News Wrap: Israeli ambassador to U.S. says cease-fire with Hezbollah is ‘close’

In our news wrap Monday, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. says a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is close, Russian rockets injured more than 30 people in a wave of strikes on two of Ukraine’s largest cities and at least 17 people are missing in Egypt after a tourist boat sank in rough waters in the Red Sea.
William Brangham:
We start the day’s other news with events in the Middle East.
Israel’s ambassador to Washington says a potential cease-fire deal between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is close and can happen within days. Officials say Prime Minister Netanyahu’s security cabinet will meet tomorrow to discuss the proposed deal. Israel has ramped up its attacks on Lebanon in recent days, launching airstrikes on the suburbs of Beirut.
A Lebanese politician said that escalation is actually a sign that a deal could be close.
Elias Abu Sa’ab, Deputy Speaker, Parliament of Lebanon (through translator): In the past hours, we have seen an increase in the frequency of Israeli attacks. It has become known that the Israeli enemy always begins to escalate when it gets closer to a serious negotiation with serious files in its hands. It escalates to put pressure on the other side to make concessions.
William Brangham:
This comes after Hezbollah launched one of its largest attacks on Israel yesterday, firing some 250 rockets and missiles. Hezbollah began such strikes the day after Hamas raided Israel in October of last year. That conflict escalated into an all-out war this September, when Israel began large-scale strikes on Lebanon and launched a ground invasion into the country.
The prospect of a cease-fire deal was also top of mind today as foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations gathered outside Rome. Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined his G7 counterparts as they expressed cautious optimism about the cease-fire process.
The issue of Ukraine also looms large at the meeting. It’s the last of its kind before a new U.S. administration takes office in January. Meanwhile, on the ground today in Ukraine:
Olha Tarasyk, Ukrainian Center For Administrative Services (through translator):
People were injured by shrapnel. I escaped as I left the office.
William Brangham:
Russian rockets injured more than 30 people in a wave of strikes on two of Ukraine’s largest cities, Kharkiv and Odesa. Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned America’s commitment to Ukraine.
There is further evidence today that a woman’s own home is now the most dangerous place for her to be. That’s according to a sobering United Nations report on global femicide, which is the gender-related killing of women and girls. The organization said 85,000 such killings occurred last year. Of those, around 60 percent, or 140 per day, were at the hands of someone close to the victim.
In Europe and the Americas, most women and girls were killed by intimate partners. Elsewhere, close relatives were the primary perpetrators. These findings come as women around the world held demonstrations this weekend and into today to mark the U.N.’s 25th annual Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Officials in Egypt say at least 17 people are missing after a tourist boat sank in rough waters in the Red Sea. The vessel, named Sea Story, left the town of Marsa Alam for a five-day trip yesterday; 31 tourists of different nationalities were on board, along with 14 crew members. Rescue teams managed to bring dozens of survivors back to shore today with some needing medical treatment. It’s not immediately clear what caused the yacht to sink, but authorities had warned against maritime activity due to rough seas.
Here in the U.S., service workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport went on strike today ahead of what is expected to be the busiest holiday travel season record.
(Chanting)
William Brangham:
The workers, who clean planes, remove trash and escort passengers in wheelchairs, are protesting what they call unlivable wages. Their union spokesperson said the strike is expected to last for 24 hours. Airport officials say they’re working to make sure terminal operations are not impacted.
And on Wall Street today, stocks ended higher as investors reacted to president-elect Trump’s pick of Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped more than 400 points to notch a new all-time high. The Nasdaq added about 50 points on the day. The S&P 500 also ended in positive territory.
And author Barbara Taylor Bradford has died. The British journalist turned bestselling novelist made her mark while in her 40s with the novel “A Woman of Substance” about a servant girl who rises to become a business tycoon. That arc partly mirrored Bradford’s own self-made success. She was born to a working-class family and went on to write more than 40 books that touched on themes of love, power and money.
She sold some 90 million copies worldwide and amassed a $200 million fortune. Bradford was even featured on a postage stamp. Barbara Taylor Bradford died yesterday at her home in New York. She was 91 years old.