and as israel considers retaliation against iran after this weekend's attack, world leaders urge restraint. i'm helena humphrey. glad you could join me. monday marked the first day of an historic trial against donald trump. arriving at court in new york, mr trump became the first us president — current or former — to face criminal charges. donald trump has been charged with falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment he made to adult film actress, stormy daniels, a month before the 2016 presidential election. he made the payment to keep ms daniels from publicly discussing an alleged affair the two had in the 2000s. mr trump denies falsifying records and denies any relationship with ms daniels. but today in court, 60 of 96 potentialjurors said they could not be impartial in a case involving the former president.

speaking after day one of the trial, mr trump sought to cast doubt over the legitimacy of the court. it isa it is a scam trial. it is a political scam, a political witchhunt that continues, and it continues forever, and were not going to be given a fair trial. it's a very, very sad thing. 0ur north america correspondent john sudworth has more from new york. well, when donald trump's motorcade left this precinct, a man of course it is no stranger to breaking the rules and norms of political life hit another milestone, this time a legal one, becoming the first former us president to face a criminal trial. 0nce us president to face a criminal trial. once it got under way,

as is often the case in courts, the business was pretty humdrum to begin with, procedural arguments, and the defence raising a number of questions. at one point asking whether donald trump could have the day off at some point to attend his younger son's high school graduation. thejudge younger son's high school graduation. the judge saying younger son's high school graduation. thejudge saying he would deal with that at a later date. but this all shows just how extraordinary a moment this is. this is one of the most powerful men in the world, the result —— presumptive republican nominee for the next election being judged according to the letter of the law and by a jury of his peers. 0rdinary citizens. and he has to be here. this is a criminal trial. when it did finally get under way the real business of the day was trying to select that jury. the court faces over the next few weeks the task of sifting through hundreds of potentialjurors in order to find those who do not have

strong preconceived opinions about a man who has wielded significant influence over american life for a decade or more. that of course in itself no easy task. i spoke about the case with temidayo aganga—williams, former federal prosecutor and senior investigative counsel on the house january sixth committee. he told me howjury selection will continue. i think how you go about it is exactly what he is doing here, he is asking extensive questions that get to potential political bias, our media consumption habits, he is giving both the government and the defence counsel lots of information points where they can gauge whether these jurors are going to be potentially fair. and i think that today the fact that so many jurors actually raised their hands to say could not be there is a good sign. it shows that people are taking this seriously, which in my experiencejurors do. they take it as a solemn

duty, and i think they will be able to find a fair and partial jury able to find a fair and partial jury here. able to find a fair and partial jury here-— able to find a fair and partial 'u here. ., , .,, ., jury here. donald trump has to auree jury here. donald trump has to aaree to jury here. donald trump has to agree to these _ jury here. donald trump has to agree to these jurors _ jury here. donald trump has to agree to these jurors as - jury here. donald trump has to agree to these jurors as well, | agree to these jurors as well, doesn't he? he has been present we know at some of these side bar conferences for that initial examination of the jurors. what do you make of that? ~ ., jurors. what do you make of that? ~ . , , ., ., , that? what he is yet to do is have a limited _ that? what he is yet to do is have a limited four - that? what he is yet to do is have a limited four call - have a limited four call strikes. so if his lawyers believe that a juror cannot be fair because of something they said or cannot be present for the entire trial, they can get thatjuror the entire trial, they can get that juror struck. the entire trial, they can get thatjurorstruck. now the entire trial, they can get that juror struck. now they also have what is called re—challenge us, whatever reason, assuming it is not race or something that is not permitted, they can have additionaljurors struck. so it doesn't mean that the remaining jurors will be people that he authoritatively wants, but it does mean he has the opportunity to get rid of those that he feels strongly against. and so when you look at this case through your legal lens, this is about business fraud,

but business fraud amounting to campaignfinancing but business fraud amounting to campaign financing violations. how strong do you think this case is? i how strong do you think this case is? ~ , ., case is? i think it is far stronger— case is? i think it is far stronger than - case is? i think it is far stronger than a - case is? i think it is far stronger than a lot - case is? i think it is far stronger than a lot of i case is? i think it is far- stronger than a lot of people in the community have been giving it credit for. the prosecution here does not have to prove the underlying campaign finance crime. what they have to prove is that donald trump engaged in the initial crime of falsifying business records and did it for the purpose of concealing another offence, and i think here they have a lot of stronger arguments. they have michael cohen, stormy daniels, people who can really narrate what happened and why the former president would have done this, but importantly they have corroborating evidence, they have the documents, they can show the payments, show how the money transferred, and when you put all those together i think there is a high chance that the former president could be convicted here.— be convicted here. certainly some star _ be convicted here. certainly some star witnesses - be convicted here. certainly some star witnesses as - be convicted here. certainly some star witnesses as you | be convicted here. certainly - some star witnesses as you say. donald trump for his part said he is ready to testify. he has in the civil cases but of course this is the first criminal case. what do you

think the chances are that we actually see him take to the stand here? i actually see him take to the stand here?— stand here? i think it is incredibly _ stand here? i think it is incredibly unlikely - stand here? i think it is incredibly unlikely that| stand here? i think it is - incredibly unlikely that trump is going to testify. in a criminal case like this, once he gets up there, he can be cross examined on his long extended history of not telling the truth, because his credibility is going to be at the centre of that testimony, and then, when you testify, to some degree you start taking on a certain burden that you normally don't have. the prosecution has to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt. when a defendant gets on the stand you are in essence presenting your own counter narrative and that will be put to the test. so strongly, strongly doubt he will testify. i do think he is bumping, which defendants do have to do all the time here.— defendants do have to do all the time here. and whatever ha--ens the time here. and whatever happens here. _ the time here. and whatever happens here, i— the time here. and whatever happens here, ijust - the time here. and whatever happens here, i just wonderl the time here. and whatever - happens here, ijust wonder how do you think the american public will react? do you think they have faith in the justice system? i they have faith in the “ustice s stem? ~ ., system? i think today as part of restoring _

system? i think today as part of restoring faith _ system? i think today as part of restoring faith in _ system? i think today as part of restoring faith in the - of restoring faith in the justice system and in american institutions. donald trump again and again has tried to tear down many secret amendment executions but today was historic, a sad day but historic, a sad day but historic because someone who has disregarded the law again and again is now facing accountability. he walked the courts like any other defendant, he was told when to speak, he had to sit there and be quiet while the judge controlled the room and not him so i think what we're seeing todayis so i think what we're seeing today is a restoration of that faith in the american justice system but he continuously tries to tear down but it is still strong so far. officials in australia say a stabbing attack at a church service on monday is now being treated as a terrorist incident. four people have non—life—threatening injuries, including a bishop, after the incident at a church outside of sydney. a 15—year—old boy has been arrested — police say the suspect was known to them, but was not on any terror watch lists.

there is no suggestion the event is linked to a stabbing attack at a sydney shopping mall, that saw six people killed this weekend. the assailant was shot dead by police. his father says he wants to apologise for his son's actions, adding his mental health problems made him a "very sick boy". the commissioner of new south wales police gave this update about the church stabbing. the things that influence my decision to declare this a terrorist incident was the actions of the individual, who attended, we will allege attended, we will allege attended that church with a knife, armed with a knife, and stabbed the bishop, a priest, and others were also injured. we believe there are elements that are satisfied, in terms of religious motivated extremism, and of course the intimidation of the public through that person's acts. 0ur australia correspondent katy watson reports on both attacks. australia's most famous

landmark, reflecting the pain of a nation. all the victims have now been named. pikria darchia, originally from georgia, dawn singleton, who was planning her wedding, jade young was an architect and mother. 0steopath, ashlee good, died protecting her nine—month—old baby. yixuan cheng, a chinese student whose picture is yet to be released. and this was security guard, faraz tahir, the only man killed as he tried to intervene in the attack. one man who confronted the attacker, warding him off with a bollard, has been telling his story. he didn't say anything, actually. he wasjust, like, very tall, a bit skinny. but the eyes was like empty eyes. it was like, er... he wasn't there. he wasn't like really there, actually. joel cauchi, who was shot dead by a police officer,

