Tuesday Briefing: Netanyahu refuses a cease-fire

Plus, the case for eliminating the penny

View in browser|nytimes.com September 3, 2024 SUPPORTED BY ROHDE & SCHWARZ By Natasha Frost Good morning. We're covering protests and work stoppages in Israel and a shocking sexual assault case in France. Plus: The case for eliminating the penny. Protesters in Tel Aviv yesterday. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times Netanyahu refuses a cease-fire in Gaza Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel rebuffed calls from allies, protesters and the families of hostages for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza that would facilitate the return of hostages, doubling down on his refusal to agree to a truce that would involve Israel's withdrawal from the territory. At a news conference defending his plans, Netanyahu asked what message it would send to Hamas if Israel were to cede under pressure after the deaths of more hostages: "Slay hostages, and you'll get concessions?" He added that the end of the war would come only "when Hamas no longer rules Gaza." His comments came after work stoppages and protests at thousands of primary schools and at several municipalities, transport networks and hospitals across the country. A court ordered union leaders to halt the labor strike in the afternoon. In other news: Britain announced that it would suspend the exports of some weapons to Israel, saying that a legal review had concluded there was a "clear risk" the weapons could be used in a way that would breach international law. In Washington, President Biden said Netanyahu wasn't doing enough to bring the hostages home. Thousands of mourners attended the funeral of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a dual Israeli American citizen who was one of six hostages found dead this weekend. Polio vaccinations continued for a second day in Gaza. The Gazan Health Ministry said that more than 72,600 children were vaccinated on Sunday. President Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris in Pittsburgh yesterday. Tierney L. Cross for The New York Times Biden and Harris courted unions in Pennsylvania At a union event in Pittsburgh, President Biden made his first appearance on the campaign trail since ceding the nomination to Vice President Kamala Harris, rallying the labor movement in support of his second in command. "I'll be on the sidelines," he said, "but I'll do everything I can to help." Here's the latest. Harris's team plans to deploy the president judiciously on the campaign trail as the vice president seeks to establish her own independent political identity. Biden will travel mostly to the important swing states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, where he still appeals to white working-class voters and union members. The stop in Pittsburgh capped a Labor Day spent by Harris making her pitch to union voters. All told, she and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, managed to visit each of the so-called blue wall states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, appealing to union voters as the ground troops of a campaign that has barely two months left. Here's what else to know: In Venice, the actor George Clooney praised President Biden for doing "the most selfless thing" by stepping aside. The Times fact-checked Senator JD Vance's claims about Harris's policies and positions. Trump suggested that he had "every right" to try to overturn the 2020 election in an interview with a right-wing radio host. Do you have questions about the election? Send them to us, and we'll find the answers. Stay up to date: Live coverage | Poll tracker | "The Run-Up" podcast | On Politics newsletter Avignon, France, where the trial is being held.  Ashley Tinker for The New York Times A rape case shocks France Fifty-one men went on trial yesterday in Avignon, France, in a case that has appalled the nation and cast a spotlight on the use of drugs to commit sexual abuse. Dominique Pelicot, 71, is accused of repeatedly drugging his wife and then raping her over a period of years, as well as inviting other men to rape her, in some cases on camera. He has pleaded guilty. Dozens of other men are also charged with her rape. Some have denied the charges, including a number who argued that they had the husband's permission and thought that was sufficient. Others claimed they had believed the victim had agreed to be drugged. A MESSAGE FROM ROHDE & SCHWARZ Protecting the lifelines of society Critical infrastructures, such as power grids, transportation systems and financial networks are increasingly vulnerable to various threats. At Rohde & Schwarz, we recognize the importance of ensuring the reliability, resilience, and security of these essential systems. That's why we're dedicated to providing innovative solutions to support the protection of critical infrastructures. Learn more! MORE TOP NEWS Brendan Hoffman for The New York Times Ukraine: Russia carried out its third large-scale bombardment in a week, with missile attacks on Kyiv and other cities on the first day of the school year. Pope Francis: The pope will arrive in Indonesia today for the start of an 11-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, among the longest of his tenure. Russia: President Vladimir Putin began a state visit to Mongolia after the International Criminal Court said the authorities there should arrest him. Climate change: Record rainfall in China has devastated crops, causing some vegetable prices to skyrocket. Chinese officials are trying to show that they're doing something about it. Germany: The successes of the far right and the far left in two states in East Germany will force parties to make difficult compromises. Here are takeaways from the state elections. Tech: A panel of Supreme Court justices in Brazil upheld a decision to block the social network X across the country. Iran: A report by investigators found that bad weather caused the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi in May. Venezuela: The U.S. government seized an airplane belonging to the country's leader, Nicolás Maduro, because it was bought in violation of U.S. sanctions. China: Gao Zhen, a Chinese artist known for works critiquing the Cultural Revolution, was detained while visiting China. Business: Volkswagen warned that it would consider closing factories in Germany as it faces increasing pressure from Asian competitors. SPORTS NEWS Soccer: Arsenal has turned down an offer from Al Ittihad for Leandro Trossard. U.S. Open: On Day 8, Jessica Pegula, Karolina Muchova and Jack Draper secured places in the quarterfinals. Read the latest updates. Paralympics: The relationship between athletes and their assistants can extend beyond a technical connection into something more personal. MORNING READ Jamie Chung Some facts about the American penny: Each one costs about three cents to produce. The U.S. Mint produces billions each year that virtually no one uses. And if even a modest share of those collecting in people's homes suddenly returned to circulation, the result would be a "logistically unmanageable" dilemma for the world's wealthiest nation. For The Times Magazine, Caity Weaver makes the case for retiring the American 1-cent coin. America, she writes, must free itself from the tyranny of the penny. Lives lived: Virginia Ogilvy, the Countess of Airlie, who served Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years as the only American-born member of the monarch's circle of advisers known as the ladies-in-waiting, died last month at 91. CONVERSATION STARTERS Gratuities: Americans are being asked to tip more often and in more places than ever before. And it may soon get worse. Sugar crash: At Starbucks and local cafes in the U.S., a battle is raging to concoct the latest imaginatively flavored, calorie-laden not-really-coffee drink. Easy money: A cultural critic paid her child $100 to read a book. Here is why. ARTS AND IDEAS Aris Oikonomou/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Europe's 'out of control' tourism Hunger strikes against tourism developments. Threats of water being cut off to illegal vacation rentals. Water pistol warfare. In European hot spots, tourists have become the targets of a major backlash. While final visitor numbers for this summer aren't in yet, they are expected to surpass 2019 levels. And climate change has only increased the burden. Read about how this backlash has played out in destinations like Athens, Amsterdam and Barcelona. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Rachel Vanni for The New York Times Cook: This might be the best tuna melt you've ever had. Read: Rachel Kushner's "Creation Lake" is a smart, spy thriller brimming with heat. Watch: "English Teacher," a new sitcom, handles the educational culture wars with a light touch. Read our critic's review. Style: You — yes, you — can rock a denim jacket, our chief fashion critic writes. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? 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