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| Biden’s Trip to Israel | Biden’s Trip to Israel |
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| Follow our live coverage on the Israel-Hamas war. | |
| President Biden will visit Israel tomorrow after accepting an invitation from Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden will be following his secretary of state, Antony Blinken, who was in Israel yesterday for the second time in the past week, after already having visited Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. | President Biden will visit Israel tomorrow after accepting an invitation from Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden will be following his secretary of state, Antony Blinken, who was in Israel yesterday for the second time in the past week, after already having visited Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. |
| In today’s newsletter, we’ll explain what the U.S. is hoping to accomplish with this flurry of diplomacy over the past few days. | In today’s newsletter, we’ll explain what the U.S. is hoping to accomplish with this flurry of diplomacy over the past few days. |
| The U.S. is not trying to prevent an Israeli invasion of Gaza. Any country attacked as Israel was on Oct. 7 — with Hamas’s killing of more than 1,400 people and kidnapping of at least 199 — would be likely to respond militarily. Israel is no longer willing to accept Hamas’s control over Gaza, given that Hamas is a terrorist group, according to the U.S. and E.U., and has refused to recognize Israel’s right to exist. | The U.S. is not trying to prevent an Israeli invasion of Gaza. Any country attacked as Israel was on Oct. 7 — with Hamas’s killing of more than 1,400 people and kidnapping of at least 199 — would be likely to respond militarily. Israel is no longer willing to accept Hamas’s control over Gaza, given that Hamas is a terrorist group, according to the U.S. and E.U., and has refused to recognize Israel’s right to exist. |
| “Israel is going after a group of people who have engaged in barbarism that is as consequential as the Holocaust,” Biden said in a “60 Minutes” interview. “Israel has to respond.” | “Israel is going after a group of people who have engaged in barbarism that is as consequential as the Holocaust,” Biden said in a “60 Minutes” interview. “Israel has to respond.” |
| A major Israeli response is important partly to send the message that terrorism doesn’t pay, American officials believe. Israel would like to repeat the experience of 2006, when the leader of Hezbollah — the Iranian-backed militia that controls southern Lebanon — said he regretted kidnapping two Israeli soldiers because of Israel’s fierce response. “If I had known,” Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, said later that year, “would I do it? I say no, absolutely not.” | A major Israeli response is important partly to send the message that terrorism doesn’t pay, American officials believe. Israel would like to repeat the experience of 2006, when the leader of Hezbollah — the Iranian-backed militia that controls southern Lebanon — said he regretted kidnapping two Israeli soldiers because of Israel’s fierce response. “If I had known,” Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, said later that year, “would I do it? I say no, absolutely not.” |
| Dennis Ross, a Middle East adviser to U.S. presidents of both parties, told The Times that part of Blinken’s task when talking with Arab governments was “to remind everybody that Hamas can’t be seen as winning. Hamas must be seen as decisively losing.” In this case, losing probably means the capture or death of many top Hamas officials. | Dennis Ross, a Middle East adviser to U.S. presidents of both parties, told The Times that part of Blinken’s task when talking with Arab governments was “to remind everybody that Hamas can’t be seen as winning. Hamas must be seen as decisively losing.” In this case, losing probably means the capture or death of many top Hamas officials. |
| A wider Middle Eastern war is among the Biden administration’s biggest fears. It would lead to even worse loss of life and could draw equipment and attention away from Ukraine as well as cause a global economic downturn through higher oil prices. | A wider Middle Eastern war is among the Biden administration’s biggest fears. It would lead to even worse loss of life and could draw equipment and attention away from Ukraine as well as cause a global economic downturn through higher oil prices. |
| The most plausible route to a wider war would involve fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, along Israel’s northern border, and maybe even direct fighting between Iran and Israel. Much of recent U.S. diplomacy seems aimed at avoiding this outcome. Blinken has spoken with the Qatari government and others about urging Iran not to get more involved. | The most plausible route to a wider war would involve fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, along Israel’s northern border, and maybe even direct fighting between Iran and Israel. Much of recent U.S. diplomacy seems aimed at avoiding this outcome. Blinken has spoken with the Qatari government and others about urging Iran not to get more involved. |
