Israeli prime minister and longtime statesman
The Green Party has passed a motion defining Zionism as racism and backing a Palestinian state, prompting internal divisions and international condemnation. Four of five MPs oppose aspects of the resolution; leader Zack Polanski did not vote. Israel bans Polanski from entering the country as a by-election nears, while the European Green Party condemns the move.
Palestinian communities face encroachment as Israeli settlers, backed by a hard‑line government, move to seize springs and designate heritage sites. Water diversions near Fasayil contribute to a new “Herod’s Pool,” while funding for archaeology signals a broader push to consolidate control over land and memory in the West Bank.
Multiple suspects were detained near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offenses. Five British men were released on bail as the investigation unfolds; authorities say no explosives were found, but the probe is ongoing with strong indications of Iranian involvement.
A US-backed Board of Peace has presented a six-month, $2.45bn, 66-project plan to begin Gaza's reconstruction, but implementation has not started. The plan depends on Hamas disarming, Israeli cooperation and major donor funding that remains unpaid. Israeli forces continue to control much of the Strip and aid and movement restrictions are persisting.
Officials say a FlyDubai co-pilot identified as Omani attempted to crash an Israel-bound flight using an emergency axe, injuring the captain. Passengers and crew subdued the attacker; the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. UAE leads the probe, with Israel and Oman under scrutiny for cockpit-crew vetting and passenger-list procedures.
Britain has warned it could expel up to about 27 Israeli diplomats if Israel closes the UK consulate in East Jerusalem on Thursday. Israel has ordered the consulate to shut within 30 days after Britain announced sanctions on goods and services linked to West Bank settlements. British officials have tried last-minute talks to avert the closure but have not reached a deal.
Iran has said it has received a formal US response to its proposal to end the US‑Israeli war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, after indirect talks arranged by Qatari mediators. The US president has publicly rejected Tehran’s seven‑point plan; Iran is demanding a regional ceasefire, unfreezing of assets, lifting oil sanctions and an end to the US naval blockade.
Benjamin Davis has been dismissed from the FAO after a 26-year tenure, amid controversy over his Gaza hunger brief and moments of silence protests. Qu Dongyu has warned staff about firing more for political activism, while Davis argues the dismissal undermines the UN’s human-rights mandate. The case now moves to the FAO’s internal justice process.
Birzeit University in the West Bank has been raided by Israeli forces, who demolished a memorial bearing the names of students killed in Israeli attacks. The raid followed earlier measurements of the monument and comes amid ongoing Israeli incursions into campuses in the occupied territories. The university notes this is part of a broader pattern and may escalate tensions around higher education.
Libya’s eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) faces intensified scrutiny amid August drone strikes targeting oil and electricity infrastructure. Reports link Saddam Haftar to the attacks, complicating Washington’s unification efforts and UN-backed processes amid a prolonged east–west split.
The co-pilot of a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv has allegedly attacked the captain with a crash axe, stabbing him as the aircraft plunged mid‑flight. Passengers and crew overpowered the co-pilot, and the plane was landed safely in north-western Saudi Arabia. Investigations are probing the co-pilot’s links to multiple countries and possible long-standing extremist influences. The incident has sparked international security reviews and calls for accountability across jurisdictions.
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has led Brazil's first-round presidential vote, finishing ahead of incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva but without an outright majority. With neither candidate reaching 50%, the race has moved to an October 25 run-off. Bolsonaro's far-right Liberal Party has won large congressional representation, while both campaigns are preparing for a tight second round.
The Supreme Court has unanimously overturned the Central Elections Committee’s disqualification of Ra’am and the Joint List, reinstating their ballots for the October 27 election. Cassif remains barred, while Sami Abu Shehadeh withdraws his candidacy; the court’s decision keeps Arab citizens represented as the election race tightens ahead of voting.
The Guardian-produced NAZA has sparked a fierce backlash in Israel after its Venice premiere and North American rollout. The film features 24 anonymous Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers describing AI-assisted targeting and civilian casualties in Gaza. Israel denies the allegations and promises to defend its soldiers, while the filmmakers face calls to revoke their citizenship.
The United States has intensified its push against the International Criminal Court, with sanctions being considered and public threats amplified. The ICC faces mounting stress as Washington argues it lacks jurisdiction over non-member states, even as European allies discuss protective measures to shield European businesses.
Israeli voters confront a tightly balanced race three years after the Hamas attack. Polls show blocs short of a majority, with Arab parties potentially pivotal. Opposition leaders are coordinating but face internal tensions about coalition partners and prime ministerial leadership as the October 27 vote nears.
