Regional states: reject Israeli attempt
to displace Palestinians from Gaza
December 6th, 3:33am
(PressTV)
Eight regional and Muslim-majority nations have jointly
rejected any move.... that could facilitate the forced
displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
On Friday, foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan,
the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, and
Qatar, issued a coordinated statement, warning that recent
Israeli remarks - about opening the Rafah crossing in only
one direction amounted to a dangerous attempt to push
Palestinians out of the coastal sliver and into Egypt.
Diplomats stressed that such a maneuver would constitute
a direct assault on Palestinian nationhood, and a grave
violation of international law.
The ministers underscored that Palestinians had to remain on
their land, calling forced transfer “completely unacceptable
under any circumstances.”
They insisted on the international community’s obligation to
prevent the demographic erasure of Gaza, which Tel Aviv
has long identified as one of its strategic objectives.
The statement - also emphasized the need to rebuild Gaza, under
a framework that restores Palestinian agency and sovereignty
and warning ------- that any policy designed to weaken Gaza’s
demographic fabric, would destabilize the entire region.
The eight nations called urgently for a sustained ceasefire,
an end to civilian suffering in the territory, unrestricted
humanitarian access, and the immediate launch
of recovery and reconstruction.
They also highlighted the importance -- of
restoring Palestinian governance in Gaza.
The ministers - reaffirmed their readiness, to intensify
their coordination with international partners --- to
implement UN Security Council Resolution 2803
along with all the other resolutions affirming
Palestinian rights.
They also stressed the establishment
-- of an independent Palestinian state.
_______________________________________
Man shot dead -- leaving mosque
as Israeli raids, settler violence
...sweep across the West Bank
December 5th, 6:54pm
(PressTV)
Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian man leaving a mosque
in the northern West Bank on Friday, as raids and settler
attacks across multiple villages left several more
Palestinians injured and property destroyed.
In a statement released on Friday, the Palestinian Health
Ministry confirmed that Bahaa Abdel Rahman Rashid,
38, died after Israeli soldiers shot him in the head
during clashes in the village of Odala.
Confrontations erupted after Friday prayers, with Israeli
forces firing live rounds and tear gas at Palestinians
in the area.
Witnesses and local residents said that Israeli troops
were patrolling in Odala and threw tear gas canisters
at worshippers who were exiting the local mosque
for Friday prayers.
Rashid was killed by live fire in the clashes that followed.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said - its crews responded
to a man with a critical gunshot wound to the head and
performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the
scene..... before his death was confirmed.
Separately, the Wafa news agency reported - that at least two
Palestinians were injured during confrontations on Thursday
evening that erupted after Israeli forces raided the Jalazon
refugee camp, north of Ramallah.
During the raid, Israeli soldiers --- fired live
ammunition, stun grenades, and tear gas.
In another incident, Israeli settlers set fire to two vehicles,
and sprayed racist graffiti during an early-morning attack
on the village of Taybeh, east of Ramallah, according
to local reports.
Illegal Israeli settlers ----- stab disabled
Palestinian in northeastern West Bank
Medics say Israeli settlers have stabbed a disabled
Palestinian man in the northeastern part of the
occupied West Bank.
Residents said the assault took place at dawn on Friday,
when groups of colonists broke into the village and
targeted civilian property.
A group of Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian farmers
while they were working on their agricultural land in the
village of Khirbet Yarza, east of Tubas.
Mukhles Masa’eed, the head of the Yarza village council,
said that the assault led to the destruction of several
olive trees across the area.
Northern West Bank districts - have seen wide Israeli
military raids over the past week under an offensive
targeting Tubas, Aqaba, Tammun, al-Far’a,
and Tayasir.
Islamic Jihad, Hamas: slam Israeli raid on Tubas
as part of systematic 'West Bank displacement'
The Palestinian resistance group also strongly denounced
the silence of the international community in the face of
Israel’s criminal behaviour.
During its two-year-long genocidal war on Gaza, that started
on October 7, 2023, Israel has killed over 1,088 Palestinians
and injured 10,700 others through attacks by its army and
illegal settlers across the occupied West Bank.
Thousands of Palestinians have been
abducted - by the occupying forces.
In a landmark opinion - issued in July 2024, the International
Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian
territory illegal and called for ------ the evacuation of all the
settlements in the West Bank and East Al-Quds.
___________________________________
Sheikh Qassem: Hezbollah Will Be
Stronger --- and Stronger in Any
Israeli War on Lebanon
December 5th, 4:20pm
(al Manar)
Hezbollah Secretary General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, stressed
on Friday, that the United States and the Israeli enemy plan
for not only disarming the Resistance - but also imposing
a full economic siege on its supporters.
