JERUSALEM: Israeli government and opposition leaders condemned on Tuesday a left-wing politician, Yair Golan, after he said in a radio interview that “a sane country... does not kill babies for a hobby.”
“Israel is on the path to becoming a pariah state among the nations — like the South Africa of old — if it does not return to behaving like a sane country,” said Golan, chairman of Israel’s Democrats party.
“A sane country does not wage war against civilians, does not kill babies for a hobby, and does not set goals involving the expulsion of populations,” he told Israel’s Kan public radio.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Golan, a former major general in the military, of “wild incitement” against Israeli troops and of “echoing the most despicable anti-Semitic blood libels against the (Israeli army) and the State of Israel.”
Golan also drew condemnation from government critics, with opposition leader Yair Lapid saying in a post on X: “Our fighters are heroes and are defending our lives. The statement that they kill children as a hobby is incorrect and is a gift to our enemies.”
Education Minister Yoav Kisch, of Netanyahu’s party, called for an investigation for incitement into Golan, whose party is a coalition of several left-wing factions.
“Golan is not a member of Knesset and does not have immunity. I expect the attorney general to immediately open an investigation against him for incitement,” Kisch said on X.
Military chief Eyal Zamir in a statement condemned remarks that cast doubt on the “morality” of the army’s actions and of its troops.
Responding to criticism, Golan said on X that he was trying to sound the alarm on the direction he believed Israel was headed.
The government’s war plans are “the realization of the fantasies of (Itamar) Ben Gvir and (Bezalel) Smotrich,” Golan said, referring to two far-right ministers.
“If we allow them to realize them, we will become a pariah state,” the left-wing politician said.
Golan is a vocal opponent of Netanyahu’s government and its policies.
In November 2024, he accused Netanyahu of putting his own political interests before the country’s following a decision to dismiss defense minister Yoav Gallant.
Israeli politician slammed for saying country should not 'kill babies for a hobby'
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Israeli politician slammed for saying country should not 'kill babies for a hobby'
Saudi Cabinet approves regulatory frameworks for 4 SEZs
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has formalized the regulatory frameworks for four Special Economic Zones located in Jazan, Cloud Computing Zone, King Abdullah Economic City, and Ras Al-Khair.
These zones are designed to stimulate investment by offering tailored incentives and governance, enhancing the Kingdom’s competitive edge in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, maritime logistics, cloud technology, and energy-related industries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The SEZ initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader economic transformation plan under Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy beyond oil revenues and develop new engines of growth through foreign direct investment and infrastructure development.
Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih expressed his appreciation for the Cabinet’s approval of the SEZ regulations, stating in a tweet: “I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to the leadership, may God support it, for its continued support of efforts to enhance the business environment, attract investments, and diversify and raise the competitiveness of the national economy, through the essential step embodied in the Cabinet’s approval of the regulatory frameworks for the Special Economic Zones.”
The session, presided over by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, included the approval of a wide range of cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding.
These included an MoU on energy cooperation with Pakistan, healthcare collaboration with Iraq, and a digital communication pact with Palestine.
Additional approvals involved cooperation with the Hungarian judiciary, as well as agreements with UNESCO and the World Economic Forum.
Notably, the Cabinet approved the establishment of a commercial and economic office for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Riyadh, underlining growing bilateral trade and investment ties between Saudi Arabia and Asian financial hubs.
On infrastructure, the Council noted the launch of phase three of the major road development program in Riyadh, which aims to enhance connectivity and transform the city into a regional center for sustainable transport and logistics services.
Other approvals included Saudi Arabia’s accession to the Beijing 2010 Convention on the suppression of unlawful acts relating to international civil aviation, and revisions to the governance of the General Authority for Defense Development.
The Cabinet also endorsed the closure of the national and regional tourism development councils and approved the final accounts of several government agencies.
It directed further review on annual performance reports submitted by regulatory bodies and strategic institutes, including those focusing on food security, export development, and communications.
Several high-level appointments and promotions in the foreign ministry and other government bodies were confirmed during the session, reflecting the Kingdom’s ongoing administrative reforms and leadership renewal across key sectors.
