Israel News for 5-3-2024
News Update
Turkey announced that it is banning all trade with Israel, to pressure Israel into stopping the war in Gaza. Turkey is one of Israel’s largest trading partners, accounting for around $5 billion of trade a year. For more, click here.
The Syrian military is accusing Israel of striking a military site south of Damascus International Airport last night, injuring 8 soldiers and causing damage. According to a Saudi newspaper report, the site was a Hezbollah post. The Syrian “Voice of the Capital” reported that an airstrike was “aimed at a military point in the area of the road to Damascus International Airport.” It also noted that the air defense “did not deal with the Israeli missiles,” and that “the Israeli army is talking about hitting the Quneitra area and Damascus in response to the launch of a number of missiles from Syria to the Golan.”
France has released a proposal to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The 3 phase proposal includes a total ceasefire, the withdrawal of Hezbollah to at least 10km from the border and negotiations between Israel and Lebanon to ensure that no terror groups operate south of the Litani river.
According to a NYTimes report, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia is are close to an agreement that would include the Saudis normalizing relations with Israel under the following conditions: Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a freeze in settlement building and a 5 year path towards a Palestinian state.
Mossad Chief David Barnea and Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar asked the security cabinet late on Thursday to delay a decision to close down the offices of the Qatari owned Al Jazeera Network in Israel, while there is still a chance to reach a hostage release deal. For more, click here.
