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White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby sharply criticized Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Friday evening, following Smotrich’s condemnation of a proposed hostage deal mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. Kirby accused Smotrich of endangering the lives of Israeli hostages and jeopardizing national security by opposing the deal

A magnitude 5 earthquake was felt late last night (between Monday and Tuesday) across northern and central Israel, with residents in cities such as Haifa and Tel Aviv reporting strong tremors that shook their homes. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Institute (EMSC) identified the quake's epicenter as being in Syria, approximately 20 kilometers east of the city of Hama. The earthquake's intensity was measured at 5.1, with a depth of 10 kilometers below the surface

The Israeli intelligence community has revised its assessment, indicating that Iran may launch a direct attack on Israel in retaliation for the recent assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh. According to two sources familiar with the situation, the attack could occur within days, possibly before the upcoming summit on the abductee deal

El Al Airlines has released its financial results for the second quarter of 2024, showcasing an outstanding performance that aligns with earlier projections and underscores the airline's robust recovery and growth trajectory. The company reported revenues of approximately $839 million, marking a significant 33% increase from the $630 million recorded in the same quarter last year. This surge in revenue is attributed to a $29 million boost in cargo operations and strong passenger demand

The security establishment was alarmed last night (Thursday) by violent disturbances in the village of Jit, Samaria, where dozens of Jewish rioters set fire to homes and vehicles and allegedly shot and killed a young Palestinian man. A security source expressed shock, stating that the violence occurred "without a trigger, without an attack," and described the incident as serious. The source also noted a troubling increase in such incidents in recent months, raising concerns about the lack of law enforcement

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a press conference Monday evening at the Kempinski Hotel in Tel Aviv, summarizing his brief visit to Israel amidst ongoing ceasefire negotiations and efforts to secure a hostage deal. In his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken stated that Netanyahu confirmed Israel's acceptance of the US mediation proposal discussed at the recent Doha summit, urging Hamas to reciprocate

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a preemptive strike early Sunday morning, preventing a significant Hezbollah attack planned to target strategic facilities across northern Israel and possibly central locations, including Ben Gurion Airport. A security source revealed that Hezbollah intended to launch thousands of rockets and drones at hundreds of military and strategic sites. The IDF's operation destroyed the launchers, significantly reducing the scale of the planned assault

The economic emergency plan formulated by senior officials of the Ministry of Finance, as a temporary substitute for the failure to prepare an orderly state budget for 2025, does not include tax increases and the main point will be an almost complete freeze on updating payments to citizens, even though the rise in inflation this year is expected to be higher than 3% this year

The European Union's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Borrell, has announced his intention to request a joint decision from EU member states to impose sanctions on Israeli Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir. Borrell's proposal requires the unanimous approval of all 27 EU countries, a challenging prospect given the political diversity within the Union. However, the mere discussion of such sanctions marks a significant shift in international approaches to dealing with extreme right-wing figures in Israel

Kaid Farhan Al-Qadi, who was kidnapped on October 7, was unexpectedly found and rescued by IDF forces today (Tuesday) from a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip