Diplomatic Correspondent @i24NEWS_He | Covering Israel, Iran, U.S. Middle East policy & regional diplomacy | Former CNN, RTL, Israel MFA | 🇮🇱
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I can also report that Tony Blair is scheduled to meet with Gadi Eisenkot tomorrow for an introductory meeting.
The series of meetings comes after Board of Peace Director Nickolay Mladenov also held a series of meetings in Israel on Monday.
🚨 My report: Gaza roadmap back on the table.
Board of Peace senior official Tony Blair met today with both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
The Board is seeking to advance the deployment of the International Stabilization Force and the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic government under the Gaza roadmap.
🚨 My report: Gaza roadmap back on the table.
Board of Peace senior official Tony Blair met today with both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
The Board is seeking to advance the deployment of the International Stabilization Force and the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic government under the Gaza roadmap.
The Change Bloc led by Gadi Eisnkot wants to form a Zionist government with Mansour Abbas, still considered the most moderate figure in Ra’am.
Yet Abbas says he cannot even call Hamas a terrorist organization, claiming he fears for his family’s safety.
How can someone who is afraid to say this basic truth be trusted with sensitive security decisions involving terrorist organizations?
If he fears Hamas for speaking the obvious, how will be able to be part of a government fighting a war against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran?
A very telling moment during President Herzog’s consultations with Mansour Abbas, a potential kingmaker in the formation of Israel’s next government:
Herzog: “Are you calling for Hamas to disarm?”
Abbas: “I’ve said that. Our vision is reconciliation and peace. A Palestinian state alongside an independent, sovereign State of Israel.”
President’s Office Director-General: “Why not say that Hamas is a terrorist organization?”
Abbas: “I have a clear answer, but leave me room to serve as a bridge and protect my family.”
A very telling moment during President Herzog’s consultations with Mansour Abbas, a potential kingmaker in the formation of Israel’s next government:
Herzog: “Are you calling for Hamas to disarm?”
Abbas: “I’ve said that. Our vision is reconciliation and peace. A Palestinian state alongside an independent, sovereign State of Israel.”
President’s Office Director-General: “Why not say that Hamas is a terrorist organization?”
Abbas: “I have a clear answer, but leave me room to serve as a bridge and protect my family.”
🚨 BREAKING | Is a plea deal or even the cancellation of Netanyahu’s trial on the horizon?
In an unusual move, the judges in Netanyahu’s trial are considering inviting Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to meet with them directly to discuss the case.
The proposal would involve the judges themselves holding a direct conversation with the attorney general, potentially behind closed doors, rather than through the usual courtroom proceedings.
Jacques Chen, lawyer for co-defendant Shaul Elovitch, suggested the meeting be held in a closed session.
Judge Shaul Shoham: “The defense may have pushed on an open door, because we had already been considering such a move.”
🇺🇸 MY REPORT: Will the Republican midterm defeat affect Trump’s decision to resume the war with Iran?
A senior Israeli official tells me the Republicans’ crushing midterm defeat does not change the President’s willingness to act.
"The real constraint", he says, "is prolonged war and extraordinary mobilization would require a congressional vote.
But the President is not there yet.”
🚨 MY REPORT: Israel prepares for a possible surprise Iranian attack as Trump weighs resuming the war
Israel’s high security alert remains unchanged since before last week’s elections, with no significant changes to operational preparations.
A senior Israeli security official tells me the alert is also aimed at a possible preemptive Iranian strike:
“If they feel we are about to attack and try to surprise them. The Iranians are in a difficult position. They don’t know when or whether the US decision will come, but they don’t want to be caught off guard for a third time.”
🚨 VP Vance cites a pollster he describes as “one of the smartest people I know in politics,” who was asked what would bring back Trump’s 2024 voters who are now angry with the President and have switched to voting Democrat.
The top four answers Vance chose to highlight:
1. End the war
2. Focus on the cost of living and inflation
3. Put America First
4. Change America’s relationship with Israel
One of the things the data analysts on our side obsessed over was "composition"—whether the electorate looked close enough to 2024 for Republicans to win. And despite polls that showed a Democrat blowout, the data kept on telling us the same story: in some states turnout was merely OK, in other states it was downright amazing, and in no state was it catastrophic. There was a genuine sense of optimism on our team: our people were showing up.
So, I asked the smartest data guy I know, does that mean we're going to shock the world? "No," he told me. "We might do better than the polls suggest. But the data is telling us that a lot of Trump/Vance 2024 voters are pissed and planning to vote for the other guys. Our voters are turning out, but they may not vote for us."
Well, that looks prophetic now. Our voters did show up. In Florida, for example, the electorate was 9 points more Republican than Democrat, just a couple points worse than 2024. Undoubtedly there were places we could have done better on turnout. But the main problem is not turnout. The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump/Vance in 2024 voted for Democrats in 2026.
There will be a lot of infighting and arguing over what happened and why that is. One of the pollsters I really respect told me that our economic messaging wasn’t sharp enough down the stretch. I’m sure that’s true.
But the real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone.
Another pollster—one of the smartest people I know in politics, told me yesterday we’d lose the generic ballot by 13 points. I felt negative going into Tuesday, but even I was shocked by this. In his polling, he saw that a lot of Trump 2024 voters were angry and planning to vote for Democrats. He asked those voters who had abandoned us what would cause them to come back on our team. The top four answers, accounting for nearly all of the responses were:
1) End the war
2) Focus on cost of living/inflation
3) Put America First
4) Change our relationship to Israel
Our voters showed up. And the above four reasons are why many of them voted for Democrats. This is according to a pollster who nailed the results. While many spent Monday attacking Rachel Campos Duffy for calling for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, it turns out her political advice was sound. (She’s also a great person.)
In the next few months, there's going to be a lot of gaslighting. Expect to hear any number of establishment politicians say the solution to our woes is amnesty. I'm open to the idea that we should change enforcement—by focusing more on businesses that hire illegal labor, for instance. But anyone pushing amnesty is lying to you.
The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night.
If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest.
But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there.
I remain hopeful about our country. To the people who are pissed off and want to say, “I told you so”: you’re right, you did tell us so. Take that energy into electing Republicans who share your worldview. To the people who are just pissed at the results, you should be. Let’s take that anger and get back to the work of saving our country.
🚨EXPOSED: Hamas top commander Deif disappeared from radar hours before Oct. 7. Israel still did not prepare for war.
Israeli censorship authorities have cleared for publication additional warning signs identified by Israeli security forces on the night before Oct. 7, 2023, which still failed to convince decision-makers to prepare for an attack.
During the night of Oct. 6-7, a significant indicator emerged: Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif had disappeared from radar and could no longer be located.
Later that same night, it emerged that Deif had activated an emergency facility and was staying there.
The IDF says it was not certain that the individual identified entering the facility was Deif himself, and therefore did not strike.
The information reached the Southern Command chief, who concluded during a 3 a.m. assessment:
“Nukhba is in routine. This is still not a launch into war.”
🚨 SHIN BET WARNING: FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN ISRAEL’S ELECTION MAY INVOLVE THOUSANDS
In a briefing to the Central Elections Committee, the Shin Bet said intelligence points to widespread flows of large sums of money into Israel from foreign countries, originating from concealed and potentially hostile interests, aimed at advancing foreign influence.
The phenomenon may involve thousands of people, potentially more.
Further intelligence gathering and investigations are needed to establish its full scope with a high degree of certainty.
🚨 BREAKING: Arab MK to be questioned on the foreign interference Into Israeli elections
@avishaigrinzaig reveals Shin Bet chief David Zini is demanding that Israel’s Attorney General authorize the questioning under caution of four senior Arab political figures:
• A senior MK whose identity cannot yet be disclosed, with significant evidence reportedly agreed upon across the board
• Ahmad Tibi, chairman of Ta’al
• Mansour Abbas, chairman of Ra’am
• Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of Balad
The AG requested evidence against the lawmakers before granting approval. So far, the Shin Bet has provided material only regarding the unnamed MK.
A joint Shin Bet–police investigative team was agreed upon. However, two days later, the Shin Bet has yet to transfer the materials to police, and the investigation has not begun.
🚨 NYT reports Israel has shared intel with the US asserting that Iran is considering the use of chemical weapons against its adversaries.
“Information met with alarm by some American officials and deep skepticism by others, according to U.S. and regional officials.”
גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent retweeted
Basic facts on this misunderstood issue:
Obama-era MOU provides $3.3B annually in military financing plus $500M for missile defense.
Nearly all of these funds must be spent on purchases from from US industry, supporting US jobs.
The total is less than one-tenth of one percent of federal spending annually.
For scale, annual federal spending on public schools is about $115B; on health care about $1.8T.
Combined military financing and economic assistance to 🇯🇴, 🇪🇬, 🇱🇧 is larger than 🇮🇱's MOU.
Phasing out the MOU early is a decision for the President and Congress.
It may be time to do so but the debate should start with accurate facts and figures.
Not bananas.
🚨🇺🇸🇮🇱 US official tells me on on Trump’s decision to cut off aid to Israel at the end of the year: “My understanding is that be it is a congressional appropriation, Congress would have to agree at some point to either cancel or reshape into something else.”
@Mike_Wagenheim adds the MOU runs through FY 28. Congress still needs to annually approve the mechanisms that trigger the funding. It’s not automatic, and amendments can and often are offered. But the key is that it’s up to Congress.
If Netanyahu says loud and clear that he wants it immediately cut off, that would have some major sway. But he has said nothing of the sort.
🚨 President Trump on stopping the aid to Israel: “I have made a deal that we give Israel $4 billion a year and we made a deal months ago that we’re stopping because they become a very successful country they don’t need it.
We won’t be paying anymore Israel so it’s just a waste of thing because we’ve already agreed that by the end of this year we won’t be paying Israel. We will help Israel if they need it you know they’ve been a great ally and we’ve been the greatest of all the many many countries.”
