After Libya fiasco, PM says he’ll OK covert diplomacy * Planeload of Israelis forced to land in Saudi * Lapid DC invite * ’Morocco king was my dad’ * Libyan Jews on ties

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Tuesday, August 29, 2023 Presented by [Comedy for Koby]( [Seeking distance from Libya debacle, Netanyahu says he must approve any secret talks]( By Lazar Berman Rebuking foreign minister amid domestic and international fallout, premier also orders that any revealing of covert diplomatic discussions be okayed by his office [US said furious with Israel for revealing meeting with Libyan foreign minister]( By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff [Cohen blames political opponents for firestorm over meet he publicized with Libya FM]( By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff Inside story Gianluca Pacchiani [Recalling ‘cruelty’ of former homeland, some Libyan Jews cast wary eye on contacts]( Several exiles say little to gain from Israel ties, others want access to community’s forsaken heritage sites, and one man reveals his own role in years of high-level interaction [Emergency precedent: Israelis in 1st passenger flight from Saudi after forced landing]( By ToI Staff Netanyahu hails ‘good neighborliness’ of Saudi Arabians for hosting 128 Israeli passengers who spent night in Jeddah after Air Seychelles flight experienced electrical problems [Flight to Tel Aviv full of Israelis lands in Saudi Arabia because of technical issue]( By Michael Horovitz [El Al flight to New York delayed by birds in the cargo bay]( By ToI Staff from our sponsor [Comedy for Koby’s Sukkot shows feature Modi to benefit Israel’s bereaved families]( In response to SOLD OUT shows, new shows added in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem! A great night out of top-tier comedy benefiting The Koby Mandell Foundation. [Lapid headed to Washington, while Netanyahu still awaits his invitation]( By Lazar Berman Opposition leader slated to fly to the US next week as he, with many others, takes aim at current government’s diplomatic efforts [Liveblog / Lapid to meet top officials in DC next week, with no date set for PM’s Biden meeting]( By ToI Staff Analysis Lazar Berman [Libya’s anti-Israel protests fueled by rage at unelected leaders clinging to power]( Though Israel certainly isn’t popular, citizens have more to worry about than normalization, which is seen as a ruse by the elites to win Western support while avoiding elections [FM Mangoush seen as scapegoat for an Israel meet all Libya’s rival leaders knew about]( By AFP Inside story Jacob Magid [Arab diplomats: Israeli publication of Libya talks harms bid to reconvene Negev Forum]( Diplomats tell ToI sides were in discussions to hold gathering in October, but FM’s revelation of sit-down with Libyan counterpart further damages trust in Netanyahu government [Anti-crime mayoral candidate, two others shot in Nazareth]( By ToI Staff Musab Dukhan, his brother and his cousin lightly injured in attack, according to reports, in latest incident of local Arab politicians being targeted, likely by underworld gangs [Man killed in Lod as death toll from violent crime wave in Arab community nears 160]( By ToI Staff [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Aug. 29: Why Arab officials are under threat; women talk in Bnei Brak]( By ToI Staff [Minister under fire for trying to help sex offender rabbi enter Ukraine]( By ToI Staff Group supporting victims of sexual assault in ultra-Orthodox community demands Meir Porush apologize for aiding Eliezer Berland Top Ops Evan Gottesman [Saudi Arabia and the allure of instant gratification]( There’s no point in rushing in if all the US gets from the Saudis and Israelis is vagaries on the Palestinian conflict David Bernstein [American academics take a page out of the Soviet anti-Zionist playbook]( Coming to a campus near you: a brazen effort to create and legitimize a new field called ’Critical Zionist Studies’ [Why Arab officials are under threat; women talk in Bnei Brak]( [listen to the podcast]( [Israeli-Belgian woman claims to be the daughter of late Moroccan king]( By ToI Staff Jane Benzaquen says her mother had an affair with the-then crown prince in 1950s; now she wants to be recognized as part of the royal family [In utero exposure to plastic chemicals tied to developmental problems in toddlers]( By Renee Ghert-Zand Israeli researchers find that higher levels of ubiquitous phthalates in the urine of pregnant mothers correlate with emotional and social difficulties in boys — but not girls [Israeli company nears final hurdle to okay insulin-based preemie therapy]( By Renee Ghert-Zand [Worse than smoking: Air pollution is greatest global threat to human health]( By Issam Ahmed [Gallant warns UN chief: Potential for violence growing amid Hezbollah provocations]( By Emanuel Fabian Defense minister meets Antonio Guterres at New York headquarters, calls for greater powers for UNIFIL peacekeeping force to deescalate tensions along Lebanon border [Nasrallah vows ‘severe reaction’ to any Israeli assassination on Lebanese soil]( By ToI Staff [Anti-overhaul protesters rally outside UN as Gallant meets with secretary-general]( By Luke Tress [Israeli envoy meets head of Romanian party accused of antisemitism, drawing rebuke]( By Michael Bachner and Lazar Berman Foreign Ministry lifts ban on AUR party, which issues statement partly walking back glorification of fascists and objection to Holocaust studies; Yad Vashem: We weren’t consulted [German state premier demands answers on antisemitic flyer allegedly made by deputy]( By AFP [Germany presents plans for joint house to commemorate Polish victims of World War II]( By Kirsten Grieshaber Interview [An American rabbi answers her congregants’ question: Why do they hate us?]( By Andrew Silow-Carroll In her 10 years as a rabbi, Diana Fersko’s constituents have turned to her about the concurrent uptick in US antisemitism. Her new book gives thoughtful answers to their concerns [CRM]( More Headlines [Ben Gvir bars cops from ‘radical left’ Wexner Foundation leadership program]( By Canaan Lidor [Raisi: Western ‘enemy’ has failed to isolate Iran]( By AFP [US judge rules New York congregation can evict tenants of historic Touro Synagogue]( By Andrew Silow-Carroll [Suspect arrested over stabbing of police officer at protest sparked by hit-and-run]( By ToI Staff [Polluted water shuts beaches in Tel Aviv, Bat Yam]( By ToI Staff [Putin not planning to attend Wagner chief Prigozhin’s burial]( By AP [Two years on, IAF’s advanced spy plane nearly ready for operational takeoff]( By Emanuel Fabian [Police locate two girls feared abducted by their mother while visiting from US]( By Michael Horovitz [Lebanon detains 2 Russian citizens for allegedly spying for Israel]( By Agencies [Imagine Dragons warmup band AJR tours Israel ahead of Tuesday show]( By Jessica Steinberg [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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