PM: No Rafah op for a while * The IDF’s Gaza border security plan * Vampire Netanyahu cartoon apology * Analysis: Why Biden’s Rafah idea might be viable * Blinken returns

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Thursday, March 21, 2024 [Netanyahu says it ‘will take some time’ until IDF launches offensive in Rafah]( By Lazar Berman, Jacob Magid and ToI Staff As Israel and US continue talks on southern Gaza city, with top Jerusalem officials set to hear American proposals in Washington, Blinken to hold discussions during visit Friday [US official says Israel sent assurance it is using arms lawfully, days before deadline]( By Jacob Magid and Reuters ToI in Gaza Amir Bar Shalom [On both sides of Gaza’s border, the IDF is remaking security from the (under)ground up]( From a buffer zone to attack drones and more troops, the army plans to keep Israel safe by taking a zero-tolerance approach to tunnel building or any other disturbance [US speaker says House GOP weighing asking Netanyahu to address Congress]( By Jacob Magid Johnson would need Schumer’s approval for joint session speech; PM talks to Republicans after being denied meet with Democrats by Schumer who says conversation shouldn’t be partisan [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Mar. 21: Day 167 – The Israeli PM is (again) a partisan issue in the US]( By ToI Staff [19 Senate Dems urge Biden to publicize framework for establishing Palestinian state]( By AFP, ToI Staff and Jacob Magid Analysis Lazar Berman [Biden’s wished-for targeted operation in Rafah might not be out of the question]( The IDF can’t lean on special forces to take out Hamas’s remaining battalions, but the Rafah fight won’t look anything like the conquest of Gaza City Live updates [LIVE - US official: Only ‘handful of issues’ unresolved in US-Saudi part of Israel normalization plan]( By ToI Staff Comments made by official traveling with Blinken * IDF launches probe into fatal West Bank shooting of Palestinian said to have raised his hands * Houthis won’t attack Chinese, Russian ships [IDF probing fatal shooting of Palestinian convert to Judaism in West Bank]( By Emanuel Fabian Sameh Zaytoun reportedly had hands in air during ‘serious incident’ at Elazar junction; small knife later found in his bag [‘Gaps closing’ in hostage talks, Blinken says as he begins 6th wartime trip to region]( By Jacob Magid and AFP While in Jeddah before stops in Cairo and Tel Aviv, top US diplomat blames Hamas for not accepting earlier offer and coming back with new demands [Montreal daily apologizes following backlash over Netanyahu vampire cartoon]( By AFP La Presse depicts PM with pointed ears and claws, standing on deck of sailing ship ‘en route to Rafah’; online French-language newspaper later retracts cartoon [Canadian theater accused of stalling Jewish festival over inclusion of Israeli film]( By Andrew Lapin [Utah school district will take steps to address antisemitism after federal probe]( By Andrew Lapin Top Ops Pamela Laufer-Ukeles [Megillat Esther, in the shadow of the female hostages]( This year, the Purim story is an account of our beautiful women in captivity Adam S. Ferziger [The dilemma of Israeli PurimÂ]( How can a nation rooted in ideas of self-rule and self-defense celebrate at a time of fragile uncertainty? Focus on hope, not victory Ilana Fodiman-Silverman [Purim’s other half begins today]( The Fast of Esther adds introspection and mindfulness in the range of emotion of the holiday, as we face the nation’s profound needs Assaf Shapira [Israel’s troubling but not catastrophic democracy score]( The new ranking by a top global watchdog reflects the impact of the judicial overhaul — as well as the opposition to it [CRM]( [Oct. 7 radio transmission by slain surveillance soldier Roni Eshel aired for first time]( By ToI Staff Eyal Eshel mourns what he says was his daughter’s needless death, says there was a six-hour window in which she could have been saved had she not been failed by senior commanders [IDF: 90 Hamas gunmen killed, over 300 nabbed in raid at Gaza’s Shifa Hospital]( By Emanuel Fabian Operation at Strip’s largest medical center continues; senior officials in terror group’s emergency committee slain in Rafah airstrike [Gazans increasingly happy with October 7 even as support for Hamas droops — poll]( By ToI Staff Survey shows massive jump in number of Gazans who want a two-state solution and decline among respondents who think armed resistance is the way to achieve Palestinian statehood [UN finds UNRWA has ‘mechanisms’ ensuring neutrality, but ‘critical areas’ require action]( By Jacob Magid and Agencies [2024 dark horse RFK Jr. questions need for Gaza truce, defends Israeli offensive]( By Stephanie Kelly Drawing chunk of support from voters on both right and left, Kennedy says any country but Israel would have ‘leveled’ Gaza, claims to be unworried young voters could disagree [In Boston, dancers perform moving homage to families of hostages in Gaza]( By Rich Tenorio Israeli folk dance festival at MIT features unique piece by Dalia Davis, as black and gray-clad performers — including a state senator — honor those in Hamas captivity [Massachusetts cops open hate crime probe into vandalism of homes with pro-Israel signs]( By Andrew Lapin [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [Israel said to eye giving Palestinian traders postwar reins as fighting at Shifa rages]( By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies Wall Street Journal cites officials saying Israel put out feelers to Egypt, UAE, and Jordan on plan that would see businessmen take over aid operations and governance [West Bank drone strikes target Palestinian terror suspects, IDF says]( By Emanuel Fabian Three men behind deadly attacks targeted in first strike in Jenin; second strike hours later kills two more, kicking off hours-long raid of refugee camp near Tulkarem [In first, High Court approves home demolition for terror attack when victim survived]( By Jeremy Sharon Explainer Jeremy Sharon [How will new US sanctions impact the illegal West Bank farming outposts they target?]( Measures will make it harder for the enterprises to do business, receive government support and take donations [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [Minister backtracks, reinstates regular Israel Prize categories amid court petitions]( Government undoes Yoav Kisch’s controversial February decision to only award Israel’s highest civilian honor this year in two new war-related categories [In wake of judicial overhaul efforts, global index demotes Israeli democracy]( By ToI Staff [Bar association head threatens legal action if no Supreme Court president appointed]( By Jeremy Sharon [Praying for peace, optimistic Israeli activists deliver Ramadan food aid to West Bank]( By Eliyahu Freedman Volunteers with organizations such as Rabbis for Human Rights brave the ire of fellow Jews as they reach out to help Palestinians in need amid the ongoing war in Gaza [Day 167 – The Israeli PM is (again) a partisan issue in the US]( [listen to the podcast]( More Headlines [‘Burning object’ thrown at Israeli embassy in The Hague, suspect arrested]( By Canaan Lidor and Agencies [Israeli venture capital fundraising hit 8-year low in 2023]( By Sharon Wrobel [More lawmakers push to cancel Knesset recess in light of Gaza war]( By Sam Sokol [Prominent progressive Jewish donors urge Biden to end ‘unconditional’ Israel support]( By Ron Kampeas [Iconic Jewish women gather to celebrate release of new, empowering bat mitzva book]( By Maya Zanger-Nadis [Demanding early elections, protesters chain themselves outside Knesset]( By Sam Sokol and Shira Silkoff [The daily edition]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? 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