The Times of Israel is liveblogging Saturday’s events as they happen.
NYT editorial board calls on Biden to quit race: ‘Failed his own test’ in debate
NEW YORK — America’s most influential newspaper, The New York Times, calls in an editorial for US President Joe Biden to step aside and allow another Democrat to challenge Donald Trump for the White House in November.
Describing Biden as “the shadow of a great public servant,” the newspaper’s editorial board — which is separate from its newsroom — says Thursday’s debate between the president and Trump proved the 81-year-old “failed his own test.”
His determination to run again is a “reckless gamble,” it says, adding: “the greatest public service Mr. Biden can now perform is to announce that he will not continue to run for re-election.”
Counting begins after polls close in Iran, with initial results expected Saturday
Polls closed shortly after midnight across Iran, following three extensions of voting hours.
Iranian state media says those who were still waiting at the polling stations were allowed to cast their ballots but no one else was be allowed in after that. Counting began immediately, with initial results expected on Saturday, the reports say.
Earlier in the evening, as the weather cooled off a little, more people headed to vote and long lines formed outside polling stations in downtown Tehran and in southern parts of the Iranian capital.
IDF says fighter jets carried out ‘wave of attacks’ against Hezbollah in southern lebanon
After Hezbollah’s rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel this evening, the IDF says it struck several sites belonging to the terror group in southern Lebanon.
The targets include a military site in Zibqin, infrastructure in Khiam and Houla, and a building used by Hezbollah in Odaisseh, according to the military.
The IDF publishes footage of the strikes targeted in what it describes as the “wave of attacks” against Hezbollah.
מטוסי קרב תקפו בשעות האחרונות מספר מטרות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בדרום לבנון.
בין המטרות שהותקפו, אתר צבאי של חיזבאללה במרחב זבקין, שתי תשתיות מבצעיות במרחבים אל-חיאם וחולא ומבנה צבאי של הארגון במרחב אל-עדייסא pic.twitter.com/nlsBuOrppE
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) June 28, 2024
Trump again uses ‘Palestinian’ as slur, this time employing it against Schumer
Former US president Donald Trump again uses the term “Palestinian” as a slur after branding his successor Joe Biden a “weak Palestinian” at last night’s debate.
At a campaign rally in Virginia, Trump says Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has also become a Palestinian.
“He’s Jewish but he’s become a Palestinian,” he says, apparently suggesting that the Democratic senator has become too critical of Israel
Trump: Schumer has become a Palestinian. He’s Jewish but he’s become a Palestinian pic.twitter.com/w95R9AbA8X
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 28, 2024
Trump says he does not think Biden will quit race
Republican Donald Trump says he does not believe US President Joe Biden will exit the 2024 White House race, after the incumbent’s lackluster debate performance sparked alarm within the Democratic Party.
“Many people are saying that after last night’s performance that Joe Biden is leaving the race. But the fact is, I don’t really believe that because he does better in polls than any of the Democrats they’re talking about,” Trump tells a campaign rally in Virginia.