after going on a stabbing spree in this shopping centre, had a history of mental illness. detectives are investigating whether he targeted women in the attack, but they still want to find a motive by speaking to those who knew him. earlier, his parents spoke out. this is a parent's absolute nightmare, when they have a child with mental illness, that something like this would happen, and my heart goes out to the people our son has hurt. if he was in his right mind, he would be absolutely devastated at what he's done. do you have any reason - to understand why he would have targeted women? yes. why? because he wanted a girlfriend, and he's got no social skills, and he was frustrated out of his brain. and this evening, more horror and fear in western sydney, as a bishop and several other people were stabbed during a sermon that was being livestreamed. the two attacks are not connected, but tensions remain high. one man was arrested, and police said nobody hurt had

life—threatening injuries, but they asked the public to stay away from the area. videos on social media showed people protesting outside the church. australia is still reeling. these past few days have been difficult for the community here in bondijunction, and beyond. katy watson, bbc news in sydney. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at another story making news. the former british prime minister, liz truss, has told the bbc she hopes donald trump is re—elected as us president, and she would welcome nigel farage becoming a conservative mp. 0ur political editor chris mason sat down with her, and asked her what she would say to those who think her time as leader left the uk an international laughing stock. well, i don't... i don't think that's true. but you lasted... all the stuff about lasting less time than a lettuce... this is just pathetic

point—scoring. let's talk then about the future of the conservative party. would nigel farage be a welcome addition to the parliamentary party? i think would be — parliamentary party? i think would be good _ parliamentary party? i think would be good if _ parliamentary party? i think would be good if he - parliamentary party? i think would be good if he joined l parliamentary party? i think. would be good if he joined the conservative party. find would be good if he “oined the conservative party. and became an mp? ! if— conservative party. and became an mp? ! if you— conservative party. and became an mp? ! if you are _ conservative party. and became an mp? ! if you are in _ conservative party. and became an mp? ! if you are in the - an mp? ! if you are in the conservative _ an mp? ! if you are in the conservative party, - an mp? ! if you are in the conservative party, i - an mp? ! if you are in the l conservative party, i would support in becoming an mp, yes. why? support in becoming an mp, yes. wh ? �* , ~ why? because i think he believes _ why? because i think he believes in _ why? because i think he believes in conservative| believes in conservative values. i think it's a shame thatis values. i think it's a shame that is not in the conservative party. ms truss added that she can't see a purpose for the united nations — saying it's had a "positively damaging" effect on dealing with international situations. you're live with bbc news. israel says iran "will be met with a response", as retribution for the islamic republic's attack over the weekend. israeli officials had said that they reserved the right to respond, but today's remark, by israel's army chief, is the strongest indication yet that they will go ahead. prime minister benjamin netanyahu's war cabinet met on monday, for the second time in as many days, to discuss specifics.

an attack would fly in the face of warnings from many of israel's allies, including the united states, which have urged restraint. tehran, meanwhile, asked western leaders to "appreciate "iran's restraint" towards israel, given what it calls "war crimes" being committed by israel in gaza. but he added the overwhelming success of israel's air 0ur diplomatic correspondent james landale has more from jerusalem. it is clear now that israel is going to retaliate against iran for the missile and drone attack that it launched over the weekend. the question only is how and when. the prime minister benjamin netanyahu issued a statement on social media, in which he said that iran was conducting a full—scale campaign of aggression that threaten not only israel but also the whole of the middle east, and he urged the entire international community to stand united in resisting that aggression. earlier, the head of israel's army visited the air that was

hit, one of the two bases that was hit during the attack, and he said, in terms, that there would be a response to that attack. israel's cabinet, it's attack. israel's cabinet, it's a war cabinet, has been meeting to discuss its options. it is still not clear what the final decision, if any decision, has been made, but the mood music, the noises that we hearing from that meeting are that, eh, yes, there will be a response, but, b, it will be a response that will be calibrated. people are saying that, yes, it will be clear and decisive, but it will be a decision that will be wise and "not from the gut". fill" and "not from the gut". our diplomatic— and "not from the gut". 0ur diplomatic correspondent james landale in jerusalem diplomatic correspondent james landale injerusalem there. i spoke to david hale — previously us undersecretary of state for political affairs, as well as ambassador to pakistan, lebanon, and jordan. he's now a global fellow at the wilson center, a think tank, partly funded by the us government. he told me what response

