indicated it is willing to discuss a new plan to end the war in gaza unveiled by us presidentjoe biden. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, has again insisted that the war will end only once hamas is destroyed. the opposition leader, yair lapid, has urged the prime minister to accept the proposal. speaking earlier, mr lapid suggested that if right—wing members of benjamin netanyahu's coalition resigned in protest, his party would continue to support the government in its efforts to secure a hostage deal. it comes as mr netanyahu repeated that israel will continue to focus on the destruction of hamas and the freeing of all hostages. he was responding to a three—phase proposal presented by us president, joe biden, who says hamas is no longer capable of launching another october 7 style attack on israel. meanwhile, egyptian state—linked tv is reporting a meeting between egyptian, us and israeli officials will take place sunday to discuss the reopening of the rafah crossing. speaking to the bbc earlier, the uk's foreign secretary, lord cameron, gave us his thoughts on the deal. i think what the deal contains is a staged process for the release of hostages in the first phase and a pause in the fighting, and then it goes on to a second stage with a longer pause, with more israeli withdrawals and the release of further hostages, then going on to a third stage, hopefully without any return to fighting, when you get on to the rebuilding of gaza. now, of course, all these plans are incredibly difficult to put in place. but fundamentally why i think this is a moment we should seize to try and bring this conflict to an end permanently is that, you know, it's one thing to call for a ceasefire, but of course, if you can't put in place the conditions that make a ceasefire sustainable, then it won't last. and this is an attempt to start to put those conditions in place, because we all know you've got to look at issues of israeli security and issues of palestinian statehood alongside each other in order to make a deal last and to solve this problem. let's speak now to dr ariel cohen, who served in the israel defence forces and is a senior fellow at the atlantic council in washington. welcome to the programme. let's begin with this proposal presented by president biden, who said it is actually a rail�*s proposal. just talk us through the three phase proposal. also the language use. why is president biden proposing an israeli proposal? i is president biden proposing an israeli proposal?— is president biden proposing an israeli proposal? i think president biden has as _ israeli proposal? i think president biden has as his _ israeli proposal? i think president biden has as his very _ israeli proposal? i think president biden has as his very high - israeli proposal? i think president biden has as his very high priority| biden has as his very high priority to stop the hostilities, especially amidst a presidential campaign that his politicalfuture is amidst a presidential campaign that his political future is unclear, despite the conviction of former president trump. in at the battleground states, trump was leading five out of six states. the left wing of the democratic party is staunchly in favour of a ceasefire that would save hamas. why this is an israeli proposal is not clear to me. i think it is president biden�*s proposal. if i read it carefully, it leaves hamas in the political leadership position in gaza, it does not stipulate who is going to control the jazz in cities after israel withdraws. moreover, it emphasises the release of hostages in the first stage, 30 hostages. then the remaining living hostages. then the remaining living hostages. the figures i see is that a0 of the hostages are dead. at the same time, the proposal releases 700 arab prisoners from israeli jails, including terrorists with blood on their hands. this is not a good deal for israel. it is a good dealfor hamas. and the leader of hamas's military wing in gaza already made it clear that he considers such a deal a victory for hamas. it does not stipulate the withdrawal of hamas, as we discussed earlier in the conflict. if hamas remains in gaza, it well that real, it will continue at the attacks such as we saw before october 7— rocket attacks, smaller terrorist attacks, and hamas leadership said we will repeat 0ctober and hamas leadership said we will repeat october 7.— and hamas leadership said we will repeat october 7. let's 'ust go back to our repeat october 7. let's 'ust go back to your point that h repeat october 7. let's 'ust go back to your point that this _ repeat october 7. let'sjust go back to your point that this would - repeat october 7. let'sjust go back to your point that this would be - repeat october 7. let'sjust go back to your point that this would be a l to your point that this would be a good dealfor to your point that this would be a good deal for hamas and to your point that this would be a good dealfor hamas and not to your point that this would be a good deal for hamas and not for israel. as i say that, we have live pictures coming from tel aviv. these are thousands, as we are hearing via various news agencies, israelis within benjamin netanyahu's country gathering, demanding that mr netanyahu gathering, demanding that mr neta nyahu accepts gathering, demanding that mr netanyahu accepts this new proposal. it may not be a good deal for netanyahu, but it seems as if there are growing calls within israel that this comes to an end.— this comes to an end. absolutely. my heart aoes this comes to an end. absolutely. my heart goes out _ this comes to an end. absolutely. my heart goes out to _ this comes to an end. absolutely. my heart goes out to the _ this comes to an end. absolutely. my heart goes out to the families - this comes to an end. absolutely. my heart goes out to the families of - heart goes out to the families of the kidnapped men, women and children. it is heartbreaking what these people are suffering in hamas captivity. there had been tortured, starved, beaten and raped. having said that, the strategic outcome of this conflict is important for the long—term survival of both israelis and the people of gaza. i do not want to see people in gaza being bombed and killed and suffering. all these people in a dramatic and in a gaza have suffered enough. to end this, you need to get hamas out of the equation. then the question is, do the british peacekeepers, the eu peacekeepers, or may be united arab emirates or egyptians? but you cannot leave iranian supported murderers in charge of gaza, because it is going to be groundhog day. we will see it again and again. if you are saying _ will see it again and again. if you are saying that — will see it again and again. if you are saying that hamas _ will see it again and again. if you are saying that hamas needs - will see it again and again. if you are saying that hamas needs to l will see it again and again. if you i are saying that hamas needs to be removed, and you are saying they could stay in the on clay for one or two years, what will be left of palestinians if the idf continues the scale of the campaign that we have seen, particularly since rafah that we have seen in the last few weeks. what is going to be left of palestinians? the weeks. what is going to be left of palestinians?