Israel
No poll bounce for Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is racing to pass a state budget and stave off early elections he would likely lose, with the war in Iran so far doing little to improve his standing in the polls.
CIA chief to travel to Egypt this weekend, Axios reports
1 min Mena Today
U.S. CIA Director Bill Burns is expected to travel to Cairo this weekend to meet with his Egyptian and Israeli counterparts.
William Burns, Tom Williams/Pool via Reuters/File Photo
U.S. CIA Director Bill Burns is expected to travel to Cairo this weekend to meet with his Egyptian and Israeli counterparts and the Qatari prime minister to try to reach a breakthrough in talks on releasing hostages held in Gaza by Hamas, Axios reporter Barak Ravid posted on social media site X on Thursday, citing two sources.
Negotiations continue, but Hamas refuses to concede anything. For the terrorist organization, the hostages remain their last bargaining chip.
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