| The Biden administration has also moved several warships to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The ships are meant to make Iran and Hezbollah fear that the U.S. could decimate Hezbollah in the event of a wider conflict. “That’s a very significant show of force,” Natan Sachs, a Middle East expert at the Brookings Institution, told us. | The Biden administration has also moved several warships to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The ships are meant to make Iran and Hezbollah fear that the U.S. could decimate Hezbollah in the event of a wider conflict. “That’s a very significant show of force,” Natan Sachs, a Middle East expert at the Brookings Institution, told us. |
| For now, U.S. officials believe that Nasrallah, who remains Hezbollah’s leader, does not want an all-out war with Israel. But these maps show where tensions are rising in the region. | For now, U.S. officials believe that Nasrallah, who remains Hezbollah’s leader, does not want an all-out war with Israel. But these maps show where tensions are rising in the region. |
| Even if Israel destroys Hamas’s leadership, nobody knows what would come next. And some Israeli officials now seem too angry to think about this question. “I used to say: ‘Think then act,’” Jacob Nagel, a top former Netanyahu aide, told The Wall Street Journal. The Hamas attacks “changed all the rules of play,” he added. | Even if Israel destroys Hamas’s leadership, nobody knows what would come next. And some Israeli officials now seem too angry to think about this question. “I used to say: ‘Think then act,’” Jacob Nagel, a top former Netanyahu aide, told The Wall Street Journal. The Hamas attacks “changed all the rules of play,” he added. |
| If Israel pursued a maximal war with little concern for Palestinian casualties, it could create such anger in the region that other Arab governments would refuse to work with Israel — just as Hamas hopes. Many experts think that one aim of Hamas’s attacks was erasing the recent progress between Saudi Arabia and Israel toward a diplomatic agreement. | If Israel pursued a maximal war with little concern for Palestinian casualties, it could create such anger in the region that other Arab governments would refuse to work with Israel — just as Hamas hopes. Many experts think that one aim of Hamas’s attacks was erasing the recent progress between Saudi Arabia and Israel toward a diplomatic agreement. |
| “The trick here is that the U.S. has to embrace Israel and acknowledge their need for vengeance, self-defense and deterrence while at the same time prevent them from overreacting in a way that hurts them long-term,” Michael Crowley, a Times correspondent, said. | “The trick here is that the U.S. has to embrace Israel and acknowledge their need for vengeance, self-defense and deterrence while at the same time prevent them from overreacting in a way that hurts them long-term,” Michael Crowley, a Times correspondent, said. |
| A tangible example of U.S. lobbying appears to be the delay in Israel’s ground invasion, which will give more Gazans time to flee south, away from important Hamas bunkers and weapons caches. (The Israeli military allowed a Times journalist to view a cellphone-tracking system of the evacuation, hoping to show that it was doing what it could to reduce harm to civilians.) | A tangible example of U.S. lobbying appears to be the delay in Israel’s ground invasion, which will give more Gazans time to flee south, away from important Hamas bunkers and weapons caches. (The Israeli military allowed a Times journalist to view a cellphone-tracking system of the evacuation, hoping to show that it was doing what it could to reduce harm to civilians.) |
| Longer term, there will be more difficult choices. Many steps that Israel could take to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza, such as advance warnings of attacks, would also weaken its attempts to destroy Hamas’s control. And it remains unclear who will run Gaza if not Hamas. | Longer term, there will be more difficult choices. Many steps that Israel could take to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza, such as advance warnings of attacks, would also weaken its attempts to destroy Hamas’s control. And it remains unclear who will run Gaza if not Hamas. |
| Still, some analysts can imagine a future that’s better than the past, as The Washington Post’s David Ignatius has noted. This future might involve the Palestinian Authority — which does recognize Israel’s right to exist — running Gaza, with help from Saudi Arabia and other Arab governments, as well as the United Nations. | Still, some analysts can imagine a future that’s better than the past, as The Washington Post’s David Ignatius has noted. This future might involve the Palestinian Authority — which does recognize Israel’s right to exist — running Gaza, with help from Saudi Arabia and other Arab governments, as well as the United Nations. |
