Podcasts about unifil

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Hamas has begun amassing advanced weapons and stockpiling them abroad in hopes of smuggling them into Gaza in the future, according to a report on Sunday on KAN television. Fabian brings in background pointing to the likelihood of the report's veracity. We then hear about what is happening on the ground in Gaza, get an update on the Hamas gunmen trapped in tunnels in the Israeli-held area, and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir's warning that he is readying the military to retake parts of Hamas-controlled Gaza if the 20-point peace plan doesn't move into phase two -- the demilitarization of the terror group. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon reported that the Israeli military fired on its observers from an IDF post inside southern Lebanon yesterday morning, with the military later saying the incident was a result of “misidentification” and that soldiers did not deliberately fire on UN troops. Fabian gives a litany of other near misses between the IDF and UNIFIL and speaks about the IDF's continued strikes on Hezbollah operatives throughout southern Lebanon. Some 50 members of a Hamas network in the Bethlehem area of the West Bank were detained in a series of recent operations. According to the Shin Bet, the suspects’ interrogations revealed that the leaders of the Hamas network recruited and set up terror cells, procured weapons and planned to carry out shootings against Israeli security forces and civilians. We ask Fabian whether he believes IDF operations similar to the evacuations and demolitions in the northern West Bank will be launched. Four residents of East Jerusalem’s Beit Safafa neighborhood have been arrested and will be charged with affiliation to the Islamic State and planning attacks against Jewish Israelis as part of a “great war of the end of days,” the Shin Bet security agency and Israel Police announced Friday. Fabian reminds listeners that there is precedent in Israel of the extreme ideology taking root in Palestinian and Arab Israeli communities. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Amid talk of its disarmament, Hamas said stockpiling advanced weapons abroad UNIFIL troops in Lebanon come under fire from IDF, which says it ‘misidentified’ them Hezbollah operative killed in strike on car near Tyre — IDF Israel detains 50 members of Hamas network in West Bank said to be planning attacks 4 East Jerusalem Palestinians held for Islamic State ties, prepping for ‘end of days’ war Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Troops of the Nahal Brigade operate in southern Gaza's Rafah, in a handout photo issued on November 1, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nel sud di Gaza, dove la tregua resta parola, gli aerei israeliani colpiscono ancora a est di Gaza City e nei pressi di Khan Yunis: civili feriti, un morto recuperato dalle macerie dei raid dei giorni scorsi. Nel frattempo, nei palazzi della diplomazia, avanza la proposta di una missione internazionale di «stabilizzazione». Nei comunicati si discute di mandati e regole di ingaggio, nei vicoli si continuano a contare i corpi. I corridoi umanitari vengono presentati come prova che «il meccanismo funziona», ma nei campi profughi decine di migliaia di persone vivono sotto la pioggia, senza tende adeguate né rifugi sicuri. Le prime piogge invernali trasformano il fango in acqua nera, aggravano l'emergenza sanitaria, spengono i generatori: la lunga fila di convogli che entra dalla frontiera non cambia l'aritmetica del collasso. A nord, la guerra “in pausa” resta solo nelle dichiarazioni. UNIFIL segnala che un carro armato israeliano ha sparato colpi pesanti a ridosso dei caschi blu lungo la Blue Line, episodio definito «grave violazione». In Cisgiordania un'altra operazione tra Nablus e i villaggi vicini lascia un palestinese ucciso e case devastate, mentre le aggressioni dei coloni proseguono lontano dai riflettori. Sul piano politico, Benjamin Netanyahu ripete che uno Stato palestinese «non sarà consentito», proprio mentre al Consiglio di Sicurezza si discute della futura forza per Gaza. A sud si amministrano tregue parziali, a nord si alzano muri di cemento, al centro si cancella qualsiasi orizzonte di rappresentanza. A Gaza «stabilizzazione» è il nome di un equilibrio costruito sul rumore dei droni. #LaSveglia per La NotiziaDiventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/la-sveglia-di-giulio-cavalli--3269492/support.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Friday Focus. Each Friday, join host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. This week, the duo is joined by military expert John Spencer, chair of War Studies at the Madison Policy Forum and executive director of the Urban Warfare Institute. As of recording time, some 100-200 Hamas terrorists are estimated to be holed up in tunnels in southern Gaza on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line. The US has pressured Israel to allow the terrorists safe passage back to Hamas-held areas of Gaza, though Israel has not agreed to such a solution as of yet. For the first part of our conversation, we plumb the depths of the extensive Hamas tunnel network, speaking about its scope and how the IDF is able to destroy or at least neutralize its many tentacles. In the second half, we speak about where the current ceasefire in Gaza may turn, as reports are circulated about a two-year mandate for an International Security Force that could be implemented to demilitarize Hamas. Spencer gives bad -- and better -- examples of international forces and discusses why UNIFIL, the force deployed in southern Lebanon, was destined to failure. Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: John Spencer (courtesy) / Hamas militants search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City, November 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SHOW 11-10-2025 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1910 gaza THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT THE GAZA "BOARD OF PEACE." FIRST HOUR 9-915 Analysis of the Trump Administration's "Take It or Leave It" Gaza Peace Plan. Bill Roggio and Ambassador Husain Haqqani discuss how the Trump administration proposed a "take it or leave it" Gaza victory plan, including a Board of Peace, international financing, and security. Ambassador Haqqani found the plan vague and a "fantasy," failing to address ground realities like disarming Hamas or the IDF's withdrawal. Bill Roggio insisted that peace is impossible under Hamas, whose charter demands Israel's removal. The vagueness makes it unclear how regional capitals like Cairo and Doha will respond, potentially allowing turmoil to continue. 915-930 Analysis of the Trump Administration's "Take It or Leave It" Gaza Peace Plan. Bill Roggio and Ambassador Husain Haqqani discuss how the Trump administration proposed a "take it or leave it" Gaza victory plan, including a Board of Peace, international financing, and security. Ambassador Haqqani found the plan vague and a "fantasy," failing to address ground realities like disarming Hamas or the IDF's withdrawal. Bill Roggio insisted that peace is impossible under Hamas, whose charter demands Israel's removal. The vagueness makes it unclear how regional capitals like Cairo and Doha will respond, potentially allowing turmoil to continue. 930-945 Hezbollah's Rearmament and Israeli Active Defense Strategy in Lebanon and Gaza Peace Plan. David Daoud discusses how since the Gaza ceasefire, Hezbollah has been rearming, which the deal did not preclude. Israel shifted to "active defense," striking Hezbollah personnel and assets north and south of the Litani River, including in the Beqaa Valley, making no place in Lebanon off-limits. Hezbollah funds its operations through illicit transnational and internal economic channels. The US plan for Gaza aims for international engagement to preclude Hamas's resurgence, potentially relying on an international force and Israeli assistance. 