Israel weighs Iran response amid global concerns
Fearing wider Mideast war, allies urge caution
Israel’s War Cabinet met again Monday as the nation weighs a response to Iran’s missile and drone blitz amid global concerns that the Mideast could be careening toward a wider war.
Cabinet members huddled Sunday and were united in backing some form of retaliation for the Saturday strike − the first time Iran targeted Israel directly from its own territory − but were divided on the timing and scale of the next steps.
No decision has been announced, but speaking at the Nevatim air force base in southern Israel, military Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said Monday: “This launch of so many missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs (drones) into the territory of the state of Israel will be met with a response.”
President Joe Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. will defend its longtime ally but would not be part of any response to Saturday’s attack.
Two top Israeli officials have stressed that while retaliation may not
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See today’s top headlines, local breaking news, area scores, things to do and subscriber exclusives at sctimes.com. be imminent, a response would be carefully orchestrated − and Iran would face the consequences.
“We will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us,” Minister Benny Gantz said.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Monday that the G7 industrialized nations are working on a package of coordinated measures against Iran, adding: “I spoke to my fellow G7 leaders; we are united in our condemnation of this attack.”
World leaders urge Israel to use restraint
Israel’s allies on Monday pressed the nation to move cautiously. “We’re on the edge of the cliff, and we have to move away from it,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. We have to step on the brakes and reverse gear.”
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French President Emmanuel Macron urged Israel to make isolating Iran the goal. “We will do all we can to avoid things flaring up,” he said.
“Israel has won defensively thanks to its strong air defense and the efforts of the U.S., Britain and Arabic states,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said. “Now we must prevent an escalation in the region.”
Russia, which has refrained from criticizing its ally Iran, weighed in as well. “We are extremely concerned about the escalation of tensions in the region,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “We call on all countries in the region to exercise restraint.”
Iran launched the assault over a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy compound in Syria on April 1. A U.S.-led coalition of warplanes and naval assets helped intercept the more than 300 missiles and drones, and damage was limited in Israel.
Biden reaffirmed Monday that the U.S. is “committed to Israel’s security” and reiterated his support for a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.
“We’re committed to a cease-fire that will bring the hostages home and prevent the conflict from spreading beyond where it already has,” Biden said, ahead of a bilateral meeting at the White House with Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed Shyaa Al-Sudani.
“We’re also committed to the security of our personnel and partners in the region, including Iraq,” Biden said.
Thwarted attack called an ‘embarrassing failure’ for Iran
Turkish, Jordanian and Iraqi officials said on Sunday that Iran gave wide notice days before the attack, but U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby pushed back on reports the Iranian attacks were meant to fail and that Iran warned about them ahead of time so they would be thwarted. Kirby called the claims “categorically false” and “malarkey,” underscoring that Israeli defenses along with the U.S. helped fend off the assault.
“It was an embarrassing failure” for Iran, Kirby said at a White House news conference Monday.
Despite the U.S. intervention against the Iranian attack Saturday, a response to it is “an Israeli decision to make,” Kirby said. “We’re going to leave it squarely with them. We’re not involved in their decision-making process about a potential response.”
Kirby: Humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza has increased
Earlier Monday, Kirby said humanitarian aid getting into the Gaza Strip has increased by a large amount in the last few days, and the United States needs to see that aid sustained. More than 2,000 trucks had been able to get in, about 100 in the previous 24 hours alone, Kirby said in an interview with MSNBC.
Israel’s long-anticipated ground invasion of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip may be on hold because of the Iran strike, CNN and Israeli media reported. Netanyahu said last week that he had set a date for the invasion, which Israel sees as key to crushing Hamas, but he did not disclose the timing or details.
“This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen − there is a date,” Netanyahu said. Israel has been
Trump’s second bid to have the judge recuse himself from the case on the basis that his daughter’s work for a political consulting firm with Democratic clients poses a conflict of interest.
In rejecting that argument, Merchan cited an opinion from the state Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics that Merchan’s impartiality couldn’t be reasonably questioned based on his daughter’s work because Trump’s case doesn’t involve her business.
“The court will not address this matter further,” Merchan said Monday.
Merchan also addressed a series of issues about testimony and evidence. The judge tentatively ruled that Melania Trump’s pregnancy during a second alleged affair between Trump and former Playboy model Karen McDougal can’t be shared with the jury, saying he didn’t consider it necessary “at this moment.” Trump has denied having an affair with McDougal.
The judge reiterated a ruling that the jury can hear testimony about Trump’s infamous “Access Hollywood” comments but can’t watch the tape because it is too prejudicial against Trump. Prosecutors say after the tape came out, Trump feared another sex scandal would further endanger his standing bombing Rafah for weeks, but Biden and other world leaders have urged Israel not to invade the city, fearing massive civilian death tolls as almost 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering there.
Anti-war protest closes Golden Gate Bridge
Pro-Palestinian protesters demanding a cease-fire in Gaza shut down the Golden Gate Bridge and another major highway in the San Francisco Bay Area during Monday morning’s commute, snarling traffic for miles.
Traffic in both directions at the bridge was stopped for hours by a group carrying a banner that read “Stop the world for Gaza,” the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Across the bay in Oakland, demonstrators forced the closure of two sections of Interstate 880, using barrels to block the road.
The demonstrations were part of a protest day organized across the country that also included some international cities.
Contributing: Francesca Chambers, Tom Vanden Brook, Joey Garrison, USA TODAY; Reuters
with women voters, prompting him to pay for Daniels’ silence.
Nor may prosecutors show a deposition from columnist E. Jean Carroll. A jury last year found Trump liable of sexually abusing and defaming her.
And Merchan set a hearing for April 23 on whether Trump violated the gag order on publicly commenting on the participation of potential witnesses.
The former president appeared to nod off before the trial’s lunch break, his head dropping down repeatedly and mouth going slack, New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman reported. The Guardian made the same observation. Walking out for a short break later in the day, Trump glared at Haberman.[END ADD]
Police stood guard in front of the courthouse amid a maze of barricades, and helicopters shadowed the motorcade of black SUVs that ferried Trump from his high-rise apartment.
The group outside included Andrew Giuliani, son of longtime Trump advisor and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He believed if people looked at the facts, Trump would be acquitted. “I’m just hopeful that you do have a few unbiased jurors in there,” he said.
Contributing: Reuters.