Israel Increases Work Permits for Gaza Palestinians
Palestinian workers from Gaza cross the Beit Hanoun (Erez) border crossing to work in Israel. (DPA)
The number of entry permits for Palestinian workers from Gaza will increase to 20,000, Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz told military reporters on Thursday.
Gantz further linked the implementation of any key civilian development projects in the coastal enclave with the return of Israelis held in Hamas captivity.
In June, Israel approved issuing 2,000 additional permits for Palestinian workers, raising the figure to 14,000, which later reached 20,000.
The Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approved the decision following discussions.
This decision comes in line with Israel’s strategic plan to maintain calm.
In return for its implementation, the minister asked the Palestinian Authority to implement trust-building measures.
“We ask it to expand its security activity in in Area A and halt its petitions to the International Criminal Court at The Hague.”
According to Israeli sources, the plan is part of the government’s decision to maintain economic peace while ignoring political peace.
Israel seeks to pressure the ruling Hamas movement against any possible escalation by improving the economic situation in Gaza.
Earlier this year, the number of Gazan workers in Israel did not exceed 5,000. Since then, it has been rising by a few thousands every few months.
Political authorities believe the gradual increase in the number of Palestinian workers will prompt Hamas to consider any escalation since it will take into account that the thriving labor movement is a major factor in supporting the economy.
Workers bring to the enclave up to 90 million shekels per month, in light of the difficult and deteriorating economic situation there.
However, military authorities insist that when Hamas decides to escalate tension it will not consider any economic factor.
Ali al-Taher: The Ridge That Stalled the First Attempt at an Israeli Withdrawal from S. Lebanonhttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5293538-ali-al-taher-ridge-stalled-first-attempt-israeli-withdrawal-s-lebanon
A photograph taken from the southern city of Nabatieh shows smoke rising from the site of an Israeli airstrike on the village of Nabatieh al-Fawqa on July 5, 2026. (AFP)
Ali al-Taher: The Ridge That Stalled the First Attempt at an Israeli Withdrawal from S. Lebanon
A photograph taken from the southern city of Nabatieh shows smoke rising from the site of an Israeli airstrike on the village of Nabatieh al-Fawqa on July 5, 2026. (AFP)
The circulation of footage showing an Israeli flag raised Tuesday on one of the peaks of the Ali al-Taher Heights has again drawn attention to one of South Lebanon’s most strategic locations.
Overlooking the city of Nabatieh and the town of Kfar Tebnit, the mountain has emerged as a key geostrategic flashpoint. Israel had claimed that it seized the area on June 26, but Hezbollah refuted it, saying its fighters still hold it.
While the images prompted speculation that Israel had secured the site, military experts say reaching one point on the ridge does not amount to controlling the entire mountain, which has become a central sticking point in negotiations because of its exceptional strategic value.
The developments coincided with renewed military activity across southern Lebanon. Israeli drones dropped several stun grenades over the town of Hadatha in the Bint Jbeil district, while Israeli warplanes flew at low altitude over the eastern Bekaa Valley as far as Baalbek.
In the western sector, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Israeli forces conducted armored patrols through several villages, accompanied by heavy gunfire, as Israeli drones continued flying over Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Raising a flag does not mean control
Retired Brig. Gen. Bassam Yassine told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Ali al-Taher Heights is one of South Lebanon’s most important geographical and military strongholds because they dominate Nabatieh and its surroundings.
Stretching from Kfar Tebnit to Kfar Remman, the ridge overlooks the city and the roads leading to it while facing Beaufort Castle directly.
Yassine noted that Israel maintained positions at Ali al-Taher before its 2000 withdrawal from South Lebanon, operating three military outposts on Ali al-Taher, Dabsha, and Jabal al-Tahra.
Even if Israeli forces reach the mountain’s edge, he argued, they cannot claim full control. “A drone reaching one location or a flag being raised at a specific point does not mean military control or occupation of the entire area,” he said.
Addressing Israeli claims that Hezbollah has an underground facility beneath Ali al-Taher, Yassine said that, if it exists, it would explain why the area has been targeted by hundreds of airstrikes over the past two years.
He noted that Israel believes Hezbollah fighters remain inside the facility and is therefore seeking to seize it through ground operations, something that cannot be accomplished from the air alone.
Smoke billows following an Israeli strike on Ali al-Taher and Dabsha in southern Lebanon. (NNA)
Retired Brig. Gen. Fadi Daoud described Ali al-Taher as a supporting position for Beaufort Castle, with the two sites providing each other with mutual surveillance and fire support.
He stressed that Ali al-Taher is not a single summit but part of Jabal al-Tahra, which includes three principal peaks — Ali al-Taher, Dabsha, and Rayat al-Taher — that form a single military and geographic complex.