we can expect from israel. well, we don't know. 0bviously, israel is a democracy. it has a complex cabinet, it is a coalition government, the prime minister is one amongst equals, so we will see what they decide. i think that, if i were advising them, i would suggest that they pause, for now, but not declare their intentions. 0bviously, not declare their intentions. obviously, if you're going to re—establish deterrence, which is what is necessary now for both israel and the united states, a certain level of ambiguity about how we're going to behave is important, so the iranians understand they could be further costs for their aggression. be further costs for their aggression-— be further costs for their aggression. what is your assessment _ aggression. what is your assessment of _ aggression. what is your assessment of prime - aggression. what is your - assessment of prime minister netanyahu's intentions here? neta nyahu's intentions here? for example, netanyahu's intentions here? for example, there was a recent editorial in foreign policy saying that prime minister netanyahu is has actually been seeking to have a broader war with iran for two decades. we of course know that this is a time he is embattled at home. what you make of that?- time he is embattled at home. what you make of that? over my career i have _ what you make of that? over my career i have worked _ what you make of that? over my career i have worked with - what you make of that? over my career i have worked with the - career i have worked with the prime minister, and while the

united states and prime minister netanyahu have not always seen eye to eye, i don't believe that he is a person who actually seeks aggression. i think he is a cautious leader in fact, and i also believe that any plausible prime minister of israel today will be acting more or less as prime minister netanyahu is. first and foremost, they have to account to the israeli people as to why the catastrophe 0ctober as to why the catastrophe october the 7th happened, and what they going to do about it and how they are going to prevent it from happening ever again. so that is i think what is guiding the political leadership of israel today, and i suspect they are going through enormous debates about what that means, and undoubtedly an entirely military approach to that problem is not going to resolve it. they also have to take into account political and diplomatic equations as well. internationally as well, we know for example the united states has said in the wake of what we have seen from iran, our support for you is ironclad, but at the same time urging restraint. ijust wonder what position you think this

puts washington in? for example, if netanyahu does go ahead with a military attack, then where would that leave washington and its support for israel? ~ ., ., israel? well, we are not there et and israel? well, we are not there yet and again... _ israel? well, we are not there yet and again... but _ israel? well, we are not there yet and again... but if - israel? well, we are not there yet and again... but if it - yet and again... but if it happens? _ yet and again... but if it happens? if— yet and again... but if it happens? if i _ yet and again... but if it happens? if i were - yet and again... but if it. happens? if i were advising an one happens? if i were advising anyone i — happens? if i were advising anyone i would _ happens? if i were advising anyone i would say - happens? if i were advising anyone i would say public. anyone i would say public support and private advice would be the way to go about it, and privately encouraging the israelis to consider all the israelis to consider all the options, and how the game will play out in the end is important. but if we signal publicly that we encourage the israelis to exercise self restraint, i think we are signalling to the iranians that they can do whatever they want. so i think this is a time where we need to be working together. ijust we need to be working together. i just wonder if you think there is the risk here that this does go one step further. iran has also said that it will respond. that was put out by the revolutionary guard. that there is the risk here of the united states being drawn into a broader war in the middle east? �*, ,.

a broader war in the middle east? �* , ., ., , east? as i said, i would advise a ause east? as i said, i would advise a pause at _ east? as i said, i would advise a pause at this _ east? as i said, i would advise a pause at this stage, - east? as i said, i would advise a pause at this stage, but - east? as i said, i would advise a pause at this stage, but not| a pause at this stage, but not a pause at this stage, but not a public signal of a pause, but i also look about the iranians have said. they want this phase to end. that's not because they want the conflict to end. that's because they want the to continue, but at the level that it was before this weekend. they want the proxy war to continue, because that is an area where they have a comparative advantage, and that is the area where the errani don't pay the price, they are proxies pay the price —— the iranians don't pay the price. they are proxies pay the price. and what do you think all of this means for the war in gaza? well, it's not good. i think if we were all focused on a ceasefire and a hostage exchange or release, and i don't think that in the current climate that's very likely right now, and i also believe that the israelis still remain determined to "put an end to hamas", whatever that means. 0ur hamas", whatever that means. our goal for the hamas", whatever that means. 0ur goalfor the united hamas", whatever that means. our goal for the united states i think our advice should be less about how to conduct a war

