For today, links to reports from Middle East Eye, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date,, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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Bezalel Smotrich says Israel can empty half of Gaza through ‘voluntary’ migration, by Alex MacDonald | Middle East Eye  Israel‘s far-right finance minister on Wednesday said Gaza could be emptied of half its population through “voluntary” migration within two years. Addressing a meeting of the Yesha Council, a committee overseeing . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel bombards central Beirut as its leadership prepares to vote on ceasefire with Hezbollah, by Kareem Chehayeb | AP  BEIRUT — Israeli warplanes struck central Beirut and the city’s southern suburbs today, ahead of a planned vote by Israel’s leadership on whether to accept a U.S.-brokered ceasefire . . . READ MORE . . .

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Efforts continue to reach a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Lebanon. Reported by Rob Schmitz and Lauren Frayer | NPR  Is a pause in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah possible? Diplomats in Lebanon and Israel say a deal is close. Are the sticking points surmountable? Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM NOV. 25  A ceasefire deal could be close as Israel-Hezbollah violence continues. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR  Israeli airstrikes shook Southern Beirut Monday and Hezbollah has continued to fire hundreds of rockets into Israel. Amid this violence, there are some signals of a diplomatic deal in the works. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Arrest warrants from the Hague: The ICC, Netanyahu and Gallant, by Binoy Kampmark | Middle East Monitor  The slow, often grinding machinery of international law has just received a push along with the issuing of three arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court. They are for . . . READ MORE . . .