The Times of Israel is liveblogging Sunday’s events as they happen.
French FM visits Lebanon in bid to prevent Israel-Hezbollah war
BEIRUT — France’s foreign minister will push proposals to prevent further escalation and a potential war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah during a visit to Lebanon on Sunday as Paris seeks to refine a roadmap that both sides could accept to ease tensions.
France has historical ties with Lebanon and earlier this year Stephane Sejourne delivered an initiative that proposed Hezbollah’s elite unit pull back 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Israeli border, while Israel would halt strikes in southern Lebanon.
The two have exchanged tit for tat strikes in recent months, but the exchanges have increased since Iran launched a barrage of missiles on Israel in response to a suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy compound in the Syrian capital Damascus that killed members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ overseas Quds Force, including two generals.
France’s proposal, which has been discussed with partners, notably the United States, has not moved forward, but Paris wants to keep momentum in talks and underscore to Lebanese officials that Israeli threats of a military operation in southern Lebanon should be taken seriously.
Hezbollah has maintained it will not enter any concrete discussion until there is a ceasefire in Gaza, where the war between Israel and Islamist terror group Hamas has entered its sixth month.
Israel has also said it wants to ensure calm is restored on its northern border so that thousands of displaced Israelis can return to the area without fear of rocket attacks from across the border.
“The objective is to prevent a regional conflagration and avoid that the situation deteriorates even more on the border between Israel and Lebanon,” foreign ministry deputy spokesperson Christophe Lemoine said at a news conference.
Hospital says Ben Gvir fractured ribs in crash after his car ran red light
Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem says that Public Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir fractured his ribs in a car accident Friday, which occurred after his car ran a red light.
A statement from the hospital says Ben Gvir is also suffering from bruising and describes his injuries as light, though he will again remain at the medical center overnight for observation.
The hospital also says that one of Ben Gvir’s daughters has been sent home after she was lightly hurt in the crash. The statement does not mention the driver or guard who Ben Gvir’s office has said were injured.
Guests arriving to White House correspondents’ dinner greeted by anti-Israel protest
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallying against Israel over its war with Hamas in Gaza outside the annual White House correspondents’ dinner in Washington, as US President Joe Biden is due to attend the event.
“Shame on you!” protesters draped in keffiyehs shout, running after men in tuxedos and suits and women in long dresses who are holding clutch purses, as guests and other participants hurried inside.
Chants claim US journalists are undercovering the war and misrepresenting it. “Western media we see you, and all the horrors that you hide,” crowds chanted at one point.
Other protesters lay sprawled motionless on the pavement, next to mock-ups of flak vests with “press” insignia.
Protesters cry “Free, free Palestine.” They cheer when at one point someone inside the Washington Hilton — where the dinner has been held for decades — unfurls a Palestinian flag from a top-floor hotel window.
Police arrest anti-Israel protesters at Indiana University, Arizona State University
The Indiana University police department in Bloomington says in an emailed statement that 23 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested there. on Saturday
Indiana State Police along with Indiana University police told demonstrators they could not pitch tents and camp on campus. When the tents were not removed, police arrested and transported protesters to the Monroe County Justice Center on charges of criminal trespass and resisting arrest.
“The Indiana University Police Department continues to support peaceful protests on campus that follow university policy,” the police statement reads.
#NOW Reports of mass arrests at IU Bloomington Gaza Solidarity Encampment during RAID by Policepic.twitter.com/TOdKweX70g
— Oliya Scootercaster ???? (@ScooterCasterNY) April 27, 2024
Pro-Palestinian protests against Israel have spread to college campuses across the US, stoked by the mass arrest of over 100 people on Columbia University’s campus last week.
School leaders at several universities have responded in the past week by asking police to clear out camps and arrest those who refuse to leave. While saying they defend free speech rights to protest, the leaders say they will not abide activists infringing on campus policies against hate speech or camping out on university grounds.
At Arizona State University, campus police arrested 69 protesters early Saturday, the school says in a statement.
The university says “a group of people – most of whom were not ASU students, faculty or staff – created an encampment and demonstration” and were arrested and charged with criminal trespass after refusing to disperse.
Lapid reiterates he’ll back government if Yesh Atid’s votes needed to okay hostage deal
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid reiterates his pledge to provide the government support to approve a hostage deal, as far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich are reportedly threatening to leave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu’s coalition if a planned offensive in Rafah is called off as part of a hostages-for-ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
“There is a majority among the people and in the Knesset for deal, and if you need to get rid of Ben Gvir and Smotrich I will give you 24 votes in the government,” Lapid writes on X, formerly Twitter, referring to the number of parliamentary seats his Yesh Atid party holds.
“We must bring [the hostages] home.”
In the post, Lapid shares an article from the Ynet news site that quotes an unnamed official involved in the hostage negotiations blaming Netayanhu for holding up a deal, accusing him of expressing support for a deal “in more limited forums” before shifting his position during security cabinet meetings due to political pressure from Smotrich and Ben Gvir.
Hezbollah claims responsibility for latest barrage, says it fired rockets at Israeli towns
Hezbollah claims responsibility for the barrage on the Meron area, saying it launched dozens of Katyusha rockets at Israeli communities in the area.
The terror group says the attack is a response to recent Israeli airstrikes on towns in southern Lebanon, which the IDF has said targeted Hezbollah positions.
The IDF said 26 rockets crossed the border in the barrage, causing no damage or injuries.
IDF says 26 rockets fired in rocket barrage from Lebanon; no injuries or damage
According to the IDF, a barrage of at least 26 rockets was launched from Lebanon, striking open areas near the northern community of Bar Yohai.
Sirens had sounded in several communities in the Mount Meron area.
No damage or injuries were caused in the attack, the military says.
Additional footage of the rocket attack on Mount Meron pic.twitter.com/xgT0cqHcqe
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) April 27, 2024