Latest news with #IsraelIranCeasefire
Daily Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Telegraph
‘Historic': Netanyahu nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that he's nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize — presenting the commander in chief with the letter he sent to the committee responsible for bestowing the honour. 'I want to present to you, Mr. President, the letter I sent to the Nobel Prize committee,' Netanyahu told Trump at the White House. 'It's the nomination of you for the peace prize, which is well-deserved. And you should get it.' Netanyahu then reached across the table separating the US and Israeli delegations to hand the letter to Trump. 'This I didn't know,' a surprised Trump said as he inspected the nomination. 'Well, thank you very much. 'Coming from you, in particular, this is very meaningful. Thank you very much.' Trump's efforts to secure an Israel-Iran ceasefire, essentially ending the 12-day war between the two nations, had previously earned him nomination for the prize from Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.). President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Blue Room of the White House. Picture: AP In a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Carter recommended Trump for the prestigious prize 'in recognition of his extraordinary and historic role in brokering an end to the armed conflict between Israel and Iran and preventing the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism from obtaining the most lethal weapon on the planet.' Trump hosted Netanyahu at the White House for high-level meetings ahead of a private dinner between the two world leaders. The Trump administration and Netanyahu's team were expected to discuss the future of Gaza and the possibility of the Jewish state normalising relations with Arab nations — but details of any potential progress made on both fronts were scant. 'I think our teams together make an extraordinary combination to meet challenges and seize opportunities,' Netanyahu said ahead of dinner with Trump. 'But the president has already realised a great opportunity to forge the Abraham Accords. He's forging peace as we speak, and one country and one region after the other.' Netanyahu met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Blair House, the president's guesthouse, for an extended meeting, but a readout was not released. 'I want to present to you, Mr. President, the letter I sent to the Nobel Prize committee.' Picture: AFP Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff also met with the Israeli prime minister, but similarly, no details were made available about what was discussed. Trump has pushed for Netanyahu to secure a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that would also result in the release of hostages being held by the terror group in Gaza. The prime minister, however, has insisted that Israel will not enter into any agreement that allows Hamas' continued existence in Gaza — a massive sticking point in ending the war. Netanyahu recently said his delegation meeting with mediators in Qatar has been instructed to reach a deal under those terms. The Israeli prime minister also maintains that the Israeli military should occupy Gaza indefinitely, with the role of governors transferred to local officials without any known ties to Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank. Meanwhile, Israel's military launched air strikes early Monday targeting ports and facilities held by Yemen's Houthis, with the group responding with missile fire targeting Israel. Reports of a security incident in Gaza resulting in Israeli Defense Force casualties broke during Netanyahu's White House visit, but Trump indicated that he doesn't expect it to hamper progress on a ceasefire deal. Benjamin Netanyahu says the nomination is 'well-deserved' for securing an Israel-Iran ceasefire Picture: AP 'I don't think so,' Trump said when asked if the reported ambush of IDF soldiers in Gaza would impact negotiations. 'They want it. They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire. So, I don't think so.' Witkoff described the incident as 'terribly unfortunate' but, directly addressing Netanyahu, argued, 'We have an opportunity to finally get a peace deal, Mr. Prime Minister, as we discussed, and I'm hopeful for it very quickly.' On potentially relocating Palestinians from Gaza to rebuild the strip, as Trump suggested earlier this year, Netanyahu said Israel is working with the Trump administration to find countries 'that will seek to realise what they always say: that they want to give the Palestinians a better future.' 'You know, if people want to stay, they can stay. But if they want to leave, they should be able to leave. It shouldn't be, you know, a prison,' Netanyahu said of Gaza. 'I think we're getting close to finding several countries [that will take in Palestinians], and I think this will give, again, the freedom to choose.' This story first appeared in the New York Post and was republished with permission. Originally published as 'Historic': Netanyahu nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
News.com.au
09-07-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Historic': Netanyahu nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that he's nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize — presenting the commander in chief with the letter he sent to the committee responsible for bestowing the honour. 'I want to present to you, Mr. President, the letter I sent to the Nobel Prize committee,' Netanyahu told Trump at the White House. 'It's the nomination of you for the peace prize, which is well-deserved. And you should get it.' Netanyahu then reached across the table separating the US and Israeli delegations to hand the letter to Trump. 'This I didn't know,' a surprised Trump said as he inspected the nomination. 'Well, thank you very much. 'Coming from you, in particular, this is very meaningful. Thank you very much.' Trump's efforts to secure an Israel-Iran ceasefire, essentially ending the 12-day war between the two nations, had previously earned him nomination for the prize from Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.). In a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Carter recommended Trump for the prestigious prize 'in recognition of his extraordinary and historic role in brokering an end to the armed conflict between Israel and Iran and preventing the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism from obtaining the most lethal weapon on the planet.' Trump hosted Netanyahu at the White House for high-level meetings ahead of a private dinner between the two world leaders. The Trump administration and Netanyahu's team were expected to discuss the future of Gaza and the possibility of the Jewish state normalising relations with Arab nations — but details of any potential progress made on both fronts were scant. 