but more to conduct a piece. how do you transition from the military operation to influencing the political and diplomatic landscape afterwards, and that's where we have a think our best influence.— have a think our best influence. �* , ., , ., influence. briefly, do you thinkthat _ influence. briefly, do you think that is _ influence. briefly, do you think that is the - influence. briefly, do you think that is the kind - influence. briefly, do you think that is the kind of i think that is the kind of advice right now you think prime minister netanyahu will heed? i prime minister netanyahu will heed? ~ , w heed? i think he will listen to that more _ heed? i think he will listen to that more than _ heed? i think he will listen to that more than he _ heed? i think he will listen to that more than he will- heed? i think he will listen to that more than he will how i heed? i think he will listen to that more than he will how to conduct his war. 2024 is the year of elections, but in terms of sheer scale, no election will be as big as the general election in india. it's the world's most populous country, it has 969 million people eligible to vote. those elections will be held over six weeks, between april 19th and june 1st. the favourite to win is incumbent prime minister narendra modi, but india's main opposition alliance says another victory for modi could put some freedoms at risk, as our south asia correspondent samira hussain reports. drumming up support. blessings in return. in india's southern

states, regional parties dominate. here in tamil nadu, the dma won a clear majority in the dma won a clear majority in the last election in prime minister's narendra modi's party the bjp did not win a single seat and has limited presence anywhere else in the south. mr modi is desperate to change that because for the bjp, every single seat matters. what we stand for, the values of self respect, respect for our culture, a great love for our culture, a great love for our language, our identity, this is antithetical to the notion of far right and strive causing and rabble rousing and, you know, percentage politics, right? so there is a profound conflict of the values that will succeed in tamil nadu and

the values that the bjp espouses. the values that the bjp espouses-— the values that the bjp espouses. the values that the bjp esouses. 1 , espouses. the bjp may disagree. nevertheless, _ espouses. the bjp may disagree. nevertheless, the _ espouses. the bjp may disagree. nevertheless, the prime - nevertheless, the prime minister has made eight trips since january. minister has made eight trips sincejanuary. cheering since january. cheering and then sincejanuary. cheering and then there is this man, young and tamil speaking, a strong order, able to connect to the people in their own language. hundreds have come out in support of the bjp's man here in tamil nadu. the party is hoping that with the prime minister's support and his charisma, that he will be able to crack the south. do you think you're going to win? 100% we are think you're going to win? 10096 we are going — think you're going to win? 10096 we are going to _ think you're going to win? 10096 we are going to win. _ think you're going to win? 10096 we are going to win. we - think you're going to win? 10096 we are going to win. we are - we are going to win. we are very confident, we are doing our hard work and we are doing our hard work and we are doing our groundwork and more importantly it is a brand that has entered the house, he is a brand for integrity, a brand for honesty, a brand for hard work. ., , ., for honesty, a brand for hard work. . , ., ., , for honesty, a brand for hard work. . , . ., , ., for honesty, a brand for hard work. ., , ., ., , ., ., 4' work. that brand does not work for some voters _ work. that brand does not work for some voters like _ work. that brand does not work for some voters like this - work. that brand does not work

for some voters like this one. l for some voters like this one. she gets 1000 rupees a month from the state government which she uses for house expenses. both her kids get money for school. these welfare benefits have changed her life. do you think you could ever vote the bjp? translation: i think you could ever vote the bjp? tuna/mom- think you could ever vote the bjp? translation: i am very decisive about _ bjp? translation: i am very decisive about voting - bjp? translation: i am very decisive about voting for - bjp? translation: i am very| decisive about voting for dmk, evenif decisive about voting for dmk, even if others have done good work, i have always voted for dmk. that is what i wish to do. regional parties like the dmk will likely continue to dominate, because the message the bjp is peddling come of a pan— india hindi speaking identity, just doesn't resonate with the people here. samira hussain, bbc news, tamil nadu. it's been one year since civil war broke out in sudan. thousands have been killed and millions displaced since fighting broke out between the sudanese army and the paramilitary rapid support forces. both sides are accused of war crimes, as sudan suffers one

