Israel extends state of emergency for another year
The Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset, has voted to extend the country’s state of emergency until December 16 next year.
The Times of Israel reported that 29 legislators voted for the resolution, while seven voted against it. The resolution was introduced on the recommendation of the country’s security cabinet.
The state of emergency was last extended in May, but only for six months.
Israeli legislators approve $9bn budget expansion to cover war costs
The Times of Israel is reporting that the Israeli Knesset added $9bn to the 2024 budget, with the vast majority of the funds going to defence spending.
The outlet said the budget proposal passed with the support of 62 coalition members, while 52 voted against it.
Israel’s Gantz calls for direct attacks on Iran
Benny Gantz, a former member of Israel’s war cabinet, is calling on the country to “target Iran directly” to end attacks by the Houthis and other Tehran-aligned groups, according to The Times of Israel.
The National Unity Party leader told reporters on Monday that “the solution to putting an end to the attacks lies in Tehran”
“Today, we have the opportunity to catalyze a ‘strategic flip’ against Iran and its proxies. We must capitalize on the opportunity,” he was quoted as saying. “It would be a strategic mistake of historic proportion not to.”
Katz says Israel to begin targeting Houthi leaders in Yemen: Report
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has been quoted by the Times of Israel newspaper as promising that “the heads of the Houthis” would roll just like the ones of “[Yahya] Sinwar in Gaza, [Ismail] Haniyeh in Tehran and [Hassan] Nasrallah in Beirut”, referring to the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah.
Israel has hit civilian and military infrastructure in Yemen, without targeting specific individuals.
“Just as we took care of Sinwar in Gaza, Haniyeh in Tehran and Nasrallah in Beirut, we will deal with the heads of the Houthis in Sanaa or anywhere in Yemen,” Katz said while visiting an Arrow air defence system battery used to shoot down the Houthi missile over Israel overnight, according to the Times of Israel.
“We will act both against their infrastructure and against them to remove the threat,” he said, adding that “whoever sponsors the Houthi terror in Hodeidah or Sanaa will pay the full price” as well.
