry said, as the three countries sought to deepen security cooperation amid heightened military tensions and conflicts in the Middle East. The agreement says that any armed attack on any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against them all, the statement from the ministry said.

The move marks a significant step in efforts by the three regional powers to deepen security cooperation amid growing tensions and the ongoing war between the United States and Iran. A source close to the Saudi government and military, speaking anonymously to Agence France Presse (AFP), said that "the agreement has been under discussion for a long time, but recent developments in the region accelerated the process." Two additional regional sources with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed the planned timetable to Reuters.

The closely watched summit brought together Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Erdogan departed Ankara on Friday morning for a brief working visit, accompanied by senior Turkish officials. Sharif and Pakistan's army chief, Gen. Asim Munir, arrived in Saudi Arabia a day earlier, landing on Thursday and received at Jeddah airport by the deputy governor of the Mecca region. (Read More)

Opposition-aligned outlet claims Iranian supreme leader may be on his deathbed

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei hasn’t met any Iranian cabinet members since the US-Israeli strikes that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, the opposition-aligned IranWire outlet reports, citing two unnamed sources close to President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration. The sources claim that “rumors that he is in extremely critical condition and could pass away at any moment are circulating widely within the highest levels of the regime.” One of the sources is quoted as saying: “We would not be surprised if we heard news of his martyrdom soon.”

Mojtaba Khamenei has not made any public appearances since he became supreme leader, and no recordings of him speaking have been aired — only written statements attributed to him by state media. He was reportedly injured and possibly deformed in some way during the attack that killed his father, and has remained in hiding, reportedly communicating with other senior regime figures via a slow array of intermediaries to avoid being targeted.

Pezeshkian himself said in an interview aired by state TV on Wednesday that interaction with Khamenei is currently “very difficult.” (Source)

Watch: Navy trains to protect against maritime infiltrations, attacks on gas rigs

Israeli Navy holds major exercise in two seas to implement lessons learned during the war, preparing for scenarios of maritime infiltrations, multi-arena combat, and aerial threats, among others.

The Israeli Navy held a large-scale branch-wide exercise in both the Mediterranean and Red Seas this week, led by the Missile Ship Flotilla, in cooperation with the Submarine Flotilla, Patrol Squadrons, the operation headquarters, and other elements. Hundreds of sailors and a variety of vessels participated in the exercise. According to the IDF, the exercise was held as part of the lessons learned from the war over the past three years.

During the exercise, the troops trained for scenarios of maritime infiltrations, multi-arena combat, aerial threats, fire operations, and the protection of strategic assets, including gas rigs, Israeli ports, and national infrastructure. Additionally, simulations were conducted in the Red Sea in conjunction with the Navy Operational Headquarters to enhance the control, synchronization, and cooperation capabilities among the units.

The IDF said the maritime domain is a strategic arena and that the Israeli Navy continues to adapt its capabilities to evolving challenges, protect Israel’s security, economic, and energy assets, and identify and thwart threats in real time. (Source)

Trump is caught in an "escalation trap" in Iran war: Analysis

WILL TRUMP BE FORCED TO PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND?

Houthis target Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

Yemen's Houthis claim missile attacks on two Saudi oil tankers off Yanbu and in the Gulf of Aden, intensifying their Red Sea naval blockade against Riyadh.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement declared Wednesday that its forces executed missile strikes against a pair of Saudi oil tankers - one positioned near the Red Sea port of Yanbu and another navigating the Gulf of Aden, Reuters reported. Saudi officials have not corroborated either reported engagement. Speaking on behalf of the Houthi armed forces, military spokesman Yahya Saree did not provide a specific timeline for when the strikes occurred. The reported missile launches mark a continuation of the maritime interdiction campaign instituted by Houthi leadership last month in the Red Sea. 

The group established the shipping blockade in response to measures restricting air transport and commercial access into Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen. Following the initial blockade announcement, the Saudi government pledged to employ all authorized international legal remedies to protect its maritime shipping traffic.

These maritime developments follow intense land battles in western Yemen, where government troops clashed with Houthi fighters south of Hodeidah province, leaving a minimum of 50 Houthi insurgents dead and dozens more injured. The conflict further broadened when Houthi sources accused Saudi aviation of conducting airstrikes against Sanaa International Airport. However, Yemen's internationally recognized administration claimed responsibility for that raid, maintaining that the action was executed to block an incoming Iranian aircraft. In retaliation, Houthi units launched missile strikes into southwestern Saudi Arabia, targeting areas adjacent to Abha Airport. (Source)

UAE joins Turkey, Saudi Arabia in accusing Israel of undermining Trump Gaza plan

A group of Muslim countries — including close ally the United Arab Emirates and hostile Turkey — condemns Israeli “violations” in the Gaza Strip, and accuses Israel of undermining US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the fighting in Gaza.

Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt say Israel’s conduct in Gaza “constitutes a clear breach of Israel’s obligations under international law and the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, undermines international and regional efforts aimed at implementing the second phase of the Plan, particularly following the announcement by US President Donald Trump that the Palestinian factions accepted the roadmap, including the provisions relating to the confinement of weapons.”

