Nov. 1: Ex-IDF chief Halevi says Oct. 7 was preventable, but ‘absolutely no internal betrayal’

Some 2,000 protesters march through Tel Aviv to demand Jewish-Arab government

Israelis demonstrate in Tel Aviv, calling for the formation of a Jewish-Arab coalition government following the general election, October 31, 2026. (Hilel Ben Or/Flash90)

The Tel Aviv demonstration for a Jewish-Arab government ends at Rabin Square after a crowd of what appeared to be some 2,000 protesters marched there from Habima Square via the Ibn Gabirol thoroughfare.

Protesters beat drums and hoisted signs reading “there’s a majority for change” and “equality for all.”

They chanted, in Hebrew: “With partnership and equality, we’re replacing the government.”

Elsewhere in the marching column, protesters chanted in Arabic: “Peace, liberty, social justice.”

Earlier, in Jerusalem, a smaller demonstration was held in Paris Square.

Trump holds call with Netanyahu amid preparations to renew strikes on Iran — WSJ

US President Donald Trump listens as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, December 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke yesterday morning over the phone as the United States laid plans to resume strikes on Iran, people familiar with the call tell the Wall Street Journal.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier that Trump prefers a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Iran, but that he believes that Washington has the ability to accomplish its goals militarily.

Trump says Flavio Bolsonaro can stay in US for as long as he wants after election loss

Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro arrives at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on October 28, 2026, in Opa-locka, Florida. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

PALM BEACH, Florida — US President Donald Trump says that Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who lost his country’s presidential election to leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, can stay in the United States “as long as he wants.”

Trump, speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, says he has no plans to meet with Bolsonaro, who fled to the US after his election loss.

Trump says US needs to take care of ‘one or two sites’ in Iran; talks ‘going fine’ but Tehran ‘not very reliable’

US President Donald Trump speaks at a Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, October 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

US President Donald Trump says negotiations with Iran are “going fine” but that the Islamic Republic was “not very reliable,” in comments to reporters in Palm Beach.

“We still have to take care of, I would say, one or two sites, but we can do that in 10 minutes,” he says. “You probably could look at Pickaxe Mountain, and you have to take care of that”

Pickaxe Mountain has been flagged by Western intelligence as a site likely used to store nuclear material, and has not been struck yet by the US in the war.

Man shot dead in northern Druze village, police say

A man has been shot dead in the Druze-majority northern village of Isfiya, police say.

Magen David Adom paramedics declared the man dead at the scene, police say.

Police say they have opened an investigation and believe the shooting to be criminal in nature.

UN says staff member died in Houthi custody; Iran-backed group has claimed detainees were spies for US, Israel

A Yemeni staff member of the UN Human Rights Office has died in Houthi custody after being arbitrarily detained for more than two years, the UN human rights chief says, calling for an independent investigation and the release of other detained personnel.

Mohammad el Shami had been held by the Houthi group since June 6, 2024, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk says in a statement.

His family said they had been informed of his death only recently, more than a month after it occurred, and had received no explanation of the cause or circumstances, Turk says.

Turk calls for a prompt, independent and thorough investigation, and demands the immediate and unconditional release of all other UN personnel held by the Houthis, including seven colleagues from his office, as well as humanitarian workers and civil society members.

Yemen’s prime minister condemns the death, holds the Houthis fully responsible and calls for those responsible to be held accountable. He says more than 70 UN employees and dozens of humanitarian workers remain detained.

There is no immediate comment from the Houthis. The Iran-backed group has said those detained were part of a spy network working for the United States and Israel. The group has also accused humanitarian organizations of using their work as cover for intelligence activities, without providing evidence.

The Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention in 2015 in support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The conflict has since divided the country, with the Houthis holding Sanaa and much of the north and northwest, while government-aligned forces control much of the south and east.

IDF says Search and Rescue Brigade to conduct drill this week

The Home Front Command’s Search and Rescue Brigade will carry out an exercise this week, aimed at improving its readiness, the military says.

The IDF says that during the drill, which begins today, troops will practice “multi-front scenarios, utilizing their search and rescue capabilities and cooperating with other forces and emergency organizations.”

“The exercise is intended to strengthen the forces’ readiness and operational preparedness, as well as their ability to respond to multiple simultaneous incidents on the home front, including complex emergency scenarios,” the military says.

The IDF warns that as part of the exercise, there will be an increased movement of security forces and vehicles in several areas in the country.

The drill was preplanned, according to the military, meaning it does not stem from a new assessment.

Ultra-Orthodox men protest military draft near IDF’s Tel Hashomer recruitment office; roads blocked

Ultra-Orthodox men are protesting against the military draft outside the IDF’s recruitment office at Tel Hashomer.

Police say that a number of roads in the area are blocked as a result of the illegal protest.

The High Court of Justice has repeatedly pressed the government to enforce Haredi enlistment after its 2024 ruling that there was no legal basis for blanket exemptions from the draft for yeshiva students.

The issue of Haredi draft exemptions has been a major source of political and social tension, as the IDF has repeatedly said it faces an urgent manpower deficit amid the multifront war of recent years, and resentment has grown among Israelis who perform mandatory and reserve service. Many have served hundreds of days in the last three years.

