Netanyahu lands in DC for meeting with Trump at White House
Article content
Following his arrival, the Israeli leader was scheduled to meet with U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Macro Rubio for a 'preparatory meeting' ahead of a closed dinner with Trump, expected to take place around 6 p.m. Washington time, according to the schedule.
Article content
Article content
Article content
The United States is pressuring Qatar to 'deliver' on efforts to finalize a deal for the release of hostages held by the Hamas terrorist organization, according to Israel Hayom. A source familiar with the matter told the outlet that from the White House's perspective, with Israel having responded positively to the latest ceasefire proposal, it is now Qatar's responsibility to ensure Hamas agrees as well.
Article content
Article content
The Israeli negotiating team in Doha updated Netanyahu's entourage that the atmosphere of the talks regarding the hostages is positive. A member of the prime minister's delegation rejected reports that the negotiations had stalled and said there was a good chance of reaching an agreement during Netanyahu's visit.
Article content
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told JNS on Monday that the prime minister 'wants a deal' to free the hostages.
Article content
Article content
'It's in the open, he doesn't accept my position,' said Ben-Gvir, speaking with JNS at a Knesset meeting of his Otzma Yehudit Party. 'I think that's a big mistake. We have a disagreement on this subject.
Article content
Article content
'We agreed about [the targeted killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan] Nasrallah, we agreed about Iran, we agreed on many things. On this subject, he does not agree with me,' he added.
Article content
Last week, Trump said that 'we're close to a deal on Gaza,' adding: 'I think there's a good chance we have a deal with Hamas during the coming week. We've gotten a lot of the hostages out, but pertaining to the remaining hostages, quite a few of them will be coming out.'
Article content
Looking ahead to his meeting with Netanyahu, Trump said the two leaders would discuss a range of issues, starting with what he called the 'great success' of Israel's recent military operation against Iran. 'We had an incredible success, like nobody's had in many, many years. That was a precision war strike,' Trump said, referring to the American bombing of the Fordow nuclear site.
Article content
'The word 'obliteration' can now be used because the Atomic Energy Commission said you can't even get into the place. It was demolished. It was really demolished. It was a great, brilliant strike, and [we'll discuss] how to go forward,' the president asserted.
Article content
Religious Zionism Knesset member Simcha Rothman told JNS on Monday that there exists an opportunity, following the victory over Iran, 'to create a new reality in the Middle East—and I believe there are no people more suited to do it than President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Article content
'I see many people talking about friction between them ever since the day Trump was elected,' Rothman continued. 'It's more wishful thinking on their part than reality. I don't think we've ever seen an American president and an Israeli prime minister this coordinated, and I'm sure it will stay that way.'
Article content
Yesh Atid lawmaker Naor Shiri told JNS on Monday that the bilateral talks should 'focus on the hostages, the end of the fighting in Gaza, the day after and the continuation of the campaign against Iran.
Article content
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
22 minutes ago
- Vancouver Sun
UN adopts Afghanistan resolution criticizing Taliban rule and treatment of women
UNITED NATIONS — The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution Monday over U.S. objections calling on Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to reverse their worsening oppression of women and girls and eliminate all terrorist organizations. The 11-page resolution also emphasizes 'the importance of creating opportunities for economic recovery, development and prosperity in Afghanistan,' and urges donors to address the country's dire humanitarian and economic crisis. The resolution is not legally binding but is seen as a reflection of world opinion. The vote was 116 in favour, with two — the United States and close ally Israel — opposed and 12 abstentions, including Russia, China, India and Iran. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Since returning to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures, banning women from public places and girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Last week, Russia became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban's government. Germany's UN Ambassador Antje Leendertse, whose country sponsored the resolution, told the assembly before the vote that her country and many others remain gravely concerned about the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan, especially the Taliban's 'near-total erasure' of the rights of women and girls. The core message of the resolution, she said, is to tell Afghan mothers holding sick and underfed children or mourning victims of terrorist attacks, as well as the millions of Afghan women and girls locked up at home, that they have not been forgotten. U.S. representative Jonathan Shrier was critical of the resolution, which he said rewards 'the Taliban's failure with more engagement and more resources.' He said the Trump administration doubts they will ever pursue policies 'in accordance with the expectations of the international community.' 'For decades we shouldered the burden of supporting the Afghan people with time, money and, most important, American lives,' he said. 'It is the time for the Taliban to step up. The United States will no longer enable their heinous behaviour.' Last month, the Trump administration banned Afghans hoping to resettle in the U.S. permanently and those seeking to come temporarily, with exceptions. The resolution expresses appreciation to governments hosting Afghan refugees, singling out the two countries that have taken the most: Iran and Pakistan. Shrier also objected to this, accusing Iran of executing Afghans 'at an alarming rate without due process' and forcibly conscripting Afghans into its militias. While the resolution notes improvements in Afghanistan's overall security situation, it reiterates concern about attacks by al-Qaida and Islamic State militants and their affiliates. It calls upon Afghanistan 'to take active measures to tackle, dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organizations equally and without discrimination.' The General Assembly also encouraged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a coordinator to facilitate 'a more coherent, coordinated and structured approach' to its international engagements on Afghanistan. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
CTV News
23 minutes ago
- CTV News
Even without wins, Musk's party may be threat to Trump: analysts