| “It’s not impossible for seemingly intractable conflicts to find solutions,” Emma Ashford wrote in Foreign Policy. “The surge in U.S. support to Israel now gives Washington leverage that it hasn’t had in a long time, and the Arab states would be thrilled to find a way out of this mess.” | “It’s not impossible for seemingly intractable conflicts to find solutions,” Emma Ashford wrote in Foreign Policy. “The surge in U.S. support to Israel now gives Washington leverage that it hasn’t had in a long time, and the Arab states would be thrilled to find a way out of this mess.” |
| “I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world,” Biden said last week. Of the roughly 200 hostages that Hamas is holding, perhaps five or more may be American. | “I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world,” Biden said last week. Of the roughly 200 hostages that Hamas is holding, perhaps five or more may be American. |
| U.S. officials are making diplomatic efforts to win the hostages’ release and would celebrate any successes. But many experts believe that Hamas is unlikely to release many, if any, hostages. In that case, the U.S. will likely advise Israel on rescue missions. | U.S. officials are making diplomatic efforts to win the hostages’ release and would celebrate any successes. But many experts believe that Hamas is unlikely to release many, if any, hostages. In that case, the U.S. will likely advise Israel on rescue missions. |
| Related: Biden’s trip is a gamble. It is both dangerous and will tie him to the Israeli ground invasion that seems almost certain to follow. | Related: Biden’s trip is a gamble. It is both dangerous and will tie him to the Israeli ground invasion that seems almost certain to follow. |
| The U.S. said it was nearing a deal that would allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. | The U.S. said it was nearing a deal that would allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. |
| Netanyahu, once seen as risk-averse, is embracing his role as a wartime leader. | Netanyahu, once seen as risk-averse, is embracing his role as a wartime leader. |
| Hamas posted a hostage video of a young woman abducted from a music festival. See images of the hostages’ families. | Hamas posted a hostage video of a young woman abducted from a music festival. See images of the hostages’ families. |
| People with foreign passports in Gaza gathered at the only border crossing into Egypt, only to find it still closed. | People with foreign passports in Gaza gathered at the only border crossing into Egypt, only to find it still closed. |
| Mourners at a funeral remembered Wadea Al-Fayoume, a 6-year-old Muslim boy stabbed to death in suburban Chicago, in an attack linked to the war. He loved Lego and soccer. | Mourners at a funeral remembered Wadea Al-Fayoume, a 6-year-old Muslim boy stabbed to death in suburban Chicago, in an attack linked to the war. He loved Lego and soccer. |
| France fears a new wave of terrorism after the Hamas attack. | France fears a new wave of terrorism after the Hamas attack. |
| The federal judge overseeing Donald Trump’s Jan. 6 trial imposed a partial gag order, barring Trump from attacking witnesses and prosecutors. | The federal judge overseeing Donald Trump’s Jan. 6 trial imposed a partial gag order, barring Trump from attacking witnesses and prosecutors. |
| Representative Jim Jordan won over several Republicans but remained short of the support he needs to become House speaker. Votes are planned for today. | Representative Jim Jordan won over several Republicans but remained short of the support he needs to become House speaker. Votes are planned for today. |
| Justice Amy Coney Barrett endorsed a Supreme Court ethics code. Two of her conservative colleagues — Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas — have faced recent scrutiny. | Justice Amy Coney Barrett endorsed a Supreme Court ethics code. Two of her conservative colleagues — Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas — have faced recent scrutiny. |
| “Converts welcome!” The Biden campaign has joined Truth Social, Trump’s social media platform. | “Converts welcome!” The Biden campaign has joined Truth Social, Trump’s social media platform. |
| Oprah Winfrey pitched Mitt Romney on the idea of running for president as an independent in 2020 with her as a running mate, according to a coming biography. | Oprah Winfrey pitched Mitt Romney on the idea of running for president as an independent in 2020 with her as a running mate, according to a coming biography. |
| After a lawsuit, thousands of families whom the Trump administration separated at the border were given a path to legal residency. | After a lawsuit, thousands of families whom the Trump administration separated at the border were given a path to legal residency. |
