France and Italy Summon Israeli Ambassadors After Israel Fired ‘Warning Shots' at Diplomatic Delegation
French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has summoned the Israeli ambassador after diplomats encountered 'warning shots' from Israeli soldiers during a visit to the Israeli-occupied West Bank. No injuries or damages have been reported.
In a post on X, Barrot said: 'This is unacceptable,' adding and that the Israeli ambassador "will be summoned" to provide an explanation.
Antonio Tajani, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that he has instructed the Israeli ambassador be summoned to Rome in order to 'obtain official clarification' regarding the gunshots.
The diplomats were part of a regional and European delegation visiting the town of Jenin on Wednesday, May 21. In a statement, Israel's Foreign Ministry said that 'warning shots' were fired as the diplomats had "deviated from the approved route" during their visit, adding that it "regrets the inconvenience caused."
Kaja Kallas, the E.U. High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said 'any threats on diplomats' lives are unacceptable,' and that those responsible for the incident should be held accountable during a press conference on Wednesday.
Ireland's Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris said that he was 'shocked and appalled' by the incident, explaining that two Irish diplomats were with the group. 'This is completely unacceptable and I condemn it in the strongest terms.' Harris said via social media.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also rebuked the incident, saying: "This is a clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and a crime that contravenes all diplomatic norms." The Ministry also said it 'denies the narrative' told by Israeli forces.
A Times of Israel reporter has shared a video seemingly showing the incident, in which shots can be heard and soldiers can be seen in the distance.
The West Bank has seen a significant increase in military operations since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. In February, Israeli tanks entered Jenin for the first time since 2002. Various Palestinian militant factions are also present in the town, regularly clashing with both Israeli and Palestinian Authority forces.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
15 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Israel's Weapon Sales Break Record Despite Gaza Outrage
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Israel increased its defense exports for a fourth year running in 2024, the Israeli government said on Wednesday, with significant jumps in sales to Europe despite increasing diplomatic pressure and criticism from the country's allies over the war in Gaza. Israel exported a record $14.7 billion in defense products in 2024, marking a 13 percent increase from 2023, the Israeli Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. The country's defense exports have more than doubled over the past five years, according to the Israeli government. There was "significant growth" in contracts signed off with European nations, which accounted for 54 percent of the deals closed last year, the ministry said—up from 35 percent in 2023. European nations are under major pressure from the U.S. to dramatically increase defense spending as Washington makes its intention to pivot away from Europe and toward the Indo-Pacific crystal clear. An Israeli artillery unit in southern Israel moving along the border with the Gaza Strip on January 19, 2024. An Israeli artillery unit in southern Israel moving along the border with the Gaza Strip on January 19, has long leaned on the U.S. to provide much of the most expensive capabilities it needs, broadly letting defense spending drop after the end of the Cold War. European officials agree that military spending across the continent needs to quickly surge in the face of a floated U.S. pullback and warnings that Russia could mount an attack on a NATO country in the coming years. But European nations have become more critical of Israel since the Israel government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, voted to expand the Israeli military's offensive in Gaza in early May and launched intensive airstrikes and ground operations weeks later. Israel has said it seeks to occupy 75 percent of the devastated Gaza Strip. Israel's government framed the surge in demand for Israeli systems as a "direct result" of the country's war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas and its fight against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon. "The world sees Israeli strength and seeks to be a partner in it," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. "The new record in Israeli defense exports, achieved during a year of war, reflects more than anything else the growing global appreciation for Israeli technology's proven capabilities," said Major General Amir Baram, the director general of Israel's Defense Ministry. Israel launched its offensive in Gaza after Hamas carried out its unprecedented October 7 attacks in 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 more hostage into the strip. The almost 20 months of war has torn Gaza apart, often displacing residents multiple times and killing more than 54,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. A U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreed in January collapsed in March as Israel enforced a blockade on all humanitarian aid into the strip. Almost three months later, Israel said it had allowed some aid into Gaza in mid-May for "practical" and "diplomatic" reasons. "We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza," the U.K., France and Canada said in a joint statement last month. "We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions," the statement continued. "If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response." The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an organization backed by the U.S. and Israel that distributes essential supplies in the strip, said it would temporarily suspend operations on Wednesday. The Israeli military separately said it was "strictly prohibited" for Gaza residents to enter the distribution areas, as roads on the way to the centers "are considered combat zones." The Spanish government has decided to cancel a deal with a Madrid-based subsidiary of the Israeli state-owned defense giant Rafael to produce 1,680 anti-tank weapons, Spanish media reported on Tuesday. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said last week that Berlin would review "whether what is happening in the Gaza Strip is compatible with international humanitarian law." He added, "Further arms deliveries will be authorized based on the outcome of that review." Last month, the British government suspended free trade talks with Israel and imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday, "Israel's recent action is appalling and in my view, counterproductive and intolerable." The Israeli government said on Wednesday that the majority of the "hundreds" of defense deals it signed throughout the past year were worth more than $100 million. Missiles, rockets and air defense systems accounted for almost half of all deals, a surge from 36 percent from the previous year, according to the ministry. Israel is well known for its vaunted Iron Dome short-range air defense system, one of the many layers of air defenses the country uses to fend off different types of attacks. President Donald Trump's new Golden Dome missile defense shield for the U.S., designed to protect against next-generation, long-range weapons, is modeled on the Iron Dome. Getting hold of more air defense systems and interceptor missiles is a top priority for European countries. NATO has requested that European members build out their ground-based air defenses fivefold in the face of Russia, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. Vehicles and armored personnel carriers made up almost a tenth of the sales, with satellite and space systems exports reaching 8 percent of the total, up from 2 percent in 2023. North America took just under a 10 percent share of the 2024 deals, the Israeli government said, with Abraham Accords countries—nations in the Middle East that have normalized relations with Israel—accounted for 12 percent of sales.
Associated Press
18 minutes ago
- Associated Press
From ‘Tudo bem?' to ‘Gracias,' a growing share of US residents speak a language other than English
Spanish may be the most spoken language at home behind English, except in three U.S. states, but the second most-popular, non-English languages used in each state show off the diversity of the United States in unexpected places, whether it's Korean in Alabama or Vietnamese in Kansas. Almost 22% of U.S. residents age 5 and older spoke a language other than English at home, double the share from four decades ago, according to figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau, and it varied by state. In California, 44% of residents spoke a language other than English at home, while it was 2.5% in West Virginia. The United States is a multilingual nation due to immigration, despite recent crackdowns by the Trump administration, said William Frey, a demographer at The Brookings Institution. 'This is a big part of who we've been over a long period of time,' Frey said. President Donald Trump earlier this year issued an executive order designating English as the official language in the U.S. Spanish was spoken at home by 13.2% of speakers, and it was the top non-English language spoken at home in every state but Hawaii, Maine and Vermont. In Maine and Vermont, home to French Canadian communities, French was the most popular non-English language, and in Hawaii, it was Iloko, a Filipino language. Here's a look at where languages are spoken in the United States. ArabicOutside of English and Spanish, Arabic was the most spoken language at home in Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia. The Detroit, Michigan, area has more Arabic speakers than any other metro area. Central Yup'ik About 1 out of 7 Alaskans who speak a language other than English at home did so in Central Yup'ik, making the native language the second most common non-English language behind Spanish in Alaska. Chinese Chinese was the second-most common non-English language spoken at home in Delaware, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington. If all Chinese dialects are combined, it would be the third most spoken language in California behind English and Spanish. French Although it was the dominant non-English language in Maine and Vermont, French was the second most-common non-English language in Louisiana, Maryland, New Hampshire and North Carolina. German German was the most spoken language behind English and Spanish in eight states — Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina and Wyoming. In total, more than 871,000 people over age 5 spoke German at home in 2021, compared to 1.6 million in 1980. Haitian Florida had almost a half million Haitian speakers, making it the most common language behind English and Spanish. The Sunshine State has the nation's largest Haitian population. Hmong In Minnesota and Wisconsin, Hmong was the second-most spoken non-English language at home. Many Hmong people settled in the Upper Midwest states after fleeing Southeast Asia in the mid-1970s following the Vietnam War. Korean Korean was the most spoken language in Alabama and Virginia behind English and Spanish. Lakota In South Dakota, the Lakota dialect of the Sioux people was the most common language spoken behind English and Spanish. Marshallese The language of the Marshall Islands was the second-most spoken non-English language in Arkansas, where the community is concentrated in the northwest part of the state. Navajo Arizona and New Mexico had the most Navajo speakers in the United States. The Navajo Nation extends into Arizona and New Mexico, where the indigenous language was the second-most popular non-English speech in those two states. Polish Despite