945-1000 Hezbollah's Rearmament and Israeli Active Defense Strategy in Lebanon and Gaza Peace Plan. David Daoud discusses how since the Gaza ceasefire, Hezbollah has been rearming, which the deal did not preclude. Israel shifted to "active defense," striking Hezbollah personnel and assets north and south of the Litani River, including in the Bekaa Valley, making no place in Lebanon off-limits. Hezbollah funds its operations through illicit transnational and internal economic channels. The US plan for Gaza aims for international engagement to preclude Hamas's resurgence, potentially relying on an international force and Israeli assistance. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Geopolitical Shifts: Gaza Peace, Syria's al-Sharaa, and REising Anti-Semitism. Malcolm Hoenlein discusses how the comprehensive US plan for Gaza proposes a transitional Board of Peace and mandates the disarming of Hamas. Hoenlein expressed skepticism regarding al-Sharaa's White House visit, noting his background as an ex-jihadist who ordered massacres of minorities in Syria. While neutralizing Syria would be positive, al-Sharaa has yet to prove himself. There is also rising concern over anti-Semitism in Europe, evidenced by attacks on Israeli sports teams and polls showing sympathy for Hamas. 1015-1030 Geopolitical Shifts: Gaza Peace, Syria's al-Sharaa, and Rising Anti-Semitism. Malcolm Hoenlein discusses how the comprehensive US plan for Gaza proposes a transitional Board of Peace and mandates the disarming of Hamas. Hoenlein expressed skepticism regarding al-Sharaa's White House visit, noting his background as an ex-jihadist who ordered massacres of minorities in Syria. While neutralizing Syria would be positive, al-Sharaa has yet to prove himself. There is also rising concern over anti-Semitism in Europe, evidenced by attacks on Israeli sports teams and polls showing sympathy for Hamas. 1030-1045 Assessing European Reliability in Countering the China Threat to Taiwan. Steve Yates discusses how Europe's reliability in defending Taiwan is questioned, despite the Taiwan Vice President addressing the EU Parliament. Europe has historically lacked a significant defense footprint in East Asia. China exploits the narrative of European colonial history and decline to separate Europe from Taiwan. Although some European leaders prioritize economic opportunity with Beijing, reliable economic partners like Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan offer strong strategic and economic ballast against the risks posed by the People's Republic of China. 1045-1100 China's Censorship Campaign Against Pessimism and Social Discontent. Charles Burton discusses how China initiated a two-month campaign against "pessimism," targeting citizens who criticize the state due to economic failure, unfair housing, or joblessness. The regime ignores serious societal issues, relying on propaganda while profound discontent exists privately. Censorship is counterproductive, leading to false reporting and increasing internal cynicism toward the leadership. With official news censored, people rely on fast-running rumors, which the government attempts to deal with by arresting activists and rumor-mongers. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 Russia's Winter Strikes on Ukrainian Energy and the Battle for Pokrovsk. John Hardie discusses how Russia is escalating its winter campaign against Ukrainian energy infrastructure using a higher percentage of hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles and drones. This aims to break Ukrainian will and create leverage for negotiations. On the front, the battle for Pokrovsk is difficult, with Russians infiltrating the city and disrupting logistics using fiber-optic-controlled FPV drones. Although Ukraine has succeeded in attriting Russian forces there, preserving manpower by avoiding a late withdrawal remains a critical concern. 1115-1130 Russia's Winter Strikes on Ukrainian Energy and the Battle for Pokrovsk. John Hardie discusses how Russia is escalating its winter campaign against Ukrainian energy infrastructure using a higher percentage of hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles and drones. This aims to break Ukrainian will and create leverage for negotiations. On the front, the battle for Pokrovsk is difficult, with Russians infiltrating the city and disrupting logistics using fiber-optic-controlled FPV drones. Although Ukraine has succeeded in attriting Russian forces there, preserving manpower by avoiding a late withdrawal remains a critical concern. 1130-1145 Assessing al-Sharaa's Visit and the Risks of the Gaza Board of Peace Proposal. Edmund Fitton-Brown discusses how the proposed Gaza "Board of Peace" is part of the Trump plan to create active international engagement and prevent a return to Hamas control. The international stabilization force must have "real teeth" to fight subversive elements, unlike the failed UNIFIL mission. Regarding al-Sharaa, the self-named Syrian president and ex-al-Qaeda veteran, the White House visit gives him a chance to stabilize Syria. However, he must be pressured to investigate massacres of Druze and Alawites and hold people accountable (trust but verify). 1145-1200 Assessing al-Sharaa's Visit and the Risks of the Gaza Board of Peace Proposal. Edmund Fitton-Brown discusses how the proposed Gaza "Board of Peace" is part of the Trump plan to create active international engagement and prevent a return to Hamas control. The international stabilization force must have "real teeth" to fight subversive elements, unlike the failed UNIFIL mission. Regarding al-Sharaa, the self-named Syrian president and ex-al-Qaeda veteran, the White House visit gives him a chance to stabilize Syria. However, he must be pressured to investigate massacres of Druze and Alawites and hold people accountable (trust but verify). FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Discussion of al-Sharaa's White House Visit, Syrian Sanctions, and Domestic Stability Issues. Ahmad Sharawi discusses how al-Sharaa (formerly al-Jolani), the self-named president of Syria and former al-Qaeda leader, visited the White House seeking the repeal of Caesar sanctions. The administration hopes he can stabilize Syria, ignoring his history of massacres against minorities like the Alawites and Druze. Critics argue he must address internal stability and remove foreign fighters first, as he is being rewarded for actions already serving his self-interest, such as fighting ISIS and limiting Iran's influence. 1215-1230 Discussion of al-Sharaa's White House Visit, Syrian Sanctions, and Domestic Stability Issues. Ahmad Sharawi discusses how al-Sharaa (formerly al-Jolani), the self-named president of Syria and former al-Qaeda leader, visited the White House seeking the repeal of Caesar sanctions. The administration hopes he can stabilize Syria, ignoring his history of massacres against minorities like the Alawites and Druze. Critics argue he must address internal stability and remove foreign fighters first, as he is being rewarded for actions already serving his self-interest, such as fighting ISIS and limiting Iran's influence. 1230-1245 Climate Change, Indigenous Demands, and Governance Challenges in the Amazon. Ernesto Araújo discusses how indigenous leaders at COP 30 highlighted demands tied to environmental issues in the Amazon, which spans many countries. Poverty drives illegal activities, like logging and mining, even on indigenous lands (14% of Brazilian territory), which are often exploited through bribery and organized crime. While Lula speaks of protecting the Amazon, deforestation and indigenous health figures remain poor. The complex solution requires enforcing existing laws and focusing on establishing law and order to fight pervasive corruption. 1245-100 AM Iran's Nuclear Stalemate, Economic Crisis, and Missile Program Aspirations. Jonathan Schanzer discusses how Iran views the lack of peace or war with Israel as a dangerous stalemate, while aspiring to fire 2,000 ballistic missiles at once in a future conflict. Covert Israeli operations target Iranian missile facilities. Despite sanctions, Iran's oil exports have sharply increased (2.3 million barrels/day) due to lax enforcement, funneling money to regime kleptocrats. Domestic crises like water and power shortages are increasing internal desperation, as the regime prioritizes regional ambitions over the welfare of the average Iranian. | 

