Iraqi sources indicated that Al-Sudani finds himself in a difficult position following a recent meeting with a delegation led by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken reportedly called on him to take swift and decisive action against these militias. The primary demand, according to these sources, is for the Iraqi government to pass a resolution mandating the immediate disbandment of the militias and to target any group refusing to surrender its weapons to the state. On this issue, the US has emphasized zero tolerance for flexibility.

Blinken's secret visit to Baghdad last Friday, during which he urged Iraq to adopt hardline measures against pro-Iranian militias, reportedly came just days after the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria. This push to dismantle the militias is part of a broader effort to weaken Iran's strategy, which relies heavily on terrorist organizations across different regions to consolidate its influence.

However, Al-Arab clarified that dismantling these militias would require a fatwa from Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's most senior Shiite cleric. Such a fatwa seems unlikely, given recent foreign engagements with al-Sistani, including meetings with UN representatives.

The report noted that UN representative Mohammed Al-Hassan held discussions with al-Sistani about potential steps to distance Iraq from conflicts and crises that could impact the country. Al-Hassan emphasized the precarious state of the region and expressed hope that Iraq's leadership could navigate the nation away from the entanglements of the broader regional conflict.

Iraqi sources revealed that some militias were informed of the US position and have begun preparing statements signaling their intent to distance themselves from Iran. These declarations reportedly underscore their commitment to Iraq's official policy of non-intervention in Syria. Nonetheless, fully dismantling these militias or relinquishing their weaponry remains a challenging prospect, even if it could shield them from potential strikes by Israel or the US.

It's worth noting that while US pressure has intensified, the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq have refrained from launching drones toward Israel in recent weeks.

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The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), has issued a subpoena to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, demanding his testimony on the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. McCaul has threatened to hold Blinken in contempt of Congress if he does not comply.

In a letter to Blinken, McCaul noted that he had requested the secretary's appearance at a September hearing back in May. The hearing is part of the GOP-led committee's investigation into what McCaul termed "the Biden-Harris administration's deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan."

"The Committee has provided extraordinary accommodation in its multiple requests and communications seeking to finalize a date in line with your schedule," McCaul wrote. "To date, the department has yet to provide any potential dates for your appearance." The State Department responded to the subpoena through spokesperson Matthew Miller, who expressed disappointment with the committee's decision to issue a subpoena, stating that Blinken is not available on the dates proposed by McCaul but has offered "reasonable" alternatives for a public hearing.

He said Blinken has appeared before McCaul's committee four times, including a hearing focused exclusively on Afghanistan. "The Secretary has testified before the Congress on Afghanistan more than 14 times – more than any other Cabinet-level official," Miller said. He added that the department has provided the committee with nearly 20,000 pages of records, multiple high-level briefings, and facilitated transcribed interviews with nearly 15 current and former State Department officials.

The subpoena comes as Republicans, including Former President Donald Trump, have renewed their attacks on the Biden administration over the Afghanistan withdrawal. The criticism intensified during the recent anniversary of the terrorist attack at Abbey Gate in Kabul, which killed 13 US service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians in August 2021.

A 2023 Biden administration review of the withdrawal concluded that both the Trump and Biden administrations' efforts were inadequate. The now-retired US commander who oversaw the withdrawal has stated that he alone bears responsibility for the Kabul airport attack.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Monday for his ninth diplomatic mission, emphasizing the urgency of reaching a hostage deal and ceasefire agreement.

Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in a lengthy three-hour meeting, described as "positive and conducted in a good spirit" by the Prime Minister's office. The talks, which focused on the ongoing hostage situation and regional security concerns, saw Netanyahu express support for the latest American proposal aimed at securing the release of Israeli hostages: "The prime minister reiterated Israel's commitment to the latest American proposal regarding the release of our hostages —taking into account Israel's security needs, which he insists on firmly," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

In a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Blinken stressed that the latest proposal from Washington and mediators represents a critical juncture in negotiations, potentially offering the last chance for a breakthrough.

Video: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Credit: Avi Kanner, Ori Buzaglo

"This is a decisive moment," Blinken declared. "Probably the best and maybe the last opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a ceasefire, and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security.

"It is time for it to get done. It's also time to make sure that no one takes any steps that could derail this process," Blinken stated. "And so we're working to make sure that there is no escalation, that there are no provocations, that there are no actions that in any way could move us away from getting this deal over the line or for that matter escalating the conflict to other places and to greater intensity." Blinken also mentioned the potential of a multi-arena attack from Iran, Hezbollah, and other sources, describing this as a "fraught moment" for Israel.

