this is bbc news. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu publicly rejects us calls for the establishment of a palestinian state once the gaza war comes to an end. president biden says us strikes against yemen's houthis will continue as the rebel group launch a new attack on a us vessel in the red sea. and in business: up to 3,000 uk jobs to go at tata steel — the bbc understands — as it pushes ahead with plans to shut down the blast furnaces at port talbot. hello. i'm lukwesa burak. the israeli prime minister,

benjamin netanyahu, says he has told the united states he opposes the establishment of a palestinian state once the conflict in gaza comes to an end. in a news conference, mr netanyahu said israel must have security control of all territory west of the riverjordan, which would include the territory of any future palestinian state. there's been a critical response from washington — a us state department spokesman said there was no way to ensure israel's long—term security without a two—state solution. many nations, including the us, have long called for a two—state solution, in which a future palestinian state would sit side—by—side with an israeli one. mr netanyahu, however, has spent much of his political career opposing palestinian statehood. let's have a listen to what he told thursday's news conference.

trans: in any arrangement in the foreseeable future, with a settlement or without a settlement, israel needs security control over all territory west of the jordan river. this is a necessary condition and it clashes with the idea of palestinian sovereignty. what can you do? i tell this truth to our american friends — and i also stopped the attempts to impose a reality on us to harm israel's security. the prime minister needs to be capable of saying no to our friends, no where necessary, and saying yes when possible. we can speak live now to benjamin radd who is a senior fellow at the university of california burkle center for international relations, and a lecturer in middle east studies. welcome to the programme. first off, what did you make of mr netanyahu's comments? well, it's not entirely _ netanyahu's comments? well, it's not entirely surprising. - it's not entirely surprising. it doesn't facilitate the pathway towards a solution i

think will bring a diplomatic end to the crisis. but given netanyahu's stance neta nyahu's stance historically, as netanyahu's stance historically, as your reporter indicated, it's consistent with his position for a long while. but, it's — it's not going to move things forward, is it? is he being realistic?— he being realistic? no, he's not being — he being realistic? no, he's not being realistic. - he being realistic? no, he's not being realistic. if- he being realistic? no, he's not being realistic. if the i not being realistic. if the goal is to get the hostages released and to create a secure and stable environment to prevent incidents like 0ctober prevent incidents like october 7 from happening, prevent incidents like 0ctober 7from happening, by prevent incidents like october 7 from happening, by all accounts it's difficult to go without creating a viable pathway towards a palestinian state. very much he and his right—wing members of the coalition stand alone on this. what do you make of him publicly coming out to rebuke the united states on this? well, this is very much for internal domestic consumption. he has extremist members of his cabinet and he's holding onto a very thin coalition. if he

doesn't come out and pro claim and stake these positions he needs to maintain, he risks losing the support of those members of parliament who are in effect keeping him in power. what does it do in terms of jeopardising relations away from israel and all this western allies? are they at risk as well, those relationships? risk as well, those relationshis? ~ , relationships? absolutely. it compromise _ relationships? absolutely. it compromise that. _ relationships? absolutely. it compromise that. and - relationships? absolutely. it compromise that. and the l compromise that. and the question remains, you know, is his priority really for the long—term security interests of the state, or is it for the short—term security interests, while also preserving his hold on the prime minister's office. so yes, it does call those relationships with others into question. relationships with others into cuestion. . , relationships with others into cuestion. ., , ., ., question. originally, how would this be read? _ question. originally, how would this be read? it's _ question. originally, how would this be read? it's interesting . this be read? it's interesting that he can come out so much against a 2—state solution, and we're talking about things escalating in the middle east. yeah, it puts an obstacle with regards to the various plans proposed by arab countries. we've seen the egyptians, the qataris, the saudis, others have indicated the pathway to normalisation is a recognition of israel by arab states in

