The Times of Israel is liveblogging Sunday’s events as they unfold.
Rocket sirens in Lower Galilee in apparent major attack by Hezbollah
Incoming rocket sirens are sounding in several communities in the Lower Galilee, in what appears to be a major rocket attack by Hezbollah.
The alerts sound as far as Sde Ilan, located some 35 kilometers from the Lebanon border.
Residents of the Galilee area report seeing several Iron Dome interceptions.
Several interceptions reported over the Galilee.
Sirens had sounded as far as Sde Ilan, located some 35 kilometers from the Lebanon border. https://t.co/znvgVQS4i4 pic.twitter.com/inON1avkjW
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) July 7, 2024
Far-right minister: Past few months have been ‘like a time of miracles’ for settlement movement
Settlements and National Projects Minister Orit Strock says that the last several months have been “like a time of miracles” for the settlement movement, after the government recognized eight illegal West Bank outposts within a week.
In a video published by Army Radio, Strock, a longtime settlements activist, can be heard telling residents of the newly recognized Givat Hanan outpost that she feels like someone stuck at an intersection when “a green light” goes on.
“It is not clear that the government will last,” she warns, adding that for as long as the government remains in power “we want to do as much as possible.”
Strock’s comments come after Israel’s recognition of the illegal outposts of Mahane Gadi, Givat Hanan and Kedem Arava on Thursday, a week after the cabinet voted to legalize five other West Bank outposts.
On Wednesday, Israel announced its largest appropriation of land in the West Bank since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, designating 2,965 acres of land as state land.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the leader of Strock’s far-right Religious Zionism party, told reporters last week in the Knesset that the government’s decision to legalize outposts and impose sanctions on Palestinian Authority leaders was aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state, which would pose “an immediate, existential danger to the State of Israel.”
Sister, aunt of Bibas family: My new baby is symbol of the 9 months they’ve been gone
Ofri Bibas Levy, whose brother Yarden Bibas and his family are held hostage in Gaza, says her newborn baby is a reminder of the nine months since her relatives were kidnapped.
“My baby symbolizes that nine months that have passed,” she tells the Ynet news site.
On October 7, Yarden was taken hostage to Gaza, and his wife, Shiri, and their two redheaded children, Ariel, 4 and Kfir, then 9 months old, were abducted separately from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
“On the days when there is talk about a deal, I’m at my lowest,” Ofri says.
“We are flooded and surrounded by irresponsible statements, sometimes by one political entity, sometimes by another military entity… We are so prone to disappointment,” she says.
Polls open in 2nd round of French parliament vote expected to see far-right success
Polling stations open across mainland France for a second round parliamentary vote that is expected to be won by far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN).
While the anti-immigration, eurosceptic party may not win an outright majority, a hung parliament would leave a divided France in political limbo and weaken its international standing.
Voting was to continue to 6 p.m. local time, or 8 p.m. in major cities, when voting estimates will be released.
Protesters block highways, gather at interchanges nationwide in call for elections, hostage deal
Anti-government protesters begin to block highways and gather at interchanges across the country in a call for elections and hostage deal.
Protest organizers say roads will be blocked at various times of the day nationwide as part of a “day of disruption” as Israel marks nine months since Hamas’s shock attack, with 120 hostages still held in Gaza.
The protests began this morning at 6:29 a.m., the exact time the devastating terror onslaught began on October 7.
The day will culminate with a mass protest outside military headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Anti-government protesters rally outside home of union head, calling on him to declare strike
Protesters begin to gather outside the home of Arnon Bar-David, the head of the powerful Histadrut labor federation, calling for him to declare a general strike to demand elections.
Demonstrators hold signs saying “enough talking, it’s time for action.”
In May, Bar-David said he had lost trust in the government, but said that timing was key for any drastic action to force a national vote.
France set to go to polls in election that could see far right become largest party
French voters face a decisive choice today in the runoff of snap parliamentary elections that could produce the country’s first far-right government since the World War II Nazi occupation — or leave it with no majority emerging at all.
