Benjamin Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today at his office in Jerusalem with Nikolay Mladenov, who is designated for the role of Director-General of the “Peace Council” in the Gaza Strip.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister reiterated that Hamas must disarm and that the Gaza Strip must be demilitarized in accordance with President Trump’s 20-point plan.

By Pesach Benson • January 8, 2026

Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel on Thursday dismissed Lebanese claims of progress in curbing armed groups in the country’s south, saying any steps taken so far fall well short of the commitments made under the ceasefire that ended fighting between Israel and Hezbollah late last year.

The criticism followed a statement by the Lebanese Armed Forces asserting that they have established exclusive state control over weapons in southern Lebanon “in an effective and tangible way.” The army said the campaign, launched under a government directive, has reduced the presence of non-state arms and will continue with efforts to clear tunnels and unexploded ordnance before expanding to other regions.

In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States leaves no room for ambiguity. “Hezbollah must be fully disarmed,” the statement said, calling this requirement “imperative for Israel’s security and Lebanon’s future.”

While acknowledging some movement by Beirut and the Lebanese army, Netanyahu’s office said the measures amount to little more than a starting point. “These actions are an encouraging beginning, but they are far from sufficient,” it said, accusing Hezbollah of working to “rearm and rebuild its terror infrastructure with Iranian support.”

The November 2024 ceasefire ended roughly a year of cross-border warfare and stipulated that only Lebanon’s official security forces may bear arms in areas bordering Israel. The Lebanese army’s announcement notably avoided naming Hezbollah, the powerful Shi’ite group that has long operated in the south and maintains significant political influence nationwide.

Beirut’s decision last August to advance disarmament plans was taken without Hezbollah’s approval, fueling anger among the group’s supporters. Hezbollah leaders have openly rejected the policy, arguing it benefits Israel and undermines Lebanon’s defenses. Secretary-General Naim Qassem reiterated that stance last month, saying the group would not lay down its weapons “even if the entire world unites in war against Lebanon.”

Israel continues to hold five military outposts in Lebanon and carries out regular strikes, describing the actions as necessary to thwart Hezbollah efforts to rearm.

The amended indictment, filed by Adv. Roi Reis from the Central District Attorney’s Office, states that the defendant photographed himself with a handgun he held without a license, his finger on the trigger, while looking seriously at the camera.

Subsequently, the defendant published the photo on his Facebook account, writing alongside it: “Bennett=bullet, Bibi=symbol, scribe, and gold medal.” The defendant even set this threatening post as the permanent background image on the said Facebook account.

The defendant did this against the backdrop of media reports at the time, according to which Bennett and his wife received an envelope containing a death threat letter along with a bullet, and security around the then-prime minister was increased as a result.

This affair later matured into criminal proceedings, in which Ilana Sporta was convicted of extortion by threats and sentenced to eighteen months of actual imprisonment.

At the sentencing stage, the Central District Attorney’s Office requested that the defendant be sentenced to a significant penalty of 30 months of actual imprisonment.

The District Court (per Judge Me’irav Greenberg) sentenced the defendant, as stated, to 18 months of actual imprisonment and a suspended sentence, ruling that “…a threat directed at a public figure in relation to their role is not limited to a threat against the private individual to whom it is directed, but rather harms the order of government and the foundations of the regime. Directing a threat at an elected official seeks to influence their actions, impair their judgment, and thereby harm the democratic process, the voting public, and proper administration.”

The District Court further ruled that “the echo of threats and slander against public figures can incentivize others to commit similar offenses and even, God forbid, legitimize, especially for people holding extreme views, to carry out the threats and use actual violence. These matters gain added weight in the present case, as they were not committed in a vacuum but as a direct continuation of other blatant and serious threats against the then-Prime Minister and his family.”

Adv. Roi Reis from the Central District Attorney’s Office stated after the verdict: “The defendant chose to publish a blatant threat against the then-Prime Minister on social media during a sensitive period. A threatening publication, including the display of a weapon and directing a threat of physical harm and even shooting at an elected official, is a serious act, and the court emphasized in its ruling the severity and potential consequences. Accordingly, the court sentenced the defendant to a significant prison term.”

prime ministerBenjamin Netanyahu, today, conducted an extensive tour of the Western Negev together with Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and directors-general of government ministries, including the Acting Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office, and the directors-general of the National Security Ministry, the Settlements and National Missions Ministry, the Negev and Galilee Ministry, and the Diaspora Affairs Ministry.

