Israeli prime minister; longest-serving in modern era
Saudi air defences have intercepted and destroyed multiple ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones launched toward Riyadh, the Eastern Province, Makkah and other regions in fresh Houthi strikes. Falling debris has caused limited damage to an administrative Aramco building in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District; officials have reported no injuries.
Israeli opposition leader Eisenkot has received the mandate to form a government. He is pursuing a national emergency coalition, seeking backing from Likud, Arab parties, and ultra-Orthodox groups while avoiding new elections and addressing security and domestic challenges.
Heavy rains have flooded tens of thousands of displacement tents across Gaza, killing several people and exposing nearly 400,000 displaced residents to collapse-prone buildings and contaminated runoff. The US-backed Board of Peace, the EU and UN agencies have said Israeli restrictions on winterisation and construction equipment remain insufficient; Israel says it has approved and allowed large shipments while blaming Hamas for hoarding and weaponising supplies.
WHO warns Gaza faces a surge in acute respiratory infections as cold weather, flooding and overcrowding heighten risks; aid deliveries are hampered by access constraints amid a widely reported ceasefire line. The situation risks a public health disaster without rapid action.
The US and Iran remain at odds over the Strait of Hormuz as Trump signals limited openness to renewed strikes should talks progress. Iranian officials warn they will respond to any escalation, while regional mediators push for a de‑escalation path amid ongoing vessel incidents and economic strain.
Israeli and Palestinian authorities confront a stalled Gaza peace plan as winter intensifies the humanitarian crisis. Trump’s push for a Palestinian technocratic government faces resistance in Israel, while aid restrictions and a harsh weather outlook threaten hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans.
The Jerusalem Cinematheque festival opens on December 5 with Schlöndorff’s Visitation, followed by Am I Cancelled Yet? and a focus on Rosa Rapaport’s journey. The event highlights identity, memory and the evolving Jewish experience across cinema and public discourse.
Egypt has ordered the closure of independent outlet Mada Masr, fined its editor‑in‑chief Lina Attalah 3 million Egyptian pounds and confiscated the newsroom's equipment. Attalah has been detained and released after the fine was paid; she faces a separate retrial on an absentia 2024 conviction. Six journalists from fact‑checking platform Matsadaash remain in pretrial detention amid allegations of torture and forced confessions.
Gadi Eisenkot has been tasked with forming Israel's next government after securing endorsements that give his bloc a parliamentary lead. He has asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid major national security moves during the transition and has requested regular security briefings and a state inquiry into failures before the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. Coalition arithmetic remains deadlocked with Arab-led parties holding a record 19 Knesset seats.
Multiple oil tankers have been struck by mines or projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran enforces restrictions on routes through the waterway. Evacuations have occurred; crews are safe and there is no immediate environmental damage reported. The US, UK and allied forces are escorting ships amid ongoing tensions.
Iran has warned that any new US or Israeli strikes will draw an immediate, geographically unrestricted response after senior commanders met the country’s supreme leader. Qatari mediators have been holding talks in Tehran, Tehran has received a letter from US Vice‑President J.D. Vance, and Washington says negotiation channels remain open ahead of the US midterms.
Israel has seen its long-standing security partnership with the United States come under renewed scrutiny as the US midterm results shift political dynamics. Netanyahu’s government is facing pressure to realign policy following a wave of criticism over military aid and regional policy.
A Palestinian-Israeli journalist has been detained in Jaffa on suspicions tied to an interview. Rights groups say the arrest is part of a broader crackdown on Palestinian political expression in Israel. Detention is being extended as investigations continue ahead of a court hearing.
The State Department has offered up to $20 million and possible relocation for information on Iran's nuclear programme, citing lost IAEA continuity on centrifuge production. US Central Command has publicised the reward as President Donald Trump repeats claims that US strikes have largely destroyed Iran's nuclear capacity while diplomacy continues through Qatari mediation.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has lifted the 2,000-kilometer missile-range cap, signaling intent to demonstrate broader capabilities. Officials say Iran will show these capabilities in practice, amid heightened tensions with the US and allies. The comments come as regional instability and US-Israel pressure mount, with new sanctions enforcement and strategic moves shaping the Middle East landscape.
Israel’s opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has been tasked with forming a new government after Netanyahu’s bloc lost its majority in the Oct. 27 election. Analysts see a tough path ahead, with potential coalitions including Arab parties or a unity government, and a looming deadline that could trigger new elections.
Iraq has reopened the Sheeb border crossing with Iran after completing technical requirements, while Mandali remains temporarily closed for maintenance. Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein says Washington has urged Baghdad to close most crossings with Iran, with discussions ongoing. The developments come as Iraq faces economic strain from the Iran war and related disruptions to oil exports.
China’s envoy has met Iran’s deputy NSC chief to push for political solutions and regional stability as Beijing steps up efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East, including meetings with Iran and Saudi security officials.
Shin Bet has found no evidence of foreign interference in the recent Israeli elections, countering claims by Prime Minister Netanyahu and the agency’s chief. Investigations have found no substantiation of funding from the PA or Arab states to Arab-led parties, challenging allegations that fuel cards and money influenced the vote. The attorney general is set to review findings.
