Israel claims it thwarted assassination plot against Netanyahu

Israeli security services on Thursday said a 73-year-old Israeli businessman has been indicted on suspicion of being involved in an Iran-backed assassination plot. Officials accused Moti Maman of smuggling himself into Iran through Turkey to discuss the possibility of assassinating Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, or Shin Bet intelligence agency director Ronen Bar. Iranian operatives allegedly also asked the man to conduct surveillance in Israel, and to recruit Russians and Americans to target Iranians opposed to the regime who live abroad. Israeli officials said he demanded to be paid $1 million before taking any action, a request the Iranians refused.

What about rising tensions with Hezbollah? Israel on Thursday bombed southern Lebanon and the terrorist group fired missiles at northern Israel. The strikes followed an alleged Israeli attack earlier this week that targeted pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah fighters. The operation killed at least 32 people and wounded more than 3,000 others. Israel has not commented on its alleged involvement in the attack.

How are international leaders responding to rising tensions? The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a nonbinding resolution demanding that Israel leave “occupied Palestinian territory” within a year. The resolution also calls on other nations to halt the transfer of weapons to Israel if they could be used in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Israel, the United States, and 12 other countries opposed the resolution, 124 voted to adopt the measure, and 43 nations abstained.

Dig deeper: Read my report about the pager and walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon.