In a move that could topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, a key Haredi party in his coalition said early Tuesday that it was quitting over disputes about a bill on military draft exemptions for yeshiva students. (AP)
War with Hamas… In a video posted to social media Monday night, Netanyahu denied any blame for the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, insisting that Israel’s intelligence services — rather than its political leaders — failed to act on warnings, even as criticism over the war and his leadership mounts. (Times of Israel)
The Israeli military said it killed a Hamas militant who took Emily Damari hostage during the Oct. 7 attack. Damari said she’s glad he’s gone — although the “true victory,” she added, will be bringing home the 50 hostages still in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive. (Jerusalem Post)
The three members of a United Nations commission investigating Israel resigned this month — a move that came as the Trump administration has taken to issuing sanctions against international investigators seen as hostile to Israel. (Times of Israel)
War with Iran… During their recent 12-day conflict, Israel and Iran waged a parallel battle online, using AI-generated disinformation and coordinated social media campaigns to shape public perception. (New York Times)
A covert Iranian bot network spreading disinformation about British politics went silent for 16 days after Israeli airstrikes on June 13 knocked out parts of Iran’s internet, offering what analysts say is direct evidence of state-sponsored Iranian online interference in foreign politics. (JTA)
Plus… Israel carried out airstrikes in both Syria and Lebanon; the latter hit Hezbollah sites as a warning against the group’s efforts to rebuild its attack capabilities. (Washington Post, Reuters)
Palestinian journalist Nasser Laham was released Tuesday after eight days in custody. The Israeli police claim that Laham ran a Hezbollah-linked TV outlet’s West Bank office; he says he cut ties with the network in Nov. 2023. (Haaretz)
Aladin Hassan, a Palestinian citizen of Israel and professional soccer player, says Israeli security officials threatened to revoke his citizenship over his decision to play for the Palestine national team and a Qatari club. (Haaretz)
The family of Saif Musallet, a 20-year-old Palestinian-American allegedly beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, is urging the U.S. to investigate, a call echoed by J Street and others demanding accountability for his killing. (JTA)
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett rejected Tucker Carlson’s claim that Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier accused of sex trafficking, worked for the Mossad. (JTA) | 