return for a viable autonomous sovereign palestinian state. it's hard to see how he moves forward in the region with those existing nations that israel has relations with, and those he does not, unless that position has changed. you said he has a very _ position has changed. you said he has a very slim _ position has changed. you said he has a very slim backing - position has changed. you said he has a very slim backing on | he has a very slim backing on this politically. what about publicly? in israel?- this politically. what about publicly? in israel? he's not --oular publicly? in israel? he's not popular publicly. _ publicly? in israel? he's not popular publicly. the - publicly? in israel? he's not popular publicly. the only i popular publicly. the only thing keeping him in power is the fact he's a war—time prime minister. he's pressing that israel's security of is utmost importance and getting the hostages released. we've seen opposition to his leadership going back well before october 7 happened, by all accounts, from what the public protests, the street protests have shown, is that the public is displeased with his leadership and again, even within the war cabinet, we're seeing ministers speak out as they have tonight. 0k. benjamin radd, thank you for your time.

meanwhile the israeli military says it has reached the southernmost point of khan younis as troops expand their operations in the gaza strip's second biggest city. it says that with the help of tank fire and air support, israeli soldiers have killed dozens of palestinian fighters in what it describes as close quarter combat. us presidentjoe biden says strikes on the iranian—backed houthis in yemen have not stopped the group's red sea attacks, and that the us operation will continue. in the latest incident, the us said the group fired two missiles at an american—owned tanker. there are no reports of any damage or casualties. on thursday, a pentagon spokeswoman said the united states does not consider itself to be at war with the houthis, and that its actions are in self—defence to protect commercial shipping. we don't seek war. we don't think that we are at war. we

don't want to see a regional war. the houthis are the ones that continue to launch cruise missiles, anti—ship missiles at innocent mariners, at commercial vessels transiting an area that sees ten to 15% of the world's commerce. the us, what we're doing with our partners, is self—defence. we're going to stay with this and speak to our next guest, the former deputy assistant secretary for counter—terrorism policy at the united states department of homeland security. now a nonresident senior fellow at the atlantic council. thanks forjoining us. is the us, are the us and the uk

achieving anything with their counterstrikes on the houthis? the second and third days of the campaign have had the effect of blowing up houthi missiles and drones before they could be launched. i think with president biden�*s remarks, it's clear that what he's talking about is a strategy of defence rather than deterrence. in other words, strikes on houthis targets have not been intended to kill large numbers of soldiers. instead, they're going after the equipment itself. the missiles, the drones, and the small boats that were being used by the houthis to attack merchant shipping. and so, the united states and the united kingdom, every time they see a missile being rolled out or a drone being rolled out or a drone being readied for launch, have been able to strike at those missiles and drones to prevent them from attacking. this is a good defence as long as you can keep it up. because the houthis

probably don't have as many missiles and drones as the us and the uk militaries have bombs to blow them up. how long do ou bombs to blow them up. how long do you think _ bombs to blow them up. how long do you think the _ bombs to blow them up. how long do you think the us _ bombs to blow them up. how long do you think the us and _ do you think the us and president biden can commit to these strikes? he said it's not stopping them. and the us operation will continue. this is an election year for the united states and president biden. can he really risk this? can he afford this going on? well, no—one is talking about sending us troops in harm's way in a place like yemen, which was a place that us special operations forces and others used to operate in campaigns against al-qaeda and isis operatives who were there. now we're largely seen war fought at a distance. so long as the houthis are trying to disrupt

international commerce, there's every expectation that us and other military forces will be there to try to stop them from having that effect. as i said, it's a question of how long before the houthis run out of missiles. they can certainly try to make more. but they're relying a lot on components that come from iran, and there's also efforts under way to try to prevent those components from reaching yemen. so... yeah. components from reaching yemen. so- -- yeah-— so... yeah. sorry, thomas, i want to _ so... yeah. sorry, thomas, i want to end _ so... yeah. sorry, thomas, i want to end on _ so... yeah. sorry, thomas, i want to end on - _ so... yeah. sorry, thomas, i want to end on - you're - so... yeah. sorry, thomas, i. want to end on - you're saying want to end on — you're saying this is fought at a distance. what is the risk that it could go further afield and we could see attacks in specific countries, allies of israel, for example? sort of terrorism attacks. you worked in counter—terrorism policy. is this something that would be assessed?— this something that would be assessed? ., , , , ., , assessed? so, iran uses proxies to t assessed? so, iran uses proxies tot to assessed? so, iran uses proxies to try to carry — assessed? so, iran uses proxies to try to carry out _ assessed? so, iran uses proxies to try to carry out offensive - to try to carry out offensive operations. they've been doing it in the yemen, iraq, lebanon, and syria. the israelis have

