US envoy here to calm Israel-Hezbollah front * Analysis: Nasrallah doesn’t seek war * Israel denies it wants Gazans out * US slams genocide charge *Court thwarts PM again

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Thursday, January 4, 2024 Presented by [Ogen]( [Nasrallah vows response to Arouri, warns of fight ‘without limits’ if Israel goes to war]( By Agencies and ToI Staff Hezbollah head says alleged Israeli killing in Beirut of Hamas terror chief was a ‘major and dangerous crime’ that won’t go unpunished; says Israel would ‘regret’ all-out war [Fear stalks northern Israel after Beirut strike kills Hamas deputy Saleh al-Arouri]( By AFP and ToI Staff Analysis Lazar Berman [Despite Arouri strike in his backyard, Nasrallah is trying to avoid war with Israel]( Under intense domestic pressure, and facing effective IDF strikes, Hezbollah leader uses speech to underscore his lack of desire for a major escalation right now [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Jan. 4: Day 90 – Is Nasrallah’s saber-rattling a good or a bad sign?]( By ToI Staff [US dispatches senior envoy to cool seething tensions on Israel-Lebanon border]( By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff Amos Hochstein arrives in Israel, Blinken due early next week; US all but backs alleged Israeli hit on senior Hamas terror chief in Lebanon [Israeli strike on southern Lebanon takes out 4 Hezbollah fighters including commander]( By Emanuel Fabian [Israel ready for fight in north, IDF chief says after killing of Hamas terror chief]( By Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and Agencies from our sponsor [The war could shutter 100,000 small businesses in 2024. Help save them from ruin.]( Act now to help Ogen’s Emergency Relief War Fund support small business owners across Israel to survive and thrive [High Court delays implementation of PM recusal law, in 2nd gov’t defeat this week]( By Jeremy Sharon Justices rule 6-5 that law shielding Netanyahu from being ordered to recuse himself due to conflict of interest is personal in nature, and can only be applied after next elections [Ministers slam High Court for delaying recusal law; one calls decision ‘null and void’]( By Sam Sokol and Jeremy Sharon [Israel denies it is talking to other countries about absorbing Gazan immigrants]( By Lazar Berman Senior official pushes back on Zman Yisrael report Jerusalem talking to Congo and others, says Smotrich can’t carry out controversial idea; cabinet to talk post-war Gaza on Thursday [Likud minister slams Smotrich, Ben Gvir’s ‘unrealistic’ call for Gazan emigration]( By Sam Sokol [UN, EU, Arab states heap condemnation on far-right calls for Gazan emigration]( By ToI Staff and Agencies [EU foreign policy head urges world to impose solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Government aims for nearly all southern evacuees to return by September, source says]( By Canaan Lidor Residents of towns 4-7 kilometers from Gaza border seen going home by March 1, says resettlement source; communities ravaged the most on Oct. 7 may take up to 2 years to resettle [IDF destroys Shifa Hospital tunnels, accuses Hamas of using child soldiers]( By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies [Under pressure, cabinet said mulling concessions ahead of meeting on postwar Gaza]( By ToI Staff [US lambasts ‘meritless’ South African request for ICJ to charge Israel with genocide]( By Jacob Magid and Jeremy Sharon Israeli official acknowledges incendiary comments by coalition lawmakers cited in Johannesburg’s application may cause problems when Jerusalem makes case before top panel [Analysis / Half a world away, Gaza is a burning topic for Southeast Asia’s domestic politics]( By Joseph Rachman Live updates [LIVE: Troops in south Gaza have significantly damaged Hamas control in Khan Younis, says IDF]( By Ricky Ben-David and ToI Staff Rockets fired at Ashkelon * 2 pro-Iran paramilitary members said killed in US drone strike in Iraq * Khameini said to seek ‘strategic patience’ with US, Israel, avoid escalation Top Ops Benjamin Blech [Why do they hate us?]