a nationwide decline in speakers, Polish was Illinois' second-most common non-English language behind Spanish, primarily due to the Chicago area having one of the nation's largest Polish communities. Portuguese Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island have some of the largest concentrations of Portuguese speakers in the U.S., making it the most spoken language in these states behind English and Spanish. It also is the second-most common non-English language in Utah, which is home to missionaries who served in Brazil and explains its popularity, according to the University of Utah. Tagalog The Filipino language was prevalent in California, Hawaii and Nevada, where it was the second-most popular non-English tongue. Vietnamese In Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas, Vietnamese was the most popular language behind English and Spanish, reflecting that people who speak different languages are no longer concentrated in big cities that serve as entry points for immigrants. 'People of different backgrounds are dispersed to different parts of the country,' Frey said. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @
Indianapolis Star
30 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
'Want those kids to stay': Teri Moren seeks growth after IU women's basketball's top shooter left
BLOOMINGTON — Indiana women's basketball coach Teri Moren didn't sugarcoat the loss of Yarden Garzon to Maryland through the transfer portal. 'It stings,' Moren said with a pause. 'It hurts, but you realize with revenue share and life-changing money that's out there, that's where we are.' Moren opened up about Garzon's departure in a wide-ranging interview with The Herald-Times last week. She envisioned Garzon having a farewell tour next season that rivaled the sendoffs Grace Berger, Mackenzie Holmes, Chloe Moore-McNeil and Sydney Parrish received in recent years as part of the group who ushered in an unprecedented era of success for IU women's hoops. The Israeli native averaged 12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists as a three-year starter for the Hoosiers. She led the team in scoring last season with 14.4 points per game while averaging a career-best 2.7 made 3-pointers (17th in the country). She reached the 1,000-point milestone and set the program's career record for made 3-pointers (220), a record that was set by Kris McGrade back in 1994. "I have talked a lot about legacy,' Moren said wistfully. 'You want those kids to stay.' The Hoosiers lost nine players (three graduated and six transferred) from last year's roster. The attrition stemmed from a variety of factors — reserves like Lexus Bargesser and Henna Sandvik were looking for expanded roles, while others like Lilly Meister were seeking a move away from center. Our book on legendary IU coach Bob Knight is the perfect Father's Day gift It was the unexpected departure of Garzon to a Big Ten rival that stunned IU fans who grew accustomed to seeing Moren keep the core of her team intact as it reeled off six straight NCAA tournament appearances, including three trips to the Sweet Sixteen. When Moren told reporters that her staff would have plenty of work to do in the portal after IU exited the NCAA tournament at South Carolina, she fully expected to be building a roster around Garzon, a versatile 6-foot-3 wing capable of playing any position on the floor. It wasn't until Moren started having individual sit-downs with her players after the season that she sensed Garzon might be considering her options in hopes of securing a bigger financial commitment. "We didn't anticipate it, there's no doubt,' Moren said. 'Do you have to reset? Yeah, you have to.' International athletes in the United States on student visas do face restrictions on NIL deals, but nothing prohibits them from earning money in their home country. Collectives generally structure NIL deals with foreign-born students to enable them to fulfill their obligations by hosting events such as overseas camps. The House v. NCAA settlement may create additional exceptions that allow international students to earn passive income through group licensing agreements. There was a whirlwind of activity in the portal, with programs looking to sign players to deals before the House v. NCAA case was finalized and ushers in a new era of revenue sharing that comes with a clearinghouse to vet NIL deals. Moren was reluctant to overcommit to any one player at the expense of the rest of the roster, given the new market realities — the price for fours and fives in the portal skyrocketed this offseason — while trying to keep her other returning players happy. 'This isn't just happening to Indiana basketball,' Moren said. 'The next week, it was Notre Dame (losing Olivia Miles) and some schools lost a lot more than others. We aren't unique; the only thing we can do is adapt and move on.' 'First for all of us': How Teri Moren navigated IU women's basketball rebuild, revenue-sharing Part of that process for Moren was spending time reflecting on how to best prioritize her time. She admitted it was a struggle shifting her focus away from game planning, but the recent departures have pushed her to make a change. The question she kept asking herself was, 'How do I get to their hearts?' Indiana has plenty of advantages over other schools — a dedicated fanbase, iconic venue, and recent history of success — but Moren envisions the coach-player relationship is more important than ever in the revenue-sharing era. 'I'm trying to get wise enough to understand that I can relinquish some of the Xs and Os stuff and spend more time on the development of the relationships, the leadership, and making sure that locker room stays healthy,' Moren said. 'I had my hands in everything and relied more on our team leaders in the past." "In order to keep these kids on the roster, I have to have a really strong relationship with all of them that goes deeper — I thought I had good relationships with all of them (that left), but obviously they weren't strong enough to keep them here.'