Assessing al-Sharaa's Visit and the Risks of the Gaza Board of Peace Proposal. Edmund Fitton-Brown discusses how the proposed Gaza "Board of Peace" is part of the Trump plan to create active international engagement and prevent a return to Hamas control. The international stabilization force must have "real teeth" to fight subversive elements, unlike the failed UNIFIL mission. Regarding al-Sharaa, the self-named Syrian president and ex-al-Qaeda veteran, the White House visit gives him a chance to stabilize Syria. However, he must be pressured to investigate massacres of Druze and Alawites and hold people accountable (trust but verify). 1925 Syria

Assessing al-Sharaa's Visit and the Risks of the Gaza Board of Peace Proposal. Edmund Fitton-Brown discusses how the proposed Gaza "Board of Peace" is part of the Trump plan to create active international engagement and prevent a return to Hamas control. The international stabilization force must have "real teeth" to fight subversive elements, unlike the failed UNIFIL mission. Regarding al-Sharaa, the self-named Syrian president and ex-al-Qaeda veteran, the White House visit gives him a chance to stabilize Syria. However, he must be pressured to investigate massacres of Druze and Alawites and hold people accountable (trust but verify).

UNIFIL's Failure, Hezbollah's Rebuilding, and Syria's Fragmented Future. Edmund Fitton-Brown, Ahmad Sharawi, and Bill Roggio label the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) a "spectacular failure" that allowed Hezbollah's military buildup near the Israeli border. Despite the ceasefire terms requiring demilitarization south of the Litani River, the Lebanese government is stalling. Hezbollah is actively rebuilding its infrastructure, forcing Israel to conduct targeted enforcement actions. They also discuss Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who is seeking international legitimacy, sanctions relief, and partners to counter ISIS, even as his state remains domestically fragmented by regional demands for separation or autonomy. 66

UNIFIL's Failure, Hezbollah's Rebuilding, and Syria's Fragmented Future. Edmund Fitton-Brown, Ahmad Sharawi, and Bill Roggio label the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) a "spectacular failure" that allowed Hezbollah's military buildup near the Israeli border. Despite the ceasefire terms requiring demilitarization south of the Litani River, the Lebanese government is stalling. Hezbollah is actively rebuilding its infrastructure, forcing Israel to conduct targeted enforcement actions. They also discuss Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who is seeking international legitimacy, sanctions relief, and partners to counter ISIS, even as his state remains domestically fragmented by regional demands for separation or autonomy. 1895 BEIRUT