The tour is part of a multi-disciplinary national effort that includes strengthening and developing the region, finalizing strategic responses for the area, and the fight against crime in the Arab sector.

At the beginning of the tour, the Prime Minister, Defense Minister and National Security Minister went to the community of Revivim, where they observed Bir Hadaj and were briefed by Israel Police Inspector-General Kobi Shabtai, ISA Director Ronen Bar, and IDF Deputy Chief-of-Staff Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram on police enforcement against the smuggling and possession of illegal weapons in the south, the significant seizures of weapons and counter-smuggling operations carried out by police forces in the area and along the borders.

The Prime Minister and Defense Minister of defense then visited the “Midbar Ish” farm near the community of Kmehin. The Prime Minister was briefed by the Acting Director-General of the PMO and the directors-general of the Settlements, and Negev and Galilee ministries, along with the Chairperson of the Ramat Negev Regional Council. They presented the progress in formulating the Government’s five-year plan, in coordination with the Defense Ministry, for massive demographic growth and settlement distribution along the eastern and western borders, with an emphasis on the Nitzana region, as part of the civilian responses required to strengthen the borders.

The tour focused on a large-scale national plan promoted by the PMO, which includes: Strengthening the state’s hold on the land; advancing plans to expand settlements and increase demographic growth; developing new employment zones; improving civilian infrastructure and addressing residents’ security needs. The plan is based on inter-ministerial staff work to strengthen the borders and build a multi-dimensional national plan for the Negev.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [translated from Hebrew]:

“I am here with the National Security Minister and the Defense Minister, together with the Police Inspector-General, the IDF Deputy Chief-of-Staff, the Director of the ISA, and representatives of government ministries, for one purpose – we are coming to return the Negev to the State of Israel.

This means settlement on a scale we haven’t known, and it also means providing for the Bedouin residents. But it means, first and foremost – restoring law and order. The Negev is running wild. We will rein it in, and an important operation by the Israel Police, in integration with other forces, has begun. To rein it in, we must understand that the criminal threat and the security threat have merged into one, with tens of thousands of weapons, with drones crossing borders, and other threats.

Therefore, we will bring a national project to achieve all these goals, but primarily to restore governance to the Negev. I thank the ministers, the Inspector-General, and the Director of the ISA. I thank you, Defense Minister and IDF Deputy Chief-of-Staff, for enlisting in this mission. We will succeed here just as we have succeeded in all the other things we have taken upon ourselves. This is a national mission of the highest order. This is my first visit – the first of many – as Prime Minister for this purpose.”

prime minister Netanyahu on a tour of the Western Negev: “We are coming to return the Negev to the State of Israel. This means settlement on an unprecedented scale, but first and foremost – restoring law and order.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted an extensive tour of the Western Negev today, accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and the directors-general of government ministries – Acting Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office, Director-General of the National Security Ministry, Director-General of the Ministry of Settlement and National Missions, Director-General of the Ministry of the Negev and Galilee, and Director-General of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. This tour is part of a multidisciplinary national effort that includes strengthening and developing the region, completing strategic responses in the area, and combating crime in the Arab community.

At the beginning of the tour, the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister, and the National Security Minister visited the community of Revivim, where they observed Bir al-Daj and received a briefing from Police Commissioner Rananitz Danny Levi, Shin Bet head David Zini, and Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Tamir Yadai on the Israel Police’s handling and enforcement against smuggling and illegal weapons possession in the South. Subsequently, they were shown seized weapons and information on significant smuggling operations thwarted by police forces in the area and on the borders.

Afterward, the Prime Minister, accompanied by the Defense Minister, visited the ‘Desert Man’ farm near the community of Kmehin. The Prime Minister received a briefing from the Acting Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Director-General of the Ministry of Settlement, the Director-General of the Ministry of the Negev and Galilee, and the head of the Ramat Negev Regional Council. They presented the progress of the government’s five-year plan, being formulated with the Ministry of Defense, for demographic growth and massive settlement expansion along the eastern and western borders, with an emphasis on developing Nitzana, as part of the region’s challenges and the required civilian responses, and on settlement in the Negev as part of the border strengthening plan.