Addressing Hezbollah ceremony held at the shrine of the
Master of Umma Martyrs, Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, to
honour the scholars martyred all the way to Al-Quds,
and during the “Formidable in Might Battle”, Sheikh
Qassem emphasized ----- that the enemies want to
eradicate the existence of Hezbollah supporters.
“They want to disarm and cut off funds, prevent services,
close schools and hospitals, obstruct reconstruction,
prevent donations, and demolish homes.”
Sheikh Qassem indicated that disarming the resistance would
not solve the problem in Lebanon, underlining rejection of the
hostile schemes.
“We will defend ourselves, our families, and our country. We are
prepared to sacrifice everything, to the maximum. We will not
surrender, and our resolve will only grow stronger... we will
not back down. Let this be clear to you.”
Sheikh Qassem criticized the government’s decision to participate
in a civilian-led ceasefire committee, saying it contradicts
previous official statements that required the enemy
to stop hostilities, before involving civilians in
the process.
Sheikh Qassem said the move is a free concession, that won’t
change Israel’s stance or aggression - noting that the civilian
representative’s meeting with the committee, has increased
the pressure, and ‘Israel’ and the US want to keep Lebanon
under fire.
He described this measure as a further blunder that can be added
to the “sin of August 5th,” ......and prayed that God would protect
Lebanon from something even worse. He argued that instead of
taking steps forward to strengthen the country and achieve
progress, concessions are being made.... that will not
work - with Israel.
He emphasized --- that the opportunity still exists, and a reversal is
possible, on the condition that ‘Israel’ ceases fire, the state takes
steps to rebuild and confront ‘Israel’, and an internal agreement
is reached on the basis of not allowing any concessions - until
‘Israel’ fulfills its obligations.
Sheikh Qassem emphasized --- that Hezbollah had fulfilled its
obligations and enabled the state to assert its sovereignty
within the framework of the agreement, stressing that
they should be confident that the enemy cannot do
anything -- when the Lebanese are united.
Sheikh Qassem likened Lebanon to a ship, asserting that: aligning
with Israel --- would be like sinking the ship, causing everyone to
drown. He called for careful consideration of all steps - and for
the understanding that the sole problem in Lebanon is Israeli
aggression, which must be confronted ...in a
unified manner.
Lebanon is facing a dangerous Israeli expansionist
aggression - that must be confronted by all means
Sheikh Qassem stated that Lebanon is facing a dangerous Israeli
expansionist aggression that must be confronted by all means.
He pointed out that the Israeli statements are not isolated
but rather, expansionist, and that Israel only withdrew
from Beirut due to the resistance’s strikes; without
these strikes, it would not have withdrawn.
He emphasized -- that this enemy is expansionist and that there is
an agreement it has not adhered to --- despite Lebanon’s and its
resistance’s commitment. He added --- that the attacks are not
about weapons, but rather ---- about establishing the basis for
the occupation of Lebanon and drawing up a “Greater Israel”
through Lebanon, referring to Resolution 1701 and the area
south of the Litani River.
Sheikh Qassem underscored cooperation with the Lebanese
government which has chosen the path of diplomacy to end
the aggression - reiterating support to that path. He noted
that America and ‘Israel’ have no say in how we manage
our internal affairs, nor do they have any say in what
we disagree on, or decide... in Lebanon.
He clarified that the limit we must adhere to, in all our relations
now - as the Lebanese state - with the enemy, is the boundary
of the agreement that speaks exclusively of the area south
of the Litani River, adding ------ there is no such thing, as
“beyond the Litani River.”
He affirmed that all other matters are the responsibility of the
Lebanese themselves, and that Resolution 1701 is a matter
for the Lebanese themselves, and they, are the ones who
will implement it.
Sheikh Qassem underlined that the United States and ‘Israel’
have no say in local Lebanese issues - related to the arms,
rebuilding capabilities, and the defense strategy.
Hezbollah Leader affirmed that the Resistance Party would
disregard the servants of ‘Israel’. adding, “Rather, we will
pay attention to those among our citizens and political
forces --- who wish to listen, discuss, and cooperate
within the framework of one country --- within the
framework of a defensive strategy --- that we all
agree upon. This the only option on the table.”
He stressed that -- whoever renounces the Israeli project will
be welcomed and engaged in discussions, but on the basis
of dignity, honour, independence, and maintaining our
defensive capabilities. He affirmed - that this is a
defensive capability - and no one in the world
can prevent us from possessing the ability
to defend ourselves, and stand against
those who attack us. This ---- is a
settled and final matter for us.
Sheikh Qassem, meanwhile, demanded that the Lebanese
government fulfill its duties, considering the first duty to
be protecting sovereignty, building the state and the
economy, and serving the people.