"It is time for everyone to get to 'yes' and to not look for any excuses to say 'no,'" he concluded.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog emphasized the challenges in the negotiation process: "People have to understand it starts with the refusal of Hamas to move forward with it," he said. Herzog added, "We are still very hopeful that we can move forward in the negotiations that are held by the mediators. There is no greater humanitarian objective and no greater humanitarian cause than bringing our hostages home, as they should have returned long ago."

On Monday afternoon, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for an explosion that occurred Sunday night in Tel Aviv's Hatikva neighborhood. The Israel Police confirmed it was a failed terror attack attempt. According to authorities, the blast was caused by the premature detonation of the terrorist's device, injuring a bystander and damaging a nearby parked truck.

During his visit to Israel, Blinken will have discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as meetings with families of hostages. Following his engagements in Israel, Blinken will travel to Cairo to continue negotiations on the proposed deal and ceasefire.

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In a video and series of tweets attributed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli leader expressed frustration over the reported delay in the supply of weapons and ammunition from the United States to Israel. Amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas, Netanyahu emphasized the importance of receiving these "tools" to expedite the resolution of hostilities.

According to the prime minister, during a recent meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he conveyed his "deep appreciation" for the US support since the beginning of the war on Oct. 7, when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israeli towns and bases that included horrific atrocities, including rape. However, he also voiced concern over the administration's alleged withholding of weapons and ammunition over the past few months, a decision he deemed "inconceivable" considering Israel's status as America's closest ally and its fight against Iran and other common adversaries.

Quoting a famous remark by Winston Churchill during World War II, Netanyahu stated, "Churchill told the United States, 'Give us the tools, we'll do the job.' And I say, give us the tools and we'll finish the job a lot faster."

The Prime Minister further revealed that Secretary Blinken assured him the administration was working tirelessly to remove these bottlenecks hindering the arms supply. "Secretary Blinken assured me that the administration is working day and night to remove these bottlenecks," Netanyahu said. "I certainly hope that's the case. It should be the case." Netanyahu expressed hope that this would indeed be the case, reiterating the urgency of Israel receiving the necessary weaponry while engaged in a struggle for its survival.

Highlighting Israel's position as America's closest ally and its fight against Iran and other common adversaries, the prime minister questioned the rationale behind such a decision. "Israel, America's closest ally, fighting for its life, fighting against Iran and our other common enemies," he remarked.

Shortly after the video was published, Blinken said the administration was still reviewing one shipment of large bombs for Israel over concerns that they could be used in densely populated areas. Biden mentioned the shipment several months ago in an interview with US media, citing concern for potential collateral damage it could create.

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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken strongly criticized Hamas's response to a US-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza on Wednesday. He stated that while some suggested changes were workable, others were unacceptable, suggesting the two sides remain far apart on crucial demands.

"Hamas has proposed numerous changes to the proposal that was on the table," Blinken said during a news conference in Doha, Qatar. "Some of the changes are workable, some are not." The top US diplomat claimed that "a deal was on the table that was virtually identical" to one Hamas put forward on May 6. However, he added that Hamas's recent response conveyed through Egyptian and Qatari mediators, made demands that went "beyond positions that it had previously taken and accepted."

"In the days ahead, we are going to push on an urgent basis," Blinken stated, "to try and close this deal." Blinken refrained from disclosing specific details about Hamas's counter-proposal. However, Hamas officials refuted his claim of making changes to their previous stance in May, reiterating their accusation that Israel was blocking a deal. Osama Hamdan, Hamas's representative in Lebanon, accused Blinken of viewing "things through an Israel lens."

According to the proposed ceasefire plan, fighting in Gaza would halt immediately, and after the release of some Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, talks could begin for a much longer or even permanent ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Basem Naim, a Hamas spokesman, reiterated on Wednesday that Hamas's position remains unchanged – the deal must include guarantees of a permanent ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, among other demands. "This new offer includes no changes to our previous response to the offer submitted last May," he said.

An unnamed official familiar with the talks revealed that Hamas' response proposed firm timetables for not only a short-term truce but also a permanent one, and for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas also seeks assurances from the US and other mediators that a permanent ceasefire will be respected by Israel.

Blinken stated that Israel had accepted the initial proposal, endorsed by the UN Security Council on Monday. He added that the US would unveil proposals "in the coming weeks" to address Gaza's governance, security, and reconstruction.

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The former Israeli ambassador to Washington, Dr. Michael Oren, said the Biden administration's response to the arrest warrants requested by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reflects the Biden administration's unwavering stance in support of Israel.