of the world's worst humanitarian crises. but earlier, at an aid conference in paris, donors pledged more than $2 billion to assist the war—torn country. that was on monday. quscondy abdulshafi is a senior regional advisor for africa at freedom house and told me how bad the situation is in sudan. i think ithinka i think a month ago, i was here and i told to you that the situation in sudan is dire, and now i would say that the situation in sudan is, you know, a ticking time bomb of, you know, humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in real time, and this comes through the different threats. the humanitarian access to humanitarian access to humanitarian aid represents a political token to the violent

actors, and using that as a tool to really suppress and create more suffering to the humanitarian, to the civilians in the country, and yes, it is a milestone to have resources, because sudan aid was severely underfunded, but the question is not only that having money but also a conversation of how to actually give food to the people, and what tools and mechanisms could be put in place to reach the aid to those who are needed. let's turn to some important news around the world. the chief weapons handler for the movie, rust, hannah gutierrez reed, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, for the death of cinematographer, halyna hutchins, who was fatally shot by alec bladwin during the film's production in 2021. gutierrez was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in march, for mistakenly loading a live round into the revolver. record ocean temperatures have caused the mass bleaching of coral across large parts of the world's seas. the us national oceanic and atmospheric administration says reef systems,

from australia to florida, are at risk of dying, after months of heat. it's the second major bleaching event in just ten years. the electric car maker, tesla, plans to slash its global workforce by more than 10%, amid dropping sales and price cuts. the firm's billionaire owner elon musk said the decision was difficult, but "must be done." the company is facing fierce competition from china. caitlin clark, the basketball superstar from the university of iowa, was taken as the number1 pick in the wnba draft. clark will play for the indiana fever as she heads to the professional ranks. you are watching bbc news. i will see you soon. hello, there. it was a very unsettled day on monday, very windy for many of us, with widespread gales and a whole mixture of weather conditions. tuesday looks a little bit quieter. it'll still be quite blustery. there'll be sunshine, a few showers around, but it'll stay on the cool side for the time of year. in this cooler air mass, which was introduced

across the uk by monday's area of low pressure, will be sitting to the east of the country for tuesday. so it's here where we'll see most of the showers, the strongest of the winds, the further west you are, closer to this area of high pressure, then it'll be a little bit quieter. so we start off on a chilly note for tuesday morning. quite a bit of sunshine around. a few showers from the word go across northern and eastern areas, and these showers will affect northern scotland, wintriness on the hills. into the afternoon, some heavier showers, perhaps with some hail and thunder, affecting the midlands into south—east england. and a fairly breezy day to come, not as windy as monday — those are mean wind speeds. temperature—wise, probably a little bit better than monday, up to 13 celsius in the south. so, with some light winds, some sunshine, it won't feel too bad, but cooler along north sea coasts, single digits there. tuesday night, we continue to see clear spells, further bands of showers, especially across northern scotland, where it'll turn quite windy again,

and stay cool, as well, with some snow on the hills there. a touch of frost in some sheltered glens, otherwise, it's quite a chilly night, i think, to start wednesday morning. so wednesday itself, we'll have some showers draped across eastern areas. these weather fronts may bring some cloud and rain to the far west of the country, and once again, we're in a slightly cooler air mass. wednesday could be a little bit cooler than tuesday. so, we start off on a chilly note, plenty of sunshine around. there will be showers, again, across northern and eastern scotland, eastern england, more cloud here, and these weather fronts could bring cloud outbreaks of rain to northern ireland. a bit of a question mark as to how far eastwards it moves, but it could affect parts of wales and south—west england through the afternoon, the best of the brightness through the spine of the country. temperatures range from nine to 11 or 12 celsius, so a bit below average. thursday into friday, we see a spell of wet, windy weather across the north of the uk, something drier in the south. in the south, and then this area of high pressure wants to build in in time for the weekend. so that will bring a very much needed quieter, drier spell of weather, as we push towards the end

of the week, and with a bit more sunshine around, light winds, it'll feel a bit warmer, as well.

v0|ce—0ver: this is bbc news. we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur.

in both israel and iran, political leaders and military chiefs have a choice to make. do they escalate their conflict further and risk all—out war or step back? following the logic of recent action and reaction, the next key decision will be made in israel. having successfully countered a barrage of iranian missiles, will the netanyahu government seek new levels of retribution and deterrence? well, my guest is danny danon, former israeli un ambassador and ally of prime minister netanyahu. israel's allies are urgently advising against further escalation, but is israel listening?