| Massachusetts will no longer guarantee emergency housing for new migrant arrivals beginning next month. | Massachusetts will no longer guarantee emergency housing for new migrant arrivals beginning next month. |
| China has invested close to $1 trillion for influence abroad, often by paying for development projects. Xi Jinping is rethinking the strategy, called the Belt and Road Initiative. | China has invested close to $1 trillion for influence abroad, often by paying for development projects. Xi Jinping is rethinking the strategy, called the Belt and Road Initiative. |
| Vladimir Putin will meet with Xi at the Belt and Road conference in Beijing. | Vladimir Putin will meet with Xi at the Belt and Road conference in Beijing. |
| The police in Brussels killed a man suspected of having shot two Swedish nationals to death in an attack that the Belgian prime minister described as terrorism. | The police in Brussels killed a man suspected of having shot two Swedish nationals to death in an attack that the Belgian prime minister described as terrorism. |
| Liberal parties appear to have won a majority of seats in the Polish Parliament. Read more about the election. | Liberal parties appear to have won a majority of seats in the Polish Parliament. Read more about the election. |
| Four Ukrainian children who were abducted to Russia returned to their families after mediation by Qatar. | Four Ukrainian children who were abducted to Russia returned to their families after mediation by Qatar. |
| The Sinaloa cartel is prohibiting fentanyl production after pressure from U.S. law enforcement, The Wall Street Journal reports. | The Sinaloa cartel is prohibiting fentanyl production after pressure from U.S. law enforcement, The Wall Street Journal reports. |
| A severe drought in the Amazon rainforest is drying out major rivers and has fueled wildfires. | A severe drought in the Amazon rainforest is drying out major rivers and has fueled wildfires. |
| The F.D.A. plans to ban some chemical hair straighteners, marketed largely to Black women, a decade after experts declared the products unsafe. | The F.D.A. plans to ban some chemical hair straighteners, marketed largely to Black women, a decade after experts declared the products unsafe. |
| Consumers, faced with high prices at grocery stores, are purchasing more store-brand foods and beverages. | Consumers, faced with high prices at grocery stores, are purchasing more store-brand foods and beverages. |
| A group of scientists suggested some cases of long Covid might be caused by remnants of the coronavirus lingering in the gut. | A group of scientists suggested some cases of long Covid might be caused by remnants of the coronavirus lingering in the gut. |
| Four men, including one accused of murder, escaped from a jail in Georgia. | Four men, including one accused of murder, escaped from a jail in Georgia. |
| After Israel defeats Hamas, it will have to rebuild Gaza. Start by creating an economy and school system the locals can trust, Thomas Warrick, a former U.S. official, writes. | After Israel defeats Hamas, it will have to rebuild Gaza. Start by creating an economy and school system the locals can trust, Thomas Warrick, a former U.S. official, writes. |
| Student organizations that blamed Israel for Hamas’s attacks showed a major problem with U.S. universities, Ezekiel Emanuel writes. | Student organizations that blamed Israel for Hamas’s attacks showed a major problem with U.S. universities, Ezekiel Emanuel writes. |
| The language of some Israeli leaders toward Palestinians has become murderous, Michelle Goldberg writes. | The language of some Israeli leaders toward Palestinians has become murderous, Michelle Goldberg writes. |
| Here are columns by Thomas Friedman on regime change, David French on Iraq and Gaza and Paul Krugman on declining U.S. foreign influence. | Here are columns by Thomas Friedman on regime change, David French on Iraq and Gaza and Paul Krugman on declining U.S. foreign influence. |
| An American puzzle: Census categories for race and ethnicity have shaped how the nation sees itself. Read how they have changed over the last 230 years. | An American puzzle: Census categories for race and ethnicity have shaped how the nation sees itself. Read how they have changed over the last 230 years. |
| #MentalHealth: What happened when academics collaborated with influencers to inject more mental health content into TikTok feeds? | #MentalHealth: What happened when academics collaborated with influencers to inject more mental health content into TikTok feeds? |
| Ask Well: Dogs can enrich our lives, but they can also make us sick. Here’s how to reduce your risk. | Ask Well: Dogs can enrich our lives, but they can also make us sick. Here’s how to reduce your risk. |
| Work and play: Meet a man who spent decades creating New York City playgrounds beloved by children. | Work and play: Meet a man who spent decades creating New York City playgrounds beloved by children. |
| Hall of shame: A glassy building in Manhattan is notorious for deadly bird collisions. Residents are trying to fix the problem. | Hall of shame: A glassy building in Manhattan is notorious for deadly bird collisions. Residents are trying to fix the problem. |
| Lives Lived: The Finnish statesman Martti Ahtisaari won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008 for his diplomatic efforts to end conflict in places such as Namibia and Northern Ireland. He died at 86. | Lives Lived: The Finnish statesman Martti Ahtisaari won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008 for his diplomatic efforts to end conflict in places such as Namibia and Northern Ireland. He died at 86. |
| N.F.L.: The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 20-17. Before the game, the teams got into a fight. | N.F.L.: The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 20-17. Before the game, the teams got into a fight. |
| M.L.B.: The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-3. The Texas Rangers continued their playoff run with a 5-4 win over the defending champion, Houston Astros. | M.L.B.: The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-3. The Texas Rangers continued their playoff run with a 5-4 win over the defending champion, Houston Astros. |
| A Departure: Kim Ng, the first female general manager in M.L.B. history, will leave the Miami Marlins after reports of internal conflict. | A Departure: Kim Ng, the first female general manager in M.L.B. history, will leave the Miami Marlins after reports of internal conflict. |
| A trippy new adventure: Nintendo’s flagship star, Mario, has always been a little boring. The power-ups — mushrooms that make him grow, feathers that allow him to fly — make Mario’s games exciting. This week, the company is releasing “Super Mario Bros. Wonder,” and its power-ups turn the game into a “carnival of bizarre delights,” The Times’s Zachary Small writes. Among them: a fruit that transforms Mario into an elephant and a flower that sends him on something akin to a psychedelic trip. | A trippy new adventure: Nintendo’s flagship star, Mario, has always been a little boring. The power-ups — mushrooms that make him grow, feathers that allow him to fly — make Mario’s games exciting. This week, the company is releasing “Super Mario Bros. Wonder,” and its power-ups turn the game into a “carnival of bizarre delights,” The Times’s Zachary Small writes. Among them: a fruit that transforms Mario into an elephant and a flower that sends him on something akin to a psychedelic trip. |
| John Legend is starting an app for food and travel recommendations called “It’s Good,” The Wall Street Journal reports. Only positive reviews are allowed. | John Legend is starting an app for food and travel recommendations called “It’s Good,” The Wall Street Journal reports. Only positive reviews are allowed. |
| Women are underrepresented in conducting and design jobs at U.S. operas, a study found. | Women are underrepresented in conducting and design jobs at U.S. operas, a study found. |
| Miffy, a cartoon bunny beloved in Europe and Asia, is finding fame in the U.S. thanks to her Gen Z superfans. | Miffy, a cartoon bunny beloved in Europe and Asia, is finding fame in the U.S. thanks to her Gen Z superfans. |
| “Good luck getting Donald Trump to stop talking”: Late night hosts discuss Trump’s court-issued gag order. | “Good luck getting Donald Trump to stop talking”: Late night hosts discuss Trump’s court-issued gag order. |
| Use leftover rice to create a stir-fry dish that takes under 30 minutes. | Use leftover rice to create a stir-fry dish that takes under 30 minutes. |
| Watch concert movies recommended by Times culture writers. | Watch concert movies recommended by Times culture writers. |
| Finish training for fall marathon season with these expert tips. | Finish training for fall marathon season with these expert tips. |
| Regulate home temperatures with this smart thermostat. | Regulate home temperatures with this smart thermostat. |
| Achieve your podcasting dreams with an affordable microphone. | Achieve your podcasting dreams with an affordable microphone. |
| Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was inexact. | Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was inexact. |
| And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. | And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. |
| Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David and Ian | Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David and Ian |
| Correction: Yesterday’s newsletter misstated New York’s congressional delegation. Republicans control 11 of the 26 seats, not Democrats. | Correction: Yesterday’s newsletter misstated New York’s congressional delegation. Republicans control 11 of the 26 seats, not Democrats. |
| Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. | Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. |