They say Israel’s policy in Gaza “threatens to derail the political process, reignite the cycle of escalation, and further deepen the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.” Israel says it will not begin to withdraw its forces in Gaza until meaningful progress is made on Hamas disarmament.  (Ed note: But aren't those countries some of President Trump's best friends?)   (Source)

Iranian State Press Mocks Trump as Weak Amid Stalled Strait of Hormuz Talks

Iranian state media escalated rhetoric against Trump, declaring the U.S. president has failed and claiming Tehran now holds the negotiating advantage in stalled Strait of Hormuz talks.  As negotiations over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz languish without visible progress, Iranian state media launched an escalating propaganda offensive this week, declaring the Trump administration weak and claiming Tehran has seized the upper hand in the contest that has roiled global oil markets since spring.

The Keyhan newspaper, regarded as the Islamic Republic's official voice, published a stark headline Wednesday declaring Trump had "failed again," while another state outlet, Vatan-e Emrooz, framed the crisis as an economic war where Iran controls the decisive battlefield. The rhetorical salvo reflects Tehran's strategy of projecting strength even as the negotiations remain mired in fundamental disagreements.

"Trump is stuck in the mud of his own creation," according to an article in Keyhan, which accused the U.S. president of attempting to conceal weakness through threats. The paper claimed that reports from Western media outlets documented shortages in American missile interceptors and turmoil in global energy markets, which it argued proved Washingto's vulnerability rather than strength.

The Pattern of Broken Deadlines

The Iranian claims arrive as both sides struggle to explain their contradictory public statements about the state of talks. The Trump administration has repeatedly announced that negotiations are imminent or ongoing, only to have Tehran flatly deny that direct discussions are taking place. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Tuesday that an agreement could materialize "today or tomorrow," while Iranian officials simultaneously said they were negotiating only with Oman, not with the United States.

This pattern has repeated several times since spring. On April 7, Trump warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran did not agree to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Hours later, a two-week ceasefire between the countries was announced. On April 21, the day before the ceasefire was set to expire, Trump said he expected "to be bombing" if negotiators couldn't reach a deal. Later that day, he extended the ceasefire.  The cycle has undermined credibility on both sides. Each Trump ultimatum followed by an extension or reversal has eroded the implicit threat behind U.S. demands, while Iranian insistence that it is not negotiating directly with Washington—even as indirect talks through Oman continue—has created persistent confusion about whether either side is genuinely committed to resolution.

Iran's Economic Leverage

The Iranian state media's confidence reflects an assessment, shared by some international analysts, that the disruption to global energy supplies gives Tehran structural advantages in a prolonged standoff. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20 percent of the world's oil shipments, making it one of the most critical chokepoints in global commerce. According to Iranian officials, control over the waterway and the threat of further disruption constitute Iran's most effective tool for extracting concessions from Washington. Vatan-e Emrooz framed the conflict as fundamentally economic, asserting that "control of oil flows and domination of the maritime passage is Iran's central lever of pressure, and manipulating the global energy market is the most effective instrument for achieving gains against Washington."

The framing is not without merit. With traffic through the bottleneck still at a trickle of its peacetime flow, the international oil benchmark Brent crude rose again by 2.7% Tuesday, reflecting uncertainty in the market rather than any confidence in the diplomatic process. The persistent elevation in global oil prices reflects market anxiety about whether a deal can be reached, or whether the conflict will intensify further. NBC News. (Ed note: Another great article from Gila Isaacson. Can you believe the trash talking that the Iranian press is doing to President Trump?) (Read More)

Iran's president says interaction with supreme leader is currently 'very difficult'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview aired by state TV on Wednesday that interaction with the country's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is currently "very difficult." Mojtaba has not made any public appearances since he became supreme leader, replacing his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in one of the first strikes launched against Iran by the US and Israel. Pezeshkian's comments follow a reported phone call earlier on Wednesday between the Iranian president and the head of Hamas' political bureau, Khalil al-Hayya.

According to Iranian state media, Pezeshkian told al-Hayya that Tehran would support any initiative or decision taken by Palestinian leaders in ongoing indirect negotiations between terrorist group Hamas and Israel. The call came after a report by Iran’s Tabnak media site on Monday saying that Khamenei warned Pezeshkian that he (Khamenei) would accept the Iranian president's resignation if he resubmits it.

Tabnak was informed of the warning, which came in the form of a letter written by the supreme leader, by one of Khamenei's relatives. Tehran reportedly fears audio recordings could reveal Khamenei’s location The Islamic regime has avoided releasing audio of the supreme leader, with a report on Monday by the Tehran Municipality-affiliated Iranian daily Al-Mashhari claiming that this is due to fears of revealing Khamenei's location and condition.

The newspaper outlined five ways a recording could potentially reveal where he was located, including acoustic signatures, electrical grid interference, audio file imprints, equipment noise, and stress patterns in Khamenei's voice. (Ed note: See the book in Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's hand? What is he crying about? The Islamic Republic to which he belongs yells "Death to Israel" and wants to annihilate the Jewish race from the face of the earth.)  (Source)

IDF strikes Hezbollah after ceasefire violation (TYRE)

The IDF launched targeted strikes in southern Lebanon after accusing Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire, while reports said military officials had urged a stronger response than the one ultimately approved by Israel's political leadership.