The tour focused on a large-scale national plan promoted by the Prime Minister’s Office, which includes: strengthening the state’s hold on the territory, advancing plans for settlement expansion and increasing demographic growth, developing new employment areas, improving civilian infrastructure, and providing responses to the security needs of residents. The plan is based on inter-ministerial staff work to strengthen the borders and build the multi-dimensional national plan for the Negev. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

“I am here with the National Security Minister and the Defense Minister, along with the Police Commissioner, the Deputy Chief of Staff, the Shin Bet head, and representatives of government ministries, for one purpose – we are coming to return the Negev to the State of Israel. 

This means settlement on a scale we have not known, and it means regulation for the Bedouin residents as well. But it means, first and foremost – restoring law and order. The Negev is out of control. We will rein it in, and an important operation by the Israel Police, in conjunction with other forces, has begun. To rein it in, we need to understand that the criminal threat and the security threat are merging. 
With tens of thousands of weapons, with drones crossing borders, and other threats.

Therefore, we will bring a national project to achieve all these goals, but first and foremost – to restore governance to the Negev. I thank the ministers, I thank the Police Commissioner, and I also thank the Shin Bet head. I thank you, Mr. Defense Minister and Deputy Chief of Staff, for undertaking this mission. We will succeed here, just as we have succeeded in all other endeavors we have taken upon ourselves. 
A top national mission, my first visit as Prime Minister for this purpose, the first of many.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir:

“Operation ‘New Order,’ which we are currently leading to restore governance to the Negev, is the first of its kind after decades of neglect, during which the Negev was abandoned and became an ‘ex-territory’ where a monster of nationalist and criminal crime grew. Despite the efforts of criminal elements to try and deter us, we will not flinch: we will continue the operation throughout the Negev as needed, with the aim of restoring security to the residents. 
I thank the Prime Minister for his support, the Shin Bet head for his commitment to assist the police in the operation, and of course – the Police Commissioner, the Southern District Commander, and all our wonderful fighters and police officers who are taking part in this operation with dedication and courage. Our message is one: the State of Israel is the owner of the Negev, and anyone who challenges this will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz:

“Stopping the smuggling of weapons across the Israel-Egypt border is a top security interest of the State of Israel. The drones used for smuggling are intended to arm our enemies and are acts of terrorism in every sense, and a direct part of the campaign against the security of Israeli citizens – therefore, we have instructed the IDF to act decisively, to change the rules of the game, and to create clear deterrence.

Strengthening settlement in the Negev is strengthening the security of the State of Israel, strengthening sovereignty, and strengthening our hold on the territory. Settling the Negev is a top strategic defense line for the country’s borders and for the civilian home front. I commend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who, just as US President Trump fought the drug threat – he is leading a determined war against crime in the Negev and the threat to national security. The State of Israel will act with a heavy hand against any element, from within and from without, that tries to undermine our security.”

– Video: Omer Miron/GPO.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Meets with Delegation of Japanese MPs

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, (Tuesday, 6 January 2026), at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, met with a delegation of Japanese Members of Parliament.

The Prime Minister welcomed the members of the delegation on their visit to Israel and thanked them for standing by Israel throughout the war.

The Prime Minister and the delegation members discussed regional challenges and the promotion of bilateral cooperation.

Prime Minister’s Office:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met yesterday (Tuesday) at his office in Jerusalem with a delegation of parliament members from Japan.

The Prime Minister welcomed the delegation members on their visit to the country, and thanked them for standing by Israel throughout the war.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister discussed regional challenges and the promotion of cooperation between the countries with the delegation members.

Photo: Haim Tzach, GPO

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening , at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, met with a delegation of Japanese Members of Parliament.
 
The Prime Minister welcomed the members of the delegation on their visit to israel and thanked them for standing by Israel throughout the war.
 
The Prime Minister and the delegation members discussed regional challenges and the promotion of bilateral cooperation.
 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met yesterday (Monday) at his office in Jerusalem with American Congressman Josh Gottheimer.

Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening, at his Knesset office, met with the family of the child Haymanut Kasau, who has been missing since February 2024.

Prime Minister Netanyahu told the members of her family: “I will personally get involved in the matter. We will bring her back.”

Knesset Member Tsega Melaku also attended the meeting.