International newspapers: Netanyahu maneuvers with impunity and settler violence affects foreigners | news

International newspapers and websites discussed a number of developments related to the Israeli file, focusing on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s maneuvers in the face of corruption charges, and the expansion of settler attacks to target foreign volunteers in the West Bank, in addition to other regional and international issues.

The New York Times indicated that Netanyahu is raising controversy again by requesting a pardon from President Isaac Herzog, considering the move an attempt to divert attention from the corruption cases against him, according to what political science professor Reuven Hazan said.

The newspaper saw that Netanyahu is good at moving the political agenda, while opponents saw that his promises to unify the country contain a veiled threat, warning that the pardon may give him room to take revenge on those who led his trial.

In another context, The Guardian reported that 3 Italian and Canadian volunteers were violently attacked by settlers in the village of Ain al-Duyuk near Jericho while they were participating in efforts to protect the people from escalating attacks.

The newspaper explained that the injuries were severe in one of the volunteers who was receiving treatment in Ramallah, while both Rome and Ottawa expressed their concern about targeting their citizens in the occupied region.

The Jerusalem Post included an analysis by researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who believed that Israel’s policy in Syria lacks any clear vision, considering that its movements, especially in the south of the country, do not achieve tactical gains, but may even open a new front.

Tsurkov added that the absence of an Israeli vision for the form of government in Damascus or the nature of the future relationship with it makes the Israeli military presence without a clear horizon or tangible results.

Strategic gain

In another file, the Wall Street Journal revealed that Sudan offered Moscow the establishment of a naval base in one of the Red Sea ports, a deal that the newspaper sees as a major strategic gain for Russia and a worrying precedent for Washington.

It reported that the United States fears the expansion of Russian and Chinese influence in African ports, while it quoted a Sudanese military official as saying that his country needs new weapons supplies as part of possible understandings.

As for the British Times, it highlighted the declining role of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in managing the Ukrainian file, even though he is more biased towards Kiev and has contributed to reformulating the 28-item peace plan.

The newspaper indicated that the plan was originally negotiated through secret communications that included American and Russian figures, including Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, and Kirill Dmitriev, at a meeting in Miami.

In the Washington Post, a report emerged indicating that the administration of President Donald Trump is preparing to sacrifice a senior military commander to hold him responsible for the killing of two people in a strike directed against drug smugglers, in an attempt to remove suspicions from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

The newspaper said that these developments come as lawmakers in Congress have begun steps to investigate the possibility of classifying the attack as a war crime, which increases the confusion of the US administration.

Trump’s contradictions

In terms of opinion, Le Monde wrote that Trump is repeating the same escalation approach that he applies internally against his opponents, stressing that his contradictions in Latin America make it difficult to understand his foreign policy priorities.

The newspaper wondered how to reconcile threats to combat drug smuggling by all means, and granting an absolute pardon to the former leftist president of Honduras, Juan Hernandez, who is convicted of drug smuggling and currently imprisoned in the United States.

In the National Interest, there was an analysis of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, noting that Moscow is still presented there as New Delhi’s best friend, a vision that enjoys wide popularity and political support within India.

The magazine referred to a Pew Center study showing general support for Russia among Indians, considering that Trump’s recent policies towards India may push it to strengthen its relations with Moscow further.

Regarding Britain, The Independent quoted a statement by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in which he said that his country must work with China even if this poses threats to its national security, which was considered a remarkable concession to Beijing.

The newspaper reported that the situation may pave the way for allowing the establishment of a controversial new Chinese embassy in London, noting that Starmer described China as a major power in technology, trade and global governance.