Tensions on Israel's northern border rose Wednesday after the IDF accused Hezbollah of committing what it described as a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire agreement, prompting Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon. According to a Ynet report, senior defense officials recommended a significantly stronger military response intended to deter Hezbollah and impose a heavier cost for the alleged violation. However, following discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the political leadership approved a limited response, authorizing targeted strikes while avoiding a broader escalation for the time being. 

Sources familiar with the discussions told Ynet that the decision is not considered final and that additional consultations are expected, leaving open the possibility of expanding the military response. Earlier in the day, the IDF reported what it described as an unusual security incident involving Hezbollah. Shortly afterward, the military issued an uncommon evacuation warning in Arabic, urging residents of the village of Al-Mansouri in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon to leave the area immediately.

The IDF later announced that the Israeli Air Force had launched a series of targeted strikes against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. According to the military, fighter jets, artillery and other forces from the 91st Division targeted Hezbollah weapons depots and military infrastructure south of the Blue Line. Lebanese media reported that about 15 families remaining in Al-Mansouri evacuated following the warning. Additional strikes in the Tibnin area reportedly killed one person and wounded several others, according to Lebanese reports. (Ed note: The village of Al-Mansouri is located about 9 miles south of the city of Tyre.)     (Source)

Israeli ambassador halts talks with Lebanon, cites Beirut’s ‘repeated misleading leaks,’ source tells JNS

A second day of U.S.-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon ended early in Rome on Wednesday, after the Jewish state requested that negotiations be suspended, a source on the Israeli negotiating team told JNS. Yechiel Leiter, Israeli ambassador to the United States and head of the Jewish state’s delegation, asked U.S. mediators to halt the talks about three hours before their scheduled conclusion. The envoy did so “following repeated misleading leaks by the Lebanese delegation,” according to the source. Multiple media reports detailed purported developments from the negotiations on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was not immediately clear which of those leaks led to Leiter’s decision. Talks are expected to resume on Thursday, the final scheduled day of this round, the source told JNS.

The Lebanese president’s office stated that “the American side asked the Lebanese and Israeli delegations to stop today’s meeting.” The pause was sought “to complete its contacts,” the office said. Israeli and Lebanese technical teams opened a second round of negotiations in Rome on Tuesday, the seventh round of U.S.-facilitated talks aimed at implementing the trilateral framework agreement reached earlier this summer. The current round follows separate White House meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the launch of the first pilot zones in southern Lebanon.

“These discussions bring together technical teams from both governments to advance full implementation of the trilateral framework, including the pilot zone process, verified disarmament of Hezbollah and other Iran-backed security threats, redeployment of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and laying the ground for a comprehensive peace and security agreement,” Tommy Pigott, a U.S. State Department spokesman, said on Tuesday. “The United States remains fully committed to supporting both governments as they carry this process forward in a manner that delivers lasting security for both countries, eliminates security threats to Israel and restores Lebanese state authority throughout the south,” Pigott stated.

An Israeli diplomatic source told JNS on Tuesday that the delegation in Rome is working through specialized groups focused on military coordination, land and maritime border issues and Hezbollah’s disarmament. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem denounced the Rome talks on Tuesday and called direct negotiations with Israel “shameful.” He claimed that the talks have brought Lebanon “nothing except shame, humiliation, disappointment and one concession after another,” a television network affiliated with the terror organization said. “We are confronting a U.S.-Israeli aggression against Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, Iraq and Yemen aimed at extinguishing the flame of the resistance and colonizing the region,” Qassem said. “The Israeli enemy’s only option is a complete withdrawal, and it will withdraw.” (Ed note: Again the question must be asked: Just how much of the Lebanese government and Lebanese military have been infiltrated by the terrorist group known as Hezbollah?) (Read More)

Jordan condemns Israeli policies in Al-Aqsa, Temple Mount, calls to end 'escalation'

Arab and Muslim officials meeting in Amman on Wednesday condemned what they described as an Israeli “escalation” in “the occupied city of Jerusalem,” including what they called the “inflammatory” statements and actions of extremist settlers and Israeli government ministers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Christian holy sites, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said.

Foreign ministers and representatives from Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the Palestinian Authority (PA), Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia, Egypt, and Morocco, together with the secretary-general of the League of Arab States, agreed to condemn recent Israeli policies and measures that they claimed were intended to alter the “Arab, Islamic, and Christian identity” of Jerusalem. 

The participants alleged that Israeli violations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which sits atop the Temple Mount – holy to Judaism as the site of the First and Second Temples – included attempts to “alter its historic and legal status quo and impose temporal and spatial division.” They also accused Israel of facilitating what they described as escalating incursions by extremist settlers, Israeli ministers and officials; restricting worshippers’ access to the mosque; assaulting worshippers; obstructing the work of the Jerusalem Awqaf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department; and conducting illegal excavations beneath the mosque and in its vicinity.

Thousands of Jews, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, ascended the Temple Mount in recent weeks to mark the fast of Tisha B’Av, commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples. Under the longstanding status quo, Jews and Christians are permitted to visit the Temple Mount but are generally prohibited from praying there, while Muslims are permitted to worship. Israeli police detained dozens of Jewish visitors on Tisha B’Av after they allegedly violated restrictions on prayer by reciting the Shema. (Read More)

Where David met Abigail, a Judean Desert-area trail is reviving Biblical romance

The new nature trail follows the setting of the royal courtship, drawing visitors, marriage proposals and hopes for renewed faith-based tourism.

