The Times of Israel is liveblogging Thursday’s events as they happen.
Rubio stresses ‘need to continue implementation’ of Gaza ceasefire as he talks to Emirati FM, MBS
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call earlier this evening with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed
“They discussed the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the release of the hostages and humanitarian aid for Gaza,” the US readout says, adding that Rubio “reinforced the significance of this agreement for regional security and stability and the need to continue implementation.”
The comments in strong support of maintaining the hostage deal for all of its three phases appeared noteworthy, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners are demanding that he resume the war after the completion of the first stage, which would collapse the agreement.
Also during the call, Rubio stressed the importance of furthering discussions regarding “post-conflict planning for the governance and security of Gaza for the longer-term,” the US readout says.
The UAE has been one of the only countries that Israel has sought to recruit to play a role in the post-war management of Gaza.
Abu Dhabi has said it’s prepared to do so but has repeatedly stressed this will only happen if the effort is accompanied by the establishment of a political horizon for the Palestinians, and if a reformed Palestinian Authority is part of that process. Netanyahu has long rejected both of those conditions.
Rubio also held a call Wednesday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the State Department says. The latter held a separate call earlier Wednesday with US President Donald Trump as well.
Rubio “conveyed that he looked forward to advancing shared interests in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and beyond,” the US readout says, adding that the secretary also “stressed the threats posed by Iran and its proxies.”
Rubio “expressed his appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s partnership and efforts to promote regional peace and stability,” according to the US readout.
Rubio speaks with Indonesian FM, welcomes Jakarta’s ‘willingness to engage on Mideast peace’
Days after a report that the US is considering temporarily relocating some of Gaza’s two million residents in Indonesia while the post-war construction of the enclave takes place, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds a phone call with Jakarta’s Foreign Minister Sugiono.
“Rubio welcomed Indonesia’s willingness to engage on Middle East peace and post-conflict reconstruction,” says a US readout on the call.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said last year that his country was willing to send peacekeeping troops to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza if required.
The Times of Israel revealed in 2021 that the Trump administration was on the verge of brokering a normalization deal between Israel and Indonesia but ran out of time before the end of the term.
Trump speaks with Saudi crown prince, in first call with foreign leader since White House return
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman becomes the first foreign leader to hold a phone call with US President Donald Trump since he returned to office this week for a second term.
The decision to first speak with MBS indicates the Trump administration’s priorities, with the president expressing his desire to expand the Abraham Accords with a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The deal would likely be part of a massive defense agreement that Riyadh is looking to sign with Washington, which would provide Saudi Arabia with security guarantees from the US if it faces attack and be accompanied by huge investments in the American economy.
Bin Salman told Trump that Saudi Arabia would like to expand its investments in the US over the next four years to $600 billion and that the figure could further increase “if additional opportunities become available,” according to a readout published by Saudi state media.
Trump told Saudi crown prince that he looks forward to working with Riyadh to advance common interests, the Saudi readout adds.
There is no readout immediately available from the White House.
Trump moves to reimpose foreign terror designation on Yemen’s Houthis
US President Donald Trump moves to reimpose the designation of the Iran-backed Houthi rebel movement in Yemen as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Trump’s first administration designated the Houthis as a FTO, but the move was reversed by former US president Joe Biden due to concerns that the highest-level sanction was preventing aid organizations from delivering humanitarian assistance to civilians in Yemen.
Toward the end of his term, Biden did reapply a lower level terror designation of the Houthis after the rebel group began a campaign of missile attacks on Israel and on Red Sea shipping routes, which severely hampered the global economy. The Houthis claimed they took the step in solidarity with Palestinians following Hamas’s October 2023 attack and pledged to maintain their attacks until Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza.
On Wednesday, Trump signs an executive order that directs the State Department to prepare a report within 30 days recommending that the FTO label be reapplied to the Houthis. Within 15 days of receipt of that report, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to sign off on the recommendation to again designate the Houthis as a Foreign Terror Organization, the executive order states.
Once the designation has been reapplied, the executive order stipulates that the US Agency for International Development and the State Department sever ties with any entity in Yemen that has made payments to the Houthis or has worked against international efforts to combat the rebel group.
Levin tells acting chief justice to withdraw his candidacy, citing alleged conflicts of interest
Justice Minister Yariv Levin sends a letter calling on acting Supreme Court President Amit Isaac to withdraw his nomination to be chief justice on a permanent basis, citing reports claiming he oversaw cases in which he had a conflict of interest.
“I will continue to do everything I can to ensure the selection of the Supreme Court president will only be done after a probe into the claims is completed,” Levin writes to Amit.
The letter marks Levin’s latest effort to prevent the acting chief justice from being approved by the Judicial Selection Committee, the composition of which he is seeking to remake as part of his push to curb the judiciary’s independence, and comes ahead of a January 26 deadline that the court gave him to appoint its new president.
After Levin publishes the letter, Amit releases a statement in response, saying “I have no intention to surrender to the organized smear campaign that has recently been led against me, the entire purpose of which is to thwart my appointment as Supreme Court president and harm public trust in the judicial branch. This goal was set in advance.”
Amit also stresses that he won’t withdraw his candidacy, saying detailed responses “have been sent or will be sent” addressing the reported allegations, “which will disapprove each one of them.”
Coalition lawmakers approve law limiting bar association’s control of its finances
Coalition lawmakers pass into law a bill enabling the justice minister and the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee to determine, in part, how the Israel Bar Association may use its own funds.
The law, initiated by MK Hanoch Milwidsky of the ruling Likud party, is approved 52-45 in its second and third plenum readings.
“The law against the bar association that was passed by the Knesset tonight is part of the campaign of destruction against the judicial system and gatekeepers,” Amit Becher, the head of the legal body, says in response.
Becher charges that “the legislative process was accompanied by attempts to intimidate and blackmail the bar association and me, so we would enable the thwarting of the selection of a Supreme Court president and allow the selection of judges who [Justice Minister Yariv] Levin wants.”
New Secretary of State Rubio holds first call with Netanyahu: US support for Israel ‘a top priority’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just held his first phone call with new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio “underscored that maintaining the United States’ steadfast support for Israel is a top priority” for US President Donald Trump, a readout from the State Department says.
The secretary “congratulated” Netanyahu “on Israel’s successes against Hamas and Hezbollah and pledged to work tirelessly to help free all remaining hostages held in Gaza,” the US readout adds.
Rubio “also conveyed that he looks forward to addressing the threats posed by Iran and pursuing opportunities for peace,” according to the State Department.