'I think our teams together make an extraordinary combination to meet challenges and seize opportunities,' Netanyahu said ahead of dinner with Trump. 'But the president has already realised a great opportunity to forge the Abraham Accords. He's forging peace as we speak, and one country and one region after the other.' Netanyahu met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Blair House, the president's guesthouse, for an extended meeting, but a readout was not released. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff also met with the Israeli prime minister, but similarly, no details were made available about what was discussed. Trump has pushed for Netanyahu to secure a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that would also result in the release of hostages being held by the terror group in Gaza. The prime minister, however, has insisted that Israel will not enter into any agreement that allows Hamas' continued existence in Gaza — a massive sticking point in ending the war. Netanyahu recently said his delegation meeting with mediators in Qatar has been instructed to reach a deal under those terms. The Israeli prime minister also maintains that the Israeli military should occupy Gaza indefinitely, with the role of governors transferred to local officials without any known ties to Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank. Meanwhile, Israel's military launched air strikes early Monday targeting ports and facilities held by Yemen's Houthis, with the group responding with missile fire targeting Israel. Reports of a security incident in Gaza resulting in Israeli Defense Force casualties broke during Netanyahu's White House visit, but Trump indicated that he doesn't expect it to hamper progress on a ceasefire deal. 'I don't think so,' Trump said when asked if the reported ambush of IDF soldiers in Gaza would impact negotiations. 'They want it. They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire. So, I don't think so.' Witkoff described the incident as 'terribly unfortunate' but, directly addressing Netanyahu, argued, 'We have an opportunity to finally get a peace deal, Mr. Prime Minister, as we discussed, and I'm hopeful for it very quickly.' On potentially relocating Palestinians from Gaza to rebuild the strip, as Trump suggested earlier this year, Netanyahu said Israel is working with the Trump administration to find countries 'that will seek to realise what they always say: that they want to give the Palestinians a better future.' 'You know, if people want to stay, they can stay. But if they want to leave, they should be able to leave. It shouldn't be, you know, a prison,' Netanyahu said of Gaza. 'I think we're getting close to finding several countries [that will take in Palestinians], and I think this will give, again, the freedom to choose.'
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Netanyahu nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu handed President Donald Trump a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace prize at a dinner Monday, a gesture that ostensibly took the president by surprise. 'It's nominating you for the Peace Prize, which is well deserved, and you should get it,' the Israeli leader told Trump, just days after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire after 12 days of fighting and a U.S. bombing of the Islamic republic's nuclear facilities. 'This I didn't know,' Trump responded after thanking Netanyahu. 'Coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful,' Trump told Netanyahu, who said he had sent the nominating letter to the Nobel Prize Committee. Trump has long been known to covet the prize, and his allies have continued to push the issue, even as both boasted about the military attacks that 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear facilities. It happened at a meeting in which Trump said Iran wants to return to the negotiating table, perhaps as early as next week. Trump confirmed Iran requested a meeting and he agreed to attend, expressing optimism about negotiations while not ruling out further military action. He denied any holdup in Gaza ceasefire talks, saying "things are going along very well." Trump then shifted to discuss recent Israel-Iran tensions, describing it as an unpleasant period where "every single missile was shot out of the air." When asked about his controversial plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, he deferred to Netanyahu. He also gave an unexpected response about sending weapons to Ukraine, contradicting his press secretary's earlier defense of the administration's evaluation process. 'We're going to send some more weapons. We have to,' he said.' He said they were 'primarily' defensive weapons, because Ukraine is being hit 'very hard.' He repeated his statements that he was 'disappointed' in his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. House Republican allies of Trump have also been talking up a peace prize nomination for the president, and Trump has been pointing to his own efforts to settle shooting between nuclear powers India and Pakistan. 'We stopped a lot of fights,' Trump said. Trump's dinner with Netanyahu was part of strategy session to determine a way forward with Iran after the president joined Israel's assault on its longtime nemesis. A solution to the ongoing war in Gaza, which Israel began after the brutal October 7 attacks inside Israel, has proved elusive. 'The utmost priority for the president right now in the Middle East is to end the war in Gaza and to return all of the hostages,' Leavitt told reporters ahead of the leaders' private dinner. She said Trump wants Hamas to agree to a US-brokered proposal 'right now.' Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to join talks in Doha later this week as the war approaches the two-year mark. The meeting is the third between Trump and Netanyahu this year. Yet the outwardly triumphant visit will be dogged by Israel's 21-month war against Hamas in Gaza and questions over how hard Trump will push for an end to the conflict. Trump has made clear that following last month's 12-day war between Israel and Iran he would like to see the Gaza conflict end soon. The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu could give new urgency to a U.S. ceasefire proposal being discussed by Israel and Hamas, but whether it leads to a deal that ends the war is unclear. Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Netanyahu praised the cooperation with the U.S. for bringing a 'huge victory over our shared enemy.' He struck a positive note on a ceasefire for Gaza, saying he was working 'to achieve the deal under discussion, on the terms we agreed to.' 