Free Republic

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on Sunday on ongoing negotiations for a hostage deal and a cease-fire agreement in the Gaza Strip, saying at the opening of the weekly Cabinet meeting that "we are engaging in negotiations, not concessions. The principles we have established are essential for Israel's security." Netanyahu emphasized that "Israel is prepared for any threat—both defensively and offensively. We are determined to defend ourselves and to exact a very heavy price from any enemy who dares to attack us, from any front." He added, "There are matters on which we can be flexible, and there are those...

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made an antisemitic statement Saturday during his government meeting in which he hinted at a connection between Jews and theft. He referred to a corruption case involving his former aide, the governor of the Vitebsk region and former Minister of Agriculture and Food Igor Brylo, as well as dozens of other people. "There are 36 people on the list. Sorry, I don't consider myself antisemitic, but more than half of them are Jewish. Do they have a special, privileged role, that they steal and do not think about their future? Do they have privileges? All peoples...

PM's comments comes shortly after national drill simulating outbreak of lethal new COVID-19 variant; following approval of pediatric coronavirus jab, campaign expected to begin over next week or two. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Thursday told parents there's no reason not to vaccinate their children after health officials okayed COVID vaccines for kids aged 5-11. "There is no reason to leave our children unprotected," he said. "There is no reason that your child should get infected an infect others when his whole life is ahead of him." Bennett added that coronavirus is still around and that cases are rising in...

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday that Israel and Jordan have agreed on steps aimed at reducing tensions at a holy site in Jerusalem that have fanned Israeli-Palestinian violence. Kerry said Netanyahu had expressed a commitment to continue enforcing the status quo, which says only Muslims may pray at the compound, while non-Muslims may only visit. Jordan is custodian of the site known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. An Israeli government source told Ynet that Israel has an interest in installing cameras in the Temple Mount in order to...