The Israeli High Court issued an order on April 8, prohibiting the removal of Ronen Bar and preventing Netanyahu from announcing a successor. At this point, Israel is faced with an institutional incident that concerns internal security. Now Netanyahu must demonstrate whether he recognizes the High Court’s decisions or not, and at this point a new political phase will open in Israel. The Response of Netanyahu’s office to the Supreme Court was not long in coming: During the session, the Court’s judges reiterated several times that there is no dispute over the government’s authority to terminate the Shin Bet chief’s mandate. Therefore, the Supreme Court’s decision to postpone his mandate by 10 days is surprising. The legal advisor’s goal is to prevent Ronen Bar’s mandate from ending, under the pretext of an ongoing investigation. It is unreasonable that the Israeli government cannot fire a failed Shin Bet chief just because of the opening of an investigation that has nothing to do with any government minister.
The Israeli military has raised its alert level for the upcoming weekend, imposing a travel and exit ban on all combat units, training systems, and naval and air forces. This measure, decided by the General Staff, will mean that tens of thousands of soldiers and combat support personnel will remain on bases during the upcoming Passover holiday. The IDF is working to stop the coordination of hundreds of Air Force reservists, who warn that they will end their voluntary service if the government continues its efforts to remove the Shin Bet chief and the Attorney General.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated that “Israel is not fulfilling its unequivocal obligations as an occupying power under international law. Forcing the Palestinians to leave is against international law.” He went on to say: “Gaza is a killing field. The United Nations’ ability to provide aid to Gaza has been strangled.”
The US State Department has changed visa conditions for the Syrian delegation to the UN following pressure from US and Israeli lobbyists on the Trump administration to prevent them from interacting with the Syrian government.
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz: “Any deal with Iran must not allow the production of nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles.” According to the latest unconfirmed reports, the US is pushing for a direct meeting while Iran has asked for mediators because it has said it does not trust the US.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “The third issue we discussed with Trump is the Turkish state wanting to re-establish military bases in Syria and this is a threat to us. We oppose it and are fighting against it.” “The fourth and final issue is tariffs. President Trump has asked countries to reduce their trade deficits with the United States to zero.
I told him, ‘It’s not difficult for us.’ Let’s do it. It’s the least we can do for the United States and its president, who does so much for us.”
Yinon on pro-Likud Channel 14 comments on Netanyahu’s recent video message by saying the Israeli PM is “intentionally sabotaging” the “US-Iran talks” by outlining ridiculous demands on Iran, which Iran obviously won’t accept — the “Libyan scenario.” Yinon says Netanyahu was briefed on the possible US-Iran talks before his trip to the United States. This is probably why Yediot Ahronot, a publication very close to Netanyahu, threatened military action against Iran without US military support (but possible logistical support). Either the US pushes Iran into a deal on the “Libyan scenario,” or Israel attacks. This puts pressure on the Trump administration to make Iran accept a deal that Tehran will most likely reject. The article was ironically published moments before the Trump-Netanyahu meeting. Barak Ravid, an anti-Likud Israeli journalist living in the US, confirmed that the Iran nuclear deal was raised during the meeting and Netanyahu made it clear what was acceptable to Tel Aviv. Yinon, like the rest of the right-wing Likud faction, including Netanyahu, believes that a military solution is the only answer to the Iran nuclear issue.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subtanto said his country is ready to provide temporary shelter to Palestinians affected by the war in the Gaza Strip. According him, his country will be able to take in about 1,000 Palestinians in the first wave. Mostly orphans and wounded.
From Lebanon comes the news that Hezbollah is ready to start negotiations with the Lebanese president regarding its military arsenal. One of the conditions for this potential dialogue is the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the cessation of IDF air strikes. The sources come from a Hezbollah official who spoke via Reuters.
And now a look at the military scenarios updated at 16:00 on April 9. The United States Central Command confirmed that a meeting was held in Saudi Arabia with the Chief of Staff of the Yemeni Armed Forces to coordinate and strengthen joint efforts in the fight against the Houthis (Ansarallah). US warplanes targeted a residential area in Al-Hawk district, Al Hodeidah governorate, western Yemen, killing six and wounding 16 this evening. Also on the night of April 9, US warplanes conducted three airstrikes on the city of Dhamar, in Houthi-controlled Yemen. Ten US airstrikes hit Jabal Nuqm (Mount Nuqm), located east of Sana’a, in Houthi-controlled Yemen.
A Houthi spokesman said that a US MQ-9 drone had been shot down in Al Jawf province, the third in 10 days and the 18th since the start of the war. On the afternoon of April 9, Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree: “We attacked several warships with drones, including the aircraft carrier Truman in the northern Red Sea. Greater Yemen is resilient and will not give up its support for the oppressed Palestinian people, nor will it surrender to American aggression. We will continue to resist American aggression and support the Palestinian people until the aggression is over and the siege of Gaza is lifted. We will continue to obstruct Israeli shipping in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.”
In Lebanon, the Lebanese Army reported that one of its units removed booby-trapped barbed wire placed by Israeli forces in Labouna, Tyre, southern Lebanon, after safely disabling two linked hand grenades. Additionally, in coordination with UNIFIL forces, the Lebanese army removed newly constructed earth mounds placed by Israeli forces on the outskirts of Odaisseh, Marjeyoun, in southern Lebanon.
Israel has significantly expanded its presence in the Gaza Strip since the resumption of the war with Hamas last month. It now controls more than 50 percent of the territory. The IDF says that over the past 24 hours, the Israel Defense Forces said it carried out airstrikes on more than 45 targets in the Gaza Strip. The targets included weapons production facilities, prepared rocket launchers, buildings used by militants, weapons depots and militant cells. Meanwhile, ground forces continue to operate throughout the sector.
In Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, the IDF said troops from the Gaza Division discovered several tunnels in the Tel Sultan area.
Nearby, between Rafah and Khan Yunis, the 36th Division is advancing in the Morag corridor area. The IDF said troops discovered and destroyed several buildings and other infrastructure used by Hamas, as well as tunnels, and killed several militants.
In northern Gaza, the 252nd Division is advancing in the eastern Shejaiya district of Gaza City, where troops have killed several militants over the past 24 hours, including with targeted air strikes, the IDF said.
Israeli forces are currently conducting a raid in Ramallah, in the central West Bank. Other areas of the West Bank are also currently under attack. At the close of data collection, Israeli forces are also carrying out incursions in Qabatiya, south of Jenin, in the West Bank.
Antonio Albanese e Graziella Giangiulio
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