In an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom, Oren praised the US administration for standing firmly beside Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas terrorism in Gaza. He deemed the ICC prosecutor's request for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders "outrageous and unacceptable." Oren called on the US to invoke the American Servicemembers' Protection Act of 2001 to shield Israel, protecting Netanyahu, Gallant, and Israeli soldiers from prosecution by the ICC in The Hague.

Under this act, the US commits to protecting any ally against whom the ICC issues arrest warrants or indictments. Potential measures include providing legal assistance to Israeli officials, imposing economic sanctions on countries cooperating with the ICC orders, sanctioning ICC officials through asset freezes, and leveraging American companies and banks to enforce such sanctions.

Oren urged the Biden administration to seize this "rare opportunity" and engage Israel in a "genuine, intimate dialogue" about the "day after" the conflict, including the possibility of a path toward Palestinian statehood, without any immediate commitments. "Israel must capitalize on this window of tremendous US support," Oren stresses, "and not forfeit the chance to initiate such crucial negotiations."

In a press release, Secretary of State Antony Blinken relayed that "The United States fundamentally rejects the announcement today from the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that he is applying for arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, together with warrants for Hamas terrorists. We reject the Prosecutor's equivalence of Israel with Hamas. It is shameful. Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization that carried out the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and is still holding dozens of innocent people hostage, including Americans."

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday spoke with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, the State Department said.

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Blinken spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about expanding Israel's regional integration and countering threats posed by Iran, the department said in a statement.

Video: Blinken, Israel's Dermer discussed de-escalating tensions on Thursday / Credit: Reuters

In a separate statement, the State Department said Blinken expressed continued concern about the ongoing violence in the West Bank when he spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

They also discussed their support for a two-state solution and opposition to actions endangering its viability, the department said.

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"Building consensus for new proposals is the best plan of action," US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, advises the Israelis. If he were not the US chief diplomat, one could say that his words sound almost like a parody.

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Blinken, who visited Israel recently, referred to the legal reforms promoted by the current government. He praised President Isaac Herzog's efforts to reach a compromise and gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a short lecture on the components of democracy as he comprehends. "Respecting human rights, equal justice for all, equal rights for minority groups, the rule of law, a free press and a strong civil society," he advocated.

But there was something strange about his claim. First of all, how is it his business? Israel is not a banana republic and it is our right to decide how we will conduct our public life. Minister Orit Strock answered Blinken in the most appropriate way when she said that "democracy is first of all the country's duty to determine its path according to the vote of its own citizens, without foreign intervention."

Second, the American political system is the complete opposite of a "broad consensus." The basic rule in the US is binary politics. "The winner takes it all. The loser goes home."

In Israel, on the other hand, the elections are relative and the parliamentary structure requires the building of coalitions. No single party has ever received 61 seats in the Knesset. The actual existence of any government is based on achieving a broad consensus. This is at a time when in the US almost nothing obtains any agreement from the political opponent, certainly not in internal affairs. Either the Republicans rule or the Democrats rule. There is no middle ground.

The promiscuous behavior of the opposition leader is no different from that of the mother who agrees to cut her baby in half in King Solomon's judgment. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid knows that forecasts of the weakening of the economy are the most substantial catalyst for divestment.

Take, for example, Barack Obama's healthcare reform in 2012. In US terms it was no less dramatic than Yariv Levin's planned legislation in Israel. The Democratic administration at the time, of which Blinken was a part, enacted it despite all opposition from the Republicans. And this is just one example.

The political extremism in the US is child's play compared to what is going on in Israel. In the US, the parties block each other in Congress, even if it means paralyzing government activity – something that has not happened here even over the past four years and five election cycles.

What about Blinken himself? Nothing in his decades of experience in government shows that he has any specialization in passing reforms. He is a professional in national security, and, among others, promoted special US funding for the production of the Iron Dome ten years ago. This budgeting continues to this day, and Netanyahu has even thanked Blinken for it.

But in general, his resume includes cases of conformism. So neither his personal experience nor any US political tradition gives Blinken the right to tell Netanyahu that "building a consensus for new proposals is the most effective way to ensure that they will be accepted and that they will last." Other considerations drive his actions – political considerations.

Self-fulfilling prophecies

The circles of influence surrounding Blinken are J Street, the New York Times and Thomas Friedman. They, and others on the Jewish-American Left are putting pressure on him, publicly and behind closed doors, to intervene in what is happening in Israel, and it doesn't matter that only recently there were elections in Israel. Their version of democracy is US coercion.