Centrist President Emmanuel Macron called the snap elections three years ahead of time after his candidates were trounced in June’s legislative elections, a gamble which many observers believe backfired.
After coming out on top in the June 30 first round of the polls, the far right of three-time presidential candidate Marine Le Pen was confident her National Rally (RN) could win an absolute majority in parliament and crown her protege and party leader Jordan Bardella, 28, as prime minister.
But the last week saw more than 200 tactical-voting pacts between centre and left wing candidates in seats to prevent the RN winning in a return of the anti-far right “Republican Front” first summoned when Marine Le Pen’s father Jean-Marie faced Jacques Chirac in the run-off of 2002 presidential elections.
This left the latest polls projecting that the RN would fall well short of the 289 seats needed for an outright majority in the 577-seat National Assembly, while still being the largest party in parliament.
Jon Landau, Oscar-winning ‘Titanic’ and ‘Avatar’ producer, dies at 63
Jon Landau, an Oscar-winning producer who worked closely with director James Cameron on three of the biggest blockbusters of all time, “Titanic” and two “Avatar” films, dies aged 63.
No cause of death is given.
Landau’s partnership with Cameron led to three Oscar nominations and a best picture win for 1997’s “Titanic.” Together the pair account for some of the biggest blockbusters in movie history, including “Avatar” and its sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
Cameron, in a statement, remembers “a dear friend, and my closest collaborator of 31 years.” “A part of myself has been torn away,” says Cameron.
“His zany humor, personal magnetism, great generosity of spirit and fierce will have held the center of our Avatar universe for almost two decades,” says Cameron. “His legacy is not just the films he produced, but the personal example he set — indomitable, caring, inclusive, tireless, insightful and utterly unique.”
Born into a Jewish family in New York on July 23, 1960, Landau was the son of film producers Ely and Edie Landau. The family moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s, and Landau went on to graduate from the University of Southern California’s film school.
Jon Landau is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Julie; their sons, Jamie and Jodie; and two sisters and a brother.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
‘Blood on the hands of the right-wing government’: Protesters demonstrate outside ministers’ homes
Anti-government protesters are demonstrating outside the homes of government ministers and MKs as part of a “day of disruption” calling for elections.
Lawmakers targeted in the protests include Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Economy Minister Nir Barkat, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter and Negev, Galilee and National Security Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf.
Outside Ohana’s Tel Aviv home, demonstrators shout: “Blood is on the hands of the right-wing government.”
9 חודשים לתחילת המלחמה: מפגינים נגד הממשלה הגיעו למחות מול בתי שרים וח"כים – "הדם על הידיים של ממשלת הימין"@NOFARMOS (בתיעוד: מפגינים מול ביתו של ח"כ אוחנה) pic.twitter.com/93glb83c3i
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) July 7, 2024
Medics fighting to save life of man with encephalitis caused by rare amoeba
The condition of Israel’s second ever recorded case of Naegleria fowleri, a rare amoeba that causes encephalitis, has deteriorated, Beilinson Hospital announces.
The otherwise healthy 26-year-old man could have come into contact with the amoeba while swimming at Gai Beach in Tiberias. He was admitted to Sharon Hospital on Tuesday with symptoms of fever, headaches and vomiting. When his condition worsened, he was transferred to Beilinson.
“The hospital staff continues to fight for his life,” the spokesperson says.
According to the CDC, it is commonly called the “brain-eating amoeba” because it can cause a brain infection when water containing the amoeba goes up the nose.
The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, thrives in warm water. In most cases, nothing happens to those who swim in water sources where the amoeba is present. Health Ministry investigators conducted samples at the beach where he bathed and found no evidence of amoeba contamination.
The mortality rate from encephalitis due to this amoeba is very high. While infection is extremely rare, with only some 400 cases diagnosed worldwide, it is often fatal.
Symptoms often include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, and neurological symptoms such as confusion, seizures, and hallucinations. It requires immediate medical attention.
A 36-year-old man died of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis in August 2022, a brain infection caused by the same amoeba.