The investigation found that an Israeli citizen, working with several Palestinians, allegedly smuggled millions of shekels worth of dual-use materials into the West Bank.

Journalist Ronen Bergman said that Netanyahu simultaneously leaks security information and then investigates it, allegedly making decisions that will serve him politically.

“It’s the First Amendment that allows all of us to engage in boycotts, not PEN America,” Mengestu told the Atlantic. “PEN America as a free expression organization is supposed to defend that right.

The incident comes after four fragmentation grenades were thrown in separate incidents across central Israel on Monday, making it the fifth such attack in 24 hours.

The town later announced that the FBI had joined the investigation and that officials were examining whether the arson “may have been motivated by bias” but said no determination had been made.

The IDF's position, Katz wrote, is contrary to his, and is that Azaria's request should not be honored.

With politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, continuing to deny accountability for October 7, there are mounting worries that the government will do the same if disaster hits again.

Israeli air traffic control had reportedly been instructed by the Transport Ministry not to approve any further US refuelers for landing in Israel.