'I think that the discussion with President Trump can certainly help advance that result, which all of us hope for,' Netanyahu said. White House officials are urging Israel and Hamas to quickly seal a new ceasefire agreement that would bring about a 60-day pause in the fighting, send aid flooding into Gaza and free at least some of the remaining 50 hostages held in the territory, 20 of whom are believed to be living. Leavitt announced on Monday that Witkoff will travel later this week to Doha, Qatar, for ceasefire and hostage talks. But a sticking point is whether the ceasefire will end the war altogether. Hamas has said it is willing to free all the hostages in exchange for an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu says the war will end once Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile - something it refuses to do. Demonstrators, including hostage family members, gathered outside the U.S. Capitol before the leaders' meeting to press for the release of all remaining hostages in any agreement. 'We cannot accept a deal for a partial release,' said Ilan Dalal, father of Guy Gilboa-Dalal. 'A partial deal would mean that some of the hostages will stay in the tunnels for more time and this would be a death sentence.' Trump has been pressuring Israel and Hamas to wrap up the conflict, which has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, ravaged Gaza, deepened Israel's international isolation and made any resolution to the broader conflict between Israel and the Palestinians more distant than ever. But the precise details of the deal, and whether it can lead to an end to the war, are still in flux. In the days before Netanyahu's visit, Trump seemed to downplay the chances for a breakthrough. Asked on Friday how confident he was a ceasefire deal would come together, Trump told reporters: 'It changes from day to day.' On Sunday evening, he seemed to narrow his expectation, telling reporters that he thought an agreement related to the remaining hostages would be reached in the coming week. Those mood swings also have embodied Trump's relationship with Netanyahu. As recently as Netanyahu's last visit to Washington in April, the tone was markedly different . Trump used the photo-op with Netanyahu to announce that the U.S. was entering into negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program - appearing to catch the Israeli leader off guard and, at the time, slamming the brakes on any Israeli military plan. Trump, whose policies have largely aligned with Israel's own priorities, pledged last week to be 'very firm' with Netanyahu on ending the war, without saying what that would entail. Pressure by Trump has worked on Netanyahu in the past, with a ceasefire deal having been reached right as the president was taking office again. Netanyahu has to balance the demands of his American ally with the far-right parties in his governing coalition , which hold the key to his political survival and oppose ending the war. But given the strong U.S. support in Israel's war against Iran, highlighted by joint airstrikes on a fortified underground Iranian nuclear site, Netanyahu may have a tough time saying no. Trump also may expect something in return for his recent calls for Netanyahu's corruption trial to be canceled - a significant interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state. 'Trump thinks that Netanyahu owes him,' said Eytan Gilboa, an expert on U.S.-Israel affairs at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv. 'And if Trump thinks that he needs to end the war In Gaza, then that is what he will need to do.' Trump on Sunday told reporters he continues to look for a 'permanent deal' with Tehran to ensure Iran doesn't try to restart its nuclear program. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian in an interview published Monday said the U.S. airstrikes so badly damaged his country´s nuclear facilities that Iranian authorities still have not been able to access them to survey the destruction. Pezeshkian added in the interview with conservative American broadcaster Tucker Carlson that Iran would be willing to resume cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog but cannot yet commit to allowing its inspectors unfettered access to monitor the sites. 'We stand ready to have such supervision,' Pezeshkian said. 'Unfortunately, as a result of the United States´ unlawful attacks against our nuclear centers and installations, many of the pieces of equipment and the facilities there have been severely damaged.' Netanyahu is slated to meet Tuesday with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Plea for end to Gaza conflict after Mideast ceasefire
The conflict in Gaza should end following the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, a senior minister says. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek says the situation between Iran and Israel should not draw attention from that in Gaza. "We want to see a return of Israeli hostages, absolutely we do," she told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. "But when you look at the catastrophic consequences of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the humanitarian aid being prevented from entering Gaza and being distributed, the number of deaths we continue to see, I think it's important. "Most people see that these two conflicts are related and we need to make sure that we are urging peace in both circumstances." Israel's violence in Gaza restarted after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation, invaded the nation and killed about 1200 people and abducted 250 others on October 7, 2023. Israel's bombardment, aid blockages and military action in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 people and left many more on the brink of starvation. The situation comes just days after Iran and Israel agreed to a ceasefire in military strikes between the two countries. The 12-day conflict saw the US bomb Iranian nuclear facilities. But concern still remains for more than 3000 Australians stranded in Iran. While thousands have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for assistance to leave the country, border restrictions and flight path closures have hampered efforts. Ms Plibersek said work was under way to bring Australians home. "Australia's interest in this is predominantly in making sure that Australians who are caught up in this conflict are able to get safely out of Iran," she said. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said it was important for a ceasefire to hold in the region. "It is time to be able to shift back towards diplomacy ... it's in the interests of peace for Iran to not have a nuclear weapons capability," he told Sky News. "Iran has been in breach of international obligations (on nuclear weapons) and the US strikes were targeted very specifically at the potential of nuclear weapons from Iran, and we are glad that those setbacks have occurred."