Nagel, Christina www.deutschlandfunk.de, Informationen am Morgen

In this episode of The Winston Marshall Show, I sit down with Haviv Rettig Gur, one of Israel's leading political analysts, for an in-depth breakdown of the Trump peace plan, the end of the Gaza war, and the chaotic aftermath now unfolding inside Gaza.With the hostages returned and the ceasefire in place, Haviv explains how Hamas has re-emerged from the tunnels, executing its rivals and reasserting control — while Israel withdraws under intense global scrutiny. He reveals why the Trump administration's 20-point plan to rebuild Gaza faces collapse, how Qatar and Turkey's support for Hamas is undermining regional stability, and why the international “stabilisation force” may become a new UNIFIL — protecting terrorists rather than disarming them.We discuss Trump's strategic play — leveraging Qatari fear, Turkish ambition, and American power to end the war — and whether this marks a genuine peace or simply the start of another chapter in a long regional conflict.All this — the Trump deal, Hamas's resurgence, Qatar's influence, American troops in Gaza, and the uncertain new world order emerging in the Middle East.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------To see more exclusive content and interviews consider subscribing to my substack here: https://www.winstonmarshall.co.uk/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Substack: https://www.winstonmarshall.co.uk/X: https://twitter.com/mrwinmarshallInsta: https://www.instagram.com/winstonmarshallLinktree: https://linktr.ee/winstonmarshall----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:45 The End of the Gaza War: What's Next?05:22 The Trump Peace Deal Explained09:30 What Happens to Gaza Now?14:10 Why Israel Withdrew — and What It Means18:55 The Return of Hamas: Tunnel Resurgence & Executions24:40 Qatar, Turkey & Hamas's Continued Influence30:20 The Role of the U.S. in Gaza's Future34:55 Can Gaza Be Rebuilt Without Hamas?40:40 What the Trump Administration Got Right and Wrong46:10 Will an International Force Stabilise Gaza or Fail Like UNIFIL?51:05 Media Narratives, Lawfare & Global Pressure on Israel58:30 Haviv's Warning on Iran and the Next War1:04:50 The Psychological Aftermath of October 7th1:10:35 Israel's Strategic Dilemma: Peace or Perpetual Conflict?1:16:40 Final Thoughts & The Path Forward Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hezbollah is under pressure to lay down its arms, as part of a US-backed plan. Lebanon’s government has asked the army to draft a proposal by the end of the year. Facing continued Israeli strikes and the aftermath of the assassination of much of its leadership, including Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah refuses to disarm, calling the effort a trap. With no trust and no guarantees, where will Lebanon go from here? In this episode: Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, and Tracie Hunte, with Manny Panaretos, Phillip Lanos, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, Kisaa Zehra, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

In this episode of the New Lines Countours podcast, Director Caroline Rose sits down with New Lines Senior Fellow Faysal Itani to discuss the potential withdrawal of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL). Together, they discuss the role that UNIFIL has played over the previous decades, the challenges that the interim force faces, and what the Lebanese security landscape may look like going forward.

Reports coming from Lebanon are, in many ways, encouraging – the Lebanese government, it seems, is done with Hezbollah and the wreckage of a once-beautiful and prosperous country. The question is, can the government carry out the mandate to remove Hezbollah, its weapons and its influence and create peaceful relations with Israel? Hussain Abdul-Hussain, research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, walks us through the disparate threads of Lebanese politics – from the comforting and hopeful to the skeptical, cynical, and despairing. A Crumbling but Shifting Status Quo Hussein Abdel-Hussain cautiously celebrated what he called one of the most consequential developments in Lebanon's modern history: the weakening of Hezbollah following the reported assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and what he described as Israel's “crushing” of Hezbollah's operational capabilities. This surprising turn of events has opened what he characterizes as a “window of opportunity” for the Lebanese state to reclaim sovereignty and redefine itself as more neutral and nationally focused. Although Hezbollah and its Shia political partner Amal initially agreed to a cessation of hostilities in late November 2024, they have since moved the goalposts. Specifically, Hezbollah now demands Israeli withdrawal from strategic hilltops before it will even consider discussions on disarmament, thus reverting back to old patterns of negotiation delay and defiance—strategies previously employed by figures like Yasser Arafat. Legal and Political Breakthroughs Despite Hezbollah's resistance, the Lebanese government has achieved a historic milestone. For the first time since 1969, the Cabinet passed a resolution asserting that only state institutions are authorized to bear arms inside Lebanon. This directly challenges Hezbollah's decades-long extralegal military presence. Even more remarkably, the decision was made with Hezbollah-affiliated ministers still in the temporary caretaker government, giving the resolution additional political weight. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have been officially tasked with drafting a plan to disarm Hezbollah—a move that underscores a shift from rhetorical opposition to potential enforcement. A meeting to review the military's disarmament plan is set, though the LAF has indicated that a full disarmament could take 15 months, well beyond the end-of-the-year deadline set by the Cabinet. The Struggle of the Lebanese Armed Forces The Lebanese military, although increasingly seen as the backbone of national unity and sovereignty, faces severe logistical, operational, and financial challenges. Salaries have plunged to poverty levels due to the economic collapse, and the rank-and-file soldiers struggle with basic needs—including fuel and clean drinking water. Many soldiers hold second jobs to survive, and troop numbers are insufficient to handle complex disarmament tasks. While the United States once provided $144 million annually to support the LAF, this aid has intermittently lapsed due to political friction and has recently been replaced by funding from Qatar, which raises concerns about foreign influence. Qatar and Turkey: External Influences and Islamist Ambitions Abdel-Hussain expressed discomfort with growing Qatari—and increasingly Turkish—influence in Lebanon, particularly within the Sunni community in the north and in Beirut. These nations, he warned, are promoting Islamist factions aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood. This power vacuum, created by Saudi Arabia's retreat from Lebanon since 2017, has allowed pro-Qatar and pro-Turkey candidates to gain municipal influence. Worse yet, Turkey is replicating strategies previously demonstrated by Iran—investing in loyalist militias and seeking political hegemony in Syria and Lebanon alike. Abdel-Hussain emphasized that Turkey's intelligence chief-turned-foreign minister Hakan Fidan could become the “new Qassem Soleimani” in terms of aspiring for regional dominance. The Role of the United States: Mixed Messaging, Diplomatic Fumbles The conversation took a critical turn when examining America's diplomacy. Abdel-Hussain strongly criticized US Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barak for bypassing Israel while presenting a policy paper outlining the roadmap to disarm Hezbollah. That paper was approved by the Lebanese cabinet and included commitments from Israel—commitments that Israel had never actually seen or endorsed. This misstep wasted valuable diplomatic capital, undermined credibility, and gave Hezbollah a new talking point. High-level U.S. diplomacy in the region, Abdel-Hussain argued, has become imbalanced and bureaucratically overloaded—with the same officials covering Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. He emphasized the importance of restoring proper diplomatic structure and cautioning against over-centralized decision-making. Hezbollah's Deep Systemic Risk While there are Shia soldiers in the Lebanese army, there is scant evidence of systemic Hezbollah infiltration in the senior ranks, according to Abdel-Hussain. He cited funerals of Shia Lebanese soldiers killed in ammunition depot incidents potentially connected to Hezbollah, emphasizing that the community—especially its younger members—showed signs of divergence from militant loyalty. He dismissed the idea that Hezbollah's weapons are essential for Shia security, explaining that Lebanon's Shia are one-third of the population and not an embattled minority like the Syrian Alawites. The rationale for armed militancy, he said, is increasingly seen as a cover for political control, not existential protection. UNIFIL: An Expired Mandate UNIFIL, the UN force stationed in southern Lebanon since 1978, received sharp criticism. Abdel-Hussain blasted it as ineffective, politically unwieldy, and financially wasteful. He accused the French of prolonging its life to maintain influence and jobs, describing it as a “sacred cow” that enables Hezbollah by acting as a passive buffer while spending over $500 million annually. The recent decision to terminate UNIFIL's mandate was hailed as long overdue, with a final 16-month extension granted as a political compromise with France.  Iran's Declining Influence—But Stay Vigilant While not declaring Iran fully out of the picture, Abdel-Hussain argued that its effectiveness is waning. Much of the infrastructure and political capital Iran built in Lebanon and Syria through Hezbollah and the Assad regime is significantly diminished. However, vigilance is required, lest Hezbollah regroups or Iran seeks to finance a resurgence. Currently, he sees Iran's threat limited mostly to missile capabilities from within its borders or via Yemeni Houthis. France: Their Influence Viewed as Destructive Hussein Abdel-Hussain sharply criticized French involvement in Lebanon, alleging that it has become a source of obstruction and incoherence. The French approach, he argued, is economically motivated, opportunistic, and inconsistent with the best interests of the Lebanese people or with stability in the region. The Final Question: Can Lebanon Become Unitary and Neutral Again? Wrapping up on a cautiously optimistic note, Abdel-Hussain argued that history provides the answer: from 1943 to 1975, Lebanon was a neutral, largely self-governed and pluralistic society that emphasized commerce, leisure, and coexistence. The key to its rehabilitation lies in a return to a small, libertarian-minded state that stays out of regional power struggles. He asserted that, if left alone, the Lebanese people would opt for peace and prosperity. However, foreign intervention—especially from Iran, Turkey, and Qatar—must be firmly resisted, and Hezbollah's grip must weaken to restore national unity. Conclusion There's no hiding the uphill nature of Lebanon's path forward, but for the first time in decades, there may exist a genuine foundation for change. If internal unity can hold—and external pressure can be strategically curtailed—following through on disarming Hezbollah could pave the way for constitutional stability and regional reintegration. Is peace possible? Perhaps not yet—but for Lebanon, neutrality might just be the first great victory. Summary prepared by a LLM. 

