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8:32 pm
Netanyahu’s spokesman steps down, admits to racist remarks about Mizrahi Jews and attacks on PM
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman Ziv Agmon announces he is stepping down after racist comments he made against Mizrahi Jews and attacks on Netanyahu himself were aired last night.
In a statement released by Netanyahu’s office, Agmon acknowledges that the quotes are real, but claims they are taken out of context.
“Over the past week, a person with whom I had a long-standing friendly relationship decided to pass on partial quotes from our private conversations,” he says. “The vast majority of these conversations took place even before I entered my role in the Prime Minister’s Office. The quotes that were shared were taken out of context, and their sole purpose was to carry out a character assassination against me and harm the prime minister whom I serve.”
He says the reports about him do not represent him or his values, and that allegations of racism against Jews of Moroccan origin are “ridiculous in light of the fact that my immediate family has Moroccan roots.”
“The attempt to take fragments of sentences from personal and private conversations—most of them from years ago—make them public, and present them as current and official positions of the speaker must be condemned,” he says, while apologizing to anyone who was hurt by the statements.
He says that he joined Netanyahu’s office to serve behind the scenes, but since he is now in the limelight and “a divisive public discourse had formed around me,” he has informed Netanyahu that he is stepping down.
“I wish to express my deep appreciation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” he writes. “The great privilege of my life has been to assist him in these historic days, alongside Mrs. Sara Netanyahu, whose steadfast support strengthens the prime minister and the entire office.”
8:09 pm
White House denies negotiations stuck after Iran’s reported rejection of 15-point plan
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denies that talks with Iran have hit a dead end after Iranian state media reported that Tehran rejected Washington’s 15-point proposal for ending the war.
“Talks continue… They are productive… and they continue,” Leavitt says during a press briefing.
She goes on to caution against media reports purporting to reveal the 15-point US proposal. “There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual.”
8:08 pm
Five Palestinians reportedly wounded in settler attack near village outside Jerusalem
The Red Crescent says five Palestinians have been hospitalized for injuries they suffered while being beaten during a settler attack near the village of Mikhmas, on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
Earlier this evening, settlers were documented arriving from the direction of a nearby outpost to confront residents of the village.
Settlers armed with clubs are descending on the village of Mukhmas from the illegal outpost Kol Mevaser inside a closed military zone.
7:59 pm
White House: US ahead of expected 4-6 week timeline for Iran war; ‘very close’ to meeting objectives
The US remains ahead of schedule in its war against Iran after initially giving a timeline of four to six weeks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says.
“From the outset, President Trump and the Department of War estimated it would take approximately four to six weeks to achieve this critical mission. Twenty-five days in, the greatest military the world has ever known is ahead of schedule and performing exceptionally,” Leavitt says during a press briefing.
“We are very close to meeting the core objectives of operation, epic fury and this military mission continues unabated.
She recalls Trump’s decision to push back his threat to bomb Iranian power plants after “it was made clear to the United States that Iran wanted to talk. President Trump is willing to listen.”
“The remaining elements of the Iranian regime have another opportunity to cooperate with President Trump, permanently abandon their nuclear ambitions and cease actively threatening America and our allies,” Leavitt says.
“If Iran fails to understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before,” she adds.
7:37 pm
IDF says it destroyed Hezbollah launcher used to fire barrage at Haifa Bay
A Hezbollah rocket launcher used to fire a barrage of 10 projectiles at the Haifa Bay area this afternoon was destroyed in an airstrike, the military says.
The IDF says it bombed the launcher shortly after the rocket attack.
According to the IDF, some of the rockets fired at the Haifa Bay area were intercepted by air defenses, while others were allowed to hit open areas. No injuries were reported.
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