shown a forceful response, even pakistan retaliated in kind for an iranian missile attack against pakistani territory. so, i think it will be one of those situations that is likely to continue. but hopefully does not escalate further. if it does, that would be the iranians's decision to ratchet up iranians's decision to ratchet up the campaign when everyone else in the world wants to see it ratcheted down.— it ratcheted down. thomas warwick, _ it ratcheted down. thomas warwick, thank _ it ratcheted down. thomas warwick, thank you. - let's get some of the day's other news now. the us congress has passed another temporary spending bill, averting a partial government shutdown which could have begun as soon as saturday. the republican speaker of the house of representatives, mikejohnson, relied heavily on the support of democrats to pass the measure. the bill maintains funding for government operations until early march. anti—government protesters

in haiti have brought the capital, port—au—prince, to a standstill. they used vehicles, burning tyres and rocks to block the city's main roads. residents were forced to stay at home and businesses remained closed throughout the day. the unrest comes three weeks before the deadline for the haitian prime minister, ariel henry, to stand down or reach a new political agreement to remain in power. the firm, tata steel, is to go ahead with plans to close both blast furnaces at its port talbot factory in south wales. up to 3,000 jobs could go, with a formal announcement expected later today. the company is due to replace the furnaces with an electric version, which is more environmentally friendly, but needs fewer workers. a report into a school shooting in texas in 2022 in which 19 children and 2 teachers died has found there were serious

police failings. hundreds of officers attended robb elementary school in ulvalde where a gunman had holed himself up with children — but the report said their actions lacked co—ordination and urgency. the families of some of the victims spoke to reporters after seeing the report. this - this — it's hard enough waking up this — it's hard enough waking up every day and continuing to walk out on these streets and walk out on these streets and walk to an heb or drive to an heb and see a cop you know was standing there when our babies were murdered and bleeding out. i hope this makes sure... i hope the failures end today. and — hope the failures end today. and the _ hope the failures end today. and the local officials... ~~do _ and the local officials... ..do what wasn't done that day, do right— ..do what wasn't done that day,

do right by— ..do what wasn't done that day, do right by the victims and survivors— do right by the victims and survivors of robb elementary. terminations, criminal prosecutions. state and federal government enact sensible gun laws _ government enact sensible gun laws because robb elementary began — laws because robb elementary began the day an 18—year—old was _ began the day an 18—year—old was allowed to purchase an ar15~ — 0ur north america correspondent emma vardy has more. reading the report you build up a picture of failings. 0ne reading the report you build up a picture of failings. one of the biggest mistakes made early on, when police arrived on the scene, instead of identifying there was an active gunman and dealing with the situation appropriately, instead they assessed there was someone who barricaded themselves in a classroom and that really changed everything. from then on, instead of trying to force entry to a classroom and apprehend the gunman, they were told to restreet. this led to a long delay. they were looking

for keys, they were looking in a caretaker�*s office to get into classrooms that way. all the while, the victims and the teachers, the children killed, were all stuck in the school with this active gunman. there were failings outlined in the report in terms of miscommunication that helped to compound the grief and horror of the families of the victims. some told their loved ones had survived when they had not, and delays in reuniting families of victims with some of the survivors too. so, reallyjust increasing the horror of that day. as to what will happen next and who will be held account able, there's also a criminal investigation ongoing that could result in charges. families of victims today said this isn't the end for them, they want to keep on campaigning for changes to procedures but they also want some police officers to be held accountable. they're pushing for resignations and potentially criminal prosecutions. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other