JNS, MAON, Israel—It was a quintessential Biblical romance with all the trappings of a Hollywood action film: a young warrior on the run from a jealous king leading a band of outlaws through the desert, and a young woman trapped in a marriage to a wealthy, ill-tempered man. A newly opened nature trail on the edge of the Judean Desert, where the Bible recounts that the future King David first met his wife more than 3,000 years ago, is becoming a local hotspot for modern-day marriage proposals and, locals hope, a catalyst for renewed faith-based tourism in an off-the-beaten-path corner of Israel. Even by Holy Land standards, it is not every nature trail that is lined with signs and interactive exhibits featuring Biblical passages from the Book of Samuel and the Book of Psalms.

That is exactly what is planned for the newly opened “David’s Wanderings Path,” a nearly three-mile walking and cycling trail that runs along the desert edge ridge stretching from the agricultural community of Maon, south of Hebron, to nearby Carmel. The route through the desert-area wilderness is central to the Biblical account of the future king’s first encounter with Abigail, who, according to I Samuel, intercepted David with provisions to prevent him from attacking her husband, Nabal, after he refused to compensate David and his men for protecting his flocks. In a scene that could have come straight from a Hollywood script, Nabal died shortly afterward, and Abigail became David’s wife.

The $1.6 million trail, launched earlier this year by the Israeli Tourism Ministry and the Mount Hebron Regional Council, will eventually include a coffee shop, electric off-road vehicle tours and overnight farm stays for Bible enthusiasts and desert travelers. Originally envisioned as a link between nearby Jewish communities, the promenade’s sweeping desert views and three scenic overlooks have already made it a popular destination for local marriage proposals, echoing the Biblical love story. With an eye toward attracting both Jewish and Christian visitors, planners are also developing a Center of Psalms in the region, highlighting the prayers and songs traditionally associated with David during the years he hid in the Judean Desert while fleeing King Saul.

“This promenade bridges the gap between a pristine natural landscape and the biblical tales of David and Abigail—and the wars of King David—that unfolded right here,” Eliram Azulay, head of the Mount Hebron Regional Council, told JNS during a tour of the site on Monday. “Our deepest roots lie here: from the ‘Ground Zero’ of the Bible—the Cave of the Patriarchs, where Abraham walked and where our forefathers and foremothers are buried—to the presence of King David,” he said. “It encompasses numerous biblical sites entrusted to us to preserve and develop, and through them we discover who we are and what we are doing here.” (Ed note: The title of the above article says it all.) (Source)

Piers Morgan doesn't hold back in this interview with Hamas leader

Prime Minister Commits 300 Billion NIS to End Israeli Dependence on Foreign Military Platforms Within Decade

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed plans to invest 300-400 billion shekels over the next decade to develop a domestic stealth fighter jet and indigenous weapons industries, citing the need to reduce reliance on foreign military platforms.

The initiative marks one of the most ambitious defense modernization proposals in recent Israeli history, reflecting Netanyahu's stated conviction that Israel cannot depend on external suppliers for its most critical military platforms. "I want to establish here within a decade --- I want our own fighter jet, our own fighter jet, a stealth jet, an unmanned aircraft, a next-generation aircraft," Netanyahu said during the interview on the "Shomer Saf" podcast with Dr. Gadi Taub. "Because we can never know if they will take away from us the important platforms we receive now from abroad."

The proposal centers on reducing what Netanyahu characterized as Israel's "weapons dependence" and developing what he called "armament sovereignty" - the capacity to design, produce, and deploy advanced military systems without reliance on foreign governments or the threat of embargoes during times of crisis.

Global Context

Netanyahu's announcement comes as nations worldwide race to develop sixth-generation fighter jets and advanced unmanned aircraft systems. The United States is developing the F-47 and the F/A-XX naval fighter as part of its next-generation program. Britain, Italy, and Japan are jointly developing the GCAP fighter, expected to enter service in the mid-2030s. France, Germany, and Spain are advancing the NGF as part of their FCAS initiative.

Russia continues development of the Su-57 and next-generation capabilities. China is advancing stealthy fighter designs to complement the J-20, while India is promoting the AMCA, a domestically produced stealth multirole fighter, and Turkey is developing the KAAN.

Scope of Investment

The proposed investment, described as an addition to Israel's regular defense budget rather than a reallocation, would fund the full lifecycle of developing an indigenous fighter jet and supporting weapons production infrastructure. Netanyahu did not specify a timeline for a prototype or operational aircraft, though he indicated the investment would proceed over the coming decade.

The plan represents a significant shift in Israeli defense policy, which has historically relied on acquiring American platforms including the F-15 and F-16 fighters, with Israel maintaining technological integration and modification privileges. While Israel produces some domestic weapons systems, a fully independent fighter jet development program would represent a departure from that model. (Ed note: And escape the meddling of US Presidents who may not even like Israel, or understand their own Bible or Bible prophecy.)   (Read More)

Israel, not Iran, is boxed in as Trump keeps chasing flimsy agreements

Tehran isn’t scared of endless US threats, and won’t make concessions. Gaza and Lebanon deals are somewhat more promising, but leave plenty of room for terror groups to survive. 

