LiveLive Updates July 16, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeJuly 16, 2026UpdatesLebanon's foreign minister: 'There will be no return to dual authority,' vows to end Hezbollah presenceLebanon's Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said that Lebanon made a decision to "end Hezbollah's military presence," which affirms that all decisions on war and foreign policy are the "exclusive prerogative of the Lebanese state.""There is no longer any place for weapons outside the authority of the state or for decisions taken outside its constitutional institutions," Raggi wrote on X.From the French Senate, I reaffirmed that Lebanon has made its choice: there will be no return to dual authority, and there is no longer any place for weapons outside the authority of the state or for decisions taken outside its constitutional institutions.
The decision to endShow more'At least a third of Likud lawmakers' tried to oust Netanyahu after October 7, MK saysMK Dan Illoz said that Likud MKs worked to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a few weeks after October 7, 2023, in an interview in Ynet, adding that the campaign fell through because of "ego struggles" within the party over who would be its next leader."I think there is at least a third of the Likud faction that all knew that the right thing was for the leadership to be replaced," the MK said. According to him, the plan was to oust Netanyahu in a vote of no confidence in the Knesset. He said the party did not succeed because lawmakers argued about "who should be the person to replace him."MK Dan Illoz of the Likud party, this week. Credit: Knesset spokespersonMK Dan Illoz of the Likud party, this week. Credit: Knesset spokespersonIlloz announced his resignation from the party on Wednesday, writing that the party has "been hijacked" in a post on Facebook. "Immediately after October 7, it became clear to everyone that Netanyahu had to end his term," he said. "Instead of standing before the public and asking for forgiveness, Likud is doing everything to evade responsibility."Read the full articleU.S. and Israel continue to 'cooperate,' Israel's Defense Ministry saysFollowing a conversation between Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the two officials "agreed to continue cooperation between the countries in the face of any possible development," according to a statement from the defense minister's office.Katz reviewed Israel's activity in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon, and according to the defense minister's office, emphasized Israel's determination to maintain its security zones. "We have never asked the U.S. to act in our place along our borders," Katz said in a statement.Read the full articleSettler raids reported in northern West BankIn the northern West Bank, settler attacks were reported in the Tulkarm and Nablus area that included rock throwing and setting fire to several cars.Settlers threw stones at a car between Luban al-Sharqiya and Salfit in the Nablus area, Palestinian residents said.Overnight in the village of Ramin east of Tulkarm, Palestinians reported that settlers set fire to several cars in an overnight raid.Gov't approves budget of over 1 billion shekels to build West Bank roads, secure settlementsThe government has approved a budget of over a billion shekels for paving roads and securing settlements in the West Bank.According to the proposal, submitted by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionism), the amount will be directed to paving access roads and security routes to dozens of new settlements that the cabinet legalized throughout the war.According to Smotrich, this is a "settlement-security revolution," allowing over 100 settlements and 160 farm outposts to be established, which, he said, "will strengthen Israel's security and kill the terrible idea of establishing a terrorist state in the heart of the State of Israel."Report: Trump considers expanding U.S. military operations in IranPresident Donald Trump is considering expanding U.S. military operations in Iran following briefings from top aides, U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal.According to the WSJ, Trump's options include expanding airstrikes against energy sites, sending ground forces to Kharg Island and other territory near the Strait of Hormuz, and bombing a tunnel complex at Pickaxe Mountain, which the United States says is a fortified site that could be used for covert nuclear work.FILE PHOTO: A satellite view shows tunnel entrances at Pickaxe Mountain, of the Natanz nuclear facility, near Natanz, Iran. Credit: VANTOR/ REUTERSFILE PHOTO: A satellite view shows tunnel entrances at Pickaxe Mountain, of the Natanz nuclear facility, near Natanz, Iran. Credit: VANTOR/ REUTERSRead the full articleU.S. strikes reach areas around Tehran for first time in current round of violenceThe United States intensified its strikes targeting Iran early Thursday, hitting targets further north as American forces also fired into a ship it accused of trying to break its naval blockade on the Islamic Republic. Strikes also reached into areas around Iran's capital, Tehran, for the first time in the latest round of violence.Iran retaliated with missile and drone fire targeting Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait before dawn.Read the full articleIn the NewsHow a Secret Mossad Operation in Dubai Ended Up in Israel's Design WeekNetanyahu Government Plans to Use Shin Bet for Law Enforcement in Arab CommunityIsrael Isn't Attacking Iran, but It's Deeply Involved in This WarResigning Likud MK: 'One Third' of Party Tried to Oust Netanyahu After Oct. 7Israel Police Officer Suspected of Obstructing Jerusalem Murder InvestigationRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIInside the Mossad Plot to Install Ahmadinejad as Iran's LeaderThe Original Tradwives of Ancient RomeEgypt Lost the World Cup. But Was the Referee Really Jewish?Eisenkot Is Quietly Gaining Ground in Likud Territory. Enough to Beat Netanyahu?Ro Khanna, U.S. Lawmaker & Israel Critic, Says West Bank Settlers 'Detained' HimRahm Emanuel Wants to Save Israel. But Are Israelis Listening?