stories making news. cases of measles have been rising across england with the most recent outbreaks centred in the west midlands and london. the uk health security agency is now encouraging children to come forward for their mmr jabs after figures showed uptake of the vaccine are at their lowest levels in more than a decade. a cross—party group of mps is warning that people are becoming trapped in a cycle of homelessness, after they come out of hospital or prison. the all—party parliamentary group for homelessness has written to ministers urging them to do more to stop the practice of discharging people who have no home to go to. the government is expected to back making stealing cats and dogs a specific criminal offence in england, wales and northern ireland. a bill being debated in the commons later today would create an offence of "pet abduction". under the legislation, anyone convicted of the offence could face a fine or a maximum

of five years in prison you're live with bbc news. the european boss of fujitsu is set to give evidence at the post office inquiry today. earlier this week, paul patterson apologised before a government committee, and said fujitsu had a "moral obligation" to contribute to compensation for sub—postmasters wrongly prosecuted as a result of its faulty software. 0ur employment correspondent zoe conway reports. fujitsu would like to apologise for our part in this appalling miscarriage ofjustice. the miscarriage of 'ustice. the veryfirsth miscarriage of 'ustice. the very first time _ miscarriage ofjustice. the very first time the - miscarriage ofjustice. the very first time the fujitsu boss telling parliament his company sorry. no doubt, he will be saying it again at the public enquiry this morning. certainly, richard socket will

welcome an apology. he was ordered to pay back £12,000 by the post office, money he did not have. he had to turn to his dad for help. not have. he had to turn to his dad for help-— not have. he had to turn to his dad for help. so, you know, my 80-year-old — dad for help. so, you know, my 80-year-old father _ dad for help. so, you know, my 80-year-old father had - dad for help. so, you know, my 80-year-old father had to - dad for help. so, you know, my 80-year-old father had to give | 80—year—old father had to give me every single last penny he had in the world to pay off this debt. why did they think that all these decent, caring, passionate community minded people were all trying to, you know, defraud people. it has changed me. know, defraud people. it has changed me— know, defraud people. it has changed me. paul patterson it is likely to _ changed me. paul patterson it is likely to be _ changed me. paul patterson it is likely to be asked _ changed me. paul patterson it is likely to be asked in - changed me. paul patterson it is likely to be asked in the - is likely to be asked in the enquiry about the behaviour of fujitsu staff involved in prosecuting post office managers. prosecuting post office managem— prosecuting post office managers. prosecuting post office manauers. ., , ., , managers. the only way to stop it is to prove — managers. the only way to stop it is to prove that _ managers. the only way to stop it is to prove that i _ managers. the only way to stop it is to prove that i am - managers. the only way to stop it is to prove that i am not - managers. the only way to stop it is to prove that i am not a - it is to prove that i am not a thief, right? it must be a bug, it must be... pa. thief, right? it must be a bug, it must be...— it must be... a story told in a drama. it must be... a story told in a drama- it _

it must be... a story told in a drama. it was _ it must be... a story told in a drama. it was betrayed - it must be... a story told in a drama. it was betrayed by - it must be... a story told in a | drama. it was betrayed by the actor will mellor. drama. it was betrayed by the actorwill mellor. he drama. it was betrayed by the actor will mellor. he was left and right after wrongly accused of stealing £25,000. the enquiry was shown e—mail on thursday, written by a fujitsu manager in 2006 where he called him a nasty chap. hose manager in 2006 where he called him a nasty chap.— him a nasty chap. how did you form that _ him a nasty chap. how did you form that opinion? _ him a nasty chap. how did you form that opinion? i _ him a nasty chap. how did you form that opinion? i don't - form that opinion? i don't know. form that opinion? i don't know- i — form that opinion? i don't know. i don't _ form that opinion? i don't know. i don't know- form that opinion? i don't know. i don't know why i l form that opinion? i don't - know. i don't know why i wrote it. know. i don't know why i wrote it |_ know. i don't know why i wrote it. ., ., , know. i don't know why i wrote it. i apologise. what was being said within _ it. i apologise. what was being said within fujitsu, _ it. i apologise. what was being said within fujitsu, that - said within fujitsu, that allowed you to form the opinion that he was a nasty man? nothing. that he was a nasty man? nothing-— that he was a nasty man? nothing. victory for some postmasters _ nothing. victory for some postmasters came - nothing. victory for some postmasters came into i nothing. victory for some - postmasters came into thousand 21, when their convictions were overturned but could justice have come so much sooner? perhaps the most important question of all is that asked ijy question of all is that asked by former sub mistress betty brown. ., . ., by former sub mistress betty

