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succeeded Johnson in September, also appeared willing to take a provocative stance, answering that “the jury’s out” when asked during her leadership campaign whether Macron was a friend or a foe.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who succeeded Truss last month, seems to be taking a softer approach. Speaking with reporters on his way to the Group of 20 summit, the BBC said, Sunak praised Monday’s agreement and said he had “spent more time working on that than anything else” since taking office.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense said 853 people had arrived in Britain by small boat Sunday, bringing the total number of such arrivals this year to more than 40,000.

Although Britain’s asylum system has been slow to assess claims, the vast majority of small-boat arrivals whose cases have been examined have been found to be refugees from war or persecution. Rights groups have criticized the use of heated rhetoric around the crossings, which make up a fraction of the number of people arriving in the country.

In a statement, the two governments said the agreement had been signed “with a view to making the small boat route unviable,” as well as to “save lives, dismantle organized crime groups and prevent and deter illegal migration in transit countries and further upstream.” (© The New York Times)

Horrific Bombing in Istanbul

A bomb attack struck a bustling pedestrian thoroughfare in central Istanbul on Sunday, killing at least eight people in what officials said could be a terrorist attack and shattering a sense of calm as Turkey’s tourist industry works to recover from the pandemic.

The attack was the deadliest in Turkey in more than five years, and authorities offered few details in the hours afterward other than to say they were investigating the possibility that the bomb had been detonated by a woman. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to punish those behind the blast, without accusing any specific group.

Early Monday, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the person who left the bomb at the site had been arrested, according to the state-run news agency Anadolu. He did not identify the person, but he suggested that the bombing had been ordered by Kurdish militants in northern Syria.

The explosion shook the heart of one of Istanbul’s most popular districts, a short walk from Taksim Square, leaving bloodied passersby strewn about the pavement and sending waves of visitors rushing from the area. By Sunday evening, Turkish officials had put the number of people injured at 81, with two in critical condition.

The blast occurred in front of a clothing store on Istiklal Avenue, a broad pedestrian street lined with historic buildings, shops, and restaurants.

Like many parts of Turkey where the economy relies on tourism, the area around Istiklal had suffered in recent years as travel bans and fears of coronavirus infection kept many tourists away. But the area rebounded this summer as the pandemic waned and the weak Turkish lira made Turkey an attractive tourist destination.

About 4:20 p.m. Sunday, a large boom shook the street and an orange fireball rose to the sky, according to videos shared on social media.

Ambulances with sirens blaring rushed to the area as security forces cordoned off the blast site. A police helicopter circled overhead.

“I first thought it was a natural gas explosion,” said Serhat Sen, a 30-year-old real estate commissioner, who was on his motorbike a little more than half a mile from the site. (© The New York Times)

3 Men Killed in Ariel Attack

Tuesday was a bloody day in the settlement of Ariel in the West Bank. Three men were killed in stabbing and car ramming attacks.

Michael Ladygin, 36, a resident of the central coastal city of Bat Yam, died after being stabbed. He left behind a wife and

Motti Ashkenazi, 59, a resident of the central city of Yavne, was also killed in a stabbing. He worked as a supplier for the Amisragas gas distributor in the West Bank area. He was married and had three children and two grandchildren.

“Motti was a loving person, full of joy, an exemplary husband, and a family man with a huge soul who always loved to help everyone,” his family said in remarks provided by the Yavne municipality.

Tamir Avihai, 50, a resident of the settlement of Kiryat Netafim and a father of six, was killed when the terrorist rammed his car into him, following the stabbing spree.

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan described Avihai, whom he knew personally, as “a man of kindness” who was always seeking to help other people.

“Everyone who knew him, loved him,” Dagan said.

In Tuesday’s attack, Muhammed Souf, 18, from the town of Hares, stabbed a security guard – who was seriously wounded – near the entrance to the Ariel Industrial Park. The murderer then stabbed three people at and adjacent to a nearby gas station, before he fled in a stolen vehicle.

Shortly afterward, the terrorist crashed the vehicle into other cars on the Route 5 highway, before getting out and stabbing another person, according to medics. He then stole another vehicle and drove it against traffic, crashing into more cars, before he got out and was shot dead by soldiers and armed civilians.

Local officials said the terrorist had worked in the industrial zone and had a valid permit. Souf did not have any prior security offences.