🚨BREAKING: Iran says no to US proposal
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei:
“The U.S. response to Iran’s rights and demands was not satisfactory. The United States must fully and explicitly address and comply with Iran’s seven conditions. Only then will the Strait of Hormuz be reopened.”
🚨My report: Israeli intelligence assessment: No change in Iran’s intentions in the talks. No real willingness to give up its nuclear ambitions or regional influence - the chances of a deal remain low.
While Qatari-led talks continue without any real breakthrough, and amid ongoing Iranian threats of a harsh response, Israeli security officials assess that Tehran has no genuine intention to compromise and is not close to a breaking point - even under the current threat of a renewed strike.
Israel sees the situation as closer to war than to a deal. No meaningful concessions have been identified on the core issues: nuclear program, missiles, or Hormuz. At the same time, Iran is using the time to partially rebuild its capabilities, including missile production, which was only partially damaged.
Israel is sharing these assessments with its U.S. counterparts. According to a knowledgeable source, Vice President Vance still believes there is value and a chance in the talks. Other U.S. officials, however, also assess that the negotiations have little prospect of success.
President Trump, as we understand it, has not yet decided on another strike - but he recognizes that the current regime will likely need another significant blow before it agrees to a meaningfully different position in any future negotiations. Israel, of course, continues to push for the fall of the regime itself.
An Israeli source said this evening: Alongside the diplomatic clock that is already running, tomorrow the operational clock also begins - with the necessary preparations for action.
After Trump's announcement on stopping aid to Israel at the end of the year, so far no response from officials in Jerusalem about whether they were informed in advance.
Here's a remind of Netanyahu's statements on the issue in recent months:
In a January 2026 *Economist* interview, he said he wants to taper U.S. military aid to **zero within 10 years**:
“I want to taper off the military aid within the next 10 years… Yes [to zero]. It’s already in the works.”
In May (CBS), he repeated: he wants to “draw down to zero” the financial support and “start now.”
In his October 18, 2026 national security doctrine presentation, he stressed **“maximum independence in munitions”** and warned that in two years a U.S. president “very hostile to Israel” could take office - requiring other alliances - while linking a major defense budget increase to reducing dependence on American aid.
🚨 President Trump on stopping the aid to Israel: “I have made a deal that we give Israel $4 billion a year and we made a deal months ago that we’re stopping because they become a very successful country they don’t need it.
We won’t be paying anymore Israel so it’s just a waste of thing because we’ve already agreed that by the end of this year we won’t be paying Israel. We will help Israel if they need it you know they’ve been a great ally and we’ve been the greatest of all the many many countries.”
🚨 President Trump on stopping the aid to Israel: “I have made a deal that we give Israel $4 billion a year and we made a deal months ago that we’re stopping because they become a very successful country they don’t need it.
We won’t be paying anymore Israel so it’s just a waste of thing because we’ve already agreed that by the end of this year we won’t be paying Israel. We will help Israel if they need it you know they’ve been a great ally and we’ve been the greatest of all the many many countries.”
On the road to an inevitable armed confrontation?
Yesterday, we reported on Israel’s intelligence assessment that the chances of reaching an agreement with Iran were slim. Given what is emerging today, we were cautious in our wording.
Today’s developments paint an even more alarming picture:
• Iran’s demands include ending the war on all fronts, lifting all sanctions, compensation, frozen assets, international guarantees against future attacks, and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
• Al-Hadath, citing sources, reports that Iranian assessments now consider a return to war the most likely scenario.
• An Iranian newspaper published a map of Europe marked with targets and the message: “We’ll see what happens.”
• A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran and Washington remain far from a deal, warning that Iran is prepared to respond forcefully to U.S. attacks, both inside and outside the region.
🚨My report: Israeli intelligence assessment: No change in Iran’s intentions in the talks. No real willingness to give up its nuclear ambitions or regional influence - the chances of a deal remain low.
While Qatari-led talks continue without any real breakthrough, and amid ongoing Iranian threats of a harsh response, Israeli security officials assess that Tehran has no genuine intention to compromise and is not close to a breaking point - even under the current threat of a renewed strike.
Israel sees the situation as closer to war than to a deal. No meaningful concessions have been identified on the core issues: nuclear program, missiles, or Hormuz. At the same time, Iran is using the time to partially rebuild its capabilities, including missile production, which was only partially damaged.
Israel is sharing these assessments with its U.S. counterparts. According to a knowledgeable source, Vice President Vance still believes there is value and a chance in the talks. Other U.S. officials, however, also assess that the negotiations have little prospect of success.
President Trump, as we understand it, has not yet decided on another strike - but he recognizes that the current regime will likely need another significant blow before it agrees to a meaningfully different position in any future negotiations. Israel, of course, continues to push for the fall of the regime itself.
An Israeli source said this evening: Alongside the diplomatic clock that is already running, tomorrow the operational clock also begins - with the necessary preparations for action.