His eminence addressed the officials... saying: “Give us a
statement about the period from the time you took office
until now.... about what you have done --- in terms of
confronting the aggression, liberating prisoners,
reconstruction, or providing services to the
people, and the country’s economy.”
He emphasized - that the government has nothing to
give away, calling on everyone to work together
so that the Lebanese people stand united
against their enemies.
Sheikh Naim Qassem stated that the party is an integral
part of the Lebanese resistance --- cooperating with
various forces. He highlighted Hezbollah’s 2006
relationship with a major Christian group,
based on Lebanon’s interests.
Sheikh Qassem emphasized - that Hezbollah’s experience
has been inclusive, not isolated --- and has presented a
pioneering Islamic model that has annoyed the West
and ‘Israel’. He noted -- the Imam Mahdi Scouts’
reception of the Pope... demonstrating the
party’s openness and cooperation.
He stressed ---- that Hezbollah’s statement to the Pope
resonated deeply --- showcasing the party’s image in
Lebanon. Qassem affirmed that no-one can tarnish
the image of Hezbollah’s youth - who sacrificed
- or the Lebanese people.
Sheikh Naim Qassem stated, that political differences are
normal within a country, and affairs should be organized
according to the constitution.
He emphasized that understanding should aim to improve
state-building - not serve external agendas, or promote
Israel’s project. His eminence reaffirmed Hezbollah’s
cooperation with all, to build the state and liberate
the land, citing its track record.
Sheikh Qassem stressed - that Hezbollah doesn’t seek validation,
criticizing those who claim to give national certificates ---- while
needing absolution for their crimes. He affirmed that Hezbollah
doesn’t give or accept certificates, calling for people to judge
based on experience, as the parliamentary elections reflect
popular sentiment.
Sheikh Qassem emphasized that the martyred scholars blood
is the light of our lives, and “their ink, is the path we follow”.
“To you, I pledge to continue and bring tidings of a bright future.”
Sheikh Qassem said, “Hezbollah --- has worked on the basis of the
perfection of religion, adhered to Islamic constants, and believed
in jihad in the way of God as guidance for humanity. We -- were
raised in Hezbollah to love the homeland, believe in freedom
of choice, establish a state, and freedom of expression.”
“The arrogant world wants to eliminate Hezbollah because
the resistance presents a transformative project... with
patriotism, liberation, and dignity.”
Sheikh Qassem affirmed - “Hezbollah is an integral part
of the Lebanese resistance and has cooperated with
various forces.”
Source: Al-Manar English Website
_____________________________________
Lebanese Officials ----- Call on
UNSC Delegation ---- to Press
‘Israel’ to Respect Ceasefire
December 5th, 12:09pm
(al Manar)
Senior Lebanese officials received visiting a UN Security Council
delegation on Friday, with President Jospeh Aoun and Speaker
Nabih Berri calling on the UN diplomats to press the Zionist
entity over its continuous aggression on Lebanon.
The UN delegation visited Damascus on Thursday and was due
to inspect the border area in southern Lebanon on Saturday,
accompanied by US envoy Morgan Ortagus.
“No Negotiation Under Fire”
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri received the delegation in his
residence in Beirut’s Ain Al-Tine, stressing that stability in
south Lebanon requires the Zionist entity’s compliance
with Resolution 1701.
“The intensification of the five-member committee’s meetings
compels Israel to immediately cease fire and end its
unilateral war on Lebanon,” the Lebanese
speaker said in remarks carried
by Al-Manar.
“It’s neither permissible -- nor acceptable -- to
negotiate under fire,” Speaker Berri affirmed.
Meeting with President Aoun
Earlier on Friday, the UNSC delegation met with President Joseph
Aoun, who called on the UN diplomats to exert efforts in order to
press the Israeli side to commit to the ceasefire - and withdraw
from Lebanon, says a statement by the Lebanese Presidency.
In a post on X platform, the Lebanese Presidency said: “The
delegation expressed its support for stability in Lebanon
through the implementation of international resolutions
and the readiness by several states to support the
Lebanese Army, completing its deployment, and
enforcing the monopoly on weapons. It also
expressed its support, for the move to
include Lebanese civilians in the
Mechanism Committee.”
Source: Al-Manar English Website
_______________________________________
Threatening Iraq's sovereignty,
US opens world’s largest
consulate in Erbil
December 5th, 11:38am
(PressTV)
The US has officially inaugurated its sprawling new consulate
in Erbil, signaling Washington’s intent - to deepen its footprint
in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region even as Iraqi leaders
and resistance groups -- call for the withdrawal of US forces.
The administration of US President Donald Trump on Wednesday
unveiled the sprawling new diplomatic compound in Erbil as
Washington aims to deepen footprint in the Kurdish region
amid the reduction of US troops in Baghdad and other
parts of Iraq.