The ridge overlooks Kfar Tebnit, Nabatieh, and parts of Kfar Remman.
While observation of Israeli settlements is primarily provided from the Beaufort and Bfour heights, Ali al-Taher protects and reinforces those positions.
The ridge that changed the negotiations
According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, early discussions on an Israeli withdrawal from the South proposed beginning with Kfar Tebnit and the Beaufort Castle area to push the forces away from Nabatieh.
Israel, however, insisted on first reaching the Ali al-Taher, turning the ridge into the negotiations’ main point of contention.
Contacts were held with the United States on a proposal under which the Lebanese Army would deploy in the area while Israeli forces withdrew beyond the Litani River. The proposal was also conveyed to Hezbollah through mediators.
The sources said Israel accepted it, but Hezbollah rejected an initial formula that called for the Lebanese Army to deploy without entering the reported underground facility.
The proposal collapsed, and negotiators instead shifted to a pilot withdrawal plan covering Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, Froun, and Ghandouriyeh, leaving Ali al-Taher outside any agreement.
Located north of the Litani River between Kfar Tebnit and Nabatieh al-Fawqa at an elevation of about 600 meters (1,970 feet), Ali al-Taher was one of Israel’s principal fortified positions in the former occupied border zone until 2000.
During the latest war, Israeli forces advanced toward the ridge after capturing Beaufort Castle, opening two axes of advance toward Ali al-Taher ahead of advancing on Nabatieh.
Lebanon’s President: Israeli Attacks Undermine Efforts to End the Warhttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5293526-lebanon%E2%80%99s-president-israeli-attacks-undermine-efforts-end-war
This picture taken from a position in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel shows destroyed buildings in a Lebanese village along the Israel-Lebanon border, on July 1, 2026. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP)
Lebanon’s President: Israeli Attacks Undermine Efforts to End the War
This picture taken from a position in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel shows destroyed buildings in a Lebanese village along the Israel-Lebanon border, on July 1, 2026. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Israel’s continued attacks in southern Lebanon are undermining efforts to end the war and restore stability on both sides of the border, while stressing that the authority to negotiate rests exclusively with the Lebanese state.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam likewise reaffirmed the need to consolidate the ceasefire and secure a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory as soon as possible.
Sixth round of talks next week?
Ministerial sources said the Lebanese presidency has not been officially notified of a new date for Lebanese-Israeli negotiations. They also denied reports that Aoun’s visit to the United States had been scheduled for July 21, telling Asharq Al-Awsat that the trip is expected to take place before the end of the month but that no official date has been communicated.
Their comments came after an Italian Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced Tuesday that the sixth round of Lebanon-Israel negotiations would be held in Rome on July 15-16. Diplomatic efforts continue on several fronts to overcome obstacles delaying the start of Israel’s withdrawal from the designated pilot zones.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said during a joint press conference in Jerusalem with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul: “Less than two weeks ago, Israel, Lebanon, and the United States reached a historic framework agreement, and these talks are scheduled to continue next week in Rome.”
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani welcomed the upcoming round, saying on X that Rome’s selection reflects Italy’s diplomatic role and commitment to promoting dialogue and regional stability.
Aoun calls for pressure on Israel
Aoun renewed his appeal to the US and other friendly countries to pressure Israel to respect the ceasefire. He also expressed sorrow over Monday’s Israeli strike on a vehicle in Nabatieh that killed four people, including the principal of a public school in the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa.
He stressed that his decision to enter negotiations was driven by the goal of achieving stability, ending the war, and removing the occupation. While acknowledging that implementing the framework agreement would be a lengthy and difficult process, Aoun said Lebanon hopes to begin seeing parts of the agreement implemented soon.
“We have succeeded in curbing Israeli attacks and reducing their intensity, even if we have not yet achieved a complete end to the war,” he stated, adding that Lebanon had secured an Israeli acknowledgment that it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon.
“No one will negotiate on Lebanon’s behalf”
Aoun accused some domestic opponents of deliberately misrepresenting the framework agreement and rejecting it regardless of official explanations affirming that Lebanon has not compromised its sovereignty or territorial rights.
“I will not, under any circumstances, accept anyone negotiating on Lebanon’s behalf,” he said. “Lebanon’s sovereignty requires an independent political decision. Our fundamental problem is with Israel, and we must resolve it ourselves.”
He added that one Lebanese faction, whose choices differ from those of the majority of Lebanese, remains under Iranian influence, seeks to act as an alternative to the state, and negotiates in its name.
Separately, Foreign Minister Youssef Raji said the government remains committed to placing all weapons under state authority.