brown. ., , , brown. how could you? just why, wh , brown. how could you? just why, why. why? _ brown. how could you? just why, why. why? fuiitsu _ brown. how could you? just why, why, why? fujitsu admits - brown. how could you? just why, why, why? fujitsu admits it - brown. how could you? just why, why, why? fujitsu admits it has l why, why? fu'itsu admits it has a moral why, why? fujitsu admits it has a moral obligation _ why, why? fujitsu admits it has a moral obligation to _ why, why? fujitsu admits it has a moral obligation to pay - a moral obligation to pay compensation but they will not say how much until after the enquiry is concluded at the end of this year. zoe conway, bbc news. ireland's taoiseach, leo varadkar, has defended a controversial court case his government has brought against the united kingdom. speaking to the bbc in davos, mrvaradkarsaid he had not wanted to take the uk to the european court of human rights over last year's troubles legacy act. but, he said he had to stand by victims and survivors of violence in northern ireland. 0ur economics editor, faisal islam, began by asking him about the new brexit deal for northern ireland, known as the windsor framework. i think the windsor framework is working. it marked a real

improvement in relations between the uk and the european union. working if you like with the protocol and it is working effectively on the ground. i think the issues that arise now in northern ireland are really matters between the dup, and the british government. and if they are involved in bilateral talks about what concessions can be made or what can be done. ., ., , , done. you have suggested in the ast few done. you have suggested in the past few months, _ done. you have suggested in the past few months, and _ done. you have suggested in the past few months, and the - done. you have suggested in the | past few months, and the former cabinet minister mr butler suggested, that to involve the government more in the running of northern ireland. a sensitive issue. is that where this is going? your government getting involved more in northern ireland because of this long impasse? haste northern ireland because of this long impasse? we want the friday agreement _ this long impasse? we want the friday agreement to _ this long impasse? we want the friday agreement to function . friday agreement to function and above all it means power—sharing in northern ireland. people in northern ireland. people in northern ireland are dealing with real issues. talks are under way in

northern ireland involving the british government and the major parties on reforming the executive and we can support that in any way that we can but only in ways that are welcome. just when we had some better news in the relationship that has been strained after brexiter, you then issued this court case filed in the european court of human rights and it has raised significant tension between your government and the british government. and it has raised more questions about why you have done this point. about why you have done this oint. ., ., ~ about why you have done this oint, ., ., 4' , about why you have done this oint. ., ., ~ , ., point. look, it is not something _ point. look, it is not something we - point. look, it is not. something we wanted point. look, it is not- something we wanted to do. point. look, it is not— something we wanted to do. we made our position very clear to the governments over the past couple of years. we feel we need to stand by the victims in northern ireland and the families and survivors and we had an agreement on how legacy matter should be dealt with, signed off by the parties and

the uk government and the uk government has decided to depart from that and go down a different route and that puts us in a position we don't want to be and we need to challenge. dublin authorities have never prosecuted over the troubles centrepiece occurred, the uk government says, so it is hypocritical to issue this court case? i hypocritical to issue this court case?— hypocritical to issue this court case? ., ., ,., court case? i heard that said. i do not accept _ court case? i heard that said. i do not accept it. _ court case? i heard that said. i do not accept it. if- court case? i heard that said. i do not accept it. if there - court case? i heard that said. i do not accept it. if there is i i do not accept it. if there is a case that anyone feels it has not been investigated properly or with a have additional evidence that will allow prosecution, that is what we will hear about that we will be happy to engage with the government on any pacific case or number of cases they feel we have not paid enough attention. leo varadkar. 0ppenheimer leads the nominations for this year's bafta film awards — britain's version of the oscars. our culture editor katie razzall has more. detonators charged!