The construction of the compound, spanning 206,000 square
metres as the largest US consulate in the world, started in
2018 with estimated costs of around $800m.
“We have significant opportunities in the coming period to
demonstrate the return on America's investment in this
new consulate by delivering tangible outcomes -- that
make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous
through a partnership that delivers value for our
America First agenda,” US Deputy Secretary of
State for Management and Resources, Michael
Rigas, said during a speech at the opening
ceremony in Erbil.
“The building we inaugurate today ---- is a testament to
our commitment and a physical symbol of America's
long-term partnership with Iraq ....and the Iraqi
Kurdistan Region.”
The inauguration comes as the US said in September 2024
that it would transition the justification for its troops'
presence in Iraq from countering the Daesh
terrorist group to a mutual defense
partnership with Baghdad.
Iraqi media reported in August that, per that agreement, they
withdrew hundreds of troops from two key Iraqi bases,
including Ain al-Asad base in Anbar Province and
the Victory Base Complex, located within the
Baghdad International Airport.
However, Iraqi news site Kurdistan 24 reported, that the majority of
US forces who remain in Iraq will move to Erbil despite calls by the
Arab country’s polity and resistance, for the expulsion of foreign
forces ...in the absence of terrorist outfits, after their defeat.
In the lead-up to Iraqi elections in November, Prime Minister
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani told Reuters that Iraq would
only be able to disarm resistance groups -- after
US troops leave the country.
Meanwhile, Akram Al Kaabi, head of Iraq’s Al Nujaba Movement,
issued a threat on Wednesday against Trump's envoy in
Baghdad, accusing the United States of interfering
in Iraq's internal affairs.
Kaabi accused Mark Savaya - of "blatant interventions" in Iraqi
affairs after he, taking up his role as special envoy in October,
said there was "no place for armed groups operating
outside the authority of the state.”
He said Savaya was "rolling up his sleeves to steal the wealth of
his country and put them in the hands of his American master.”
Kaabi added, "Know that if you do not silence him, the Islamic
Resistance will put a stone in his mouth and return him to his
masters who enslaved him.”
Erbil has long been at loggerheads with the
central government in Baghdad for access
to Iraq’s oil wealth.
The US lobbied to reopen a key pipeline running through the
Kurdistan region that connects Iraqi oil fields to Turkey’s
Ceyhan port, which had been closed in 2023, amid a
dispute between Erbil and Baghdad....... over oil
sales profits.
___________________________________
US Navy struck by Yemen: USS Truman
disasters ------- expose combat strain
December 5th, 11:33am
(PressTV)
The US Navy has conducted an investigation into four incidents
involving the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group during
its deployment to the waters off Yemen, saying stress was
a key factor behind the naval mishaps.
The investigation, whose results were released on Thursday,
covered incidents between December 2024 and May 2025
that involved the loss of three fighter jets in the Red Sea
and a collision between the Truman and a merchant
vessel near Port Said, Egypt.
The four incidents cost the Navy more than $100 million in three
lost F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft, damage to the aircraft carrier,
as well as injuries to multiple sailors.
The probe found that the Truman was not only beset by Yemeni
missile and drone attacks that stressed its crew but also other
operational demands............. that put pressure on the sleep-
deprived personnel.
The pace of Yemen’s retaliatory operations exhausted the US
sailors, it added, revealing that some of the critical systems
and personnel aboard the carrier strike group ....were not
thoroughly prepared for undertaking a combat mission.
Sailors on the Truman told investigators in February that
they felt the strain of “a pressurized schedule and a
culture of ‘just get it done.’”
Bradley Martin, a senior policy researcher at RAND research
organization, described the mishaps with the Truman as a
“wake-up call” for the US Navy about the demands of
battle and the dangers of overextending ships and
their crew.
“The clear message from this deployment is that the Navy is
not ready to deal with the reality of extended combat,” he
said, noting that the Truman “was obviously at a point
where it was running at a ragged edge.”
Martin also said that the level of air threat that was coming
from Yemen “was enough to be stressing” .....resulting in
“a lot of brittleness in the readiness and preparation.”
The Yemeni Armed Forces began a pro-Palestine campaign,
attacking Israeli-linked ships as well as striking targets in
the occupied territories in November 2023, a month
after the Zionist regime unleashed its genocide
in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Israel and the US have carried out rounds of
deadly airstrikes across Yemen in flagrant breach of
international law and the UN Charter.
The United States ramped up its illegal aggression against
Yemen by deploying aircraft carriers to the region in a bid
to dissuade the country from carrying out retaliatory
anti-Israel strikes.
