Israel News for 9-3-2025
News Update
The United Arab Emirates warned Israel today that any annexation of the West Bank would constitute a red line for the UAE that would severely undermine the spirit of the Abraham Accords. Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE said, “We call on the Israeli government to suspend these plans. Extremists, of any kind, cannot be allowed to dictate the region’s trajectory. Peace requires courage, persistence, and a refusal to let violence define our choices.” A special Israeli cabinet meeting is to be held tomorrow to discuss the implications of recognizing a Palestinian state and Israel’s possible responses.
Finance Minister Smotrich called on Prime Minister Netanyahu to implement Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, proposing that 82% of the territory fall under Israeli law while leaving 18% under Palestinian administration. He said, “The principle is maximum land with minimum Arabs. We will maintain a clear Jewish majority and keep Israel Jewish and democratic. Sovereignty will cover 82% of the land, while Palestinians will continue self-rule through the Palestinian Authority and later through regional management alternatives.”
French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday that he will co-lead an international conference in New York on Sept. 22 with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to promote a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. The conference will coincide with the UN General Assembly. Macron tweeted, “no annexation or forced displacement will stop the momentum we have built together with the crown prince — momentum that many of our partners have joined.”
On Friday, the US State Department announced that it is “denying and revoking visas” from members of the Palestinian Authority (PA) & Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), including PA President Abbas and 80 other PA officials. This will severely limit the number of Palestinians able to join Macron’s conference. The Palestinian Authority’s Mission to the UN “will receive waivers per the UN Headquarters Agreement.” The State Department accused the PA and the PLO of taking steps that “materially contributed to Hamas’s refusal to release its hostages, and to the breakdown of the Gaza ceasefire talks.” State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott tweeted, “Before we take them seriously as partners in peace, the PA and PLO must completely reject terrorism and stop counterproductively pursuing the unilateral recognition of a hypothetical state.” European countries and 57 Islamic states condemned the move.
The IDF intercepted a missile launched from Yemen this morning, that triggered sirens throughout central Israel, sending a good chunk of the country into shelters. [Can you imagine this happening in America, constantly?] In recent days, the Houthis have attempted multiple missile and drone attacks on Israel, but none have reached their targets, either being intercepted or falling short. Senior Houthi political and military officials have reportedly fled the capital, Sanaa, and relocated to fortified hideouts in other areas under their control.
The IDF is preparing to facilitate the evacuation of all civilians from Gaza City, ahead of a major operation to take control of the city and capture or eliminate Hamas forces embedded there. The IDF plans to avoid casualties by demolishing buildings with controlled explosions using drones, instead of sending in troops to clear those buildings, which are thought to be booby trapped. Officers say this also prevents Hamas from reusing neighborhoods: “If no buildings remain standing, militants cannot dig tunnels in secret, plant explosives, or resurface unexpectedly.” Hamas is working to prevent civilians from evacuating, using force and misinformation. Only around 60,000 to 80,000 civilians have evacuated thus far.
The IDF and Shin Bet confirmed Tuesday evening that they had eliminated senior Hamas terrorist Hazem Awni Naeem in the Gaza City area. Naeem had held three Israeli hostages during the ongoing war: Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Naama Levy. Naeem served in multiple roles within Hamas’ Gaza City brigade and was a senior figure in its military intelligence.