Al Arabiya
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Where is Iran headed after the ceasefire
On Monday, US President Donald Trump announced an Israel-Iran ceasefire, after 12 days of intense escalation between the warring sides. The peak of that escalation came when US forces struck three sensitive Iranian nuclear sites – Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan – with precision strikes. These three sites are considered the backbone of Iran's nuclear program. For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Amid the flurry of analyses, this announcement appeared as a pivotal moment that warrants pause and reflection – not just as a step to de-escalate tensions, but also to understand Iran's place within the complex regional and global landscape. Since Khomeini's revolution in 1979, Iran has presented itself as the center of resistance forces in the Middle East. It built a political narrative based on standing firm against external pressures and supported anti-Western movements. It began with the hostage-taking of 52 American embassy staff in Tehran for 444 days and went on to directly target American interests in the region, all while chanting anti-US slogans and labeling it the 'Great Satan.' This approach undeniably granted Tehran influence within certain radical circles in the region, but on the flip side, it placed Iran in ongoing confrontation with its regional and global surroundings, leading to growing isolation – an isolation whose greatest cost was borne by the Iranian people. American writer Thomas Friedman wrote in The New York Times two days ago that Iran chose from the beginning to align itself with the 'resistance axis' that thrives on conflict, in contrast to other regional powers that bet on development, integration, and prosperity. While Tehran may have made some military progress, Friedman argues that the losses it has sustained – economically, socially, and diplomatically – far outweigh any gains. While internal burdens piled up inside Iran, neighboring moderate states were achieving growth indicators and strengthening their diplomatic presence as influential players on the global stage. Iran's insistence on its nuclear program stands as one of the clearest manifestations of the path it has chosen. The program is no longer just a subject of international suspicion – it has become a real threat to Iran itself before even threatening its neighbors. Today, the world no longer views nuclear capabilities as symbols of deterrence or admiration, but rather with suspicion – especially when such capabilities are tied to a vague political ideology and tense regional relations. How can a country demand the trust of the international community while simultaneously raising the level of threat to such heights? And how can anyone feel assured about a nation that operates under the logic that the only guarantee for survival is the pursuit of destructive tools? The truth is, the core issue does not lie in the nuclear program itself as much as it lies in the mentality behind it – a mentality focused on amassing power rather than pursuing development, seeking deterrence more than integration, and fearing its own people more than its adversaries. Unless there is a genuine transformation in this mindset, there will be little difference between the end of one war and the beginning of another, because the core of its political thinking will remain unchanged. Today, development is no longer a secondary option – it has become the most important benchmark for political legitimacy and the compass by which nations measure their ability to progress and maintain stability. Iran possesses the necessary resources to become a powerful regional economic force – if it chooses that path. But this will not happen without deep internal introspection and a redefinition of what 'power' means within its political discourse. The ceasefire, as announced by Trump, is not a victory for any side so much as it is a moment of reckoning. Tehran can either seize it as a beginning for a calm inward shift, or remain trapped in cycles of escalation and retreat, of withdrawal and suspicion – of both external and internal matters alike. At this crossroads, the true weight of nations is not measured by the number of ballistic missiles they possess, but by the clarity of their vision and their capacity to foster hope. Yes, the Iranian revolution has endured for 46 years, but the seismic blows its expansionist projects have suffered in the past two years reveal that this endurance is turning into a burden. What remains of the revolution should, ideally, be translated into a nation-building project – not into further siege and paranoia. Today, countries are measured by what they deliver to their people… not by what fear they instill in others.
