Latest news with #political crisis
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Smotrich, Netanyahu in crisis after decision on Gaza humanitarian ceasefire
According to the official, if Smotrich didn't receive 'real and concrete' guarantees from the prime minister, the Religious Zionist Party could be "on its way out" of the government. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are in a 'real' crisis and the relations between them are 'very, very tense and complicated,' following the prime minister's decision over the weekend without Smotrich's knowledge to enact 'localized humanitarian ceasefires' in Gaza, an official told The Jerusalem Post on Monday. According to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, if Smotrich did not receive 'real and concrete' guarantees from the prime minister regarding defeating Hamas, Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party could be 'on its way out' of the government. With the coalition currently numbering just 60 MKs following the departure of the two haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties earlier in July, the departure of Smotrich's seven MKs would likely topple the government. At press time on Monday evening, the usually vocal Smotrich had yet to comment publicly on the political tension or on the decision regarding the ceasefires, which the IDF announced early on Sunday morning. The silence was especially notable due to Smotrich's harsh criticism throughout the war against distribution of aid by non-Israeli entities. The RZP leader said in April that he would leave the government if 'even a grain' of aid reached Hamas, and has repeatedly argued that the terrorist group's confiscation of humanitarian aid has enabled it to survive. The silence was also notable in lieu of comments by his fellow party member and National Security Cabinet member, Settlements and National Missions Minister Orit Strock. In an interview on Channel 14 on Sunday evening, Strock said that there was an 'unexplainable' gap between decisions made by the NSC and the reality of what is happening. She said that the ceasefire looked like 'surrender' and that if Netanyahu did not give an adequate explanation 'in deeds, not just words,' there was 'nothing for me to do in the government,' Strock said. Smotrich was 'strongly opposed' to the decision A member of Smotrich's party confirmed on Sunday that he had not been part of the decision regarding the humanitarian ceasefires and had not had prior knowledge of it. He was 'strongly opposed' to the decision, a spokesperson added on Monday in response to a query. The spokesperson added that Smotrich's silence was related to ongoing discussions regarding a potential decision that would 'make it [the silence] clear in hindsight.' The spokesperson said he could not expand further. Smotrich initially scheduled a closed-door meeting of his party for Monday evening to discuss the issue. However, the meeting was postponed due to a security consultation called by the prime minister, the spokesperson confirmed. In a conversation with the Post on Monday afternoon, RZP faction leader MK Ohad Tal said, 'We don't know how to live with a reality of war in Gaza that isn't moving toward decisive victory – while aid continues to be transferred to Hamas on the backs of our soldiers, and we're achieving neither the defeat of Hamas nor the return of the hostages.' Tal continued, 'The next two days will be very critical in determining whether we stay or not. If Bezalel [Smotrich] hears from the prime minister not just a theoretical willingness to defeat Hamas, but a clear, organized work plan backed militarily and diplomatically for victory, then we'll be happy to stay. But if that's not the case, we'll have no choice and will have to go to an election.'


Japan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
At LDP's post-election meeting, calls intensify for Ishiba's resignation
Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party President Shigeru Ishiba faced a rising tide of dissent and a chorus of calls to resign Monday in the first showdown between the party's lawmakers and its executives following the loss of its Upper House majority. 'I'd like him to say he is leaving as soon as possible, though it doesn't need to be now,' Lower House lawmaker Hiroyuki Nakamura told reporters as he left the party headquarters 45 minutes into the meeting. 'Party executives bear the responsibility of failing to improve the party's standing,' Upper House member Yohei Wakabayashi said, adding that 80% of lawmakers who spoke in the meeting asked Ishiba to resign.


South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Japan's LDP in crisis mode amid PM Ishiba's expected exit
Ishiba, 68, on Wednesday dismissed as 'completely unfounded' media reports that he had already decided to step down. But analysts contend that his departure is all but inevitable after the LDP's second consecutive loss and the collapse of his minority government in both houses of the Diet. The focus now shifts to who might succeed Ishiba and whether the wounded party, riven by deepening internal schisms, will be able to reclaim the political centre or veer further to the right. Analysts say the party must decide whether to rally behind a moderate successor in the mould of Ishiba or his predecessor Fumio Kishida , or embrace a rightward shift in an attempt to recover voters drawn to nationalist challengers such as Sanseito and the Conservative Party of Japan. 02:04 Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to resign by the end of the month Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to resign by the end of the month 'Ishiba's resignation was inevitable,' Hiromi Murakami, a professor of political science at Temple University's Tokyo campus, told This Week in Asia.


