Trump slams Israel's prosecutors over Netanyahu corruption trial
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Saturday criticized Israel's prosecutors over an ongoing corruption trial against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying it was interfering with his ability to conduct talks with both Hamas and Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump also suggested that given the billions of dollars worth of military aid Washington was providing to Israel, it was not going to 'stand for this.'
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Asharq Al-Awsat
37 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Trump Metal Tariffs Wreak Havoc on US Factory
In the sweltering US summer, metal containers decorated with snowmen and sleighs are taking shape -- but tempers are also rising as their manufacturer grapples with President Donald Trump's steep steel tariffs. At Independent Can's factory in Belcamp, Maryland northeast of Baltimore, CEO Rick Huether recounts how he started working at his family's business at age 14. Huether, now 73, says he is determined to keep his manufacturing company afloat for generations to come. But Trump's tariffs are complicating this task. "We're living in chaos right now," he told AFP. Since returning to the presidency in January, Trump imposed tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and aluminum -- and then doubled the rate to 50 percent. This has weighed on operations at Independent Can, and Huether expects he eventually will have to raise prices. Not enough tinplate With the steady beat of presses, steel plates that have been coated with tin -- to prevent corrosion -- are turned into containers for cookies, dried fruit, coffee and milk powder at Huether's factory. But there is not enough of such American-made tinplate for companies like his. "In the United States, we can only make about 25 percent of the tinplate that's required to do what we do," in addition to what other manufacturers need, Huether said. "Those all require us to buy in the neighborhood of 70 percent of our steel outside of the United States," he added. While Huether is a proponent of growing the US manufacturing base, saying globalization has "gone almost a little bit too far," he expressed concern about Trump's methods. Trump has announced a stream of major tariffs only to later back off parts of them or postpone them, and also imposed duties on items the country does not produce. For now, Independent Can -- which employs nearly 400 people at four sites -- is ruling out any layoffs despite the current upheaval. But Huether said one of the company's plants in Iowa closed last year in part because of a previous increase in steel tariffs, during Trump's first presidential term. Price hikes With steel tariffs at 50 percent now, Huether expects he will ultimately have to raise his prices by more than 20 percent, given that tinplate represents a part of his production costs. Some buyers have already reduced their orders this year by 20 to 25 percent, over worries about the economy and about not having enough business themselves. Others now seem more inclined to buy American, but Huether expressed reservations over how long this trend might last, citing his experiences from the Covid-19 crisis. "During the pandemic, we took everybody in. As China shut down and the ports were locked up, our business went up 50 percent," he explained. But when the pandemic was over, customers turned back to purchasing from China, he said. "Today if people want to come to us, we'll take them in," he said, but added: "We need to have a two-year contract." Huether wants to believe that his company, which is almost a century old after being founded during the Great Depression, will weather the latest disruptions. "I think that our business will survive," he said, but added: "It's trying to figure out what you're going to sell in the next six months."
Al Arabiya
38 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
Israeli protestors urge action for Gaza hostages after Iran truce
Thousands of demonstrators rallied in Israel on Saturday to demand that the government secure the release of 49 hostages still held in Gaza, AFP reporters saw. It was the first rally by hostages' relatives since Israel agreed a ceasefire with Iran on June 24 after a 12-day war, raising hopes that the truce would lend momentum to efforts to end the Gaza conflict and bring the hostages home. Emergency restrictions in place during the war with Iran had prevented the normally weekly rally from taking place. A crowd filled 'Hostages Square' in central Tel Aviv, waving Israeli flags and placards bearing the pictures of Israelis seized by Palestinian militants during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The deadly attacks prompted Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch a fierce military offensive in Gaza, vowing to crush Hamas and free the hostages. Twenty months and several hostage exchanges later, 49 of those seized are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead -- raising pressure on Netanyahu's government. 'The war with Iran ended in an agreement. The war in Gaza must end the same way -- with a deal that brings everyone home,' said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the main body representing the relatives, in a statement to mark the rally. Some demonstrators called on US President Donald Trump to help secure a ceasefire in Gaza that would see the captives freed, hailing his backing for Israel in the conflict with Iran. 'President Trump, end the crisis in Gaza. Nobel is waiting,' read one placard, in reference to a possible peace prize for the US leader. 'I call on Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump,' one released hostage, Liri Albag, said at the rally. 'You made brave decisions on Iran. Now make the brave decision to end the war in Gaza and bring them home.'
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
France offers to help make Gaza food distribution safer
France 'stands ready, Europe as well, to contribute to the safety of food distribution' in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Saturday. His comments came as criticism grew over mounting civilian deaths at Israeli-backed food distribution centers in the territory. Such an initiative, he added, would also deal with Israeli concerns that armed groups such as Hamas were getting hold of the aid. Barrot expressed anger over 'the 500 people who have lost their life in food distribution' in Gaza in recent weeks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday denounced as a 'blood libel' a report in left-leaning daily Haaretz alleging that military commanders had ordered soldiers to fire at Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid in Gaza Aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Friday denounced the Israel- and US-backed food distribution effort in Gaza as 'slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid.' And UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday that hungry people in Gaza seeking food must not face a 'death sentence.' The health ministry in Gaza, a territory controlled by Hamas, says that since late May, more than 500 people have been killed near aid centers while seeking scarce supplies.