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk walks to the stage to speak at the Butler Farm Show, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file) Donald Trump has shrugged off Elon Musk's plans for a new political party as 'ridiculous' - but the announcement underscored the threat the disaffected former ally poses to U.S. Republicans defending paper-thin congressional majorities. Musk's weekend launch of the 'America Party' came in the wake of Trump signing into law a sprawling domestic policy bill that the tech mogul has slammed over estimates that it will balloon the deficit. Musk has been light on policy detail, but is expected to target a handful of House and Senate seats in next year's midterm elections where the sitting Republican voted for Trump's bill after preaching fiscal responsibility. 'Elon Musk's America Party is a wild card that could upend the midterms in 2026, particularly for Republicans,' said political analyst Matt Shoemaker, a former Republican congressional candidate and an ex-intelligence officer. 'With bare majorities in Congress, the Republicans should be worried.' Musk, the world's richest person, had teased the idea of a new party for weeks, running an informal social media poll in June that showed 80 percent support among 5.6 million respondents. Unlike previous third parties, his would have almost limitless resources, and a talisman with a large constituency of young American men who see him as a maverick genius and a superstar. 'Musk's brand appeals to disaffected independents and younger, tech-savvy voters who might otherwise break for Republicans in swing districts,' Shoemaker told AFP. 'Balance of power' With a personal wealth estimated at $405 billion, Musk has already demonstrated that he is willing to spend big on politics, lavishing $277 million on Trump's 2024 campaign. Yet a more recent foray into Wisconsin politics -- he spent $20 million only to see his candidate for the state supreme court lose handily -- has underlined the limits of wealth and celebrity in politics. And then there is the political difficulty of building support in the American heartland, among voters who are not part of Musk's Silicon Valley 'tech bro' bubble. Time magazine's 2021 Person of the Year was once liked by a broad cross-section of Americans, but he saw his numbers plunge after joining the Trump administration as the president's costcutter-in-chief. Musk's net favorability in the most recent rating published by Nate Silver, one of the most respected U.S. pollsters, is underwater at -18.1, compared with a slightly less subaquatic -6.6 for Trump. 'While you don't want to paint with too broad a brush, the Republican base and MAGA movement are fairly inseparable in today's political climate,' said Flavio Hickel, associate professor of political science at Washington College in Maryland. 'And their support for Trump has been unwavering despite recent controversies. It's hard to imagine any political project associated with Musk siphoning off votes from individuals who approve of Donald Trump.' 'Fizzled out' While multiple Republicans and Democrats have switched to independent, wins for third parties have been rare in modern U.S. history. The Conservative Party of New York State in the 1970s and the Farmer–Labor Party in the 1930s are the only minor parties to win Senate seats in the last century. Smaller parties saw more success in the House in the early 20th century but have only won one seat since the 1950s. AFP spoke to multiple analysts who pointed to the many hurdles thrown in front of third-party candidates trying to get onto the ballot in a system designed to favor the status quo. These include minimum signature requirements, filing fees and other onerous state-specific regulations on age, residency and citizenship. 'Remember in early 2024 the so-called 'No Labels' party that was going to chart a middle course for the 2024 elections?' said veteran political strategist Matt Klink. 'They fizzled out in epic fashion.' Analysts agree that winning seats in Congress may be a stretch, but say Musk can inflict pain on Trump by syphoning votes from vulnerable sitting Republicans or throwing cash at primary opponents of the president's preferred candidates. 'Elon's party won't win seats, but it could cost Republicans plenty,' said Evan Nierman, the founder and CEO of global crisis PR firm Red Banyan. 'In tight districts, even a few points siphoned off from the right could flip control.'
Edmonton Journal
24 minutes ago
- Edmonton Journal
UN adopts Afghanistan resolution criticizing Taliban rule and treatment of women
UNITED NATIONS — The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution Monday over U.S. objections calling on Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to reverse their worsening oppression of women and girls and eliminate all terrorist organizations. Article content The 11-page resolution also emphasizes 'the importance of creating opportunities for economic recovery, development and prosperity in Afghanistan,' and urges donors to address the country's dire humanitarian and economic crisis. Article content Article content Article content The resolution is not legally binding but is seen as a reflection of world opinion. The vote was 116 in favour, with two — the United States and close ally Israel — opposed and 12 abstentions, including Russia, China, India and Iran. Article content Article content Since returning to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures, banning women from public places and girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Last week, Russia became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban's government. Article content Germany's UN Ambassador Antje Leendertse, whose country sponsored the resolution, told the assembly before the vote that her country and many others remain gravely concerned about the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan, especially the Taliban's 'near-total erasure' of the rights of women and girls. Article content The core message of the resolution, she said, is to tell Afghan mothers holding sick and underfed children or mourning victims of terrorist attacks, as well as the millions of Afghan women and girls locked up at home, that they have not been forgotten. Article content Article content U.S. representative Jonathan Shrier was critical of the resolution, which he said rewards 'the Taliban's failure with more engagement and more resources.' He said the Trump administration doubts they will ever pursue policies 'in accordance with the expectations of the international community.' Article content 'For decades we shouldered the burden of supporting the Afghan people with time, money and, most important, American lives,' he said. 'It is the time for the Taliban to step up. The United States will no longer enable their heinous behaviour.' Article content Last month, the Trump administration banned Afghans hoping to resettle in the U.S. permanently and those seeking to come temporarily, with exceptions. Article content The resolution expresses appreciation to governments hosting Afghan refugees, singling out the two countries that have taken the most: Iran and Pakistan. Shrier also objected to this, accusing Iran of executing Afghans 'at an alarming rate without due process' and forcibly conscripting Afghans into its militias.
