The Times of Israel is liveblogging Wednesday’s events as they happen.
The IDF acknowledges that a group of settler activists crossed the northern border and entered Lebanon earlier this month, close to the Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras. Initially, the military said that the activists set up an encampment near an Israeli border community and were eventually dispersed by soldiers, as the area was a closed military zone. After investigating the matter further, the military says that “the civilians did indeed cross the blue line by several meters, and after being identified by IDF troops, they were dispersed.” “This is a grave incident that is being investigated,” the army says. “Any attempt to approach or cross the border into Lebanese territory without coordination endangers one’s life and harms the IDF’s ability to operate in the area and fulfill its mission,” the military adds. A military source says that in recent weeks the army has worked to block various entry points into Lebanon along Israel’s border fence, and troops were updated on the procedures for civilians reaching the border area.
Israel expressed concern ‘wild card’ Musk could share sensitive data with others – report Israel is among a number of United States allies that have expressed concerns Elon Musk could share sensitive information with others, defense officials tell The New York Times. Israel’s Defense Ministry called Musk a “wild card” after early 2023 meetings between Israeli military intelligence officials and US defense officials over Starlink, two individuals with knowledge of the talks tell the newspaper. Israeli officials were reportedly concerned Musk could pass sensitive information about Israel to other parties, although they eventually allowed Starlink to begin operating this year. The report says the US Air Force recently denied high-security access to Musk due to potential security risks, with the billionaire and his SpaceX company facing at least three federal reviews over whether they have complied with federal reporting rules aimed at protecting national security. A 2018 incident in which Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla, smoked marijuana on a live web show with Joe Rogan also sparked a security clearance review by the Pentagon. The New York Times says the new reviews were initiated by the Air Force, the Defense Department’s inspector general and the undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security. It cites eight people with knowledge of the rocket company and internal documents. Last month, two Democratic US senators, Jeanne Shaheen and Jack Reed, wrote in a letter that reports that Musk has held multiple calls with Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, should be investigated by the Pentagon and law enforcement agencies on national security grounds. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall responded last week to Shaheen that he shared those concerns but could not comment on the status of a person’s security clearance. Tech billionaire Musk spent at least $270 million to help Donald Trump win the US presidency, according to new federal filings, making him the country’s biggest political donor. Trump has selected the South African-born tycoon and fellow ally Vivek Ramaswamy to head the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, through which the pair have promised to deliver billions of dollars of cuts in federal spending. Musk does not respond to a request for comment and there is no comment from the Israeli Defense Ministry.
The European Broadcasting Union, organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest, sends a letter to lawmakers expressing “deep concern” over government plans to privatize the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation. “Such a move would not only jeopardize Israel’s media landscape but could also have significant ramifications for the country’s democratic foundations and international reputation,” the letter to the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee reads. “Shutting down the IPBC, taking control or reducing its budget, would signal a departure from the standards upheld by democratic nations worldwide and risk eroding not only domestic confidence but also International credibility,” the letter states. “[Kan’s] membership of the EBU provides Israelis with significant benefits, including a role in key international events such as the Eurovision Song Contest – the best performing TV show in Israel last year – and access to major sports rights, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, ensuring free-to-air coverage for all Israelis,” the letter reads. “Kan’s active participation in the international creative industry has showcased Israel’s talent, culture, and innovation to the world.” “Privatizing the IPBC would jeopardize this relationship and almost certainly lead to Kan’s exclusion from our Union, diminishing the nation’s role in key events and restricting Israeli citizens access to such content,” the EBU says. The EBU also noted that Kan`s coverage of the Hamas onslaught on October 7, 2023, was the most widely distributed news footage via their news exchange. “Weakening or dismantling this institution could lead to a vacuum in reliable news dissemination, both domestically and internationally,” the EBU warns.
Smotrich: Potential deal is ‘serious error’ that neither meets war aims nor brings all hostages home Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich comes out against the potential ceasefire-hostage deal, calling it a “serious error.” “It’s a serious error that neither serves the goals and interests of the State of Israel in the war, nor [brings] the return of the hostages, because in the end it is a partial deal,” he tells the Haredi radio station Kol Barama, according to the Ynet news site. “Hamas is at its lowest point since the beginning of the war, and this is not the time to give it a lifeline,” he says, adding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “knows what our red lines are; we [his Religious Zionism party] have a great influence over the government’s moves.” According to reports, Hamas is demanding a permanent end to the war along with the withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza, while Israel is seeking a temporary pause, during which some of the hostages would be released, followed by a resumption of its fighting in order to finish dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities. Relatives of hostages and others have spoken out against the prospect of a phased deal, which could fall apart before all hostages are let go.
Report: Revolutionary Guards control up to 50% of Iran’s oil exports, using income to fund proxies Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have tightened their grip on the country’s oil industry and control up to half the exports that generate most of Tehran’s revenue and fund its proxies across the Middle East, according to Western officials, security sources and Iranian insiders. All aspects of the oil business have come under the growing influence of the Guards, from the shadow fleet of tankers that secretively ship sanctioned crude, to logistics and the front companies selling the oil, mostly to China, according to more than a dozen people interviewed by Reuters. The extent of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) control over oil exports has not previously been reported. Despite tough Western sanctions designed to choke Iran’s energy industry, reimposed by former US President Donald Trump in 2018, Iran generates more than $50 billion a year in oil revenue, by far its largest source of foreign currency and its principal connection to the global economy. Six specialists – Western officials and security experts as well as Iranian and trading sources – say the Guards control up to 50% of Iran’s oil exports, a sharp increase from about 20% three years ago. The sources declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. Three of the estimates were based on intelligence documents about Iranian shipping while others derived their figures from monitoring shipping activity by tankers and companies linked to the IRGC. Reuters is unable to determine the exact extent of the IRGC’s control. The IRGC’s growing domination of the oil industry adds to its influence in all areas of Iran’s economy and also makes it harder for Western sanctions to hit home – given the Guards are already designated as a terrorist organization by Washington. As part of their expansion in the industry, the Guards have muscled in on the territory of state institutions such as the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and its NICO oil trading subsidiary, according to four of the sources. The IRGC, NIOC, NICO and Iran’s foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
Bus driver lightly hurt as gunmen open fire during uncoordinated visit to Nablus tomb The driver of a bus who took a group to visit Joseph’s Tomb in the Palestinian city of Nablus overnight without prior coordination with the military was lightly injured when gunmen opened fire at his vehicle, Hebrew-language media reports. According to reports, the driver dropped the group of 22 men at the tomb and his vehicle was attacked by Palestinian gunmen as he left the area. The Israel Defense Forces then sent troops to the area to extract the pilgrims and the bus driver. In a statement, the military says the men were transferred to the Israel Police for questioning. The Kan public broadcaster reports the men were members of the ultra-Orthodox Shuvu Bonim cult led by convicted sex offender Rabbi Eliezer Berland. Last week, three members of the sect were lightly injured when gunmen opened fire at them during an uncoordinated visit to the tomb. In June, a number of members of the sect entered Nablus in an attempt to visit the tomb on an uncoordinated visit, leading the army to send a large number of forces into the area to retrieve them. Before the war, busloads of Orthodox Jews visited Joseph’s Tomb under IDF protection on a nearly monthly basis, and the pilgrimages almost always sparked violent clashes with Palestinian locals. The IDF bars Israeli citizens from entering Palestinian cities without prior authorization and protection, and some criticize the monthly incursions as an unnecessary provocation that additionally places Israeli soldiers at risk.