Israeli Woman Killed by Hezbollah Rocket Attack, 10 Wounded

Israeli security inspect damages caused by debris from an intercepted missile, in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel, 18 November 2024. (EPA)
Israeli security inspect damages caused by debris from an intercepted missile, in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel, 18 November 2024. (EPA)
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Israeli Woman Killed by Hezbollah Rocket Attack, 10 Wounded

Israeli security inspect damages caused by debris from an intercepted missile, in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel, 18 November 2024. (EPA)
Israeli security inspect damages caused by debris from an intercepted missile, in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel, 18 November 2024. (EPA)

Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue services said one woman was killed and 10 wounded in a Hezbollah rocket attack that hit northern Israel.

According to paramedics who arrived at the scene, one woman was killed instantly and 10 others were injured after a rocket struck a four-story building the northern Israeli city of Shfaram.

The Israeli military said the Lebanese group Hezbollah had launched more than 100 projectiles toward Israel on Monday.

Israeli medical officials also said at least five people in central Israel have been wounded by shrapnel after a missile launched from Lebanon was intercepted.

The missile triggered air raid sirens in the Tel Aviv area before it was shot down. But authorities said shrapnel from the interception hit several people on the ground.

The Magen David Adom rescue service said it treated five people for injuries. Victims were taken to Beilinson Hospital, where one woman was reported in serious condition.

Hezbollah began launching missiles, rockets and drones at Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, in solidarity with Hamas in its war with Israel in Gaza. Israel stepped up their attack against Hezbollah in mid-September.

More than 3,500 people have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli fire — 80% of them in the past eight weeks — according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. In Israel, 77 people, including 31 soldiers, have been killed by Hezbollah.



King Abdullah II Inaugurates 20th Parliament’s Session, Emphasizes Just Peace

The Jordanian monarch opens the first parliamentary session of the 20th House of Representatives. (Reuters)
The Jordanian monarch opens the first parliamentary session of the 20th House of Representatives. (Reuters)
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King Abdullah II Inaugurates 20th Parliament’s Session, Emphasizes Just Peace

The Jordanian monarch opens the first parliamentary session of the 20th House of Representatives. (Reuters)
The Jordanian monarch opens the first parliamentary session of the 20th House of Representatives. (Reuters)

Jordan’s King Abdullah II affirmed that the country’s future “will not be subject to policies that do not align with its interests or deviate from its principles,” describing Jordan as “a nation with a steadfast identity, committed to preserving its Hashemite heritage and Arab and human values.”
The king made these remarks on Monday during the opening of the first parliamentary session of the 20th House of Representatives, following elections held on September 10.
King Abdullah emphasized that a just and honorable peace is “the only path to rectifying the historical injustice against the Palestinian people.”
He reiterated Jordan’s unwavering stance on restoring Palestinians’ full rights and ensuring security for all, despite the obstacles posed by “extremists who oppose peace”—a pointed reference to the hardline policies of the Israeli government.
The king declared that Jordan “stands firmly against aggression in Gaza and Israeli violations in the West Bank,” and is actively engaged in Arab and international efforts to halt the war. He highlighted his country’s significant humanitarian role, noting that Jordanians “were the first to deliver aid by air and land to the people of Gaza, and we will continue to support them, now and in the future.”
In a single round of voting, former Speaker Ahmed Al-Safadi secured the presidency of the House of Representatives, garnering 98 votes out of 137 attendees. His victory was achieved through a coalition of parliamentary blocs, including Mithaq, Irada, National Islamic, Azm, and Taqaddum, marking a parliamentary precedent with significant party bloc influence.
Out of the 20th House of Representatives’ 116 party-affiliated deputies—distributed across 12 parties—86% of the total seats are now held by party members. This unprecedented figure follows reforms in the electoral law, which reserved 41 seats for national party lists while the remaining 97 were contested in local constituencies.
The new parliament is expected to address significant legislative and political challenges, including debating the government’s policy statement, discussing the 2025 general budget, and amending controversial laws such as local governance, labor, and social security.
Observers anticipate heated parliamentary sessions, particularly with the presence of the Islamic Action Front (IAF) bloc, which secured over half a million votes in the elections. The party’s influence is expected to pressure the government on key issues, including the Palestinian cause, protecting Jordan from the risks posed by Israeli extremism, and potentially repealing the Jordan-Israel peace treaty.