( I first asked this question when I was a young boy, fleeing the Holocaust on the last boat out of Europe. Now I have an answer Nimrod Dweck [Judicial overhaul is still a danger – we must fix the cracks]( Alongside a nationwide process of soul-searching, the protest movement must channel work toward passage of 2 critical laws [IDF admits hostage Sahar Baruch was killed during failed rescue attempt last month]( By Emanuel Fabian Military says still unable to determine cause of death of 25-year-old, but confirms Hamas’s claim that he was killed during operation in Gaza on December 8 [Mother and uncle of a US serviceman are rescued from Gaza in secret operation]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Family of hostage killed in failed rescue op: ‘We were afraid this would happen’]( By ToI Staff Reporter's notebook [Survivors of Kibbutz Nir Oz, a desert oasis, move into Kiryat Gat apartment towers]( By Canaan Lidor Locals from the growing southern city greet the traumatized newcomers with fanfare and a steady trickle of acts of goodwill [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [Family of fallen Oct. 7 hero Tomer Nagar commissions line of beers in his honor]( By Stuart Winer IDF soldier who singlehandedly fought back against rampaging terrorists at Kissufim base until his last bullet, saving others, is memorialized for his deep fondness for brews [Parents grieve couple slain on Oct. 7 at their bloodied, bullet-riddled Kfar Aza home]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [Amid war with Hamas, Israeli startup funding drops to six-year low]( By Sharon Wrobel Investment in tech startups slumped 46% in last quarter of 2023, as foreign funds shy away from reinvestment in local market, according to report by industry tracker [State Department says neither US nor Israel behind Iran blasts that killed over 80]( By Agencies, ToI Staff and Jacob Magid Iranian leaders vow revenge for explosions near grave of IRGC’s Soleimani, don’t blame Israel, though some lower-level officials do; US official says it seems like ISIS responsible [Day 90 – Is Nasrallah’s saber-rattling a good or a bad sign?]( [listen to the podcast]( [12 nations led by US warn Iran-backed Houthis of ‘consequences’ over Red Sea attacks]( By Agencies and Jacob Magid National Security Council spokesman says US to maintain strong military presence in Middle East despite decision to withdraw aircraft carrier sent to the region after October 7 [Houthis claim another Red Sea attack as shipping prices soar]( By AFP and ToI Staff [US says strike kills pro-Iran militia commander at its HQ in Baghdad]( By Agencies ToI Original Video [A birth at Alumim]( Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, volunteers at Kibbutz Alumim find purpose in milking cows — and possibly saving the traumatized animals’ lives [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [Foreign Ministry says it has ‘zero budget’ for combating antisemitism abroad]( By Sam Sokol ‘There has not been any substantial funding for the last couple of weeks,’ diplomat confirms to Times of Israel [Police probe vandalism of Berlin Kindertransport memorial after pro-Palestinian rally]( By Toby Axelrod [Jewish-owned Toronto deli set ablaze in suspected antisemitic arson attack]( By Agencies More Headlines [Op-ed / Climate change will be here long after the war, but the leadership is neglecting it]( By Sue Surkes [Gay admits ‘mistakes’ in wake of Oct. 7 attacks, decries ‘lies’ that led to ouster]( By AFP and ToI Staff [Ben Gvir extends Israel Police chief’s term, resolving war coalition dispute]( By Michael Horovitz, Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff [Knesset passes law requiring fealty pledge from diplomats]( By Sam Sokol [Hidden heritage / Alanis Morissette uncovers family’s Holocaust history on TV show]( By jacob gurvis [Man arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting woman at gunpoint on first date]( By ToI Staff [Unsealed Epstein docs reveal details on known abuse cases, don’t implicate new people]( By Michael R. Sisak, Rebecca Boone and David B. Caruso [Time out / Utah rabbis told to remove ‘Jewish and proud’ signs at Irving NBA game]( By jacob gurvis [Sanders calls on US Congress to reject Biden’s $10.1B in unconditional aid to Israel]( By ToI Staff [To protect Elie Wiesel’s ‘Night,’ US judge blocks part of ‘bizarre’ book ban law]( By Andrew Lapin [Jewish radical anti-Israel protesters disrupt start of California legislative session]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Outrage after Australian airline crew wear Palestinian badges during flight]( By Stuart Winer [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? [Subscribe here]( [Unsubscribe]( from this List © 2024 The Times Of Israel, All Rights Reserved