Netanyahu, Katz, Zamir reiterate pledge to ‘continue to act decisively’ in Lebanon

The Times of Israel is liveblogging Tuesday’s events as they unfold.

2 more suspects arrested for plot targeting Israel-linked Congress members at White House event

The FBI announces the arrests of two additional suspects for plotting to attack Israel-linked members of Congress at a White House event earlier this month.

US federal authorities last week announced the arrest of five suspects for the plot. The conspirators allegedly planned to use explosive-laden drones and snipers to attack a mixed martial arts event on the White House lawn.

The conspirators had discussed targeting politicians who had connections to the “pro-Israel lobby.”

The US Department of Justice announces the arrest of two more suspects —- William Lee Spartacus Falkner, from Washington state, and Jordan W. Rincker, 28, of Missouri. They are charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Falkner has experience manufacturing and piloting drones and had discussed loading explosives onto drones with the other conspirators, the statement says.

Rincker accepted $1,200 in cash from another suspect to help pay for some of the expenses related to the planned attack and gave a shotgun to one of the other suspects, the Department of Justice says.

A search of Rincker’s home turns up four firearms, a gas mask, night vision goggles, a thermal scope and body armor.

US official: Israel-Lebanon talks in DC this week to start with joint political-military session

This week’s talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington will begin with a joint political and military session, followed by one military session and another political session, a US official says.

The talks will be held from Tuesday to Thursday at the State Department and the Pentagon.

Israel and Lebanon will be represented by their respective ambassadors in Washington, while State Department Counselor Dan Holler and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Dan Zimmerman will represent the US.

The Trump administration is trying to maintain the legitimacy of the direct channel it created between Israel and Lebanon after seemingly undermining the initiative by using US talks with Iran in order to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon.

The apparent disconnect may have to do with the fact that the talks with Iran are led by US Vice President JD Vance, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spearheaded the talks between Israel and Lebanon, while largely staying out of the Iran talks.

US President Donald Trump has oscillated between the two tracks, sometimes giving attention to the Israel-Lebanon channel as he tries to detach Lebanon from the Iran conflict, while other times legitimizing Iranian demands that its deal with Washington include Lebanon.

As of late, the administration appears to be prioritizing the latter track as it works to sustain the MOU it reached with Iran last week, but Trump is known to shift drastically on these matters.

US energy secretary falsely suggests oil moving through Strait of Hormuz at pre-Iran war levels

Energy Secretary Chris Wright claims that oil and natural gas are flowing through at “pre-crisis levels.”

“We could get to above that, we will get above that,” Wright adds.

US President Donald Trump also suggests that “two days ago” there had been a record in terms of oil being taken out of the strait.

Neither of those statements are true.

According to data and analytics firm Kpler, there were 71 confirmed transits over the weekend, with a peak of 35 crossings on Saturday.

About 100 to 130 vessels passed through the strait each day before the war.

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Iran’s lead negotiator insists Strait of Hormuz will be managed by Iran

The lead negotiator of the Iranian delegation, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, insists the Strait of Hormuz will be managed by Iran and will follow international laws.

Ghalibaf, who is also the speaker of the parliament, speaks with Iran state media on a plane on his way back from Switzerland.

“Hopefully we can activate the strait again, in terms of passage, and bring prosperity back to regional and global economy,” he says.

Ghalibaf confirms that the issue of releasing the frozen assets as well as the sale of Iranian oil were discussed in the talks with the US today.

US-Israeli extradited from Norway, indicted in Florida for threatening Jewish institutions in 2016-2017

A dual citizen of the US and Israel is indicted in a federal court in Florida for allegedly perpetrating a wave of bomb threats against Jewish institutions in 2016 and 2017.

Michael Ron David Kadar, 27, previously served seven years in an Israeli prison for the calls to Jewish organizations in multiple countries.

At the time of his conviction, Kadar’s lawyer said he had autism and was suffering from a brain tumor.

Kadar traveled to Norway to seek asylum after completing his sentence in Israel. He was extradited to the US on Thursday, the Department of Justice says in a statement.

Kadar faces charges in Florida, Georgia and Washington, DC, for threats to Jewish institutions and other crimes targeting those areas.

He is indicted for hate crimes and obstruction of the free exercise of religion. The hate crime charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and the bomb threats a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Kadar had been detained in Norway and was fighting extradition to the US.

He was a minor at the time of some of the offenses, and his name had been under gag order in Israel until last year.

The so-called “hacker from Ashkelon” admitted in court to making some 2,000 fake bomb threat calls to hospitals, airlines, schools and various Jewish institutions in the US and beyond out of boredom.

He was found guilty in June 2018 of hundreds of counts of extortion, spreading false information that caused panic, computer offenses and money laundering, among other charges.

Trump: If Iran doesn’t live up to agreement, I will do what I have to do

While acknowledging his previous comments that a resumption of the Iran war would have major economic repercussions, US President Donald Trump indicates that this would not deter him from striking Iran again, since ensuring that the regime doesn’t obtain a nuclear weapon is his top priority.

“Nuclear weapon supersedes depression,” Trump tells reporters in the Oval Office.

“If Iran doesn’t live up to their agreement, or if they’re not behaving, I will do what I have to do,” Trump continues. “As long as Iran respects us, we are not going to have any trouble.”

Asked about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that he will keep the IDF in southern Lebanon — in what would appear to contradict the MOU’s bar on military operations in the country — Trump says he will have to look into the matter before insisting that he knows how to deal with Netanyahu effectively.

Netanyahu, Katz and Zamir reiterate pledge to ‘continue to act decisively to thwart threats’ in Lebanon

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo just held a call.

“The IDF will continue to act decisively to thwart threats to our soldiers and civilians, destroy terror infrastructure, and continue maintaining the security zone in southern Lebanon,” Netanyahu, Katz, and Zamir say in a joint statement.

“The prime minister, the defense minister and the chief of staff clarified that the security of Israel’s civilians and IDF troops will continue to remain before their eyes without compromise,” they add.