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ICC decision rescues Netanyahu’s political career — Politico

It is reported that Benny Gantz is considered to be the politician who can end Netanyahu’s political career

BRUSSELS, May 21. /TASS/. The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) top prosecutor Karim Khan seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has saved the political career of the Israeli premier, helping him stay in power, according to Politico.

According to the newspaper, "just when it appeared Benjamin Netanyahu’s days in power might finally be numbered, up steps the International Criminal Court to save him." The news outlet insists that accusing the Israeli leadership of war crimes in the Gaza Strip will not result in "a pause in the fighting, accusations of war crimes will cause Israelis to rally around their embattled prime minister." According to Politico, over the weekend, retired General Benny Gantz threatened to quit the government "if Netanyahu didn’t produce a post-war template for how Gaza would be governed" which brought the war cabinet to the brink of collapse. According to the news outlet, Gantz is considered to be the politician who can end Netanyahu’s political career.

Ex-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (2006-2008) told Politico that the Israelis will have a negative reaction to the ICC decision because it equates Netanyahu with Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar. Nadav Shtrauchler, a former campaign strategist for Netanyahu, told the news outlet that "most Israelis will view Khan as targeting Israel and not just Netanyahu."

Earlier, Khan said he had appealed to the Pre-Trial Chamber to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant. The document said that based on the evidence gathered, the prosecution has reasonable grounds to believe that both "bear criminal responsibility for the <…> war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the State of Palestine (in the Gaza Strip) from at least October 8, 2023."

The ICC Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation in the Palestinian territories in 2021. At the time, it was stated that the prosecution investigated possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces, as well as by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups. According to Khan, alleged crimes committed during the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which began on October 8, 2023, also fall within the mandate of the Prosecutor's Office.

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The country’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the Houthi rebels "the centerpiece of Iran's axis of evil"

Over 30 killed during mass escape of prisoners from Mozambique jail — authorities

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Russian MFA says West could try to pull off some military 'scheme' in Belarus

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Biden tasks Pentagon with boosting military aid to Kiev

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Azerbaijan Airlines plane made 2 circles near Kazakh airport before crashing — official

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Annual inflation in Russia gearing up to 9.7% over week — Economy Ministry

In the food sector, prices growth rates declined to 0.76% during the reporting week

Ukrainian agent fails to plant bomb under car of Russian defense official — FSB

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Press review: Kiev escalates attacks as payments ease for Russian raw material buyers

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Houthis strike military facility near Tel Aviv with hypersonic missile

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Serious conflict between Israel, Turkey possible — Russian expert

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Russian-Iranian partnership agreement to be inked on January 17 — ambassador

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Russia sees US recommendation for its citizens to leave Belarus as provocation — MFA

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Denmark to strengthen control over Greenland after Trump’s words — top defense official

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Continued terror attacks by Kiev to be met with increasingly tougher response — Lavrov

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Ukraine’s General Staff reports tense frontline situation

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Georgia became inconvenient for 'friends' after rejecting Ukrainian scenario — official

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Six people were hospitalized with injuries of varying degrees

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Plane crash in Kazakhstan claims 38 lives

29 people had been hospitalized

Middle East in for ‘chaotic and violent’ time after change of power in Syria – analyst

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Aleksandr Dubinsky recalled the unsuccessful financing of Ukraine in the middle of the year

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Former Austrian minister names 4 suspect countries in connection with Nord Stream sabotage

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Israeli premier threatens Houthis with HAMAS, Hezbollah’s fate

Benjamin Netanyahu promised that "this lesson would be learned throughout the Middle East"

Russia not setting preconditions for talks on Ukraine — Lavrov

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Oboronlogistics company blames loss of its ship Ursa Major on terrorist attack

The Ursa Major dry cargo ship wrecked in the Mediterranean Sea

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Lavrov welcomes Trump team’s statements about willingness to resume dialogue

It is up to the US to take the first step towards restoring contact with Russia because it was Washington that suspended it after the launch of Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian foreign minister stated

FACTBOX: Shelling of Lgov in Russia’s Kursk Region

The attack resulted in the deaths of three individuals, with a fourth victim passing away from injuries at the hospital shortly afterward

Russia to donate 1 million euro to UN Climate Convention

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Former Austrian minister believes EU ignored message Russia sent with Oreshnik missile

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Lavrov sees ceasefire in Ukraine as road to nowhere, calls for reliable agreements

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US-made Abrams tanks in Taiwan won’t help island — China’s defense ministry

The Chinese People's Liberation Army will comprehensively strengthen military training to prevent a separatist plot by supporters of Taiwan independence and interference by outside forces, according to Spokesman Zhang Xiaogang

Russian investigators initiate criminal case into terror attack on borderline town

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In conditions of competing China, Europeans pay significantly more for US LNG than for Russian gas, the official noted

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Alexander Stepanov emphasized that "the goal of the enemy’s terrorist campaign on international shipping routes was to disrupt trade and economic cooperation"

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KazAeroNavigation’s flight director immediately notified all emergency services

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The rest of the passengers in the vehicle did not get injured

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The Cordelia Moon is 274 meters long and 50 meters wide

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Sandu regime may seize Moldavan power plant in Transnistria — Russian Foreign Ministry

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Decision-making centers in Kiev may be targets of Russia’s strikes, says Lavrov

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Dmitry Peskov recalled that the day before during the informal summit of the CIS, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered deep condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured

Soyuz-5 to be dispatched to Baikonur in October 2025, launch due late December

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No panic aboard crashed Azerbaijan Airlines plane, eyewitness says

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South Korean opposition launches impeachment proceedings against acting president

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Ukrainian agent planned to present explosive gift to Russian defense official — FSB

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Russia says Su-35S fighter jets provide cover to Aerospace Forces in Kursk Region

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Press review: US, Israel aim to curb Turkey’s gains while Moscow, Tehran strengthen ties

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US disrupts payment of Russian contribution to ICRC budget — Foreign Ministry

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Greece continues to ship munitions to Ukraine en masse — website

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In addition, the European Union is strengthening protection of the bloc's undersea cables

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Australia contacts Russia regarding captured mercenary — diplomat

Maria Zakharova emphasized that "Canberra obediently follows in the footsteps of the collective West, which pursues a Russophobic policy"

Two people preparing attempts on Russian military officials' lives recruited in Ukraine

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Zelensky defines essence of next summit on Ukraine in four-letter explicit word — Lavrov

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Group of Syrian law enforcement officers ambushed in Tartus, 14 killed — minister

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Russian MFA sees reports of potential deployment of EU troops in Ukraine as provocation

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Russian troops liberate Novy Trud community in Donbass region over past day

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France made several requests to Russia on Ukraine topic through private channels — Lavrov

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CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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Press review: Ukraine eyes missile programs as EU considers new sanctions on Russia

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Thailand accepts invitation to become BRICS partner state — MFA

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Russian commissioner hopes for resumption of effort to bring children from Syria

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Trump doesn’t want repeat of Minsk agreements — Kellogg

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Lukashenko, Putin discuss regional security, bilateral relations

The presidents also talked about cooperation between the countries in a variety of areas, including economy

Russian forces break through Ukrainian defense lines in Kharkov Region — expert

Marochko added that the operation allowed Russian troops to "expand their zone of control" in the area

Russian fighters control about 40% of Terny in Donetsk region, military expert says

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FSB foils series of assassination attempts on senior Russian defense officials

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West plans to destabilize situation in Serbia — Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman

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