Mediapart has published private messages it says were written by Jordan Bardella in 2013 that include antisemitic remarks; Bardella has denied the messages and called the disclosures a "total war" to destabilise Marine Le Pen's campaign, and Le Pen has expressed "total confidence" in him as he threatens legal action.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are strengthening high-level ties amid regional tensions, inviting Gulf allies to the GCC-EU Summit and coordinating on issues including Yemen and security. Multiple meetings signal a thaw and shared interests as Riyadh hosts the event.
City Hall’s Strategy to Combat Antisemitism has increased hate-crime funding and education initiatives, but critics say it fails to define antisemitism or address anti-Zionism. Politically charged debate continues as pro- and anti-Israel voices mobilize around a plan aimed at protecting Jewish communities in New York City.
Israel’s prime minister faces defamation lawsuits as Haaretz and other outlets are accused of publishing false reports about warnings to Netanyahu before the October 7, 2023 attacks. The stories persist as other outlets report related warnings from Egypt and the UAE, while Netanyahu denies having been warned.
Palestinian election officials are barred from Gaza and East Jerusalem ahead of the November 28 vote, prompting concerns over whether elections can proceed. The European Union has offered observers, and Palestinian leaders are calling for international support to ensure credible, inclusive polls amid past postponements.
Arab parties face disqualification challenges as Israel's election rules are tested. The Supreme Court and Central Elections Committee are at the center of rulings that could shape representation for Palestinian citizens ahead of the October 27 vote.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has made an emergency landing in Tabuk after a cockpit assault and hijack-like actions. Israeli passengers and off-duty pilots help subdue the attacker; the aircraft’s rudder sustained damage. Investigations are underway by UAE, Israel, and Saudi authorities.
Capt. Smit Machchhar has opened the cockpit door to halt a rapid descent of a Flydubai 737 bound for Tel Aviv after a co-pilot attacked him. Passengers helped restrain the attacker and land the plane safely in Saudi Arabia. Machchhar is recovering in Abu Dhabi. The incident is under investigation.
Passengers and crew have subdued an attacker on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, preventing a potential crash as the aircraft plummeted and then leveled out. An Israeli passenger and off-duty pilots helped regain control; Trump has praised an ‘Israeli plumber’ whose actions are cited by multiple outlets.
The UAE-led inquiry has identified Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, as the co-pilot involved in the September 30 incident on Flight FZ1073. Passengers and crew overpowered him after he attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a cockpit ax. Investigators are examining motive, vetting procedures, and possible links as countries coordinate on security responses.
A Flydubai co-pilot has attacked the captain with an axe during a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight. Passengers overpowered him; the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Investigations into links with Australia and possible radicalisation are under way in multiple countries.
Iran has presented a proposal through mediators to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if its seven conditions—based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding—are satisfied. Tehran reiterates a firm stance: the strait will not open until those conditions are met. Iran’s foreign ministry says Washington’s proposals align with prior positions on nuclear issues, while Iran warns of a stronger response if military action resumes.
The US has redeployed about a dozen B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford to the United States amid security concerns over an Iran-related threat. UK officials say the base remains safe as investigations continue into a separate incident near the Gloucestershire site.
Israel has stated it will continue targeting anyone involved in the Hamas attack and hostages, as violence and casualties in Gaza mount after the Hamas-led assault on Oct. 7, 2023. Leaders mark anniversaries and pledge resolve amid ongoing conflict and post-war planning.
Three years after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks killed about 1,200 Israelis and abducted 251, the country confronts ongoing scrutiny of security failures, the absence of an independent inquiry, and the lasting trauma in border communities as survivors and families navigate memory, loss and national reckoning.
Three years after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, Israel faces a pivotal election that could determine the future of Benjamin Netanyahu’s premiership. Voters weigh accountability for security failures against a demand for stability as regional dynamics remain volatile and Gaza’s humanitarian toll persists.
Three years after Hamas’s 7 October attack, commemorations at Nova and elsewhere are tempered by continued strikes in Gaza. Families mourn loved ones as residents describe life under siege, while Israel’s leadership faces elections and international scrutiny over the war’s conduct.
As states push new taxes on billionaires and high earners, voters face a wave of ballot measures and lawsuits. Washington contemplates a millionaire tax despite opposition from some business leaders; California weighs a billionaire wealth tax; Massachusetts has already seen revenue gains from similar levies, while other states move to cut or adjust taxes on high earners.