In May, the United States and Yemen agreed to a ceasefire
brokered by Oman, after the repeated bombing of Yemeni
cities by Washington and its allies and continued Yemeni
retaliatory strikes on US forces in the region.
__________________________________________
IRGC Navy launches ballistic,
cruise missile - in major drill
December 5th, 10:52am
(PressTV)
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has launched
ballistic and cruise missiles from inland sites during the second
phase of a major military drill, striking predetermined targets in
the Sea of Oman with high precision.
Various cruise missiles — Qadr 110, Qadr 380, Qadir — as well
as the ballistic missile 303 were launched simultaneously
from multiple points deep inside the country during the
new phase of the IRGC Navy’s “Eghtedar”
(authority) exercise on Friday.
All designated targets in the Sea of Oman
were struck with high precision.
At the same time, participating drone systems carried out
successful attacks against simulated enemy bases,
destroying the intended targets.
In another part of the exercise, air defense systems deployed
on IRGC vessels conducted intensive drills against hostile
aerial targets — targets that, according to the exercise
scenario, were attempting to attack Iran’s fast boats
and coastal areas.
The endurance of combat systems and the evaluation of
capabilities to counter enemy electronic warfare -- are
among the main focuses of the large-scale exercise,
which began on Thursday.
On the first day of the event, the naval units conveyed their firm
message by issuing warnings to US ships present in the region.
The exercise, codenamed Shahid Mohammad Nazeri, takes place
across the Persian Gulf, the Nazeat maritime zone – Abu Musa,
Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Siri islands, the Strait of
Hormuz, as well as the Sea of Oman.
The IRGC Navy has kicked off a large-scale exercise in the
Persian Gulf, showing advanced defensive and offensive
capabilities enhanced by artificial intelligence.
Advanced air defense systems, including Nawab, Majid,
and Misag,h were also deployed in electronic warfare
conditions on the first day.
Using artificial intelligence, these systems were able to identify
flying and naval targets in a fraction of the time and hit them
with high accuracy.
Nazeri was the commander of the elite commando units of the IRGC
Navy. He is widely recognized in Iran for his direct involvement in
the capture of 10 US sailors – nine men and one woman – who
wandered into Iran’s territorial waters on January 12, 2016.
The drill conveys a dual message: peace and friendship to
neighbouring countries, and a clear warning to enemies
that any miscalculation will face a decisive response.
Iranian naval forces frequently conduct large-scale drills in
the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, demonstrating
its capabilities and signaling deterrence against
foreign powers.
_______________________________________
Israeli Occupation ---- Carries out
Incursion, Shells Southern Syria
December 5th, 10:28am
(al Manar)
On Friday, the Israeli occupation army carried out a new
ground incursion into a Syrian village in Quneitra
countryside amid daily violations of the
country’s sovereignty.
Syria’s SANA news agency reported that six Israeli vehicles,
including three Humvees, two white Hilux trucks and a
black van, advanced toward the village of Saida
Al-Hanout in the southern area of
Quneitra countryside.
The Israeli occupation army carried out similar move on Thursday,
when a three-vehicle Israeli patrol advanced into the towns
of Samdaniya Al-Sharqiya and Al-Ajraf in the northern
Quneitra countryside.
Israeli forces set up a temporary military checkpoint between
the towns near a demolished water tank in the area,
according to Syrian media.
Meanwhile on Thursday night, Israeli artillery also fired
four shells on the outskirts of Koya town in the
western Daraa countryside in
southwestern Syria.
The Israeli occupation continues to violate the 1974
Disengagement Agreement with Syria ------ through
expanding its incursions into the countryside of
Quneitra and Daraa and by targeting civilians.
Earlier last week (on November 28), Israeli occupation forces
attacked the town of Beit Jinn in the Damascus suburbs by
helicopters and drones after the Syrian regime’s forces
entered the town, killing at least 13 Syrians and
injuring two dozen others.
Having been engaged in a two-hour fierce exchange of fire, the
Israeli soldiers were forced to withdraw from Beit Jinn and
reposition on the hill of Butt Al-Warda on the outskirts
of the town.
The Zionist entity has conducted repeated acts of aggression
across Syrian territory after the collapse of former president
Bashar Al-Assad’s government last year. Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his forces
to push deeper into Syrian territory and seize
several strategic locations.
Instead of resistance to the ongoing Israeli military operations, the
HTS-led regime’s lack of action and its normalization overtures to
Tel Aviv appear to have given the Zionist entity greater leeway to
expand its occupation and increase the intensity of its airstrikes.
Foreign-backed militants, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — a
group that was previously affiliated with the al-Qaeda terrorist
group — took control of Damascus and declared an end to
Assad’s rule ....last December.
Source: Syrian media (Edited
and translated by Al-Manar)
__________________________________________
Netanyahu begs Trump for ‘more’ help
for pardon amid corruption case
December 5th, 9:30am
(PressTV)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly
pleaded with US President Donald Trump for “more” help
to receive a pardon from the regime’s president over
corruption charges against him and his family
at Israeli courts.
The Virginia-based news website Axios cited two unnamed US
officials and an Israeli one as saying that Natanyahu made
the request during a lengthy phone conversation with
Trump on Monday as the two discussed the Israeli
premier’s ongoing corruption trials as well as
Tel Aviv’s aggression on Gaza and Syria.
“Trump told Netanyahu he thinks the pardon will work out
but didn't commit to any further steps,” Axios wrote,
citing a US official.
“Netanyahu wants Trump to do more, but the president
has done all he can do,” a second US official added.
During the call, Trump allegedly told Netanyahu he should
be “a better partner” in his relationship with Syria.. under
former al-Qaeda and Daesh commander Abu Muhammad
al-Jolani.
Trump also told Netanyahu to “take it easy” in Syria
after Israeli strikes killed 13 people in the village
of Beit Jinn, earlier this month.
“The president told Netanyahu, that the new leadership in Syria
is trying to make it a better place,” one of the US officials said.
Last month, the US president sent an official letter to his Israeli
counterpart, Isaac Herzog, and called on him to issue a pardon
for Netanyahu.
On Sunday, Netanyahu's lawyer sent an official letter
and 111 pages of documents to Herzog ---- formally
requesting a pardon.
The Israeli prime minister claims he needs a pardon to lead
Israel's ongoing wars in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, with
Herzog saying he is reviewing Netanyahu's request,
but the process of reaching a decision could take
two months.
Israel’s opposition politicians argue that any pardon should
depend on Netanyahu retiring from politics and admitting
guilt, while others insist he must call elections, due by
October 2026, before seeking a pardon.
On Wednesday, about 400 retired Israeli police officers, including
ex-commissioners and deputy commissioners, urged Herzog to
reject Netanyahu’s request for a pardon in corruption cases,
stressing that his request contains “not even a hint of
admission of guilt,” making it unacceptable.
According to a new survey by Israeli media --- a majority of Israeli
settlers oppose granting Netanyahu a presidential pardon in
his criminal trial - without an admission of guilt - or an
expression of remorse.
The poll, conducted for Zman Yisrael, The Times of Israel’s
Hebrew-language sister site, showed that in response to
the question, “Do you support or oppose Netanyahu’s
request for a presidential pardon without admitting
guilt or expressing remorse?” 53.2% said they
oppose it, while 42.4% said they support it.
The survey was conducted on December 3–4, and included 500
Jewish and Arab respondents with a margin of error of 4.4%.
Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, was indicted in
2019 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust -- following
extensive investigations.
His trial began in 2020, marking him as the first sitting Israeli prime
minister to testify as a criminal defendant in the regime's history.
He faces three separate corruption cases.
The Israeli premier - also faces charges of war crimes and crimes
against humanity --- with the International Criminal Court issuing
arrest warrants for him and former war minister Yoav Gallant in
November 2024, over atrocities in Gaza, where over 70,000
people, mostly women and children, have been killed
since October 2023.
_________________________________
Yasser Abu Shabab’s destiny is
the inevitable fate of every
traitor: Hamas
December 5th, 8:27am
(PressTV)
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has warned that
the murder of Israeli collaborator and Daesh-linked leader
Yasser Abu Shabab is the inevitable fate of every person
who chooses to betray their people and homeland and
cooperate with the occupying Israeli regime.
The Israeli army’s radio announced on Thursday that
Abu Shabab was killed by an unidentified armed
group in Rafah in southern Gaza, an area
currently under full Israeli control.
In a statement issued later in the day, Hamas stated that the
Israeli regime has failed to protect its agents, emphasizing
that the fate of anyone who tampers with the security of
his people and serves their enemy is -- “to fall into the
dustbin of history and lose any respect or status.”
The movement pointed to the importance of unity among
the Palestinian people to thwart Israeli plots, praising
the families, tribes and clans ----- that disavowed
Abu Shabab and his accomplices.
Hamas said criminal acts committed by Abu Shabab and his
group in coordination with the Israeli military “constituted
a blatant departure from the national and social identity”
and have nothing to do with the Palestinian people’s
values and traditions.
This isolated group “represents only itself”, it stressed.
Hamas noted ---- that Israel’s use of local militias reflected
its “helplessness in the face of the Palestinian people’s
steadfastness and their brave resistance”.
Abu Shabab emerged during the two-year genocidal war as the
head of the so-called Popular Forces, looting aid and killing or
kidnapping Palestinian civilians and Hamas fighters as well
as collaborating with Israeli forces.
