Israeli opposition threatens to topple Netanyahu's government
Israel's opposition party Yesh Atid, led by former prime minister Yair Lapid, is moving to vote to topple the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week.
On Wednesday, a member of Israel's right-wing coalition threatened to quit the cabinet and support that vote unless an exemption was passed by lawmakers for ultra-Orthodox men not to enlist in the military.
United Torah Judaism, which is one of two ultra-Orthodox parties in the coalition, said it would withdraw from the government unless there were concessions on the matter of men from religious seminaries.
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Middle East Eye
42 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
US strikes on Iran: How the world reacted
US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday following mounting pressure from Israeli officials for American intervention. President Donald Trump said US warplanes had "obliterated" the sites and called on Iran to return to the negotiating table. The strikes have sparked international concern, with several countries condemning the attack and urging all sides to halt further escalation. Here's how the world is responding: Iran New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US strikes, accusing Washington of committing a "grave violation" of the UN Charter, international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. "The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences," Araghchi wrote on X. "Every member of the UN should be alarmed by this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour." He added that, under the UN Charter's self-defence provisions, Iran "reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests and people". Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump for ordering the strikes, calling it a "bold decision" backed by the "awesome and righteous might of the United States". In a video address, Netanyahu said the move would "change history". "History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons." Qatar Qatar voiced concern over the US strikes, warning of dangerous regional consequences. In a statement, the Qatari foreign ministry said it "regrets the deterioration of the situation" following the bombing and is "following with great concern the developments targeting the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran". The ministry warned that the current tensions could lead to "catastrophic repercussions" both regionally and internationally. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia expressed its "great concern" following the attacks, according to a statement by the foreign ministry on X. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is following with great concern the developments in the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran, represented by the targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States of America," the Saudi foreign ministry posted on X. The kingdom "expresses the need to exert all efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate and avoid escalation", calling on the international community to boost efforts in such "highly sensitive circumstances" to reach a political solution to end the crisis. Oman Oman, which was mediating nuclear talks between the US and Iran, has strongly condemned the US strikes. The Gulf state "expresses deep concern, denunciation and condemnation of the escalation resulting from the direct air strikes launched by the United States on sites in the Islamic Republic of Iran," the official Oman News Agency said. Iraq Iraq has warned the US that attacks on its neighbour Iran threaten peace and stability in the Middle East. "This military escalation constitutes a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East and poses serious risks to regional stability," government spokesperson Basim Alawadi said. UK British Prime Minister dubbed Iran's nuclear programme a "grave threat to international security" but fell short of condemning Trump's actions. "Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat," said Starmer. "The situation in the Middle East is volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis." European Union The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations. "I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation," Kallas wrote on X, adding Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation on Monday. China A flash commentary from China's government-run media asked whether the US is "repeating its Iraq mistake in Iran". The online piece by CGTN, the foreign-language arm of the state broadcaster, said the US strikes mark a dangerous turning point. "History has repeatedly shown that military interventions in the Middle East often produce unintended consequences, including prolonged conflicts and regional destabilisation," it said, citing the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. It said a measured, diplomatic approach that prioritises dialogue over military confrontation offers the best hope for stability in the Middle East. Australia An Australian government spokesperson said Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes pose a threat to international peace and security. "We note the US president's statement that now is the time for peace," the spokesperson said, acknowledging the "highly volatile" security situation in the region. "We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy," they added. New Zealand New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said his country is deeply concerned by recent developments, including Trump's announcement of US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. "Ongoing military action in the Middle East is extremely worrying, and it is critical that further escalation is avoided," Peters said. He added that New Zealand "strongly supports efforts towards diplomacy" and urged all parties to return to negotiations, noting that "diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action". Mexico Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for urgent diplomatic dialogue amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. "In line with our constitutional principles and Mexico's long-standing commitment to peace, we reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the region," the ministry said in a statement posted on X. "The restoration of peaceful coexistence among the states of the region remains our highest priority." Venezuela Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil strongly condemned the US air strikes, calling them a dangerous act of aggression. "The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly and categorically condemns the bombing carried out by the United States military, at the request of the State of Israel, against nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan complexes," Gil said in a Telegram post. He urged an immediate cessation of hostilities and warned of the grave consequences of further escalation. Cuba Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel strongly condemned the US bombing, saying it constituted a "dangerous escalation" and a serious violation of the UN Charter. He added that it "plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences".
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Israeli politicians laud US strikes on Iran
Israeli politicians across the ideological spectrum have welcomed US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, with only a minority of left-wingers warning that an open-ended war could have devastating consequences for the Middle East. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, widely viewed as one of the strongest challengers to current leader Benjamin Netanyahu in the next elections, described the strikes as 'a historic action that crushes the nuclear head of the Iranian octopus'. 'The President of the United States, Donald Trump, displayed the might of the United States in the face of evil and his uncompromising leadership against the danger to the entire world,' Mr Bennet said in a post on X. The praise of politicians such as Mr Bennet reveal quite how single-minded most Israeli politicians are in the campaign against Iran and how the strikes have, for now, secured Mr Netanyahu's political future, despite him being in the midst of political and legal crises before the war with Iran began. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who at one point nearly quit Mr Netanyahu's government over a Gaza ceasefire deal, wrote on X: 'God Bless President Trump. God Bless America. God Bless the United States Army. God Bless the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.' Yair Lapid, the leader of Israel's opposition and one of Mr Netanyahu's highest-profile critics, said: 'Thank you President Trump for your historic decision. Israel, the Middle East and the world are now safer.' Democrats leader Yair Golan, who heads arguably the most dynamic party on Israel's beleaguered and dwindling left, described the US strikes as 'impressive, important and justified'. He continued with a call for peace: 'And as President Trump wrote: Now is the time for peace. For a comprehensive agreement, for the release of the hostages, for an end to the war, for regional normalisation, for real security for the citizens of Israel.' 'And for the citizens of Israel - complex days lie ahead." Far-left criticism Politician Ofer Cassif, on the far left, criticised the US attack, saying it worsens an 'already harsh reality'. 'The attack on Iran will, in the not-so-distant future, be revealed, as happened with Iraq in 2003, as a deception serving those in power, paid for by the peoples – in Israel, in Palestine, in Iran, and throughout the region,' he said. Many politicians called on the Israeli public to stick to civilian rules issued by the military and to seek shelter during Iranian barrages. Israel further tightened the rules after the American strikes. Sarit Zehavi of the Alma Research and Education Centre, an Israeli think tank, said Iran's missiles were 'very different' to those fired by groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah in other conflicts. 'Hezbollah rockets would destroy a room or a home. Iran missiles [mean] a street destroyed,' she said. 'The missiles of Iran appear to be very accurate. What is happening now is that you have 30 missiles in a barrage you need to intercept,' said Ms Zehavi, which differs from previous barrages when many less accurate rounds would hit open areas. She added that the current rate of Iran's fire 'can still continue for at least a month, in a worst-case scenario'.
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Israel reinstates full closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque
Israeli forces on Sunday morning reinstated the full closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, barring worshippers from entry except for mosque guards and Islamic Waqf staff. The closure followed an overnight raid by Israeli police, during which they stormed prayer halls, vandalised sacred spaces, and removed worshippers by force. They also arrested four mosque guards while other were interrogated on-site. The Islamic Waqf condemned the violations, warning that repeated Israeli attempts to assert security control over the mosque aim to alter the religious and political status quo. The incident comes after nine days of restricted access to the mosque amid the Israeli war on Iran. On 13 June, Israeli forces completely shut down Al-Aqsa Mosque, citing the ongoing war with Iran (Ahmad GHARABLI/AFP)
