Amos Hochstein, who is a senior advisor to President Joe Biden, held discussions with officials in Beirut on Tuesday in an attempt to find a peaceful resolution to prevent a larger conflict.
There have been frequent cross-border attacks between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon ever since the Gaza conflict started in October. The situation escalated significantly last week following Israel’s targeted killing of a high-ranking Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon.
In the meantime, Israel’s Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday regarding a controversial law that grants extensive powers to the far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over the police. Ben-Gvir has a history of convictions for racism and support of extremist groups.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disbanded his influential war Cabinet a week after Benny Gantz, an opposition lawmaker and former military chief, resigned from the government over disagreements on the handling of the Gaza conflict.
The war in Gaza has resulted in significant casualties, with over 37,100 reported deaths according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ongoing conflict has also led to severe shortages of essential supplies for Palestinians, causing widespread hunger.
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Here’s the latest:
A senior US diplomat meets with officials in Lebanon in an urgent effort to head off a larger war
BEIRUT — A senior advisor to President Joe Biden visited Beirut to address the escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border and emphasized the need for diplomatic solutions to prevent further escalation.
Israel’s Supreme Court hears arguments over a law allowing its far-right security minister sweeping power over police
TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel’s Supreme Court deliberated on a law that would grant extensive powers to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over the police, raising concerns about potential abuse of power and interference in police investigations.
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