Irish Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
US attorney general told Trump his name is among many in Epstein files, Wall Street Journal reports
US attorney general Pam Bondi told president Donald Trump in May his name appeared in justice department files related to financier Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in prison, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing senior administration officials. Reuters was not able to immediately verify the Journal's report, which the White House characterised as 'fake news'. The newspaper's report threatened to expand what has become a political crisis for Mr Trump, whose past friendship with Epstein has drawn renewed scrutiny after his administration said it would not release the files, reversing a campaign promise. The justice department released a memo earlier this month that there was no basis to continue investigating the Epstein case, triggering a backlash among Mr Trump's political base, who demanded more information about wealthy and powerful people who had interacted with Epstein. READ MORE Mr Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing related to Epstein and has said their friendship ended before Epstein was first prosecuted. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. He had pleaded not guilty and the case was dismissed after his death. Under political pressure last week, Mr Trump directed the justice department to seek the release of sealed grand jury transcripts from the case. A federal judge denied that request earlier on Wednesday. While the White House immediately dismissed the report as fictitious, Ms Bondi and deputy attorney general Todd Blanche issued a statement that did not directly address the Wall Street Journal's reporting. [ Donald Trump sues Rupert Murdoch and Wall Street Journal publisher for $10bn over Jeffrey Epstein report Opens in new window ] 'Nothing in the files warranted further investigation or prosecution, and we have filed a motion in court to unseal the underlying grand jury transcripts,' the officials said. 'As part of our routine briefing, we made the president aware of the findings.' The Journal reported that Ms Bondi and her deputy told Mr Trump at a White House meeting that his name, as well as those of 'many other high-profile figures', appeared in the files. Last week, the newspaper reported that Mr Trump had sent Epstein a bawdy birthday note in 2003 that ended, 'Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Reuters has not confirmed the authenticity of the alleged letter. Mr Trump has sued the Journal and its owners, including billionaire Rupert Murdoch, asserting that the birthday note was fake. Since the justice department's memo, Mr Trump has faced growing frustration among his base of supporters, after far-right figures spent years promoting conspiracy theories – at times echoed by Mr Trump – about Epstein and alleged ties to prominent Democratic politicians. Epstein hung himself in prison in 2019, according to the New York City chief medical examiner. But his connections with wealthy and powerful individuals prompted speculation that his death was not a suicide. The justice department said in its memo this month that it had concluded Epstein died by his own hand. [ Top Republican Mike Johnson shuts US Congress early to avoid Epstein vote Opens in new window ] In a sign of how the issue has bedevilled Mr Trump and his fellow Republicans, US House speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday abruptly said he would send lawmakers home for the summer a day early to avoid a floor fight over a vote on the Epstein files. His decision temporarily stymied a push by Democrats and some Republicans for a vote on a bipartisan resolution that would require the justice department to release all Epstein-related documents. More than two-thirds of Americans believe the Trump administration is hiding information about Epstein's clients, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last week. Wednesday's court motion stemmed from federal investigations into Epstein in 2005 and 2007, according to court documents. US district judge Robin Rosenberg found that the justice department's request in Florida did not fall into any of the exceptions to rules requiring grand jury material be kept secret. The justice department also has pending requests to unseal transcripts in Manhattan federal court related to later indictments brought against Epstein and his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her conviction for child sex trafficking and other crimes. – Reuters (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025


Bloomberg
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Milei's Rift With His Vice President Now ‘Undoubtedly a Crisis'
The relationship between Argentine leader Javier Milei and his No. 2 reached a breaking point after Vice President Victoria Villarruel imperiled the most important tenet of his economic program, a key lieutenant said. 'That is undoubtedly a crisis — not an institutional one, but a political crisis — within the government,' Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos told local television channel DNews in a clip aired Wednesday afternoon. 'There is a rift between the president of the nation and the vice president.'