Nuovo attacco Israele alla missione Unifil, l'Italia protesta.

Andrea Nicastro parla delle reazioni (nazionali e internazionali) dopo l'attacco di droni contro la Forza di interposizione dell'Onu in Libano, attualmente guidata dall'Italia. Stefano Montefiori presenta il nuovo vertice della coalizione, incentrato sulle garanzie di sicurezza per l'Ucraina in caso di cessate il fuoco. Michela Rovelli spiega la sentenza di un giudice federale Usa che non costringerà il gigante del tech a vendere Chrome.I link di corriere.it:Droni israeliani attaccano i caschi blu dell'Unifil in LibanoI Volonterosi si riuniscono a Parigi: «Pronti ad assumerci le nostre responsabilità, aspettiamo gli Usa»Google non deve vendere Chrome, ma dovrà condividere i dati di ricerca con la concorrenza

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon say Israel has threatened forces

On today's episode: Trump cannot use Alien Enemies Act to deport members of Venezuelan gang, appeals court rules Trump announces that Space Command is moving from Colorado to Alabama Putin meets North Korea's Kim in Beijing Rescuers race to find Afghan quake survivors as death toll passes 1,400 Lorena becomes a hurricane off the western coast of Mexico A suicide bombing near a political rally in southwestern Pakistan kills 13 and wounds 30 More rebukes for prosecutors Grand jurors refuse to indict 2 people accused of threatening Trump. Trump says US strike on vessel in Caribbean targeted Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang, killed 11. Trump says he will order federal intervention in Chicago and Baltimore despite local opposition. Pentagon authorizes up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa confirms she will not run for reelection in 2026. Rudy Giuliani injured in New Hampshire car crash, is out of hospital. Putin says Trump administration is listening to Russia's arguments on Ukraine war. NATO says it is working to counter Russia's GPS jamming after interference with EU leader's plane. Trump’s use of National Guard during Los Angeles immigration protests is illegal, a judge rules. California bill would require parents be notified when immigration enforcement is at school. Houston man charged with murder in shooting of 11-year-old boy after doorbell prank. Red beret-wearing Republican Curtis Sliwa likes his chances in a crowded NYC mayor's race. US stocks sink under the weight of rising pressure from the bond market. Google avoids breakup in search monopoly case, but judge orders other changes in landmark ruling. Kraft Heinz to split a decade after megafood merger. 5 new cast members join 'Saturday Night Live' after high-profile departures. The defunded Corporation for Public Broadcasting will get one of TV's biggest prizes. Anna Wintour taps Chloe Malle as Vogue successor — but she's still in charge. A tennis icon falls short in pursuit of a women’s doubles title at the U.S. Open, top seeds advance to the semifinals in singles action, a multi-time MVP is sidelined by an infection, the defending national champs are back on top in the AP Top 25 college football poll and a Basketball Hall of Famer dies. Handful of college athletes sue NCAA over redshirt rule in case that could cover thousands. Russia launches over 500 drones and missiles at Ukraine as Zelenskyy seeks more support. Israeli drones drop grenades near UN peacekeepers in Lebanon in what UNIFIL calls a serious attack. Rescuers race to find Afghan quake survivors as death toll passes 1,400. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Theme music The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX

(00:01:35) De VN-Veiligheidsraad heeft afgelopen donderdag ingestemd met een laatste verlenging van de vredesmacht UNIFIL. De blauwhelmen verdwijnen uit Zuid- Libanon, die al sinds 1978 aanwezig zijn in de regio. Hoe begon de vredesmissie toen en hoe kan het dat na al die tijd er nu een stop gaat komen? We hebben het erover met militairhistoricus Ben Schoenmaker en UNIFIL-veteraan Bert Kleine Schaars.  (00:22:55) De column van John Jansen van Galen. (00:28:06) Bijna honderd jaar geleden vond in Amerika een duiveluitdrijving plaats op een vrouw. De nieuwe horrorfilm ‘The Ritual' vertelt dit verhaal. We hebben het over de film en de geschiedenis van het exorcisme met Kristof Smeyers, historicus aan de KU Leuven, die werkt aan een boek over exorcisme in Vlaanderen. (00:39:29) Nadia Bouras bespreekt twee historische romans en een serie:  * Washington Black * Neem het vuur mee - Leïla Slimani (vert. Gertrud Maes) * Kookpunt - Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad (00:52:23) Stel – je krijgt een ring cadeau, die tijdens de Indonesische dekolonisatieoorlog door een Balinese koning aan een Nederlandse predikant gegeven werd. Wat moet je daarmee? Met die vraag werd historica Anne-Lot Hoek geconfronteerd. De ring kreeg ze op de boekpresentatie van ‘De strijd om Bali'. In de uitzending vertelt ze over haar zoektocht naar wat te doen met de ring.  (01:10:05) Een podium met een kruk, een glaasje water en een microfoon op een standaard. Een man of vrouw die verhalen vertelt en grappen maakt. Geen typetjes, geen liedjes en geen sketches. In de zaal een klein publiek dat lacht, doodstil blijft of terugpraat. Het is inmiddels een bekend beeld, maar stand-up comedy werd pas in de jaren negentig geïntroduceerd in Nederland. De wortels van deze kale podiumkunst liggen in het Amerika van de drooglegging. Programmamaker Laura Lubbers reist samen met Patrick van den Hanenberg, auteur van het boek Stand up and Fight. 35 jaar stand-up comedy in Nederland van Raoul Heertje tot Sezgin Güleç langs de geschiedenis en ontwikkelingen van stand-up comedy in Amerika en Nederland.  Stemactrice: Hymke de Vries Dank aan: Wouter Monden en de Elektra Podcast Meer info: https://www.vpro.nl/ovt/artikelen/ovt-31-augustus-2025 (https://www.vpro.nl/ovt/artikelen/ovt-31-augustus-2025)

Preview: Lebanon Border. Colleague Sarit Zehavi comments on the planned UN withdrawal of the long disappointing UNIFIL. More later. JORDAN VALLEY

Lebanon: UNIFIL departing, LAF rising. Michael Wagenheim, i24. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_Pres @MHoenlein1 1950

Clotilde Bigot, Freelance Journalist based in Beirut, outlines the reaction in Lebanon to the pending end of the UNIFIL mission in the country.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO EMPOWER JEWISH STUDENTS FACING ANTISEMITISM ON CAMPUS?HEADLINE 1: It's official. France, Britain, and Germany are planning to reimpose sanctions on Iran.HEADLINE 2: UNIFIL's days are officially numbered. HEADLINE 3: Israeli officials issued an arrest warrant for an American who was lobbying for Qatar in the country.--FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with Jacob Baime, CEO of the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC).Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/--Featured FDD Articles:"5 Urgent Tasks for the New National Cyber Director" — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery and Annie Fixler, FDD Insight"A Year of Meming Dangerously: Iranian Influence Operations Targeting Israel Since October 7" — Ari Ben Am, FDD Memo"Qatar's growing footprint in Africa" — Natalie Ecanow, FDD's Long War Journal

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe United States this week pulled the plug on UNIFIL, the decades-old UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. Every other member of the Security Council—and Lebanon itself—wanted it to stay. But Israel has long bristled at the mission, and Washington was happy to do its regional ally a favor. At another Council meeting, the U.S. stood completely alone — literally — in denying that famine is underway in Gaza. And in the Guardian, former top UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths blasted a lack of “courage” at the UN. Was that a veiled jab at his old boss, António Guterres?Mark and Anjali break it all down and more in this episode of the smash hit podcast To Save Us From Hell — which really does have a cult following at the UN these days! Super discount link: https://www.globaldispatches.org/40PercentOff

The UN peacekeeping operation in Lebanon, which Irish troops have been involved in for decades, is set to come to an end in two years. The resolution, passed yesterday, ensured that the Unifil mandate would end in December 2026 followed by a year-long withdrawal. Andrea Tenenti is the Spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

The UN security council has voted to terminate the UNIFIL peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon. The operation in which Irish peacekeepers have been involved with for decades, will end in 2027. All to discuss with Cathal Berry, Former TD and Former Member of the Defence Forces.