— weeks. what is going to be left of palestinians? ., ., ., ., palestinians? the population of gaza i think is palestinians? the population of gaza i think is 2-2 — palestinians? the population of gaza i think is 2.2 million _ palestinians? the population of gaza i think is 2.2 million people. - palestinians? the population of gaza i think is 2.2 million people. the - i think is 2.2 million people. the claims of genocide are bogus. nobody is trying to kill all of the palestinians because they are palestinians. israel is going after hamas fighters and leaders. he saw the pictures, just as i did, of a guy in a t—shirt shooting an rpg. unfortunately, though, it is palestinians and gazans are being killed clearly. who is accountable for the? ., ., , killed clearly. who is accountable forthe? ., , killed clearly. who is accountable forthe? . , ., , ., ., for the? hamas is to blame for startin: for the? hamas is to blame for starting this — for the? hamas is to blame for starting this horrible _ for the? hamas is to blame for starting this horrible terrorist l starting this horrible terrorist attack. until hamas is taken out of this equation and replaced by a more peace—loving force, be it an entirely palestinian, mixed arab palestinian, ora entirely palestinian, mixed arab palestinian, or a force that includes people from the global community, this conflict is only going to cause more and more casualties. and by the way, i'm not a supporter of netanyahu, i can talk at length about his failure is an israeli leadership failure as before, during and after the attack of october 7. the failure of information warfare, the failure to finish this war way before this point in time.— finish this war way before this point in time. finish this war way before this oint in time. �* , , ,., ., point in time. are due in support of the no, — point in time. are due in support of the no. no— point in time. are due in support of the no, no better— point in time. are due in support of the no, no better place - point in time. are due in support of the no, no better place for - point in time. are due in support of the no, no better place for him | the no, no better place for him is to be at— the no, no better place for him is to be at home, _ the no, no better place for him is to be at home, not _ the no, no better place for him is to be at home, not even - the no, no better place for him is to be at home, not even in - the no, no better place for him is to be at home, not even in the l is to be at home, not even in the parliament. he is poisonous, he is a horrible propagandist, and the israelis are better off without him. if you are not in favour of the intervention i to, you're not in favour of fairly right wing elements within the israeli government, who do not want the idf forces to come out of gaza, and yet you essentially agree with what must and two knitting if you are saying, that hamas has to be stopped, how will that happen without more lives being lost in gaza? we can see that the protesters on the streets in tel aviv. how do you do that? gill protesters on the streets in tel aviv. how do you do that? mm protesters on the streets in tel aviv. how do you do that? all i am sa in: is aviv. how do you do that? all i am saying is that _ aviv. how do you do that? all i am saying is that if _ aviv. how do you do that? all i am saying is that if the _ aviv. how do you do that? all i am saying is that if the hostages - aviv. how do you do that? all i am saying is that if the hostages are l saying is that if the hostages are released and hamas leaves gaza, or the leaders of hamas, who have the blood of 1200 people on their heads, these people need to be brought to justice. that's what i'm saying. which part of the israeli government as it is not my concern. clearly at the military and security services will be involved. what i am saying is what a lot of israelis are saying. whoever released look for, is a democratic country with many parties, they are fully capable of deciding how to proceed. fin parties, they are fully capable of deciding how to proceed.- deciding how to proceed. on the aenocide deciding how to proceed. on the genocide claim, _ deciding how to proceed. on the genocide claim, you _ deciding how to proceed. on the genocide claim, you said - deciding how to proceed. on the genocide claim, you said that. deciding how to proceed. on the genocide claim, you said that is| deciding how to proceed. on the i genocide claim, you said that is not a genocide taking place. i’m genocide claim, you said that is not a genocide taking place.— a genocide taking place. i'm sorry, the us state _ a genocide taking place. i'm sorry, the us state department, - a genocide taking place. i'm sorry, the us state department, the - a genocide taking place. i'm sorry, the us state department, the us i the us state department, the us presidency, even the un did not say it is genocide, let's make it very clear. ~ ., it is genocide, let's make it very clear. ~ . , ., , ., clear. we have the statements and the actions — clear. we have the statements and the actions and _ clear. we have the statements and the actions and calls _ clear. we have the statements and the actions and calls that _ clear. we have the statements and the actions and calls that have - clear. we have the statements and l the actions and calls that have come from the international criminal court and the world court as well. they did not say genocide. i’m they did not say genocide. i'm referrin: they did not say genocide. i'm referring more to the calls that this has ended since africa made its claims to court. that this has ended since africa made its claims to court.