With Iran openly targeting US soldiers and asserting its right to control the Strait of Hormuz, many believed over the weekend that US President Donald Trump had — at long last — reached the end of his rope. “US, Israel preparing to bombard energy-related targets in Iran,” CBS Newsdeclared on Saturday. Israeli outlets reported that Jerusalem was on its “highest alert,” expecting Iran to respond to the looming massive strike by hitting the Jewish state for the first time in months.

But then Trump backed down once again, claiming that Iran had suddenly agreed to make far-reaching concessions its leaders have said consistently that they would never so much as consider. Tehran quickly denied this. On Gaza, too, the White House and its Board of Peace are placing all their hopes on an agreement — this one to disarm Hamas. And in Lebanon, a US-backed plan to assert control by Beirut crawls forward, but it is entirely unclear how the agreement will actually lead to Hezbollah giving up its weapons.

And so the Middle East, and particularly Israel, is trapped in inconclusive conflicts that are suspended by Trump’s apparent belief, or hope, that a signature on a two-page agreement means a terrorist group will abandon decades-long religious commitments to violence against the US and Israel, or that Iran will budge on what it sees as its core interests. Back on Friday, Trump had said that he was “losing faith” in Iran after the Islamic Republic fired missiles at US troops in Jordan while — at least according to the president — the sides were in the middle of negotiations. (Read More)

Iran to Hamas: We'll back whatever you decide on Gaza

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks to Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, promising to support any decision the terrorist group makes in negotiations over Gaza's future.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday promised Hamas Political Bureau chairman Khalil al-Hayya full support, Iranian government media reported. According to the report, Pezeshkian promised to support "every step, initiative, and decision" taken by the Palestinian Authority and Gazan leadership as part of negotiations over the future of Gaza. "The hearts and spirit of the Iranian people and officials are always with the Palestinian people, and Tehran will continue to support and stand alongside the Palestinian people," Pezeshkian said.

Earlier Wednesday, Hamas Political Bureau member and negotiating team member Basem Naim said the terrorist organization is still awaiting an official response from Nikolay Mladenov "regarding what was agreed upon with him and the mediators concerning the roadmap for implementing Phase 2, especially in light of the high level of responsibility demonstrated by the movement in dealing with what was proposed to it." The statement added that Hamas "highly appreciates the mediators' statement holding the enemy accountable for the ongoing crimes and the deliberate obstruction of the agreement."

On Tuesday, reports said that Israel's defense establishment has updated its procedures for approving strikes in the Gaza Strip in recent days, following a decision made by the political leadership. Under the new policy, the authority to approve targeted killings has been significantly restricted. Such operations may now only be carried out with the personal approval of IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. According to a security source, the change does not apply to situations in which IDF forces face an immediate threat on the ground. In such cases, troops will continue to act without delay to neutralize the threat, as they do under current procedures.

However, proactive strikes against targets that are not considered an immediate threat-including terrorists under intelligence surveillance-will now require the Chief of Staff's personal authorization. Before the new directive, such operations could also be approved by lower-ranking commanders, including regional commanders or division commanders. Mediators Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey issued a joint declaration on Monday targeting Israel, alleging that IDF military operations directed at Hamas operatives in the Gaza Strip threaten the stability of the current ceasefire. (Read more)

Netanyahu says Israel ‘didn’t agree’ to Board of Peace’s terms for disarming Hamas

In his first public comments on the matter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel has not agreed to the Board of Peace’s Hamas disarmament plan, which was accepted by the terror group last week. Reiterating comments from recent days attributed to “senior Israeli officials,” Netanyahu said in a video posted to Facebook that Israel will not withdraw “from our current lines” in Gaza “until Hamas is completely disarmed.” This would appear to go against the disarmament plan, which requires Israel to pull back to the original Yellow Line in Gaza. Israel withdrew to that line as part of the October 2025 ceasefire-hostage release deal with Hamas, but has since expanded its control of the Strip from 53 percent to over 60%.

While the Board of Peace indicated that Israel would not have to carry out withdrawals beyond the original Yellow Line until Hamas at least begins to hand over its weapons, Netanyahu asserted that Israeli forces will not move at all, as his election campaign kicks into gear. “[US] President [Donald] Trump thinks — or his team thinks — that they can get Hamas to disarm and demilitarize Gaza. We are looking into it. They sent us a draft. We did not agree to it. It was not our draft. We sent back our comments,” Netanyahu said in the video statement.