President Donald Trump has said the war with Iran "militarily is effectively over" after closed-door talks with Qatar's prime minister, while keeping US forces "locked and loaded" and maintaining a naval blockade. Iranian officials have rejected US rhetoric and demanded concessions; mediators and US election results are reshaping diplomatic momentum.
American refuelling tankers have been evacuated from RAF Mildenhall in eastern England after an unspecified Iranian threat. Officials say assets moved to meet operational requirements; Pentagon declined to comment. Trump has described momentum toward ending the conflict, while UK and US authorities stress ongoing vigilance.
The 26th Knesset opened with neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor Eisenkot’s opposition holding a majority. The president has tasked Eisenkot with forming a government within 28 days, with a possible extension. The opposition aims to push through a commission into the October 7 attacks and other reforms, while Netanyahu’s coalition remains under pressure. If talks stall, a new election could renew the political deadlock.
Arab-American and Muslim candidates have won seats across federal and state levels, signaling greater representation. Abdul El-Sayed becomes Michigan’s first Muslim senator; Hamawy becomes New Jersey’s first Muslim congressman. Campaigns center healthcare, living costs, and opposition to certain foreign aid policies, with broader implications for American political inclusion.
The United States and Israel have been negotiating a new 10-year security aid framework, with discussions focusing on winding down annual funding of about $3.8 billion. While a phase-out is discussed, officials stress no final agreement has been reached, and the timing remains uncertain amid political shifts in Washington and Jerusalem.
Lewis Hamilton has visited Egypt’s Rafah crossing and Egyptian Red Crescent warehouses in El Arish to see how aid for Gaza is prepared and coordinated. He has said aid supplies are waiting at the border, that many shipments face delays or rejection, and called for Israel to allow agreed volumes of relief into Gaza.
Arab-led parties are pivotal in post-election coalition talks as Abbas denies Hamas recognition; Eisenkot aims to form a government that includes Ra’am and the Joint List, while Netanyahu faces criticism over alleged attempts to influence Palestinian politicians.
Senate and House battles over NDAA provisions would expand US-Israel defense technology cooperation, raising concerns about Israeli influence and oversight. Lawmakers argue the initiative could deepen military ties while skeptics warn of entrenchment and reduced independence.
At COP31 in Antalya, Erdogan has called the Gaza conflict an ecocide, urging increased humanitarian access and recognition of environmental damage. The remarks, echoed by other leaders, come as Gaza’s environmental degradation and water, waste and agricultural losses intensify amid ongoing fighting.
Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, has been denied entry to France after arriving at a Paris airport. French authorities cite his role in settlement expansion in the West Bank as the basis for an administrative entry ban. Israel condemns the move as unacceptable and says it will seek explanations from Paris.
As Israel weighs its options amid a contentious political climate, Netanyahu is pressing for a national unity approach while opposition leaders warn against actions that could drag the country into war. Caretaker leadership is shaping decisions on Iran and potential military action.
A nine-month-old baby has died of hypothermia in Khan Younis, Gaza, amid ongoing displacement, flooding and cold weather. UNICEF warns the cold season will worsen conditions for thousands living in tents as aid access remains contested.
Palestinians and Israeli forces clash amid a wave of settler violence in the West Bank. Reports confirm vandalism, attacks on harvest crews, and the demolition of illegal outposts as security forces move to restore order.
The bid by Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen to challenge Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has sparked a rare contest within the Democratic caucus as the party wields its post-election power to push for a bold, reform-driven agenda.
Judges at the International Criminal Court have formally closed part of the probe into Afghanistan, halting investigations into US troops and ISIS-K, and concentrating on Taliban actions since 2021. The move follows a split of the Afghan inquiry into two tracks and comes as the United States has sanctioned ICC staff and questioned the court's jurisdiction. Prosecutors have appealed the decision.
Gadi Eisenkot has called for respect for Israel's Arab minority as the two Arab-majority parties hold a combined 19 seats in the new parliament. Netanyahu and allies have accused Arab leaders of links to Hamas, while Arab parties condemn marginalisation. The move comes as Eisenkot seeks to form a government with cross-party support.
The United States has intensified its stance on the International Criminal Court, arguing the court is unaccountable and overreaching. In a keynote at the Federalist Society, Senator Marco Rubio has warned against the court’s authority, as Washington vows to dismantle its operations and sanction its activities. The speech aligns with broader US efforts to curb ICC influence amid regional tensions.
Israel's new government talks are under way after Eisenkot is tapped to form a government. Netanyahu has urged unity to confront Iran, while Eisenkot is weighing a minority or coalition approach. Arab-led parties remain a flashpoint as negotiations proceed.
The United States and Israel estimate Iran possesses a large ballistic-missile arsenal, with figures ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 missiles. Tehran is rebuilding and rearming, while new underground sites are showcased. Attacks in the Gulf and strikes on US bases continue as Western officials assess Tehran’s capacity and intentions amid ongoing tensions.
The Israel Defense Forces has said it has killed Samir Abu Younis, 53, the commander of Hamas’s Rafah brigade, in an overnight airstrike in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis. Hamas’s military wing has confirmed his death and said his funeral will be held on Sunday afternoon in Khan Younis. The strike wounded others.
The Ron Arad disappearance, once linked to Iran, is now the focus of renewed scrutiny as Israeli intelligence reconsiders earlier attributions. New reporting shows Israelis are re-evaluating whether Iran was involved, while past abduction and related operations are revisited amid new accounts from multiple officials.