IDF fights in Rafah; gov’t said to back deeper op * US denies abandoning Israel * ToI analyses: Hard-fought gains wasted; Biden’s frustration * Israel in Eurovision final

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Friday, May 10, 2024 Presented by [Masa Israel Journey: Yom HaZikaron Event]( Live updates [LIVE: Security cabinet said to approve measured expansion of Rafah op, risking clash with Biden]( By Jacob Magid and Elana Kirsh Report: IDF tanks advance on main road dividing southern Gaza city * Police at MIT dismantle anti-Israel encampment * Egypt: Hamas, Israel need to be ‘flexible’ to close Gaza truce Analysis Lazar Berman [Wasting troops’ hard-fought gains, Israel is taking time it doesn’t have in Gaza]( Facing a war in which speed would be paramount, the army found itself having to take it slow due to decisions made decades ago; 7 months on, Hamas is hoping to run out the clock [IDF: We have enough arms for Rafah; PM: ‘We’ll fight with our fingernails’ if needed]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff War cabinet minister Gantz pushes back on criticism of Washington, hailing its efforts to support Israel during war; delegations leave Cairo as latest talks on hostage deal end [IDF: 150,000 Palestinians have left east Rafah; raid uncovers 10 tunnel shafts]( By Emanuel Fabian, Agencies and ToI Staff from our sponsor [Remembering Captain Denis Krukhamelov-Kesler: A Tribute to a Courageous Soul]( Denis Krukhamelov-Kesler’s life was a testament to courage, love, and boundless ambition. His story will be honored at Masa Israel Journey’s Yom HaZikaron ceremony. [Defying haters, Israel’s Eden Golan advances to the Eurovision grand final on Saturday]( By Amy Spiro Israel jumps up in the odds after accidental leaked results appear to show 40% of votes in Italy going to Golan; Belgian broadcaster interrupts show with anti-Israel message [Thousands of anti-Israel protesters march in Malmo ahead of Eurovision semifinal]( By Lars Avner Aqurette, Amy Spiro and Agencies Analysis Jacob Magid [‘Didn’t fall from the sky’: Biden threat follows months of feeling PM ignored his warnings]( Explaining president’s radical shift, US officials say president kept up regular arms deliveries since Oct. 7 but the Israelis ‘knew this wasn’t going to be able to go on forever’ [After freezing arms transfers, Biden suffers backlash from pro-Israel community in US]( By Ron Kampeas [US says it’s not abandoning Israel, asserts Rafah offensive would embolden Hamas]( By Jacob Magid Administration spokespeople say Hamas has not shown any indication in talks that a major invasion would incentivize it to negotiate, because it doesn’t care about civilians [Despite Biden’s pause, billions of dollars in US arms for Israel still in pipeline]( By Agencies and ToI Staff Top Ops Aliza Israel [When inspiration comes from Israel’s gloriously varied society]( 6 things I learned at a seminar run by Rivon, a grassroots movement trying to save the Jewish state from itself Jeremy Rosen [Zionism vs. Judaism]( If Ben-Gurion went too far in implying that Jews must live in Israel, insisting that Jews have the right to live Jewishly there was exactly on target [Report: State Department set to confirm Israel not breaking international law in Gaza]( By Reuters and ToI Staff Overdue filing, which could be sent as early as Friday, will use critical language to describe suspected violations, but won’t find Israel misusing arms or blocking aid, Axios says [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing May 10, Day 217: Blinken report to exonerate Israel; will US arms follow?]( By ToI Staff [Hamas urges halt to aid airdrops after two killed in north Gaza parachute failure]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [Israel’s public diplomacy chief reportedly quitting after only 8 months on the job]( By ToI Staff TV report says Moshik Aviv agreed with Netanyahu to stay on until successor found, speculates resignation due to efforts within PMO to distract his attention with ‘esoteric issues’ [After ban, ministry raids Al Jazeera’s Nazareth branch, seizes equipment]( By ToI Staff [A Palestinian-American’s call for compromise strikes a chord on social media]( By Andrew Silow-Carroll Profanity-laden overview by Mo Husseini — a distant relative of the infamous Mufti of Jerusalem — spares neither side, enticing the ‘silent majority’ with commonsensical optimism [Northern residents plan to ‘disengage’ from Israel in Independence Day protest]( By ToI Staff Residents and communities to hold a series of protests against government’s inability to allow some 60,000 residents, evacuated due to border fighting, to return to their homes [IDF cancels Lag B’Omer celebrations on Mount Meron over Hezbollah attack risk]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff [CRM]( ToI podcast [What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: What is antisemitism, really?]( By ToI Staff ToI’s senior analyst drills down into the history and today’s reports of the oldest hatred and delves into how the day commemorating its most terrible application unites Israelis [Several detained at MIT for blocking parking garage in anti-Israel protest]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Aiming for divestment, pro-Palestinian students push schools to open books on Israel]( By AP and ToI Staff Theater [New dark comedy for stage asks: Was Bulgaria’s King Boris III friend or foe to the Jews?]( By Elizabeth Karpen The paradoxical leader dabbled in fascism, was loved by his people, saved 50,000 lives while enacting antisemitic laws, and is the subject of a play running in NYC through June 2 [Hamas says no budging from already-rejected hostage deal offer as Cairo talks break up]( By ToI Staff Terror group claims ‘ball in the hands of the occupation’ after team decamps for Doha while insisting it will not make any concessions; Egypt says flexibility needed on both sides [Planning to ‘dance,’ freed hostage Elma Avraham, 85, leaves hospital after 5 months]( By ToI Staff [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [UNRWA shuts Jerusalem headquarters after Israelis allegedly set fire in compound]( By Agencies Head of UN agency for Palestinian refugees says facility to remain closed until ‘proper security’ restored, accusing armed Israeli extremists of threatening and harassing staff [Defense minister says he envisions new city in West Bank as settler numbers grow]( By ToI Staff [EU foreign policy chief: When Spain and Ireland recognize Palestine, others will join]( By Reuters Ahead of UN vote on Palestinian membership, Josep Borrell says Slovenia, Belgium to take steps toward recognition; Dublin, Madrid set to make move on May 21 [Day 217: Blinken report to exonerate Israel; will US arms follow?]( [listen to the podcast]( More Headlines [State backs petition demanding comptroller back off October 7 investigation]( By Jeremy Sharon [Turkey allows 3-month reprieve for traders but denies backtrack on Israel export ban]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [Government may submit Haredi draft proposal to cabinet next week]( By Sam Sokol [Israeli parking payments app inks deal to buy ridesharing startup Gett for $175m]( By Sharon Wrobel [Israeli PI mistakenly freed by UK after arrest over alleged hack-for-hire scheme]( By Raphael Satter [Cousin of extremist rabbi Kahane charged after ramming woman at NY anti-Israel protest]( By Jake Offenhartz [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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