The “draft” Netanyahu described was not supposed to be open for debate with Israel, as it was the result of separate negotiations between Hamas, the Trump-controlled Board of Peace and mediating countries Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the US. A senior US official briefing reporters last week said the disarmament proposal is an extension of Trump’s 20-point plan for ending the Gaza war, which Israel already accepted last fall. Accordingly, Israel is only being asked to maintain its adherence to the 20-point plan, the US official said, adding that Trump would be “very disappointed” in Jerusalem if it blocked the proposal’s advancement. (Ed note: But hasn't President Trump been saying all along that Israel "is on board" with the Gaza plan?) (Read more)

Hamas will likely not comply with Gaza peace plan, says Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview aired on Monday expressed skepticism regarding Hamas’s willingness to lay down its weapons as required by the Board of Peace’s 15-point Roadmap for peace in Gaza, and called on the international community to accept Palestinian immigrants. “I don’t think Hamas is going to turn into a kitten—this predator,” Netanyahu said during an appearance on Israeli historian and media personality Gadi Taub’s podcast. The 15 points were published last week, followed by concerns in Israel that they stipulate the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces from the Gaza Strip before the terrorist group fully disarms.

When asked if Israel had missed the opportunity to eradicate Hamas in Gaza, the prime minister replied, “It’s not missed—it’s not completed. There’s still work to do ... Hamas must be disarmed and Gaza demilitarized, and only then [Gaza] can start reconstruction, including rehabilitating its fanaticism.”
Netanyahu added, “Certain people in the West, maybe the entire West, have a problem understanding what fanaticism is. [For example,] when you are willing to sacrifice any human norm, when you are willing to slaughter people—like we saw in Syria; they tore out someone’s heart and ate it while the victim was conscious for the last few seconds.”

Israel’s longest-serving prime minister went on to say that allowing Gazans to voluntarily relocate to other countries is a policy that must be advanced, adding that the only other place on earth from which citizens are not permitted to emigrate is North Korea. The majority of Gazans, between 50% to 80%, wish to leave the Strip, Netanyahu said. “For God’s sake, open the door, let them leave! The countries [say], ‘No, no, we will not accept them so as not to help Israel.’ What about helping the Gazans? Why don’t they have the right granted to billions of people around the world, to move from place to place?” he continued.

The underlying motivation behind opposition to Palestinian relocation is “to destroy the State of Israel,” he added. “If you let people leave and if you really eliminate Hamas and those who remain [in Gaza] can live a normal life and not under these human monsters, then it’s obvious that the conflict would end.” Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s accomplishments in the multi-front war sparked by Hamas and other Gaza terrorist organizations invading the northwestern Negev on Oct. 7, 2023, highlighting the decapitation of the enemy’s leadership in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, and the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in Syria, which he linked to the degrading of Hezbollah’s military capabilities. However, “time and again” he said, he encountered resistance from the country’s defense establishment against his plans to preemptively strike Iran and its nuclear project in the years leading up to the war. (Read More)

'Resistance is Hamas's holy mission': Terror spox. tells Piers Morgan group will continue fighting

Hamas will not change its mentality and "resisting the occupation is its holy mission," the terror group's spokesperson Ghazi Hamad claimed during an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, broadcast on Monday. Morgan asked Hamad whether the deal coordinated by the Trump administration, including the implementation of the Board of Peace and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), will lead to Hamas disarmament.

"This is an exceptional phase in Palestinian history. Because of forced necessity, the hard circumstances in Gaza, we accept this agreement. But I think that as Hamas, I can confirm that we didn't change our mentality, our goal to end the occupation, to continue to end the occupation with the Palestinian factions, because this is our holy mission," Hamad said.

Notably, he did not answer Morgan's question, which explicitly asked when Hamas would disarm and hand over its weapons as part of the process. "Maybe this time [Hamas will use] some different tactics, different tools, different methods," Hamad added. The terror spokesperson, however, stated that he does not believe that Israel will "fulfill its commitments," as Israel has a "state of arrogance, state of supremacy, and wants to control everything by force," in his view. Hamas, therefore, will "continue with all Palestinian factions to fight against occupation until we reach the end of this occupation and freedom for our people," Hamad said. Hamad told Morgan that the deal is exceptional "because of the exceptional circumstances."

"I think we did our best in order to save our people, to save our citizens in Gaza from displacement, from mass killing, from massacres, from genocide, from all kinds of tortures. So I think this is a necessity in order to save our people in Gaza. I know it's not easy. I'm not so pleased with this deal because I think we are looking for something better in order to create a good atmosphere for our people, to end our occupation, to build a new future for our people," he said. (Ed note: Ghazi Hamad, can you believe that guy? "Holy mission." Like Iran, this is a religious war with Hamas.) (Read More)

Hezbollah chief slams ‘humiliation’ of Israel-Lebanon talks in Rome

Nasrallah’s successor hinted Iran’s Axis of Resistance would not back down until Israel’s “complete withdrawal” from Lebanon.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Tuesday denounced the resumption of Israel-Lebanon talks in Rome, saying negotiations with Jerusalem had brought the country “nothing except shame.” Qassem’s remarks came hours before U.S.-backed talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials were scheduled to begin in the Italian capital, where the sides are expected to discuss the implementation of a June 26 framework agreement that calls for Hezbollah’s removal from Southern Lebanon. “Direct negotiations have brought Lebanon nothing except shame, humiliation, disappointment and one concession after another,” Qassem said, according to Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen channel, which is affiliated with Hezbollah. “We are confronting a U.S.-Israeli aggression against Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, Iraq and Yemen aimed at extinguishing the flame of the resistance and colonizing the region,” the terrorist leader claimed. “The Israeli enemy’s only option is a complete withdrawal—and it will withdraw.”

On Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa expressed cautious optimism ahead of the talks in Rome, while noting that “a great deal of technical work remains” to ensure “civilian safety on the ground. “There is a meaningful difference between drafting an agreement on paper and implementing it responsibly,” Issa said of the framework agreement between Jerusalem and Beirut, adding that “moving too quickly risks jeopardizing the very civilians this process is meant to protect.” He emphasized that both sides “must agree on a clear, workable process before proceeding.”

The Aug. 4–6 summit in the Italian capital follows months of intensifying military and diplomatic developments. The 14-point Trilateral Framework Agreement reached on June 26 calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah, while Jerusalem has maintained that a full troop withdrawal will occur only after the security threat is neutralized. High-level engagement continued on July 21, when Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. Trump pledged support for Lebanon’s stabilization efforts and expressed hope that Beirut might eventually join the Abraham Accords. (Source)

‘First, stop the killing’: Gazans say they’ll believe ceasefire roadmap when strikes end

Nineteen people were killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry — a high daily toll, even by the standards of the near-daily strikes that have continued throughout the ceasefire. Just days earlier, US President Donald Trump announced that his Board of Peace had reached an agreement for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas as part of the roadmap for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which calls for Israel to halt military operations in Gaza. For many Gazans, however, there is only one meaningful test of whether the agreement is truly moving forward: whether the strikes stop.

That sentiment has been reflected repeatedly in recent days on social media. On Sunday, Gaza resident Kamel al-Hindi wrote on Facebook: “They keep talking about a truce and a ceasefire, while this usurping entity continues burning the people of Gaza.” Another resident, Somaya Samir al-Kahlout, wrote: “There is no truce and no ceasefire. Gaza is still under bombardment.”  Mohammed Zreir, another Gaza resident, said in a video posted on TikTok: “We saw how on Sunday the assassinations continued, and by the time I recorded this video the death toll had already reached 14.” The roadmap published on Friday states that “Israel will return to fulfilling its commitments made at Sharm el-Sheikh [for the October 2025 ceasefire]: halting military operations.”

On August 2, Board of Peace Gaza envoy Nikolay Mladenov wrote on X: “Two days of strikes across Gaza have killed civilians and destroyed medical supplies that people depend on. Both parties carry obligations under the Comprehensive Plan and the Sharm El Sheikh deal.” There is currently no indication that Israeli strikes are stopping or being significantly reduced. Israel has continued carrying out strikes since the October 2025 deal, though at a far reduced rate, saying it does so in response to violations of the ceasefire or to target operatives who pose an active threat. (Ed note: Violations? First, this article is from the very liberal Times of Israel. Then remember that no one ever seems to mention the fact that Hamas continues to REARM not DISARM, and take shots at the IDF. That Hamas continues to hide amongst the people of Gaza, and its people continue to side with Hamas. The IDF can't catch a break and yet many yell at Israel for defending itself. (Read more)

Trump Grows Impatient, Sets Today as Deadline for Hormuz Deal with Iran

Trump administration pressuring Iran to reach Strait of Hormuz agreement by end of day Tuesday or face military action, according to Bloomberg reporting; ultimatum follows months of U.S.-Iran tensions. The Trump administration is pressuring Iran to reach an agreement on Strait of Hormuz shipping arrangements by end of day Tuesday or face destructive military strikes, according to Bloomberg reporting.

The ultimatum represents an escalation of pressure on Iran following months of intensive military operations and diplomatic negotiations mediated by Qatar and Oman. The administration has set a specific deadline, end of business Tuesday, for Iran to commit to shipping corridor arrangements in the strategic waterway. Trump administration officials did not specify which Iranian concessions would be required to satisfy the agreement or what "destructive" strikes might entail. The threat follows a pattern of repeated U.S. military threats against Iran, some followed by action and others withdrawn.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry has characterized ongoing mediation efforts as reaching a "very advanced stage," though acknowledged that no direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials have been formally scheduled. The Iran-Oman framework on Strait of Hormuz control has been cited by Qatari mediators as creating momentum toward a broader agreement.Iran has previously conditioned any agreement on U.S. lifting of naval blockades on Persian Gulf ports and restoration of the 14-point Islamabad MOU, terms the Trump administration has not confirmed accepting. The deadline pressure comes as both sides report ongoing negotiations through intermediaries but have not achieved direct engagement between senior officials. (Source)

Trump: 'I want to give Iran every chance before decapitation'

US President said he is prepared to authorize a large-scale military strike against Iran but stressed that he would rather avoid such an operation.

US President Donald Trump said he is prepared to authorize a large-scale military strike against Iran but stressed that he would rather avoid such an operation if Tehran agrees to a deal preventing it from obtaining nuclear weapons. "I think we're going to maybe get something, but I want to give them every last chance before decapitation," Trump said. "Very tough to do what we have planned, still planned. We'll see what happens, but it's a very, very tough thing to do."

The president emphasized that despite military preparations, his preference remains diplomacy. "I think I'm very proud of the fact that I will give people a chance," Trump said. "This is a big move to do an attack that big on a country. I'd rather not do it." Referring to previous military operations, Trump said they did not compare to the scale of the plans currently under consideration.

