The Times of Israel is liveblogging Thursday’s events as they happen.
Kamala Harris says ‘increasingly unstable’ Trump is a fascist
Kamala Harris says Donald Trump is a fascist and calls her US election rival “increasingly unstable” as she addresses his reported praise for Adolf Hitler at a town hall event.
The Democrat’s fierce criticism comes as she faces voters’ questions on Trump’s suitability for office at the CNN-hosted event in must-win Pennsylvania.
Asked by CNN host Anderson Cooper if she thinks Trump is a “fascist,” Harris quickly responds: “Yes, I do. And I also believe that the people who know him best on this subject should be trusted.”
Syrian state media reports Israeli strikes after explosions heard over Damascus
Explosions were heard over Syria’s Damascus early on Thursday after Israel launched strikes on the city, Syrian state media says.
No further details are immediately available. Israel has been carrying out strikes against Iranian-linked targets in Syria for years, but has ramped up such raids since last year’s October 7 attack by Palestinian terror group Hamas.
GOP senator says he believes Israel-Saudi deal possible before end of the year
MELVINDALE, Michigan — US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says he spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and believes that an agreement to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia can be reached before the end of the year.
Graham, who is in Michigan campaigning for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, tells Reuters that Netanyahu supports work on a deal with Saudi Arabia, adding that the next US administration is unlikely to be able to secure enough votes in Congress after President Joe Biden leaves office on January 20.
“I think the time to do this is on Biden’s watch,” says Graham, who had also met with Netanyahu earlier this month. He says Vice President Kamala Harris is “far more beholden to the left” and hasn’t shown interest in working for such an agreement, but Biden is keen to see a deal get done and will be able to mobilize the needed Democratic votes.
Morgan Finkelstein, National Security Spokeswoman for the Harris campaign says: “Vice President Harris has consistently supported efforts to ensure Israel is more deeply integrated in the Middle East region, including a potential historic normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia. She believes such integration is critical to counter the threats posed by Iran.”
Democrats would be reluctant to support Trump if he won the election and the initiative slipped into next year, Graham says.
US says Austin expressed concern to Gallant over reported strikes against Lebanese army
WASHINGTON –US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart that Washington had deep concerns about reports of strikes against the Lebanese armed forces, the Pentagon says in a statement.
Austin urged Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to make sure Israel takes steps to ensure the safety and security of the Lebanese armed forces and the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, the Pentagon says after their call.
The US readout says Austin also “welcomed the movement of humanitarian assistance through the Erez Crossing” with northern Gaza and called on Israel “to take all necessary steps to address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, and to work to seize opportunities for the release of hostages and a ceasefire presented by the death of Yahya Sinwar.”
Lebanon reports 1 killed in Israeli strike targeting office of Hezbollah-linked broadcaster
BEIRUT — An Israeli airstrike targeting an office belonging to a Beirut-based TV station killed one person, Lebanon’s Health Ministry says.
The ministry says five other people, including a child, were wounded in Wednesday’s strike. The child was seriously injured and admitted to the hospital.
Pan-Arab TV channel Al-Mayadeen, which is politically allied with the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, said its office in the area between Jnah and Ouzai on the outskirts of Beirut’s southern suburbs was targeted.
“Al-Mayadeen holds the Israeli occupation accountable for the attack on a known media office for a known media outlet,” Al-Mayadeen TV said.
The name of the person killed is unknown.
Al Mayadeen said that the office had been evacuated. The Israeli army did not issue a warning before the strike.
Turkey strikes PKK targets in Iraq and Syria after deadly Ankara attack
ISTANBUL — Turkey’s defense ministry says its forces struck sites linked to the Kurdish militant group PKK in Iraq and Syria, after blaming it for an attack near Ankara that killed five people.
“An air operation was carried out against terrorist targets in the north of Iraq and Syria… and a total of 32 targets belonging to the terrorists were successfully destroyed,” the ministry says in a statement, adding that operations are continuing.