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May 06, 2026
Egypt and France are working on a joint initiative to relieve the pressure on Lebanon's president to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a trilateral summit in Washington later this month, the Beirut-based Ad-Diyar newspaper reported, citing diplomatic sources.
According to the report, the two countires are looking to organize bilateral meetings at the conclusion of which the president of the United States would announce the launch of direct negotiations and a timetable for them, alongside a comprehensive and complete cease-fire. The initiative hs yet ot yeild results, Ad-Diyar said.
Egypt is contemplating sending a secutrity delegation to Lebanon to finalize the details, the report said. The visit is expected to coincide with a trip to Beirut by French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian and, following a visit to the country a day earlier by the French military chief, the newspaper said.
On Tuesday, Lebanese media reported Aoun said the timing is not right for a meeting with Netanyahu, and stressed that any such step must follow a security agreement and an end to Israeli strikes,.
Sources speaking to Al-Diyar indicated that "the U.S. president is displeased" with Aoun's refusal, adding that the United States is expected to "increase military pressure on the Lebanese presidency to agree to a meeting."
In April, U.S. President Donald Trump invited the two leaders to a summit in Washington as he announced the cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon had taken effect.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke Wednesday by phone with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, a statement on Araghchi's telegram said.
According to the statement, Araghchi stressed the need to continue the "path of diplomacy" between countries in the region to prevent the "emergence and escalation of tensions."
British police are setting up a new team of 100 officers, including counter terrorism specialists, to help protect Jewish communities across London after a series of antisemitic attacks including the stabbing of two men.
The plan announced on Wednesday for a dedicated protection team comes as officers announced more arrests for antisemitism, including detaining a 35-year old man on Saturday after rocks were thrown at an ambulance belonging to the Jewish community.
London's top police boss Mark Rowley said Jewish communities were facing "sustained threats" from hostile state actors as well as extreme right-wing groups, elements of the extreme left and Islamist terrorists.
Detectives are examining whether the arson incidents have possible Iranian links, after British security officials warned that Iran was using criminal proxies to carry out hostile activity.
Since late March, there have been a number of high-profile arson attacks with four Jewish ambulances burned and synagogues targeted. Last week, two Jewish men were also stabbed. Both victims survived the attack.
Over the past four weeks, police said they had arrested around 50 people for antisemitic hate crimes and charged eight individuals. On top of that, 28 arrests have been made as part of investigations alongside counter terrorism policing for arson and other serious incidents.
"This new team will be primarily focused on protecting the Jewish community, which faces some of the highest levels of hate crime alongside significant terrorist and hostile state threats," said a statement from London's Metropolitan Police force.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened a meeting on Monday with business, health and cultural leaders aimed at trying to tackle antisemitism.
French shipping giant CMA CGM confirmed Wednesday that one of its vessels was the target of an attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday, the company said in a statement.
According to CMA CGM, crew members onboard the San Antonio were wounded and the vessel was damaged. The wounded crew were evacuated and are receiving medical attention, the statement said.
The Israeli military ordered residents to evacuate 12 towns and villages across southern Lebanon's Tyre, Sidon, Nabatieh, and South Governorates on Wednesday.
In a statement, the IDF's Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents to leave their homes "by a distance of at least 1000 meters to open areas."
According to the IDF, Israel is "compelled to act against" Hezbollah's cease-fire violations and does not intend to harm civilians.
A loud noise heard on Qeshm island in southern Iran was caused by air defences intercepting small drones and reconnaissance drones, the Hormozgan provincial authorities said according to the Students News Network, adding that no impact, damage or explosion had occurred.
Drone interceptions by Iranian air defences have taken place several times in recent weeks, notably over Tehran, despite a ceasefire with the U.S.
The United States and allied Gulf states have drafted a United Nations resolution aimed at safeguarding shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday.
The draft urges Tehran to stop attacking vessels, laying sea mines and charging transit fees for passage through the narrow waterway, according to Rubio.
Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar were involved in preparing the proposal.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to hold the world's economy hostage," Rubio said, adding that Tehran should disclose the number and locations of the sea mines it has deployed and assist in their removal to restore safe navigation. The draft also calls for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor.
A vote on the resolution at the UN is expected in the coming days.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would briefly pause an operation to help escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing "great progress" toward a comprehensive agreement with Iran.
Hours earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had outlined the effort that began on Monday to escort stranded tankers out of the Gulf. The strait has been virtually shut since the conflict began, blocking some 20% of world oil supplies and igniting a global energy crisis.
"We have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom ... will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed," Trump wrote on social media.
There was no immediate reaction from Tehran, where it was early on Wednesday morning.
Shortly after Trump's post, U.S. crude oil futures fell $2.30 and broke below $100 per barrel, a much-watched threshold since the conflict sent energy prices soaring two months ago.
The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment on what progress had been made, or how long the pause would last.
United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received calls from regional leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, condemning what they described as Iranian attacks on civilians and civilian facilities in the UAE, the state news agency WAM said on Wednesday.
The leaders "affirmed their countries' solidarity with the UAE and support for measures it takes to safeguard its security and stability and ensure the safety of its citizens," WAM added.
Syria climbed 36 places in the 2026 Reporters Without Borders ranking, but deep constraints on independent journalism remain.
Israel has faced a lack of doctors for years, mainly due to a higher-than-average birth rate compared to other Western countries and an aging population of doctors.
Eshel will take the stage at The Jerusalem Post Annual Conference on June 1, joining other distinguished members of the Israeli and American defense community.
A man infected with the hantavirus is being treated in Zurich, the Swiss government said on Wednesday, adding there is currently no danger to the Swiss population.