— claims to court. that client is callin: claims to court. that client is calling for— claims to court. that client is calling for israel— claims to court. that client is calling for israel to _ claims to court. that client is calling for israel to stop - claims to court. that client is calling for israel to stop the i calling for israel to stop the fighting. that is no findings of genocide from the israeli operation in gaza, sorry. genocide from the israeli operation in gaza. sorry-— in gaza, sorry. thank you for your time. in south africa, with almost all results from this week's election now in — the african national congress — the oldest liberation movement on the african continent — has lost its outright majority for the first time in 30 years, since the end of apartheid. many voters blame the anc for high levels of crime and corruption and failures in the supply of basic necessities, such as water and electricity. and so begins a new era in south african politics, as president cyril ramaphosa — who himself helped negotiate the end of apartheid — begins the search for coalition partners. the bbc�*s africa correspondent, barbara plett usher, reports. one of the main reasons the anc haave failed to secure a majority is the surprising vote share secured by former president jacob zuma's newly formed party the mk. despite doing better than almost anyone expected, the party says it is considering challenging the results in court. this report now by the bbc�*s africa correspondent, barbara plett usher. the verdict is almost in — still not official results, but they're clear. the anc has lost its unrivalled political power. it's done even worse than expected, punished by voters, angry about economic mismanagement and corruption scandals. this is a shock to the system for the anc, the celebrated liberation movement humbled by this verdict on its governance. it's the most dramatic political shift in south africa since the end of apartheid, and no one knows exactly what will happen next. we ask for all electoral stakeholders to please remain calm, for leaders to lead this nation at this time, and for voices of reason to continue to prevail. the anc was born out of the struggle against apartheid, the violence of white minority rule that kept black people separate and unequal. archive: there's mr mandela. mr nelson mandela — a free man. the moment of triumph — nelson mandela released from prison, the first black president in south africa's new democracy. the downfall marked by another president, jacob zuma. he presided over a period of rampant corruption. understandably, i'm very disappointed. this anc veteran says the party has not recovered since then. we have failed. we talk about renewal, the renewal of the anc, and it would take the form of making sure that elements who are really corrupt are removed from the organisation and we've really failed to act decisively to do that. the anc is still the biggest party, but it's lost its majority. south africa now faces weeks of turbulent coalition talks. barbara plett usher, bbc news, johannesburg. after a week of general election campaigning here in the uk, all parties are once again out and about this weekend, vying for public support. prime minister rishi sunak has pledged to give 30 towns across the uk, £20 million each if the conservatives are re—elected. labour, meanwhile, has vowed to boost employment and increase support for people living with long—term illness. and from the liberal democrats — a promise to make ten premier league games available, on free—to—air—tv, per season. 0ur political correspondent, ione wells, reports. applause and cheering cheers, change and cheesy grins. labour are hoping to show a positive front today, with... the launch of the bus — angela's bus. and doesn't it look fantastic? laughter ..after their campaign was a little derailed this week by internal fallout over whether diane abbott could run as a labour candidate. sir keir starmer clarified yesterday she was free to stand. well, i dealt with that issue yesterday. today is about taking our argument to the country, and getting people back to work. there are millions of people who aren't in work, who are on benefits, who desperately want the dignity and respect of being back to work. we're putting our plan on the table to reform thejob centres so that they can actually be places that support people back into work. applause and cheering the conservatives are also trying to refocus this weekend, after another former tory mp said they were switching their allegiance to labour. and that's what we're going to stop, aren't we? audience cheers rishi sunak�*s pitch to stop others following was a promise to invest £20 million in 30 towns. the majority are seats currently held by the conservatives. he denied the choice was political. i'm not going to make any apology for supporting towns. it's where the majority of people live. they were neglected for decades under previous labour governments, and we're in teesside today, it's a great example of a place that we've focused on as a government. people can see the change in the community as it's happened. i want to make sure we spread that type of opportunity and pride right across the country. the liberal democrat leader, sir ed davey, says he is taking today to care for his son, who has severe disabilities. his campaign, though, are out touring the south coast. their pledge today is to change the law to force the premier league to show ten games per season on free—to—air television, criticising the rising cost of season tickets and subscription channels. manchester city, champions again! there are still weeks to go of this campaign, but all parties hope these pledges will help them be victorious on july a. ione wells, bbc news. the scottish national party leader, john swinney, has also been on the campaign trail in aberdeen, where the party is targeting a number of conservative seats, because of what he calls "damage" done to the area's economy by "westminster politics". meanwhile, george galloway has launched his workers party of britain's general election campaign with an attack on labour. he told supporters labour leader, sir keir starmer was "indistinguishable" from rishi sunak and had "blood on his hands" over his position on gaza. mr galloway announced that his party was standing hundreds of candidates across the country and he'd be "extremely disappointed" if the number elected was not in double figures. now it's time for a look at today's sport with carthy. hello from the bbc sport centre. we start with the champions league final at wembley between the 1a—time winners, real madrid, and borussia dortmund who have only lifted the trophy once in their history. the game was stopped briefly a few minutes after kick—off due t