Israeli PM Netanyahu admits Israel's role in pager, walkie-talkie attacks on Hezbollah
Jerusalem (PTI): Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time admitted that Israel was behind the pager and walkie-talkie attacks on Hezbollah in September that left at least 39 people dead and more than 3,000 injured, local media reports have said.
“The pager operation and the elimination of (Hezbollah leader Hassan) Nasrallah were carried out despite the opposition of senior officials in the defence establishment and those responsible for them in the political echelon,” The Times of Israel newspaper quoted Netanyahu as saying.
Netanyahu's remarks came during Sunday’s weekly Cabinet meeting, according to Hebrew media reports.
Israel had so far not taken responsibility publicly for the attacks, but it was widely speculated that it was behind the complex successfully orchestrated attacks that took the world by surprise.
Thousands of pagers containing explosives exploded on their Hezbollah owners across Lebanon and parts of Syria on September 16
Netanyahu's statement is being interpreted in the context of his firing of Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and efforts to shore up personal popularity by taking credit for war successes.
Gallant was fired from the defence minister's position on November 5. Netanyahu and Gallant have clashed repeatedly over the course of their time in government together.
Netanyahu also tried to get rid of him in March 2023 as well, a day after Gallant called for pausing the legislation process of the government’s contentious judicial overhaul plan arguing that it caused divisions that posed a threat to national security, but had to reinstate him due to massive public protests.
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T''gana govt accorded top priority to Muslim welfare, development : CM Reddy
Hyderabad (PTI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday said the Congress government has accorded top priority to the welfare and development of the Muslim community in the state.
Speaking at the 'Iftar' event hosted by the state government here, he observed that Ramzan is the holy month of spiritual purification.
"We must foster brotherhood and live together in communal harmony," Reddy said while cautioning that some political forces are attempting to create communal tension by dividing people in the country.
"This government is yours. I am your brother. All must stand unitedly to take Telangana and the country forward. Your prayers are very important for the government. Some people try to create divisions amongst us and we should not fall into it," he said.
He highlighted substantial allocation of funds to the Muslim minorities in every government initiative.
Telangana ministers including Mohammad Azharuddin, AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi were among those who were present on the occasion.
