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Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Proposal Amid Rising Right-Wing Voices

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday that he has not yet responded to the ceasefire proposal with the Lebanese group Hezbollah. This comes at a time when his government coalition is experiencing a rise in right-wing voices opposing this proposal.
In a statement, Netanyahu indicated that he has instructed the military to continue fighting with full force, asserting that "reports regarding a ceasefire are not true." He added, "The news about an alleged directive to de-escalate fighting in the north is also a distortion of facts. The fighting in Gaza will continue until all war objectives are achieved."
In the same context, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz confirmed that "there will be no ceasefire in the north, and we will continue to fight against Hezbollah."
Meanwhile, far-right Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich described the war in the north as one that will not end until Hezbollah and its capabilities to threaten northern residents are destroyed. He stated, "The enemy must not be given time to recover from the strikes it has received or prepare to resume war after 21 days. The choice is either Hezbollah's surrender or war, and only in this way can we restore security for the residents of the north and the state."
In a related vein, Minister of Settlements and National Missions, Orit Strock, emphasized that "there is no moral mandate for a ceasefire, whether for 21 days or even 21 hours." She argued that "Hezbollah has turned Lebanon into a powder keg, and Resolution 1701 has made the residents of the north hostages in their land. Past mistakes should not be repeated, and we will not stop until the situation is rectified."
Additionally, the party "Otzma Yehudit," led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, announced that following reports concerning negotiations for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, their party will hold an emergency meeting in the coming hours.
Culture and Sports Minister from the Likud party, Miki Zohar, considered that "a ceasefire without any meaningful concessions from Hezbollah would be a grave mistake that endangers the major military achievements Israel has made." He expressed hope that the reports regarding this matter are untrue and insisted on the necessity of continuing vigorously until a clear resolution is achieved in the north.
On the other hand, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid revealed his support for the idea of a ceasefire but stated that it should not exceed seven days. He emphasized that Hezbollah should not be allowed to restore its command and control systems.
The United States, the European Union, and several Western and Arab countries issued a joint statement on Wednesday calling for a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, in an attempt to avoid the escalation of the conflict into a comprehensive war.
The statement read, "Diplomacy cannot succeed in the context of an escalating conflict, so we call for an immediate ceasefire for 21 days across the Lebanese-Israeli border, to allow space for diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement." The statement also urged "all parties, including the governments of Israel and Lebanon, to immediately support the temporary ceasefire, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735 regarding the ceasefire in Gaza."
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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