discharged and preparing for glory. is this the year director christopher nolan wins his first ever bafta? we're in a race against the nazis. 0ppenheimer has 13 nominations, including best actor for cillian murphy as the theoretical physicist behind the atomic bomb. this the best day ever. it is the best day ever. maybe not the best day for barbie, with just five chances of a bafta win next month. the most popular movie across the world last year but not in the running for best film — though its producer, margot robbie, is up for best actress. why don't you come home with me? come to saltburn. the gothic romance saltburn also has five nominations, including 0utstanding british film, with acting nods for barry keoghan, jacob elordi and rosamund pike. it's given me goose bumps. its writer—director is emerald fennell. saltburn is an entirely british crew. we were over 50% women on our cast and crew as well, which meant a great deal to us.

and so, you know, something like bafta means the world to us. this is bella. the fantastical coming—of—age comedy poor things is also riding high with 11 nominations. and the heart—warming 1970s drama the holdovers is up for seven awards... i heard you got stuck with babysitting duties. ..including for paul giamatti as a curmudgeonly teacher and da'vinejoy randolph as a grieving mother. it really means a lot. i used to always call it, when i was younger, "the british 0scars" so, to me, it feels like ijust got nominated for an oscar today. but amongst baftas omissions, martin scorsese isn't on the best directing list for killers of the flower moon. his true crime story about the murders of native americans is up for best film. what was that? but neither leonardo dicaprio nor co—star lily gladstone are nominated... this would be a suicide. ..though oscar winner robert de niro is — it would be his first ever bafta win. katie razzall, bbc news. stay with us here on bbc news.

the business news is coming up shortly. hello. the cold wintry snap continued on thursday, with more snow that's been accumulating across parts of northern scotland, also northern ireland, around some exposed coasts of england and wales as well. this was the picture in highland. we've got several centimetres even right down to sea level. up to 40cm over the higher ground. now, still a cold day to come on friday with some more snow, but milder, windier and wetter weather arrives as we head through the course of the weekend. 0vernight, snow continuing to pile in across northern and western scotland in particular. a few showers perhaps northern ireland, north—west england, so some slippery conditions as we start the day on friday, around some western areas in particular. temperatures, i think, at 6:00 in the morning around about —2, —3 for many of us. a little bit milder perhaps under the cloud cover across parts of western scotland, with the breeze picking up, too.

we're going to continue to see snow across scotland but it'll mainly be over the higher ground because later in the day at lower levels, that is going to turn back to rain showers as that slightly milder air moves in. for much of northern ireland, england and wales, mist and fog clear away through the day, to leave some sunshine, and temperatures will be at that little bit less cold than recent days, so we're looking at highs between around about 4—6 degrees friday afternoon for most of us. and then, as we move through into the weekend, we've got this area of high pressure which then moves its way out towards the southeast and that opens the doors for atlantic weather fronts to move their way in, so bringing some rain, some wind and some milder air — you can see the yellow and orange colours returning to the map as that arctic air gets squeezed away towards the east. so, for saturday, some fairly heavy rain across parts of england and wales, particularly the further north you are. further south and east, you should stay mostly dry. could be some more rain across parts of scotland and northern ireland as well later on in the day. just wintry over the highest peaks but i think for most, it will be falling as rain. still relatively cool

in the south and the east — six or seven — but double figures further west. into sunday, the next frontal system moves in, so it's really this central swathe of the british isles that are going to be particularly wet. windy, ithink, wherever you are on sunday. gales around exposed coasts and hills, too. temperatures in the low teens possibly for some of us in the south. single figures further north. but the outlook for the course of next week is for the much milder weather to return but it'll also be windy and often unsettled, too. bye— bye.

live from london. this is bbc news. braced for the inevitable: up to 3,000 ukjobs to go at tata steel, the bbc understands, as it pushes ahead with plans to shut down the blast furnaces at port talbot. frustration, disappointment is probably the biggest word. disbelief. it'sjust been... handled absolutely appallingly in my opinion. also coming up: are pre—election handouts ahead? uk chancellorjeremy hunt drops a strong hint he could cut taxes in his march budget. when i look around the world to america and asia, you see that countries with lower taxes have more dynamic, faster growing

economies.