Blinken knows that intervention is problematic and therefore is tiptoeing between the drops, maneuvering between the pressures from the US-Jewish home ground and what he knows is considered prying into Israel's domestic affairs. To his credit, he made it clear in a talk with journalists on Tuesday that "the Israelis themselves are the ones who need to work on them" and that the demonstrations around the country are "a very healthy part of a vibrant democracy. I draw inspiration from that." So he did not cross any boundaries. As disclosed in this newspaper, Blinken will wait until the end of the legislative process in Israel, and only then will the administration express its opinion on the reform.

Blinken's caution contradicts the prophecies that the Left in Israel want to be fulfilled, that the Americans will stop Netanyahu from what he's doing. Lapid plays dumb and says that "I will never call for international pressure," but in the same breath adds that "this is what happens." On another occasion, he claimed, "with a government of racists and extremists, the US is no longer Israel's closest ally. They are polite and all, but they think that we are retreating from democracy."

It's definitely a good thing that Blinken is not following Lapid's call, and he also probably understands that the Left, both in Israel and in the US, is using him as a political lever to fight against the Right-wing government. But the trouble is that the opposition leader's promiscuous behavior is no different from that of the mother who agrees to cut her baby in half in King Solomon's judgment. As a former minister of finance, Lapid knows that forecasts the weakening of the economy are the most substantial catalyst for withdrawal of investment. He also understands, or at least he should understand, that criticism about the loss of US support is what is gnawing away at it. And he doesn't care.

Playing the same tune again

This is not the first time that Netanyahu's opponents are willing to take the State of Israel hostage, just to cause harm to the prime minister. The same lies that the "Just not Bibi" camp is spreading these days about the supposed damage to Israel's status around the world because of the reforms, were also told a decade ago, under different excuses. Then the Israeli media was bursting with lies about "political isolation" and fables, as if Netanyahu was boycotting the democrats and being boycotted by them.

The most influential ambassador Israel ever had in Washington, Ron Dermer, was described by commentators and politicians as a "Republican activist who has been prevented entry into the White House." For many years the general public and political systems were bombarded with incessant lies.

And what was the truth? Netanyahu has always made a point of meeting with every Democratic congressman and senator who came to Israel, but Dermer set a precedent when both President Obama and his then-vice president, Joe Biden, came to speak at major events at the Israeli Embassy. Contrary to that written in the media and as disclosed in Israel Hayom, Dermer's connections in the Obama White House were so intimate that for one of the president's speeches at the time, he rode in the car of the chief of staff, Denis McDonough, as if he were one of the president's men.

Netanyahu's opponents are now trying to rehash the same accusations that were made in the last decade, and the facts once again do not bother them. Because in the current round, the Americans are being very gentle with Israel, despite the rifts in position. No condemnations. No criticism. On the contrary, there is dramatic progress and US round-the-clock efforts to integrate Israel into the Visa Waiver Program – and no gift could be greater than that.

Netanyahu, for his part, is contributing his share to the calm atmosphere that is so important to the US administration. He has not attacked Biden and his associates for their hesitant policy towards Iran. And he actually did not even take action after the massacre in Neve Ya'akov. No construction in Judea and Samaria or in Jerusalem has been promoted. No blame was put on the Palestinian Authority. Illegal weapons were not rounded up in Jerusalem. Nothing. If Lapid or Naftali Bennett had been satisfied with zero response from him after such a serious attack, Netanyahu would have torn them apart from the opposition.

So Blinken got the consensus he asked for. But not between supporters and opponents of the legal reform, but between him and Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Israel warned on Tuesday that it would not let the recent riots and cross-border attacks by Palestinians to go unchallenged, saying the responsibility for restoring calm and easing the tension lays squarely on them.

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Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone on Tuesday amid heightened tensions between Israel and the Palestinians.

Lapid updated Blinken on the efforts undertaken by Israel to allow freedom of worship in Jerusalem during the Holy Month of Ramadan and Passover even as Palestinian rioters continue to stage provocations in the city, led by radical clerics who have spread false information on Israel's supposed desire to damage the Islamic shrines on the mountain. "Israel will not tolerate calls for violence," Lapid said, stressing the need for international support for the restoration of calm in the capital.

Blinken also spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who accused Israel of "brutal attacks by radical settlers who invade the Al-Aqsa Mosque every day, by blatantly violating the status quo."

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Benny Gantz reacted on Tuesday to the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip a day earlier, warning that Israel would not shy away from confrontation to remove the threat to its citizens if it came to that.

"Yesterday, the Israel Defense Forces hit the Gaza Strip due to the targeting of Israeli territory," Gantz said in a video message, laying blame on "Hamas' leadership." He added, "The IDF has at its disposal a whole host of means and targets and it is prepared for this contingency as a means of ensuring that calm and stability continue." He then warned that "if the incitement and rocket fire continues, the terrorist organizations will be dealt a heavy blow, as will the people of Gaza, who currently enjoy the Israeli efforts to improve their welfare and economic wellbeing." He said that "Israel will increase these efforts if there is continued stability, but they will be rolled back if Hamas' leaders decide to hurt it."

