Finance minister sets out hardline vision for post-war Gaza * PM rules out resigning, says he’s made Israel stronger * Universities reopen * US sinks 3 Houthi boats

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Sunday, December 31, 2023 [Smotrich touts revival of Gaza settlements after war, wants Gazans encouraged to leave]( By ToI Staff Finance minister says he wants Israel to ‘encourage voluntary emigration’ of enclave’s 2 million residents, stands by 2015 comment calling PA a ‘burden’ and Hamas an ‘asset’ [PM rejects South Africa’s claims of genocide, as Cyprus-Gaza sea corridor set to open]( By Agencies Live updates [LIVE: 2 troops killed in Gaza; ex-minister sorry for creating ‘weakness’ that led to Oct. 7]( By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff Far-right minister implies pilots not supporting ground troops for ‘reasons of conscience’ * 10 Houthis said dead after US sinks boats attacking Red Sea ship * Ground op toll: 172 [Ruling out resigning, PM says he’s made Israel stronger; is cautious on hostage deal]( By Sam Sokol Netanyahu: War against Hamas will last many more months, Gaza-Egypt border must be ‘in our hands’ to ensure demilitarization; warns Hezbollah, and Iran, against escalating in north [Protesters in Tel Aviv take aim at Netanyahu government after 12 weeks of war]( By Jeremy Sharon [Egyptian envoys said to visit Israel to discuss ceasefire, as IDF pushes on in Gaza]( By Emanuel Fabian, Agencies and ToI Staff In ‘complicated’ talks, Egypt reportedly seeks end to war, and hostages-for-prisoners exchange; right-hand man of infamous Hamas bomb-maker reported killed; airstrikes pound Strip [Egyptian lawmaker pans Netanyahu’s postwar Gaza ideas as violation of peace treaty]( By ToI Staff Op-ed Amir Bar Shalom [Evasive on postwar Gaza, Netanyahu risks saddling Israel with full responsibility]( PM’s cancelation of war cabinet debate on the ‘day after’ showed him prioritizing politics over vital wartime strategy. It spells deep trouble with US, long-term disaster for Israel [Knesset extends Israel’s ‘incarceration emergency’ as prisons near capacity]( By Sam Sokol [While war rages in Gaza, Israel’s universities finally begin delayed academic year]( By Gavriel Fiske Due to late start, universities will operate with shortened semesters; campuses showcase tributes to reserve soldiers, the fallen and the hostages Top Ops Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll [We must determine what went wrong, so we can make it right]( If Israel doesn’t ask the hard questions now, how will the people in power whose errors led to October 7th avoid them? Haim Watzman [The Crater (part 2)]( Abadai leaned over Gidi’s shoulder. ’We’re here to rescue you. Either unbolt the door or we shoot it open.’ [IDF ramps up strikes in Lebanon, and reportedly in Syria, amid ongoing attacks on north]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff Hezbollah deputy chief warns fighting won’t stop till Israel ends Gaza Strip campaign; Netanyahu says activity aimed at restoring security to north [IDF strikes Lebanon after Hezbollah rocket fire, reportedly targets Syria’s Aleppo]( By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies [4 Hezbollah members killed in strikes near Syria-Iraq border]( By Emanuel Fabian, Agencies and ToI Staff [Tel Aviv rally looks to keep attention on hostages amid hopes for fresh talks]( By Jessica Steinberg US diplomat Dennis Ross says military pressure pushing Hamas back to table, as released captive and families of those still held recount ongoing horrors at weekly gathering [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Dec. 31: Day 86 – A ‘guided tour’ of the 7 fronts Israel is facing]( By ToI Staff [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Dec. 30: Day 85 – Is a new hostage release deal ready to be thawed out?]( By ToI Staff [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( Analysis Gianluca Pacchiani [As postwar formula for Gaza sought, does Netanyahu’s Hamas = PA equation add up?]( The premier insists that the Fatah-run Palestinian Authority cannot rule the Strip; Mideast experts note the movements have distinct differences – but others see similar goals [US sinks 3 Houthi attack boats as gunmen try to board container ship in Red Sea]( By Agencies Two vessels answer call for aid from ship struck in transit; CENTCOM marks 23rd Houthi attack on shipping since Oct. 19; naval commander expects attacks to continue [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( 2023 in review [Before and after Oct. 7: ToI writers share their stories that mattered most in 2023]( By ToI Staff With the war against Hamas looming large, we are also reminded of a prescient January interview and how the judicial overhaul crisis continues to reverberate [Top government official quits, says minister seeks to use office to ‘accumulate power’]( By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff In resignation letter to PM, head of Government Companies Authority Michal Rosenbaum accuses David Amsalem of using role for personal gain, lashes Netanyahu for failing to back her [Cabinet okays Israel Katz replacing Eli Cohen as foreign minister, in planned move]( By Sam Sokol [Municipal elections delayed again due to war, to be held February 27]( By Sam Sokol Reporter's notebook [Volunteers’ efforts bear fruit, but war-hit farmers would prefer professionals]( By Jessica Steinberg With thousands of foreign field hands having fled, it’s taking too long to pick the season’s lemons, oranges, persimmons, avocados and strawberries, and some owners are despairing [Day 86 – A ‘guided tour’ of the 7 fronts Israel is facing]( [listen to the podcast]( [Paula Abdul files sexual assault lawsuit against former ‘American Idol’ producer]( By AP Celebrity also accuses Nigel Lythgoe of assaulting her when she was a judge on another of his shows, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’; he denies claims as ‘appalling smear’ [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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