Latest news with #Channel13
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
PM reveals ousting of top officials to advance controversial haredi military service bill
"Everyone must serve: Secular, religious, and haredim," Gallant said in response. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted former defense minister Yoav Gallant and former IDF chief-of-staff Herzi Halevi were "obstacles" to reaching a bill to grant ultra-Orthodox Jews exemption from military service, leaked recordings of the prime minister published by Channel 13 on Wednesday revealed. In a recording of an English-language conversation with an unnamed senior rabbi, the prime minister appeared to admit his firing of Gallant in November of last year, and Halevi's resignation earlier this year, amounted to "enormous obstacles that we advance" a draft bill acceptable to the haredi factions in the coalition. "You know, when the defense minister's against you, and the chief-of-staff is against you, you cannot move - now we can move," Netanyahu is heard saying in the recording. "I have also talked personally about 20 times [with] Yuli Edelstein, who runs the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and I said: 'Look, I'm personally taking charge of this.'" In a later statement, the Prime Minister's Office asserted that it stood by its decision to remove Halevi and Gallant. "As is clearly heard in the recordings — without the distorted interpretation of Channel 13's 'analysts' — the Prime Minister notes that it was the previous Chief of Staff and Defense Minister who prevented the establishment of the dedicated units for Haredi service," the Wednesday statement reads. "In contrast, the current Defense Minister and Chief of Staff are advancing the issue rapidly and professionally — and we are proud of that." In the recording, Netanyahu further implied that Gallant and Halevi interfered in the IDF's ability to acceptharedi men into military service. "Look, there are people who are trying to undermine us. I came from the army now. The army is doing exactly what we asked them to do now, they're creating the ability to receive haredim and hold a haredi lifestyle in the army." Gallant commented on Channel 13's report on Wednesday evening, stressing that he is "proud to have stood by the principle by which everyone must take part in the mission of defending our nation. The need to enlist every young man of military age is essential to maintaining Israel's security," he wrote on X/Twitter. "Everyone must serve: Secular, religious, and haredim," Gallant added. Opposition leader Yair Lapid slammed Netanyahu and said that the prime minister was willing to sacrifice the country for his political gain. "A question that should trouble the sleep of every Israeli tonight: What else is Netanyahu willing to do for the sake of evasion and politics while the State of Israel is fighting for its life?"
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Hungarian Low-Cost Wizz Air Eyes Morocco Routes With New Israel Base
Doha – Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air plans to establish a base at Ben Gurion Airport and may add routes from Israel to Morocco, according to Israeli Channel 13. This development comes as most foreign airlines have halted operations to Tel Aviv following Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza carried out by Netanyahu's government. According to Channel 13, Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev and Wizz Air's CEO have reached an agreement for the airline to open a base in Israel. This move represents a 'game-changing event' as Wizz Air operates a fleet of 230 aircraft, potentially leading to significant price reductions for flights. While Irish low-cost airline Ryanair announced last week the cancellation of all its flights until August, Wizz Air reportedly sees business potential in the absence of foreign carriers in Israel due to Houthi threats and larger regional instability due to the genocide. The airline plans to increase its passenger capacity from Israel by at least threefold. The expansion will include additional flights on existing European routes from Ben Gurion Airport and new destinations such as India, with Morocco also mentioned as a possibility. The agreement, expected to be signed in July, includes a condition from Minister Regev that Wizz Air operate domestic flights between Tel Aviv and Eilat. This also follows the suspension of flights between Morocco and Israel since October 2023, when Israel launched its brutal military assault on Gaza. Despite Regev's controversial visit to Morocco in February for a road safety conference, Israeli security officials dismissed reports about imminent resumption of direct flights. An Israeli security source told Mako news that flights could not resume while Morocco remains under a Level 3 travel warning. 'We will not take risks regarding the lives of Israelis,' the official claimed, citing what he called 'anti-Israel' demonstrations across Morocco. This stands in stark contrast to past reports showing an influx of Israeli tourists in recent years, with no reported incidents of anti-Jewish sentiment or attacks. Prior to October 2023, several carriers operated direct flights between the two countries, including Royal Air Maroc, El Al, Israir, and Arkia, connecting Tel Aviv with Marrakech and Casablanca. Morocco had been gaining popularity among Israeli tourists, with approximately 70,000 Israelis visiting in 2022 and numbers climbing toward 200,000 in 2023 before the Gaza genocide. Mounting challenges to Israeli aviation Israel's aviation sector currently faces serious challenges. Most foreign airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv after a Houthi missile struck inside the grounds of Ben Gurion Airport on May 4. According to Israeli Channel 12, fewer than 25 airlines are still operating in Israel, compared to around 50 before the attack. The situation has stranded thousands of Israelis abroad, forcing Minister Regev to hold emergency meetings with heads of Israeli carriers to discuss solutions. Daily passenger traffic at Ben Gurion Airport has dropped to around 40,000 people per day, down from approximately 70,000 at the end of April. Foreign airlines are now demanding changes to Israel's passenger compensation laws before resuming flights. A group of 20 foreign carriers has urged the Transportation Ministry to declare a special security situation and temporarily limit passenger compensation rights to make flight resumptions more feasible. The airlines argue that Israel's 2012 Aviation Services Law was never intended to cover prolonged periods of state-led aggression and siege like the ongoing assault on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023. The Hamas attack was a response to the Hebrew state's repeated violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque — and the broader context of occupation, displacement, and systemic injustice imposed on Palestinians since 1948 and even earlier. Read also: Israeli Government Approves Maritime Transport Deal with Morocco Tags: Morocco IsraelWizz Air
Middle East Eye
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Majority of Israeli public opposes aid to Gaza: Poll
A new Channel 13 survey has revealed that over half of Israeli respondents - 53 percent - oppose allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, even as conditions in the besieged enclave continue to deteriorate and the UN warns of deepening famine in the strip. The poll also included Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up more than 20 percent of the country's population, suggesting the number of Israelis opposing aid into Gaza could be much higher. Reacting to the findings, Ayman Odeh, a Palestinian-Israeli parliamentarian, expressed deep concern. 'I don't want to imagine the outcome without the Arab citizens. I don't want to explain the survey results to my children,' he wrote on X.
