The Times of Israel is liveblogging Tuesday’s events as they happen.
French FM defends arms embargo call, argues move aimed at ‘guaranteeing’ Israel’s security
During a press conference in Jerusalem, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot doubles down French President Emmanuel Macron’s call last week for an arms embargo on Israel.
“Today, to guarantee the security of Israel, to guarantee the security of the Israelis, the use of force must give way to the use of dialogue and diplomacy,” he says in French.
“And this is why France, like most countries in the world, is calling in Gaza as in Lebanon, for a ceasefire. And when we call for a ceasefire, we cannot at the same time provide offensive weapons to the belligerents. It is a question of consistency.”
French official says visiting FM had ‘constructive meetings’ with Israeli ministers
Visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot held “dense and constructive meetings” today with his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz and with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a French diplomatic official tells The Times of Israel.
Discussions focused on Iran, Lebanon and Gaza, says the diplomat, instead of on the French calls for a ban on arms exports to Israel, “on which disagreement was acknowledged.”
Barrot stressed the need to avoid an escalation against Iran which could lead to regional war. “Our Israeli interlocutors ensured such was not their wish,” says the diplomat.
They also discussed Lebanon, especially Israel’s demands for a ceasefire. According to the diplomat, there was a “shared desire to deepen the talks within the context of French efforts toward ending the war.”
The sides disagreed over the role of the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip after the war.
In his meetings in Ramallah, says the diplomat, Barrot heard PA officials lay out the security, financial and political challenges facing the organizations. They also presented to Barrot the reforms the PA had undertaken recently, and urged France to recognize Palestine as a country.
Hezbollah claims to have targeted base housing Unit 8200 in rocket attack on Tel Aviv
Hezbollah takes responsibility for the rocket fire on central Israel this evening, claiming to have targeted the IDF’s Glilot base near Tel Aviv.
The base is home to the IDF’s signals intelligence Unit 8200, and is adjacent to the Mossad headquarters.
The IDF said five rockets were launched in the attack, some of which were intercepted and the rest struck open areas, causing no injuries or major damage.
5 rockets fired from Lebanon at central Israel; some intercepted, some hit open areas
The IDF says five long-range rockets were fired from Lebanon at central Israel in the attack a short while ago.
Some of the rockets were intercepted by air defenses, and the rest struck open land, according to the military.
There are no reports of injuries or major damage.
The IDF adds that there are no changes to guidelines for civilians following the attack.
Sirens sounded in central Israel three times today, following rocket fire from Gaza this morning, a ballistic missile from Yemen in the afternoon, and tonight’s rockets from Lebanon.