Abu Shabab’s Popular Forces has faced widespread condemnation
from Palestinian factions, who slammed the group as “traitorous”
and linked it to both Israel and Daesh.
The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously
acknowledged that Abu Shabab’s gang was armed by Israel.
A Palestinian source told Kan News last month - that
associates of Abu Shabab had even participated
in meetings with senior US officials.
Israel launched a genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, killing
more than 70,000 Palestinians and destroying large swathes of
the territory, locally ...displacing almost all of the population.
____________________________________
Israel -- conducts violent airstrikes
on Lebanon after first direct talks
in decades
December 5th, 8:05am
(PresTV)
Israel has carried out a new round of violent aerial assaults
on southern Lebanon, a day after the two sides held their
first direct talks in decades.
Lebanese media reported on Thursday that Israeli warplanes
--- targeted civilian and residential buildings in the towns of
Mjadel and Mahrouna, both located in South Governorate
---- as well as the towns of Baraachit and Jbaa, in
Nabatieh Governorate.
No casualties have been reported from the Israeli strikes,
which destroyed houses in densely populated areas..
and displaced a large number of Lebanese people.
Shortly before the attacks, the Israeli military’s Arabic
spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation
warnings for residents of the four towns
on social media.
The Israeli military claimed in a statement - that it had “struck
several weapon storage facilities” belonging to the Hezbollah
resistance movement.
The attacks are the latest violations of the ceasefire agreement
between Israel and Hezbollah, which took effect in November
2024 following a conflict sparked by the Tel Aviv regime’s
genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.
Israel was forced to accept the truce with Hezbollah after
suffering heavy losses on the battlefield and failing to
achieve its goals, despite killing over 4,000 people
in Lebanon.
On Wednesday, Lebanese and Israeli representatives held
their first direct talks in decades. The meeting, which
took place in the southern Lebanese town of
Naqoura, was part of the US-led ceasefire
monitoring committee.
Lebanon appointed former ambassador to Washington,
Simon Karam, as its civilian representative. Karam
reportedly met with Israeli security official Uri
Resnick during the session.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced that the
meeting “paved the way for upcoming sessions”
that will begin on December 19.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said
Beirut was "far" from diplomatic normalization or
economic ties with Tel Aviv and that the talks
were focused on "defusing tension".
Lebanon's priorities are the cessation of hostilities, the
release of Lebanese detainees held by Israel ---- and
Israel's full withdrawal from its territory, he added.
Salam also emphasized that Lebanon is still committed to
the 2002 so-called Arab Peace Initiative that conditions
the normalization of relations with the occupying
regime, on the establishment of a sovereign
Palestinian state.
Meanwhile, Lebanese news channel NBN reported
on Thursday, that the talks were held indirectly.
“Lebanon is not considering normalization -- or
signing a peace agreement,” added the report.
The Hezbollah resistance movement rejects possible
negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, warning
that such dialogue only serves the political and
strategic objectives of the occupying regime
and its supporters.
Last month, Hezbollah rejected any direct negotiations
with Israel ---- amid heavy US pressure on Lebanon to
enter into such a dialogue.
The “negotiation traps”, will “only grant further gains to
the Israeli enemy,” Hezbollah said ---- in an open letter
sent to the Lebanese government.
____________________________________
Iraqi government denies listing
Hezbollah, Ansarallah as
terrorist group
December 5th, 7:26am
by Nawar Faeq
Press TV, Baghdad
Iraq has launched an urgent investigation after Lebanon’s
Hezbollah and Yemen’s Ansarallah resistance groups
mistakenly appeared on its funds-freeze list for
terrorism, the publication of which, Prime
Minister Mohammed Shia’ al Sudani
says has inaccurate language &
does not reflect state policy.
________________________________________
Trump set to unveil Gaza
governance plan before
Christmas: Report
December 5th, 3am
(PressTV)
US President Donald Trump is preparing to announce a sweeping
new governance structure for Gaza, including a personally led
so-called "Board of Peace," as part of the second phase of
the US-brokered ceasefire deal, according to US officials
and a Western source involved in the talks.
The rollout, expected before the Christmas holiday break, aims to
facilitate further Israeli withdrawals -- and establish international
oversight to stabilize the Gaza Strip, Axios reported on Thursday.
The initiative builds on a US-led plan first outlined in September
2025, which received UN Security Council endorsement last
month - for an associated international stabilization force.
"All of the different elements are pretty well-advanced. It's all
moving ahead, and the aim is to announce it before people
break for the holidays," the Western source told Axios.
Under the proposed Phase Two, Israel would withdraw from
additional areas of Gaza, allowing for the deployment of an
International Stabilization Force (ISF) into Palestinian
territories currently under Israeli control.