"We've already gone through lots of large attacks, but they were normal large," he said. "Hopefully they'll come to their senses because what happened-they cannot have a nuclear weapon." According to Trump, Iranian officials have already approached the United States seeking to avoid military action. (Read more)

Presidential Warning Issued: Trump Declares Talks Are Ongoing And Offers Iran "One Last Chance"

U.S. President Donald Trump announced in the Oval Office that negotiations with Iran are actively occurring, warning that Tehran has one final opportunity to reach a deal before military action resumes. U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Monday evening during an executive order signing in the Oval Office that active negotiations with Iran are underway despite official denials from Tehran. The President stated that the ongoing war with Iran is progressing effectively, while emphasizing that Washington is offering Iranian leadership a final window to conclude an agreement.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, President Trump outlined the immediate timeline for diplomatic efforts regarding regional maritime security. "The talks are happening right at this moment," Trump stated during the Oval Office briefing. "We want to give Iran one last chance before we chop their head off, I hope they come to their senses." President Trump noted that clarity on the diplomatic track would emerge rapidly as negotiations focus on critical international shipping lanes.

"We will know today or tomorrow where this is going. It is not that complicated. We are talking about opening Hormuz as early as tomorrow," Trump added, addressing Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and telling him, "You are doing a fantastic job." The President revealed that American forces were previously prepared to conduct an extensive military campaign against Iranian targets prior to diplomatic interventions. 

 
"We were going to hit them very hard, harder than any strike since World War 2, several leaders begged us not to hit them, especially the Iranians who said they want to talk," Trump explained to gathered journalists. Addressing statements published on Truth Social earlier in the day, President Trump directly criticized public declarations issued by Iranian representatives regarding bilateral contacts. "The Iranian leadership is two faced beyond belief! They requested a meeting, some would say 'begging,' and then say openly and proudly that they are not conducting any negotiations, and deal only with Oman," Trump wrote. (Read More)

Board of Peace clarifies: IDF will not leave Yellow Line until Hamas fully disarms

Gaza Board of Peace stresses that the withdrawal of the IDF beyond the Yellow Line will take place only once Hamas is fully disarmed. 'This applies to light weapons, heavy weapons, and the tunnels alike.'

Gaza Board of Peace High Representative Nickolay Mladenov, together with the Board of Peace team, met on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his team. According to the Board of Peace, the meeting was part of the process of decommissioning weapons in Gaza and enabling the transition to civilian governance, and "creating a safer future in the region" for both Israelis and Palestinian Arabs in Gaza.

The board noted that the meeting was constructive and detailed. Israel and the Board of Peace share a common understanding of the ultimate objectives. "The goal is clear and is not in question: the complete decommissioning of weapons in the Strip and the transition away from rule by the gun to civilian governance. Reaching it will be a process. And that process will be set out in the next phase of the work," the Board of Peace wrote in a statement.

The board clarified: "Contrary to inaccurate reports, we note that the withdrawal of the IDF beyond the Yellow Line will take place only once decommissioning is complete, as Hamas committed to the mediators. This applies to light weapons, heavy weapons, and the tunnels alike. It noted that implementation will be overseen by the International Stabilization Force and by the Implementation Verification Committee, on which both the United States and the Board of Peace sit. The board further stated that continued progress towards implementation in full depends on each side fulfilling its obligations under the agreed framework. (Source)

Israel presses doubts about Gaza plan as Hamas warns airstrikes will derail effort

Amid growing criticism from Board of Peace over continued Gaza strikes, Israeli official says agreement ‘does not reflect’ Israeli stance; Herzog lauds ‘positive elements’ As Israel faced growing criticism from the Board of Peace for its continued strikes on Gaza, despite Hamas’s recent signing of a US-backed disarmament plan, a senior Israeli spokesman said Monday that the roadmap “does not reflect Israel’s positions,” and “stands in direct contrast to the current reality” in the Strip.

Compounding that criticism, an Israeli official said Monday that “Israel will not withdraw from the current line in the Gaza Strip, and will continue to eliminate any threats to our citizens and our soldiers.” The deal, which both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have signed on to, would see Hamas gradually hand over its weapons to a new Palestinian administration in Gaza, but the arms would remain in the territory. It says Gaza will run under the principle of “one authority, one law, one weapon,” and Gazans will be allowed to keep personal weapons subject to licensing from the new government.

It also mandates that Israel begin withdrawing from land it holds in Gaza before Hamas has fully disarmed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to officially comment on the development, leaving top ministers and anonymous “senior officials” to voice disapproval of the plan, despite US President Donald Trump’s assurance that Israel was “very happy” with the deal.

On Sunday, the Board of Peace’s top Gaza envoy Nickolay Mladenov lamented the previous two days of Israeli strikes in Gaza that “have killed civilians and destroyed medical supplies that people depend on,” and said that the Board was working to “de-escalate and create the space for the full implementation of the president’s plan.” Following the criticism from the Board of Peace, Prime Minister’s Office spokesman Doron Spielman said Monday that “Israel has conveyed its comments and concerns on the proposed framework to our American counterparts.” “The version that has been made public does not reflect Israel’s positions,” he said, contradicting earlier statements from Board of Peace officials that Israel was briefed “extensively” as the deal came together. (Read More)