For review:1. Report: IDF Strikes Gathering of Houthi Leadership in Sanaa. The strike was first reported by the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV, and then confirmed by Defense Minister Israel Katz and the Israel Defense Forces, though they did not confirm the targets.2.  IDF Ground Operation on Syrian Military Installation Near Damascus.According to a Syrian source who spoke to Al Jazeera, the raid involved four helicopters and two fighter jets, as well as dozens of soldiers.Saudi outlet Al-Hadath reported that Israeli forces had located and confiscated “secret and sensitive equipment,” citing an unnamed senior Israeli security official.3. The United Nations Security Council on Thursday unanimously extended “for a final time” a long-running peacekeeping mission in Lebanon until the end of 2026, when the operation will then begin a year-long “orderly and safe drawdown and withdrawal.”4. Wall Street Journal Report: The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog has been guarded by a 24/7 security detail in recent weeks due to a specific Iranian threat against him.5.  Britain, France and Germany announced Thursday their decision to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. The step was announced in a letter to the UN Security Council sent by the European powers as they launched a 30-day process to once again level punitive measures against the Islamic Republic.6. Sweden and the Netherlands have urged the EU to adopt sanctions on Israel and Hamas over the war in Gaza, including suspending the EU-Israel trade deal.7. USAF Sentinel ICBM Update.

Marie is annoyed by the messages and requests her company is getting. Listeners share their thoughts on what the withdrawal of UNIFIL will mean for Lebanon. School secretaries and caretakers have begun indefinite strike action. David and his friends ran from Chamonix to Marseille in France which is 465km and took 32.5 hours.

The UN Security Council is expected this afternoon to bring down the curtain on its peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon in which 30,000 Irish troops have served, with 47 having lost their life. We're joined by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Simon Harris.

Bei den schwersten russischen Luftangriffen mit Raketen und Drohnen auf die Ukraine seit Ende Juli sind nach offiziellen Angaben mindestens 18 Menschen in Kiew getötet worden. Dazu zählen auch vier Kinder │EU-Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen hat "empört" auf die jüngsten russischen Angriffe auf Kiew reagiert. Bei den Attacken wurden auch Büros der EU-Vertretung in der ukrainischen Hauptstadt beschädigt │ Die Stunde der Europäer? EU-Verteidigungsminister beraten in Kopenhagen │ UN-Hungerhilfe warnt eindringlich vor den Folgen der katastrophalen Versorgungslage │ UN-Sicherheitsrat macht UNIFIL ein Ende – was machen die Blauhelme eigentlich im Südlibanon?

Viet Nam: Typhoon's deadly destruction is not over, warns IOMGazans face even more hunger and disease unless aid is allowed in at scale: UN agenciesPeacekeepers in Lebanon still needed to push for regional stability: UNIFIL

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, has operated since the late 1970s, tasked with monitoring the demilitarisation of the south of the country, supporting the Lebanese army, and ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in need.Every year, the mandate has to be renewed by the Security Council, but powerful voices have been raised against extending it, which could spell either its closure, or lead to budget cuts that reduce its ability to operate effectively.With the Security Council deadline just a few days away, Nancy Sarkis from UN News spoke to Andrea Tenenti, UNIFIL's long-time spokesperson, and began by asking him to explain why it's still needed.

Mark Mellett, former Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, discusses the UNIFIL mission in South Lebanon, as the UN Security Council considers renewing its mandate amid opposition from Israel and the US. Thomas Byrne, Minister of State, Department of Defence, on the possibility of the peacekeeping mission in South Lebanon being ended.

LEBANON: UNIFIL FAILURES. JONATHAN SCHANZER, FDD 1640

With its new government at the half-year mark and the UNIFIL international peacekeeping force's mandate due for reauthorization at month's end, Lebanon stands at a pivotal moment. In this episode of Middle East Focus, hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj are joined by MEI Senior Fellow Fadi Nicolas Nassar to evaluate whether the Lebanese state can reclaim its sovereignty, starting with the disarmament of Hizballah and the enforcement of a cease-fire. Nassar examines UNIFIL's evolving mandate for action, the force's operational limits and posture, and the Lebanese prime minister's Aug. 5 demand for a plan to disarm all non-state militias by the end of the year.   Recorded August 5th, 2025

There are growing concerns that the United States could remove financial backing from the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon this august. The Irish government are in talks with us officials to dissuade them from withdrawing their funding. Pat discusses this further with Declan Power, Security and Defence Analyst.

L'apertura dei giornali, con le notizie e le voci dei protagonisti, tutto in meno di 30 minuti.Ora che la guerra tra Israele e Iran è finita, il Medio Oriente torna a guardare ai focolai di crisi ancora accesi. Su tutti Gaza dove si continua a morire di fame, ma anche al Libano dove continua la missione delle Nazioni Unite che coinvolge circa 1000 soldati italiani. Ne parliamo con Andrea Tenenti, portavoce UNIFIL.

Tom Clonan, Independent Senator and retired Defence Forces Captain, on the possibility of UNIFIL's mandate in Lebanon not being renewed later this year.

The UN's nuclear watchdog has accused Iran of concealing three nuclear sites in the early 2000s. There's new fighting in Gaza, now between Hamas and an Israel-backed gang in the south of the strip. A Lebanese official has denied reports that Israel and the United States have agreed to end Unifil. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: Iran operated three secret nuclear sites until early 2000s, UN watchdog says Lebanon denies reports of US-Israel deal to withdraw UN peacekeepers Daily killings as Hamas and Israel-backed gang engage in battle of attrition in Gaza Who are the activists on board the aid yacht intercepted by Israel? This episode features Lemma Shehadi, Senior Communities Correspondent, UK bureau, and Jamie Prentis, Beirut Correspondent.

Hunter Williamson, Freelance journalist, brings us the latest from Lebanon, where Irish troops came under fire while taking part in a joint Irish UNIFIL & Lebanese Armed Forces patrol.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Released hostages Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Troufanov and Iair Horn crossed back into Israel this morning after being paraded on a stage in southern Gaza in a propaganda-filled release ceremony by the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups after 498 days in captivity. Fabian fills us in on the ceremony and their health status. We learn about how the IDF has handled the heightened tensions in the Gaza Strip this past week and its readiness to return to war-footing. In a meeting on Friday morning, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi apologized to four recently released hostage soldiers for their warnings not being treated seriously before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, as well as for their long captivity. Halevi met with Agam Berger, Liri Albag, Naama Levy and Karina Ariev, who were released from Hamas captivity after some 15 months. We learn what else was leaked from the meeting. The outgoing deputy commander of UNIFIL was injured Friday, the international peacekeeping force said, after a convoy taking troops to the Beirut airport was attacked amid pro-Hezbollah demonstrations in the area. This occurred as the IDF is reluctantly readying a drawdown from Lebanon on February 18 -- which may or may not be its final withdrawal of troops, reports Fabian. Finally, we hear updates on the ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the West Bank and learn how much security cooperation there is with the Palestinian Authority for it. Please see today's ongoing live blog for more updates. Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. For further reading: Released hostages Dekel-Chen, Troufanov and Horn in Israel after 498 days in captivity Hamas made surveillance troops watch torture videos of male hostages, says mother IDF chief apologizes to freed surveillance soldiers for failing them on and before Oct. 7 ‘I was starved and tortured’: Keith Siegel urges Trump to ensure all hostages freed Two weeks after his release, former hostage Ofer Calderon hospitalized with pneumonia UNIFIL’s outgoing deputy chief wounded as convoy attacked by pro-Hezbollah rioters IDF strikes Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon, citing ‘direct threat’ to Israel Lebanon tells Iranian flight it can’t land, after IDF’s Hezbollah smuggling claim Troops neutralize bomb-laden car, Palestinian shot dead near IDF base, in West Bank IMAGE: A woman holds pictures of three released Israeli hostages in Tel Aviv on February 15, 2025 in the city's Hostages Square. (Jack GUEZ / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nchini Lebanon tarehe 17 mwezi huu wa Januari Katibu Mkuu wa Umoja wa Mataifa akiwa ziarani Lebanon alitembelea walinda amani wa Umoja wanaohudumu chini ya ujumbe wa Mpito wa UN nchini Lebanon, UNIFIL, ambao walikumbwa na zahma wakati jeshi la Israeli liliposhambulia kituo chake kinyume na azimio namba 1701 la mwaka 2006, linalozuia mashambulizi kwenye eneo tenganishi kati ya Israeli na Lebanon. Walinda amani hawa walijeruhiwa wakati kituo chao kiliposhambuliwa na jeshi la Israeli, kinyume na makubaliano ya kutoweko kwa jeshi eneo la mstari wa buluu, au tenganisha kati ya Lebanon na Syria, kama anavyoeleza Thelma Mwadaya katika makala hii.