Middle East Eye
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israeli defence minister says Hamas returned to talks following deadly army offensive
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that Hamas has returned to discussions after Israel launched a deadly military offensive on Gaza late on Friday. 'With the launch of Operation Gideon's Chariots in Gaza, led with great force by the IDF [Israeli army] command, the Hamas delegation in Doha announced a return to negotiations on a hostage deal, contrary to the refusal stance they had taken up until that moment,' Katz said in a statement. Over 60 Palestinians have been killed since dawn today as a result of the latest Israeli aggression. Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nono indicated that these negotiations "began without any preconditions from either side". "Hamas will present its viewpoint on all issues, especially ending the war, withdrawal and prisoner exchange," Nono added. According to the Israeli Channel 13, an Israeli official said that indirect talks have resumed in Qatar's capital, with Hamas in attendance.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
500 Festival Parade returns. What to know about parking, performers and tickets
A tradition since 1957, the downtown Indianapolis parade celebrating the Indianapolis 500 marches on. 2025's AES 500 Festival Parade is expected to draw more than 200,000 spectators to watch floats, giant helium balloons, bands and all 33 Indy 500 what to know about one of the most anticipated events of the year: The parade will take place on Saturday, May 24. Festivities kick off at 11:45 am, and the parade begins at noon. WTHR, Channel 13, will broadcast the parade live for the Indianapolis audience, while Peacock will stream the event live. WTHR will re-air the broadcast at 8 p.m. on May 24. NBA champion and former Indiana Pacer star Scot Pollard is this year's grand marshal. Kelsey Hart is the featured performer for the AES 500 Festival Parade Opening Production. The Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders and Pacemates will also perform. Hart will perform a post-parade concert at Turntable starting at 8 p.m. The general admission show benefits the 500 Festival. Use code PARADE to get tickets for $10 at 38th Infantry Division Band, Indianapolis – Director, Catherine Maloney Centerville High School Blue Regiment, Centerville, Indiana – Director, Johnathan Lucy Chartiers Valley Showband, Bridgeville, Pennsylvania – Director, Traci Kelly Goshen High School Crimson Marching Band, Goshen, Indiana – Director, Tom Cox Indianapolis Public Schools All-City Marching Band, Indianapolis – Director, Josh Goodman Jimtown High School Marching Jimmies, Elkhart, Indiana – Director, Kathy Baughman Belleville West Marching Maroons, Belleville, Illinois – Director, Michael Pond-Jones Eastern (Pekin) Musketeer Brigade, Pekin, Indiana – Director, Matt Lindley National Band Association Indiana All-Star Band, Zionsville, Indiana – Director, Mickey Stisher New Prairie Marching Cougars, New Carlisle, Indiana – Director, Jared Jaggi Purdue University "All-American" Marching Band, West Lafayette, Indiana - Director, Matt Conaway NorthWood High School Red Regiment, Nappanee, Indiana – Director, Eric Criss Speedway High School 500 Regiment Band, Speedway, Indiana – Director, Amy Mohl Warren Central Gold Brigade Marching Band and Color Guard, Indianapolis – Director, Ed Meckes The parade starts at the intersection of Pennsylvania and North streets and goes south to Washington Street, east to Meridian Street, and then north on Meridian to end at North Street. See the parade route at The 2025 theme is 'Connected Through May,' celebrating how the 500 Festival unites with local organizations and community members through its diverse events and programs, especially in May. AES 500 Festival Parade tickets are on sale, starting at $25, at Proceeds from all 500 Festival ticketed events help support the organization's free education, health, and fitness initiatives for Indiana youth. Organizers suggest arriving early to find parking, as many downtown streets will be closed to traffic and public parking in preparation for the event. Several parking facilities will be open for event parking, but due to street closings, not all routes into the various parking locations will be available. 500 Festival Parade recommends drivers: Arrive early and relax during peak exit times. Enter downtown from the side on which you plan to park and park facing the direction you intend to depart. Plan where you will park ahead of time. Plan your route ahead of time and carpool if possible. Prepare to park away from the event site. Plan to use a parking garage or lot. Metered parking is limited around special event areas. Book parking in advance through SpotHero. Visit for street close on May 23 for Vermont Street between Pennsylvania and Delaware streets; and on May 24 for the parade route. The event is coordinated by 500 Festival, a not-for-profit organization that produces more than 50 events and programs while celebrating the Indianapolis 500. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: When is the 500 Festival Parade? What to know about the 2025 event
