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good morning, to our viewers in the usa and around the world. i m john avlon. it is monday, december 18th. it s 5:00 a.m. here in new york, noon in tel aviv, where the u.s. defense secretary is scheduled to meet now with his israeli counterpart. secretary lloyd austin s mission is to press israeli officials on specific milestones for progress in israel s war against hamas, as civilian casualties climb. here s democratic senator chris van hollen talking to abc this sunday. we do have unacceptable levels of casualties. we see loose rules of engagement, way looser than anything that the united states would exercise. we would not drop a 2,000-pound bomb on a refugee camp to target a hamas commander. a senior defense official tells cnn that austin will, quote, want to hear very clear articulation of the israeli self-assessment today. that same official has confidence in the israeli military and so he s there to ask questions and learn more about their plan. elliott g ....
what a story to start our day. thanks, andy. thanks for joining us. i m john avlon. cnn this morning starts right now. good morning, everyone. so glad you re with us. i m poppy harlow with phil mattingly in new york. there s a lot going on on this monday, december 18th. happening right now defense secretary lloyd austin is back in israel, his visit part of the international pressure campaign for israel to change its tactics in gaza and restart the truce talks, pressure growing after the killing of three hostages by soldiers. republican front runner donald trump using darker more extreme rhetoric in that final sprint, the white house slamming trump for what it calls fascist rhetoric. right now storms gusting up the east coast and the travel delays it could cause this holiday week. cnn this morning starts right now. we begin with defense secretary lloyd austin meeting right now with israel s defense min minister. pressure is growing on israel to change its t ....
multiple water rescues as streets overflow with water. that same storm pounded florida overnight with drenching rains and 50-mile-per-hour winds. tonight, it s on the move, heading into the northeast. the urgent warning for new york city. officials advise residents to stay off the roads tonight. rob marciano times it all out. also tonight, israeli protesters plead with their government to bring the hostages home. hamas says no deal without a cease-fire. and we go inside a hamas tunnel said to be the biggest one uncovered so far. reportedly reaching depths of more than 160 feet and big enough to drive a car. and fears of a new escalation in the middle east after waves of drone and missile attacks in the red sea. is the u.s. ready to retaliate against yemen s houthi rebels. the new war ship moving into place. the tension is mounting as the world s largest shipping company suspended operation in the region. synagogues under threat. swatters targeting jewish organizat ....
good monday morning to you. i m jim sciutto. hi jim. great to be with you. i m jessica dean and happening right now. massive protests in israel, a crippling general strike and several mayors launching a hunger strike after prime minister benjamin netanyahu fired his defense minister for opposing his plans to overhaul the judicial system . this as many israelis fear the united states closest ally in the region is moving further away from democratic principles. ahead we will have the very latest from jerusalem remarkable events there in israel plus today and though the round of were severe weather expected to strike the southeast of this country, parts of alabama and georgia, bracing for large, hail , damaging winds this after just devastating tornadoes ripped through the region this weekend . at least 26 people are dead, several others injured. we re going to take you live to see scenes of that damage. we do begin this hour, though. with those protests the ongoing genera ....
mississippi picking up the pieces after devastating storms over the weekend left over two dozen people dead and prince harry, elton john, and others take their fight against the british tabloids to a london courtroom. this is what we re watching at this hour. and thank you for being here. i m amarillo walker in for kate baldwin. we begin in israel, which is paralyzed right now by protests over benjamin netanyahu s plan to overhaul the country s judicial system. take a look at this video right now of protesters blocking a highway in television. police tried to disperse them by blasting them with water cannons. and while israelis take to the streets in protest, a historic general strike is also bringing the country. to a standstill all flights at israel s main airport were grounded for several hours , but they have now resumed now this is all happening just hours after netanyahu fired his own defense minister who had called for a pause in the government s judicial reform ....