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Iran "will not have nuclear weapons, not in the coming years, never," Mossad chief David Barnea vowed Thursday.

Speaking alongside Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and President Isaac Herzog at a ceremony to recognize 12 Mossad agents – four field operators, four cyber operatives and four staff – for their excellence, Barnea said Israel will do "whatever it takes" to make sure Iran never develops a nuclear weapon, adding that a bad nuclear deal between powers is "intolerable."

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"It's clear that there's no need for uranium enriched to 60% for civilian purposes," Barnea said. "There is no need for three sites with thousands of centrifuges active unless there is the intention to develop nuclear weapons."

Barnea criticized the Iran deal, calling it a "bad agreement," and devalued attempts to reinstate it.

"Iran strives for regional hegemony, operates the same terrorists that we're tackling every day worldwide, and continuously threatens the stability of the Middle East," Barnea stressed.

"Therefore our eyes are wide open, we're ready, and we'll act with our colleagues in the defense establishment to do what is needed to distance the threat from the State of Israel, and thwart it in any way," he added.

An Israeli official said the country assesses that Iran could produce enough 90%-enriched uranium for a single nuclear bomb within a month, and that Israel still considers a military strike against Iran to be a viable option and is preparing for all scenarios.

Bennett, meanwhile, called on the US and other world powers to halt the nuclear talks with Iran taking place in Vienna.

The premier made this plea in a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to the Prime Minister's Office, in a c

Referring to Wednesday's International Atomic Energy Agency report that Iran had begun enriching uranium to the level of 20% purity at its Fordo underground facility, Bennett told Blinken that Tehran was engaging in "nuclear blackmail" as a bargaining tactic.

This, he said, must be met with an immediate cessation of negotiations and concrete steps by the powers involved, rather than tolerance and appeasement.

Israeli officials familiar with the details of the phone conversation said Bennett and Blinken spoke as friends but noted that the gap in their respective approaches was significant.

The officials said the Iranians were solely focused on the removal of economic sanctions as a first step, before ever discussing their nuclear program, and had brought 40 economists to the talks in Vienna.

To the chagrin of Israel, however, the Biden administration still appears open to two types of possible deals: a full return to the original 2015 deal tailored to the technical advancements the Iranians have made since then, or a limited deal entailing the cessation of uranium enrichment in exchange for the removal of sanctions.

The assessment among Israel's political echelon is that the current round of talks in Vienna won't produce a finalized agreement and that at least one more round would be necessary. Israeli officials intend to use the period between the rounds to increase pressure on the US to eschew any deal.

As stated, the gaps between Israel and the US were crystallized in Thursday's phone conversation between Blinken and Bennett, who said a partial deal meant the ayatollah regime would receive billions of dollars that it would use to intensify its belligerent activities in the region.

In a rare step, the Biden administration didn't issue a statement about the phone call with the Israeli prime minister.

The State Department later issued a read-out of the conversation saying that "Secretary Blinken and Prime Minister Bennett affirmed the strong US-Israel partnership and discussed regional security issues, including Iran and the ongoing talks in Vienna concerning Iran's nuclear program, as well as the global challenge posed by COVID-19."

Blinken addressed the conversation with Bennett at a press conference in Sweden.

"Let me just say that I had a very good and detailed conversation with Prime Minister Bennett [Thursday]. This is in keeping with the many exchanges that we've had with our Israeli allies on any number of issues, but to include, of course, the issue of Iran's nuclear program.

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"And we have exactly the same strategic objectives: We are both determined to ensure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon. And we went over in some detail where we thought things stood based on what we've been hearing in Vienna. We will continue to be in very close contact with Israel, as well as with other concerned countries including in the Gulf, about the status of the talks and our assessment of where this is going or where it's not going."

Asked about Bennett's plea for an immediate halt to the talks, Blinken replied: "As I said, we're going to know very, very quickly, I think in the next day or two, whether Iran is serious or not. We need to test that proposition fully. I think our partners in the talks believe that as well, but as I said, and to be very clear, we will not accept the status quo of Iran building its program on the one hand and dragging its feet in talks on the other. That's not going to last…

"That is also not our view alone. We'll see what happens over the next couple of days but it is up to Iran to demonstrate and to demonstrate quickly that it is serious," he told reporters.

Israel Hayom has learned, meanwhile, that European powers were considering a series of tough punitive steps against Iran if it continues buying time and the Vienna talks fail to progress.

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