The ISF, authorized by a UN Security Council resolution
in November, would operate under a unified command
acceptable to the new governing body and
coordinate with the Palestinian
Technocratic Government,
Israel, and Egypt.
Potential troop contributors include Indonesia, Azerbaijan,
Egypt, and Türkiye, although their formal commitments...
remain unconfirmed.
The force's mandate, set for at least two years, also emphasizes
demilitarizing Gaza by overseeing the destruction of what it
calls offensive infrastructure and the decommissioning of
weapons from Palestinian resistance groups like Hamas
and Islamic Jihad.
Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad rejected the UN Security Council
resolution, arguing that it imposes international guardianship,
does not address Palestinian rights, and aims to disarm
the resistance movements.
Hamas stated the resolution does not meet the political and
humanitarian demands and rights of the Palestinian people.
The movement stressed that any international force must be
deployed only at Gaza’s borders to monitor the ceasefire
under UN supervision.
The Gaza Strip’s Hamas resistance movement rules out
the deployment of any foreign force to Gaza that would
effectively serve as a substitute for the Israeli military.
Netanyahu has previously endorsed the peace framework,
which includes phased Israeli withdrawals contingent on
security conditions.
At the apex of the new structure sits the so-called Board
of Peace, chaired by Trump and comprising about 10
leaders from Arab and Western nations to provide
transitional oversight.
Supporting it is the International Executive Board, featuring
former British prime minister Tony Blair, Trump advisers
Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, and senior officials
from Board of Peace member countries.
Beneath this lies the Palestinian Technocratic Government,
a non-partisan cabinet of 12–15 experts with backgrounds
in management and business.
US officials say Washington is on the verge of securing buy-in
from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and regional
governments...... for the final slate.
The entire framework requires UN Security
Council approval.... to take effect.
Critics note that despite its insistence on disempowering
the resistance, the Trump proposal refuses to address
such main issues as the Israeli occupation,
accountability, and Palestinian rights,
such as the right to compensation.
_____________________________________
Iran marked Intl. Day against Unilateral
Coercive Measures, calls US sanctions
'crimes against humanity'
December 5th, 2:09am
(PressTV)
Iran strongly condemned US-imposed unilateral sanctions on
the occasion of the newly established International Day
against Unilateral Coercive Measures, describing
them as “illegal, inhuman - and tantamount
to crimes against humanity.”
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Ministry
spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei highlighted the significance of
December 4, which the United Nations General Assembly
designated earlier this year as the International Day
against Unilateral Coercive Measures --- through
resolution 79/293.
“The date coincides with the adoption of the Declaration on the
Right to Development on 4 December 1986 (UNGA resolution
41/128),” Baghaei noted.
He stated that unilateral coercive measures – primarily economic,
financial, and banking sanctions imposed without UN Security
Council approval – are systematically violating core human
rights, including the rights to life, health, education,
and development.
By deliberately targeting the lives and well-being of entire
populations, these measures constitute crimes against
humanity, the spokesman declared, adding that “the
United States must be held accountable for
committing such crimes through its illegal
and inhuman sanctions --- against the
peoples of developing countries,
including Iran.”
The United States, has maintained extensive illegal sanctions
on Iran for decades, citing unfounded concerns over Tehran’s
peaceful nuclear program.
The United States under President Donald Trump reinstated
harsh sanctions on Iran after unilaterally walking out of the
2015 nuclear deal in May 2018 ------- despite Iran’s full
compliance with the terms of the agreement.
The sanctions have choked up the financial channels that
could be used for providing Iran with essential medicine,
material, or medical equipment.
Although Washington and its Western allies claim that
humanitarian goods were exempted from sanctions,
tens of thousands of patients in Iran have, over
the years, died or developed critical ailments
due to the unavailability of essential drugs.
Iranian officials have consistently argued that these measures
collectively punish ordinary citizens and impede the country’s
socioeconomic development.
The new international day was formally established by the UN
General Assembly in June 2025, reflecting growing calls from
the Non-Aligned Movement and several developing nations
to address what they describe ------ as the harmful
humanitarian impact of unilateral sanctions.
Iranian authorities used the occasion to reiterate their long-
standing position.... that such measures contravene
international law and the UN Charter, and called
on the international community to strengthen
efforts to eliminate them.
In July 2024, the Tehran Legal Court of International Relations
ruled that the US government and its officials must pay
$6.785 billion in material, moral, and punitive
damages to plaintiffs representing Iran’s
EB patients.
The ruling was made after 295 Iranian EB patients and family
members lodged lawsuits in protest at the US-imposed
sanctions that had hampered the import of much-
needed pharmaceuticals and wound dressings
for those suffering from the rare skin disease.