Iran Wanted to Kill Israeli in Georgia

On Tuesday, Georgian security officials said that they had foiled a recent attempt of a Pakistani citizen to murder an Israeli in Georgia on orders from an

24 Iranian operative. According to a statement from the State Security Service of Georgia, the The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 17, 2022 man planning the attack was arrested, and security officials identified the person who allegedly ordered the killing as an Iranian citizen operating outside of Georgia. The security agency said the alleged attacker was sent to Georgia in order to murder an Israeli and began to secretly surveil the intended target on instruction of the Iranian who ordered the killing. The man received weapons from other Iranian citizens in Georgia through the use of drop-offs and hideouts in order to cover their tracks, the agency stated, adding that several firearms were seized in the arrest and investigation. Several people were arrested in the course of the investigation, including Georgians who held dual citizenship with Iran or Pakistan.

Iranian terror operatives have regularly been accused of attempting to target Israeli citizens and targets abroad, including recently in Greece and Turkey, two popular tourist destinations. Georgia is also a popular travel locale for Israelis, especially the resort town of Batumi, which can be reached via a direct flight from Tel Aviv — as can the capital Tbilisi.

The 25th Knesset

On Tuesday, Israel’s 25th Knesset was sworn in under a somber cloud after that morning’s terror attack in Ariel in which three men were killed.

The inauguration took place at 4 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.

A large banner welcoming guests to the ceremony adorned the main entrance to the building. Grandstands were set up in the plaza that leads to the entrance.

The incoming members of Knesset arrived throughout the morning and had official pictures taken alone and with their families. Hadash-Ta’al MKs Ayman Odeh and Ofer Cassif refused to have their pictures taken on the backdrop of the Israeli flag and national symbol.

President Herzog entered the building at approximately 3:30 p.m. and signed the Knesset’s “President’s Book,” in which presidents traditionally wish the new Knesset well on the day of its inauguration.

“Fate had us to gather here, in the Israeli Knesset, at a key moment in the history of the State of Israel. Now, at the end of the fifth round of elections in less than four years, we stand before the crossroads of solidarity. We must choose our togetherness, and commit to the unity of Israel and the Jewish and democratic State of Israel,” Herzog wrote.

“Such a choice does not mean unanimous agreement and unanimity. Not at all. But we must remember that the Knesset institution is precious and respected even more than the totality of its members, and therefore it is incumbent upon the elected officials to be extra respectful of the public and the Knesset and the manner of its discourse, maintain substantive and attentive disagreements, even if sharp and piercing, and uproot every sign of enmity,” Herzog wrote.

At 4:00 p.m., three trumpet blasts announced the beginning of the plenum, led by Herzog, who then gave a speech, which began addressing that day’s terror attack.

“To Israel’s enemies and those who wish us ill, to those who would have us divided and weak, I wish to send this unambiguous message: you shall not succeed in rattling our might and our cohesion, not by means of threats, not through violence, not through terror, nor by means of foolish endeavors on the international stage. Those who rise up to destroy us will always find us ready and determined, one hand clutching a weapon and the other extended in peace,” he said.

Herzog also addressed the members of the Knesset.

“The citizens of Israel expect you simply to work for them. They expect you, all of you, to work for them in the committees, in the Plenum, and in your assorted public and parliamentary roles. They expect us, all of us, to wake up every morning and look out for them,” Herzog stressed.

“Let me underscore: not only is change possible; there are places where change is proper and desirable. It is allowed, and sometimes even required, to reopen for debate the division of powers and authorities between the various branches of government, which balance each other.

“But we must do so through listening, through open dialogue, through respectful discourse – and fairly. This is of course a mission that confronts all three branches of government – legislature, executive, and judiciary – which must be attentive to each other while at the same time remaining committed to our collective vision as a people and as a state,” he said.

Following the ceremony, the leaders of each of the parties that entered the Knesset joined for a traditional photograph with President Herzog, Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Knesset speaker Mickey Levy, and High Court chief justice, Esther Hayut.

Estonia Won’t Condemn Israel at UN

Estonia’s foreign minister said the Baltic country has changed its policy toward Israel and will no longer vote for UN resolutions condemning Israeli actions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Instead, the European country is looking to align its UN voting position in such matters, from now on, with Washington, its closest security policy ally and a key partner of Jerusalem.

According to a report by the Estonian public broadcaster ERR, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said Estonia — a European Union and NATO member — recently voted together with the United States against the condemnation of Israel at the UN.

That stance was apparent last week when Estonia was one of 17 countries to vote against a resolution requesting the