#LEBANON: Is UNIFIL cooperating with Hezbollah? Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, FDD/ LWJ. Bill Roggio, FDD/LWJ 1899 Beirut

As the Medicare enrollment period gets underway again, we welcome Dr. Adam Gaffney to remind us the ways all those heavily advertised Medicare Advantage programs are ripping you off. Then we receive another house call from Dr. Marty Makary, author of Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health about the effect of medical groupthink on all kinds of accepted treatments from peanut allergies to opioid addiction. Finally, founder of Media Matters, David Brock stops by to discuss his latest book, Stench: The Making of the Thomas Court and the Unmaking of America.Dr. Adam Gaffney is a physician, writer, public health researcher, and advocate. Dr. Gaffney practices at the Cambridge Health Alliance and is an Assistant Professor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. A member of the Cambridge Health Justice Lab, his research focuses on healthcare financing, reform, and equity, and disparities in lung health. He writes about the policy, politics, and history of health care, and is the author of To Heal Humankind: The Right to Health in History.The reality is we don't need Medigap. We could plug those holes with public coverage. There's no reason to have a role for private insurers to cover a slice of our healthcare when all seniors need the same thing—which is comprehensive universal care.  There's no need for these private stopgap measures, when what we need is a public system of universal care.Dr. Adam GaffneyI do think there's growing interest among physicians in change. Their bosses are increasingly these for-profit companies whose mission is not really medicine. Their mission is money. And what we need to do is to rethink our healthcare system, so it serves communities, is owned by communities, and it returns us to the underlying reason why we went into this profession—which is to help patients, and not to pad the pockets of shareholders.Dr. Adam GaffneyDr. Marty Makary is a Johns Hopkins professor and member of the National Academy of Medicine. He is the author of two New York Times best-selling books, Unaccountable and The Price We Pay. Dr. Makary has written for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the New York Times, and he has published more than 250 scientific research articles. He served in leadership at the W.H.O. and has been a visiting professor at 25 medical schools. His latest book is Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health.For most of human history, doctors were respected, but maybe like you would respect your hairdresser, or maybe a clergy member in the community. And we didn't have many tools as doctors. We had a lancet, we had a saw to do amputations, we had a couple of drugs that didn't work or were counterproductive like digoxin. And then what happened in 1922 is Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. And by the post-World War II era in the 1940s and '50s, we saw the mass production of antibiotics. That ushered in the white coat era of medicine. Doctors began to wear a white coat. They now had the power to prescribe a magical pill that could cure disease, make childbirth safe, enable surgeons to do procedures safer. And this ushered in this new unquestioned authority. And what happened was, physicians as a class took advantage of this unquestioned authority.Dr. Marty MakaryDavid Brock is a Democratic activist and founder of Media Matters for America, a progressive media watchdog group. Following the 2010 elections, Mr. Brock founded the Super PAC American Bridge, which works to elect Democrats. He is a New York Times best-selling author, and his books include the memoir Blinded by the Right: The Conscience of an Ex-Conservative, Killing the Messenger: The Right Wing Plot to Hijack Your Government, and his latest book is Stench: The Making of the Thomas Court and the Unmaking of America.The Federalist Society was originally founded by three rightwing law students. And it was pitched as a debating society. So I don't think in the original incarnation, they had a master plan. But soon enough, they realized that membership in the Federalist Society could confer on people a certain imprimatur for appointments—and that's appointments not only to the federal judiciary, but all through the executive branch.David BrockThe scheme to overturn Roe has been going on for all these decades. There were setbacks, of course, because there were times when Republican appointees ended up being independent—Sandra Day O 'Connor, for example, David Souter, for example—and the right was defeated in their effort to overturn Roe. So it took a while and it took a lot of steadfast, patient spending of money on their crusade.David Brock[This is] a time when the Biden regime is supporting the destruction of the ancient land of Lebanon— whom he's called in prior years an ally. He's letting Netanyahu destroy Lebanon with the same tactics that Netanyahu applied to the genocide in Gaza.Ralph NaderIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 10/23/241. Last week, Israel announced they had killed longtime Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. As NBC put it, the footage of his death released by Israel “showed Sinwar not hiding in a tunnel surrounded by hostages — as Israeli officials often claimed he was — but aboveground and hurling a stick at a drone with his last ounce of strength.” American political leaders, such as Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders, are seeking to use Sinwar's death to argue that Israel has accomplished its mission and should therefore conclude its genocidal campaign in Gaza. Israeli leaders however have made it abundantly clear that they have no intention of pulling out of Gaza, with Benny Gantz – chairman of Israel's National Unity Party and among Prime Minister Netanyahu's chief political rivals – stating that the Israeli military “will continue to operate in the Gaza Strip for years to come,” per Al Jazeera.2. According to POLITICO, during an August 29th meeting in Washington Lise Grande, the top U.S. official working on the humanitarian situation in Gaza told the leaders of more than a dozen aid organizations that “the U.S. would not consider withholding weapons from Israel for blocking food and medicine from entering [Gaza].” It is illegal to block the delivery of humanitarian assistance under both American and international human rights law. As the paper notes, Grande's “candid assessment…raises questions about the seriousness of recent Biden administration threats to [withhold arms].” One attendee told POLITICO “[Grande] was saying that the rules don't apply to Israel.”3. Meanwhile, Israel continues its war on the United Nations mission in Lebanon. On October 20th, UNIFIL released a statement saying “Earlier today, an IDF bulldozer deliberately demolished an observation tower and perimeter fence of a UN position in Marwahin…The IDF has repeatedly demanded that UNIFIL vacate its positions along the Blue Line and has deliberately damaged UN positions. Despite the pressure being exerted on the mission and our troop-contributing countries…We will continue to undertake our mandated tasks.” UNIFIL added “Yet again, we note that breaching a UN position and damaging UN assets is a flagrant violation of international law and Security Council resolution 1701.”4. In a frankly dystopian story from the United Kingdom, British counterterrorism police “raided the home and seized several electronic devices belonging to The Electronic Intifada's associate editor Asa Winstanley,” despite the fact that Winstanley has not been charged with any offense. Electronic Intifada reports the raid was conducted under sections 1 and 2 of the 2006 “Terrorism Act,” which deal with the “encouragement of terrorism.” Human Rights Watch has previously urged the British government to repeal the repressive provisions of the 2006 act noting that “the definition of the encouragement of terrorism offense is overly broad, raising serious concerns about undue infringement on free speech.” Electronic Intifada further notes “In August, Britain's Crown Prosecution Service issued a warning to the British public to ‘think before you post' and threatening that it would prosecute anyone it deemed guilty of what it calls ‘online violence.'” Winstanley is the author of Weaponising Anti-Semitism: How the Israel Lobby Brought Down Jeremy Corbyn and has been interviewed by the Capitol Hill Citizen.5. According to the Libertarian magazine Reason, Bob Woodward's new book War includes a passage about a “shockingly blunt conversation,” between President Biden and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham regarding “Biden's attempts to negotiate a ‘megadeal' between the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.” Per Reason “Graham reportedly said that only Biden could secure a U.S.-Saudi defense treaty, because it would ‘take a Democratic president to convince Democrats to vote to go to war for Saudi Arabia'” Biden's response? “Let's do it.” Furthermore, reports indicate this security pact only fell apart after October 7th, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman seeing a prominent deal with Israel at that time as a major political liability. Reason cites an article from the Atlantic in January wherein Salman reportedly told Secretary of State Antony Blinken “Do I care personally about the Palestinian issue? I don't, but my people do…Half my advisers say that the deal is not worth the risk. I could end up getting killed because of this deal.”6. In more international news, the Cuban energy grid collapsed on Friday, under strain from Hurricane Oscar. The complete grid collapse left the entire country of 10 million without electricity, per NPR. Reuters reports that over the weekend, the grid failed three more times as authorities sought to restore power. Brasil de Fato, or BdF, a Brazilian socialist news service, reports China, Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Russia and Barbados are offering support to Cuba amid the total blackout. BdF further reports “The Alba Movimientos platform, which brings together more than 400 organizations from 25 countries, issued a statement...[saying] ‘No one can attribute this virtual collapse of the Cuban electricity system to a specific measure by the US government – that would be too simplistic…this is'“the result of a long strategy of planned destruction of the material and spiritual living conditions of the Cuban population…with the financial resources denied to Cuba due to the blockade policy, 18 days of accumulated damages equal the annual cost of maintaining the country's electricity system.” According to the UN, the U.S. embargo cost Cuba $13 million US dollars per day between 2022 and 2023 alone.7. A new scandal has rocked American Higher Education. Inside Higher Ed reports “Last week a lawsuit accused 40 colleges and universities, as well as the nonprofit College Board, of participating in a price-fixing conspiracy to jack up tuition rates” specifically, for children of divorced parents. The scheme itself had to do with consideration of the non-custodial parent's income, but the larger issue at stake here is the fact that the universities entered into a “cartel” in violation of antitrust laws. As this piece notes this is the “second major price-fixing antitrust lawsuit filed against highly selective universities since 2022, when 17 institutions…were accused of illegally colluding to set common financial aid formulas. So far, 10 of those institutions have settled for a combined $248 million.”8. Boeing has offered their striking machinists a new deal, which they hope will end their crippling strike. ABC reports “The new offer delivers a 35% raise over the four-year duration of the contract,” which is short of the 40% raise demanded by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers but considerably better than the aerospace titan's previous offer of 25%. ABC continues “The proposal also hikes Boeing's contribution to a 401(k) plan, but it declines to fulfill workers' call for a reinstatement of the company's defined pension.” As this piece notes, the machinists overwhelmingly rejected Boeing's previous offer last month; this week they will vote on the new proposal. Whatever the details of the final contract, this episode clearly demonstrates the power of a union, even going up against one of the most powerful corporations in America.9. A stunning CNN investigation reveals the extent of predatory fundraising by the major parties off of elderly people suffering from dementia or other forms of cognitive decline in their old age. According to “More than 1,000 reports filed with government agencies and consumer advocacy groups… deceptive political fundraisers have victimized hundreds of elderly Americans…into giving away millions of dollars.” These heartbreaking stories concern “Donors…often in their 80s and 90s…[including] retired public workers, house cleaners and veterans, widows living alone, nursing home residents…[with] money…from pensions, Social Security payments and retirement savings accounts meant to last decades.” To cite just one just one shocking example: “[an] 82-year-old woman, who wore pajamas with holes in them because she didn't want to spend money on new ones, didn't realize she had given Republicans more than $350,000 while living in a 1,000 square-foot Baltimore condo since 2020.”10. Finally, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has sent a letter to Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO of Kroger, decrying the company's “decision to roll out surge pricing using facial recognition technology.” Specifically, Tlaib cites concerns about price manipulation based on external factors like supply as well as discrimination based on race, gender, and other criteria determined through facial recognition. Tlaib ends this letter with six key questions, including “Will Kroger use…facial recognition to display targeted advertisements…?…What safeguards will be in pace?…[and] Are there plans to sell data collected in the store?” among others. Grocery prices continue to be a source of everyday economic hardship for working Americans and corporations are increasingly interested in surge pricing for essential goods. There is some comfort in knowing at least one member of Congress is concerned about this dangerous combination.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Headlines for October 21, 2024; “Collateral Damage”: Hundreds of Patients Trapped in North Gaza as Israel Intensifies Siege; Report from Beirut: Israel Bombs Banks, Attacks UNIFIL in Expanding War of Aggression; Will Netanyahu Incite a War with Iran? Leaked U.S. Docs Detail Israel’s Attack Plans; Facing Numerous Federal Probes, Elon Musk Spends Millions to Help Elect Trump & Gut Gov’t Regulations

Headlines for October 21, 2024; “Collateral Damage”: Hundreds of Patients Trapped in North Gaza as Israel Intensifies Siege; Report from Beirut: Israel Bombs Banks, Attacks UNIFIL in Expanding War of Aggression; Will Netanyahu Incite a War with Iran? Leaked U.S. Docs Detail Israel’s Attack Plans; Facing Numerous Federal Probes, Elon Musk Spends Millions to Help Elect Trump & Gut Gov’t Regulations

Ralph welcomes back William Hartung of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. They'll discuss the Cost of War Project's latest reports on US military spending in support of Israel, and the humanitarian costs of the war in Gaza. Then, Ralph is joined by Palestinian writer and analyst Sumaya Awad to discuss the mass civil disobedience at the New York Stock Exchange, which was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace to protest the weapons manufacturers that are making millions off the genocide in Gaza.William Hartung is an expert on the arms industry and US military budget, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. He is the author of Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military-Industrial Complex, and the co-editor of Lessons from Iraq: Avoiding the Next War.In all my years of watching the operations of Washington—including the Bush/Cheney criminal invasion of Iraq—I have never seen such a servile position by top officials of an administration to a foreign power. Not even close. They are humiliating the United States of America. They are jeopardizing the United States of America—because as you know, the Department of Defense, CIA, NSA have studies and scenarios of blowback. So this war in the Middle East is gonna come back to the US in terms of reprisal and retaliation. And we are not able to anticipate that because we think, as the ruling empire in the world, that we're invulnerable. But we're not invulnerable.Ralph NaderThe Biden administration is living in the past. They've got this “Israel, right or wrong” ideology. They think it's a political detriment to criticize Israel, and the fact that the younger generation is not locked into that point of view. But I think they're going to hurt themselves more by enabling the war crimes that Israel is committing than they would by taking a stand. And of course, they keep trying to say that they're pushing for a ceasefire…But as long as they're doing the weapons and the financing, that is laughable.William HartungIt's just stunning. Given the record of this century—two failed wars, $8 trillion spent, hundreds of thousands killed—and yet they could say with a straight face, “We need a dominant military.” As if that's the tool that's gonna solve any of these problems, rather than make them worse.William HartungSumaya Awad is a Palestinian writer and analyst based in New York City, and she is the spokesperson for Jewish Voice for Peace's mass civil disobedience event at the New York Stock Exchange. Ms. Awad directs strategy and communications for the Adalah Justice Project, and she is a cofounder of the Against Canary Mission Project, which defends student activists targeted by blacklists for their Palestinian rights advocacy. She is the co-author of Palestine and Elections and co-editor of Palestine: A Socialist Introduction.There were over 200 arrests—the majority of them anti-Zionist Jewish New Yorkers, who want to send a clear message both to the US government and the American people that Israel weaponizes their identity in order to justify crimes against humanity and that they are not okay with this. That they refuse for their identity and Jewish people to be weaponized in this way. And that in fact, what Israel is doing and what the US government is funding and politically backing is actively making this country and certainly the rest of the world unsafe not just for Jewish people, but for others.Sumaya AwadWe are strategizing about how to push back against the role of AIPAC and the grip of AIPAC. I think the reality is that there are many people in Congress that are actually benefiting financially from what is happening in Gaza. We know that at least 50 members of Congress have links to the military-industrial complex—whether that's through stocks or other things. And so it's about unraveling this network, these connections between our government, the way it's profiting from the genocide and then what that means in terms of these elections across the country.Sumaya AwadIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 10/16/241. The Israeli government is finally dropping the facade that the genocide in Gaza is about ‘returning the hostages.' Haaretz reports “According to senior defense officials, the Israeli government is not seeking to revive hostage talks and the political leadership is pushing for the gradual annexation of large parts of the Gaza Strip.” Not only that, apparently “Israel's political leaders have not held any discussions with the various security branches about the condition of the hostages.” In other words, Israel clearly does not care about the hostages at all and are simply using them as political props to prolong their campaign of terror. In addition, the AP reports “Netanyahu is examining a plan to seal off humanitarian aid to northern Gaza,” and if Palestinians are unable or unwilling to leave their homes, they “would be considered combatants — meaning military regulations would allow troops to kill them.” Last weekend, Israel launched an offensive against the Jabaliya refugee camp, resulting in gruesome footage of Palestinians burnt alive while still connected to IV tubes in field hospital tents.2. Responding to a report by NBC, the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), is sounding the alarm that “US officials have discussed joining Israel in offensive strikes against Iran, and passing them off as ‘defensive' after the fact.” As Just Foreign Policy notes, this would not only violate the War Powers Resolution, but “Unnamed US officials” are seeking to circumvent the debate and Congressional vote required for such an act under the Constitution. Now the question becomes whether the American empire will allow itself to be drawn into a rapidly escalating regional war based on Israel's aggression.3. On October 10th, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported “This morning, two peacekeepers were injured after an IDF Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFIL's headquarters in Naqoura, directly hitting it and causing them to fall. The injuries are fortunately, this time, not serious, but they remain in hospital.” Beyond this attack, UNIFIL also reports that the IDF fired on the UN positions in Labbouneh and Ras Naqoura, ending by writing “Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and of Security Council resolution 1701.”4. On October 8th, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal released a statement decrying the lack of action by the organs of U.S. foreign policy regarding the killing of American citizen Aysenur Eygi in the West Bank. Jayapal writes “It has been 32 days…and we have seen no movement toward an independent investigation by the U.S. government and no additional information on changes in the practices of the…IDF…units that are using live ammunition on those who are peacefully protesting…I am frankly appalled…If the Israeli government is unwilling or unable to follow our own domestic laws as well as international humanitarian laws…we must initiate our own investigation into Eygi's killing.”5. In the UK, Jeremy Corbyn and the parliamentary Independent Alliance have sent a letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressing their “disgust over the government's complicity in one of the greatest crimes of our lifetime.” This letter goes on to explain how “the government could have...opposed the genocide in Gaza. It could have ended military, economic and diplomatic support...[and] defended the equal application of international law. Instead, the failure to bring Israel to justice emboldened it to kill thousands of people in Lebanon and now, wage war on the UN.” The letter then asks a series of questions to the British government, including “what red lines, if any, does Israel have to cross for the government to end its diplomatic and political support?” and “does the UK government oppose genocide?”6. In a humiliation for Elon Musk, Forbes reports that Tesla stock slid by nearly $70 billion following the “sour” reaction to the company's unveiling of their absurd new products including a “robotaxi” and “Optimus” humanoid robots. In fact, disappointment in Tesla's “cybercab” was so acute that Uber shares spiked by 11% and Lyft's by 10%. Another story signaling that Tesla is vastly overvalued comes from the Orange County Register, which reports the Irvine Police Department spent over $150,000 on the first ever police Cybertruck. What is the department planning to use this eye-wateringly expensive boondoggle for? According to this report “the department does not plan to use the truck for patrols. The Cybertruck will…principally be driven by DARE officers to schools.”7. According to USA Today, “A study from the University of California Berkeley's Institute for Research on Labor and Employment found that a California state law [which] raised the minimum wage for fast food workers did not lead to large job loses or price hikes.” The law in question, AB 1228 established a “$20 per hour minimum wage for those working at fast food restaurants with less than 60 locations nationwide and restaurants located inside airports, stadiums and convention centers. The law further gave employees stronger protections and the ability to bargain as a sector.” The study found that this law effectively raised average pay of these non-managerial employees by almost 18%, a truly remarkable margin, while prices went up only about 15 cents per $4 item. Hopefully this study will finally put an end to the old canard that raising wages for fast food workers leads to widespread job loss and price increases.8. A depressing story from NPR exposes the US Department of Agriculture's “Wildlife Services” program, described as “a holdover from the 1930s, when Congress gave the federal government broad authority to kill wildlife at the request of private landowners….So long as livestock or human life are threatened.” Employees of this program continue to kill “hundreds of thousands of noninvasive animals a year…Even species considered [endangered]…like grizzly bears.” Yet even within the broad mandate of this program, data shows “employees frequently kill native wild animals without evidence of livestock loss,” including 11,000 in Montana. The USDA and the Bureau of Land Management now face increasing calls to overhaul this outdated program.9. Politiken, a prominent Danish newspaper, reports local harbormaster John Anker Nielsen encountered US Navy vessels at the scene of the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage operation in 2022, per Al Mayadeen. Nielsen, the harbormaster of Christianso, told Politiken that in the days after the explosion he tried to initiate a rescue mission “after noticing ships with their transponders turned off and presuming an emergency.” Yet once they drew near, they discovered the vessels to be US Navy warships. According to Nielsen, “the Naval Command then instructed…[him] to turn back.” This report conforms to the narrative of the Nord Stream sabotage as presented by legendary investigative journalist Seymour Hersh and directly contradicts the narrative put forward by the U.S. government.10. Finally, on October 11th the Democratic National Committee released what it claims is “its first-ever ad focused on third-party candidates,” per DNC Chair Jamie Harrison. The ad features Green Party nominee Jill Stein grotesquely morphing into Donald Trump with dialogue arguing that “a vote for Stein is really a vote for Trump.” As many have remarked, the DNC feeling the need to disseminate such an ad is an ill omen for their chances in the coming election, particularly in Michigan where recent polling shows Stein drawing 40% of Muslim voters, compared to 18% for Trump and just 12% for Kamala Harris, per Reuters. Of course, the DNC could instead direct their efforts to improving their standing with Muslim and Arab voters in Michigan – as well as young progressives throughout the country – by taking a stand against the ongoing genocide in Palestine, but then that isn't really their style.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

UN peacekeepers in Lebanon have come under direct Israeli fire and sustained injuries in recent weeks as the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies. Despite recent attacks, however, the UNIFIL force has remained committed to its decades-long peacekeeping mission. But with escalating tensions and the safety of troops in crisis, what does the future of UNIFIL look like in Lebanon?   In this episode: Shelley Deane (@shelleydeane), Researcher, Dublin City University Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat, and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Duha Mosaad, Cole van Miltenberg, Hagir Saleh, and our host, Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. Alexandra Locke is the Take's executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL is demanding explanations from Israel after two tanks drove through the gates of one of their compounds in southern Lebanon earlier today. We hear from UNIFIL's spokesperson Andrea Tenenti. Also on the programme: a moment of history in marathon running today. Kenyan runner Ruth Chepngetich is the first woman to run a marathon in under two hours and ten minutes; and new research on the remains of Christopher Columbus suggests he was a Sephardic Jew from Spain.(Picture: An Israeli soldier drives through southern Lebanon, as part of an incursion during hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. Credit: REUTERS/Artorn Pookasook)

President Biden says he is asking Israel to stop firing at UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, after two incidents in which UN personnel were wounded by Israeli shots. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of UN Peacekeeping, tells us that it is important for the blue helmets in Lebanon to stay and keep positions manned, but that their ability to fulfill their mandate in southern Lebanon is "limited".Also in the programme: We hear from the Acting Director of Al-Awda hospital in northern Gaza - Mohammed Salha - about how the week long Israeli siege of Jabaliya is affecting residents; and why authorities in Cameroon claim that President Paul Biya's health is now a matter of national security.(Photo: United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) look at the Lebanese-Israeli border, as they stand on the roof of a watch tower ‏in the town of Marwahin, in southern Lebanon, October 12, 2023. Credit: Reuters/Thaier Al-Sudani)

The UN Secretary General António Guterres has condemned Israel's firing on positions held by UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. Two more are reported to have been injured today, although the cause has not yet been established.Also in the programme: the Nobel Peace Prize goes to an anti-nuclear group of survivors of the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki - we hear from one of them; and after partial remains of a British mountaineer who may or may not have scaled Everest in 1924 are found, we talk to his great-niece.(IMAGE: UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) vehicles drive in Marjayoun, southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, October 11, 2024 / CREDIT: Reuters / Karamallah Daher)