He described the framework agreement with Israel as “the beginning of the beginning,” saying its greatest significance lies in establishing an independent Lebanese negotiating track separate from Iran’s, while accusing Tehran of continuing to interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs.
Politically, the Kataeb Party backed swift implementation of the framework agreement, calling for all arms to be placed under state control to facilitate Israel’s withdrawal, the return of displaced residents, and reconstruction.
By contrast, Walid Jumblatt, former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, criticized the agreement, calling it a unilateral arrangement imposed by Israel on Lebanese negotiators with limited legal and diplomatic expertise.
He argued that, unlike international treaties, the framework agreement has no explicit commitment to Israeli withdrawal.
Boeing to Asharq Al-Awsat: Riyadh Air Partnership Marks New Chapter in Saudi Relationshiphttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5293386-boeing-asharq-al-awsat-riyadh-air-partnership-marks-new-chapter-saudi
Boeing to Asharq Al-Awsat: Riyadh Air Partnership Marks New Chapter in Saudi Relationship
A Boeing 787 aircraft at Boeing’s facility in Seattle, United States. (X)
US planemaker Boeing expects Saudi Arabia to become one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets in the coming years, powered by major investments in airports, tourism and logistics and by plans to turn the kingdom into a global hub linking Asia, Europe and Africa.
The forecast comes as Riyadh Air builds its international network ahead of expansion into new markets, including the United States.
Asaad Aljomoai, president of Boeing Saudi Arabia, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the kingdom is one of Boeing’s most important growth markets. He said the company’s long-standing partnership with Saudi Arabia has entered a new phase that goes beyond aircraft supply to supporting the national aviation ecosystem, transferring knowledge and investing in future technologies.
Aljomoai said Boeing’s relationship with Saudi Arabia spans more than eight decades, dating back to the early days of commercial aviation in the kingdom. The launch of Riyadh Air, the new national carrier, marks a new chapter in that partnership, he said.
He said the 787 Dreamliner would be central to supporting Saudi Arabia’s target of becoming a global hub for aviation, travel and trade.
Saudi Arabia is now one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, backed by major investments in airports, infrastructure, tourism and logistics, as well as the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, Aljomoai said.
He said the kingdom’s geographic position gives it a strategic advantage to become a global hub connecting Asia, Europe and Africa. He expected strong growth to continue in passenger numbers, aircraft fleets and international destinations in the coming years.
787 Dreamliner
Aljomoai said the choice of the 787 Dreamliner aligns with Riyadh Air’s strategy to serve more than 100 global destinations by 2030.
He said the aircraft was designed to help airlines operate long-haul routes with high efficiency, lower fuel consumption, operational flexibility and an advanced passenger experience. That would help carriers open new markets in an economically viable and sustainable way.
Aljomoai said Boeing’s role in Saudi aviation extends beyond aircraft deliveries. It includes training and qualifying national talent, engineering services, digital solutions, supply chains and logistics services, as well as industrial and research partnerships aimed at transferring knowledge and strengthening local capabilities.
He pointed to one of the latest initiatives in this field: an announcement by SkyGrid, a Boeing subsidiary, to activate a memorandum of understanding with the General Authority of Civil Aviation to conduct an operational feasibility study on advanced air mobility technologies.
The study, carried out in cooperation with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, or KAUST, aims to assess the operational and regulatory aspects of those technologies ahead of their potential deployment in the kingdom, in support of Saudi Vision 2030 goals.
Operational balance and economic sustainability
On Riyadh Air’s aircraft configuration, Aljomoai said the 787 Dreamliner is among the most efficient aircraft in operation, giving the new national carrier an advantage in achieving economic efficiency from the early stages of its operations.
He said the cabin design uses lower cabin altitude pressure to reduce passenger fatigue, along with the latest connectivity, entertainment and digital service technologies. That would give business and leisure travelers a more comfortable and productive travel experience.
Asked about expansion plans toward the United States, Aljomoai said the aircraft’s range, efficiency and reliability make it an ideal platform for long-haul routes between the kingdom and global markets, including US destinations.
He said the aircraft would help Riyadh Air balance operational expansion with economic sustainability.
New aircraft deliveries
Aljomoai said deliveries of new aircraft would continue according to the timelines and operational plans agreed between Boeing and Riyadh Air.
He said the two sides would maintain close cooperation to ensure aircraft are delivered according to the highest standards of quality and safety, supporting Riyadh Air’s growth plans in the coming years.
Aljomoai said Boeing’s partnership with the kingdom goes beyond commercial ties and reflects the ambition to reshape Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector.
He said Boeing was proud of its role in supporting Saudi Vision 2030 by investing in national talent, industrial partnerships and advanced technologies, and by helping build a more prosperous and sustainable future for aviation in the kingdom.
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