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Israel and the US will meet for virtual discussions on Rafah

According to a media report, representatives of Israel and the US will meet virtually this Monday for discussions on Israel’s planned ground offensive against the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. The meeting will take place via a secure connection in the form of a video conference, the news portal ‘Axios’ reported on Monday evening, citing four Israeli and US officials. The White House and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office have not yet commented on the possible meeting.

In fact, an Israeli delegation was scheduled to travel to Washington last week to hear US concerns about the planned ground offensive and to be shown alternatives. But Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu canceled the trip after the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire without US opposition. The Israelis then proposed to postpone the talks until Monday, the American broadcaster CNN reported on Friday. Washington considers a large-scale ground offensive in Rafah wrong because of the hundreds of thousands of civilians there and would like to show Israel alternatives.

The fact that the meeting will now take place virtually could help Netanyahu “save face,” Axios reported, citing senior Israeli officials. This would allow him to continue the discussion with the White House without having to send a delegation to Washington.

The planning was complicated, among other things, by the fact that the Israeli government was expected to have drafted a new law before Sunday on the issue of conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men.

The exemption from military service for strictly religious men is ending

Exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men from mandatory military service in Israel, which had existed for decades, expired on Monday evening. Netanyahu’s government had failed to pass a law that would strengthen aid measures.

State subsidies for ultra-Orthodox military-age men studying at religious schools will be stopped from Monday, according to a preliminary Supreme Court order. According to a decision by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, the military is also required to immediately accept religious students who were previously largely exempt. According to media reports, there are more than 60,000 men. However, the army is not expected to immediately send them summons letters, even though the army has reportedly been short of soldiers since the start of the Gaza war.

The dispute over mandatory military conscription, which has been simmering for decades, has recently escalated dramatically and could endanger Netanyahu’s coalition in the medium term, according to observers. This is also based on strict religious partners who strictly reject the inclusion of young men from their community. In Israel, men must serve three years of military service and women must serve two years.

Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrate against the government

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated against Netanyahu’s government in Israel for the second day in a row on Sunday. During angry protests outside the parliament in Jerusalem, demonstrators called for the government’s resignation, new elections and a quick deal to release hostages held by the Islamist-Palestinian organization Hamas.

Netanyahu firmly rejected criticism of his conduct of the negotiations and called for new elections. “The call for elections now, at the height of the war, just before victory, will paralyze Israel for at least six months, in my estimation even eight months,” the head of government said on Sunday. Negotiations on the release of more hostages in exchange for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of Palestinian prisoners would also be disrupted by new elections, Netanyahu continued.

The brutal terrorist attack by Hamas and other extremist groups from the Gaza Strip on October 7 saw terrorists abduct more than 250 people from Israel to the coastal area. In November, just over 100 hostages were released as part of a deal. According to Israeli estimates, nearly a hundred people kidnapped by Hamas may still be alive. Relatives of the hostages have accused Netanyahu of having no real interest in securing their release.

Talks on a hostage agreement and ceasefire continue

According to media reports, an Israeli delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday in an attempt to broker a deal on the release of more hostages and a ceasefire in the Gaza war. The purpose of the new talks in the Egyptian capital is to first investigate whether it makes sense at all for Israeli intelligence chiefs to participate in the indirect negotiations in the coming days, the Times of Israel reported, citing an Israeli representative. Israel is “disappointed” in the mediator Qatar. The negotiations last took place there before they collapsed a few days ago.

Activists: Israel bombs targets in Syria again

Israeli forces attacked a military research facility near the Syrian capital Damascus with four rockets, activists said. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported this on Sunday. There were fires at the impact site. Syrian air defenses fired on incoming missiles, the report said. The extent of the material damage initially remained unclear. Syria’s state news agency Sana confirmed the attack and reported that two people were injured. Israel generally does not comment on attacks in Syria.

The Israeli Air Force is repeatedly bombing targets in neighboring Syria in an attempt to prevent Iran and its allied militias, such as the Lebanese Hezbollah, from expanding their military influence in the country. The number of attacks has increased since the start of the Gaza war. On Friday alone, more than 50 people were killed in heavy airstrikes in northwestern Syria.

Current developments in the live ticker:

Drone attack on the Israeli city of Eilat

According to the Israeli army, a building was damaged in a drone attack on the southern Israeli coastal city of Eilat. The army announced via Telegram on Monday evening that the projectile had been fired from the east towards Israel. There was only minor damage and no people were injured in the incident. The Israeli military had earlier reported siren alarms in the Red Sea city.

According to Israeli media reports, the origin of the drone could point to a group called the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq.” This is a kind of umbrella group of pro-Iranian militias in Iraq that have been working together under this name since the start of the Gaza war. Israel borders directly on Jordan to the east.

Netanyahu successfully operated on a hernia

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu underwent surgery for a hernia on Sunday evening. The operation went as planned and the 74-year-old is now recovering, Israeli media reported on Monday evening, citing the treating hospital. According to Netanyahu’s office, the hernia was discovered on Saturday during a routine examination. Parts of the intestine, organ parts or fatty tissue protrude through an opening in the abdominal wall. Most patients can leave the hospital quickly after hernia surgery and return to normal exercise after a few days or weeks. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Jariv Levin, who is also deputy prime minister, took over official duties. (sda/dpa/con)