Protesters burned US and Israeli flags during protests in Lyon, video shows

Protesters burn US and Israeli flags in Lyon, France, on October 31, 2026 (Social media/ Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Footage emerges of protesters burning US and Israeli flags during the protests in Lyon, France, yesterday.

In the video, an individual stomps on the Israeli flag after laying it out on the transparent roof of a tram stop.

The crowd cheers as an individual first sets the US flag on fire.

The cheers apparently get louder and are accompanied by booing when the Israeli flag is held up, before it too is set alight.

Some of the crowd chant “Israel the murderer.”

France’s Interior Ministry said over 300,000 joined the protests nationwide, which saw clashes with police in a number of locations.

France: Israeli and American flags were burned on the roof of the Jean-Macé tram shelter in Lyon during the third round of France’s cost-of-living protests.

Some people in the crowd below chanted “Israël assassin.” pic.twitter.com/W95ALEAtYw

— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 31, 2026

Iran has discussed Vance’s letter at senior level, foreign minister says

US Vice President JD Vance speaks during a midterm campaign rally at Hyder Warehouse in Hendersonville, North Carolina, October 19, 2026. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Tehran has discussed US Vice President JD Vance’s letter in high-level meetings, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi tells Al Jazeera, though he adds there are currently no plans for direct talks with the US scheduled.

Earlier this week, Vance, who led the US delegation at past peace talks, sent a letter to a senior Iranian official.

The New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported that Vance had offered to restart peace talks, but Trump denied this and said the proposal was only to discuss allowing in medical supplies.

Binance says resuming withdrawals after hack of billions of dollars

Binance says that it had resumed withdrawals after major hack that affected more than $6.3 billion in funds.

“First batch network now opened in phase one of withdrawals is $BTC bitcoin network,” the company says on X.

The FBI said yesterday that the biggest crypto heist in history was orchestrated by North Korean hackers.

Haredi protesters trying to intimidate Haredi recruits at IDF base, police say

Police say that the ultra-Orthodox protest outside the Tel Hashomer IDF base is ongoing, with demonstrators trying to intimidate the Haredi recruits who have arrived there.

Police say that a number of roads in the area are blocked as a result of the illegal protest, and that they are using crowd control measures.

“Despite attempts to engage in dialogue, the rioters continue to congregate at the site, confronting police officers and shouting terms such as ‘Nazis’ and ‘terrorists’ at them,” police say.

According to Channel 12 news, some 230 Haredi men are expected to draft into the IDF today.

The issue of Haredi draft exemptions has been a major source of political and social tension, as the IDF has repeatedly said it faces an urgent manpower deficit amid the multifront war of recent years, and resentment has grown among Israelis who perform mandatory and reserve service. Many reservists have served hundreds of days in the last three years.

Olympic medal-winning taekwondo athlete Avishag Semberg to retire

Israel's Avishag Semberg walks off the ring after defeating Turkey's Rukiye Yıldırım to win a bronze medal during the women's 49kg taekwondo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, on Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe).

Israeli Olympic medal-winning taekwondo athlete Avishag Semberg is retiring from the sport, reports say.

The announcement comes after Semberg — who won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics — had a disappointing early finish when she was knocked out in her first match at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

The 25-year-old has reportedly not competed internationally since then.

Qatari gas tanker struck in Gulf on Friday evening, state media says

A Qatari tanker was attacked with “unidentified objects” while transiting Gulf waters, the country’s state news agency reports.

The attack on Friday evening struck a liquefied natural gas carrier, Al Mayeda, that belongs to the Qatar Gas Transport Company, Qatar News Agency says.

Since the US-Israeli war on Iran broke out in February, Tehran has been targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and wider Gulf in an effort to assert control over shipping.

It says ships must obtain its permission to transit.

In response, the US has been blockading Iranian ports.

None of the crew members onboard the vessel struck on Friday were injured and there was no environmental impact from the attack, the report says.

The ship was in a “safe condition” and operational, the Qatari company is cited as saying.

Qatar, a mediator in the war, has stepped up diplomatic efforts in recent days in an attempt to revive negotiations between the United States and Iran.

Herzog: Party leaders must ‘face the reality’ of results, find solutions to prevent another election

President Isaac Herzog speaks at the state memorial ceremony for Israel's first president Chaim Weizmann, November 1, 2026 (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)

Israel’s party leaders should “stop climbing up trees and face the reality” of the election results, President Isaac Herzog says, indicating that he will push for compromise when he begins consultations this week.

“This coming Wednesday, I will receive the official election results from the Central Elections Committee chairman… Justice Noam Solberg,” he says at the state memorial ceremony for Israel’s first president, Chaim Weizmann. “Afterward, I will begin consultations at the President’s Residence. The President’s Residence will be wide open to all factions and parties.”

Herzog, who will ask each party leader whom they recommend to be prime minister and form a coalition, says he hopes they are ready to “find creative solutions to prevent another election. As we all know, during an election campaign, naturally and predictably, candidates climb high up into the trees.”

“But the elections are over, the election results are an established fact — they are reality,” he continues. “And this is the time to tell all the leaders: stop climbing the trees and face reality. This week at the President’s Residence, we will try to put up ladders, to enable the leaders to face reality, in a measured and careful manner.”

Three Taibeh residents charged with man’s murder

The Central District Attorney’s Office charges three Taibeh residents with the murder of 50-year-old Raed Haj Yahya in the central Arab city on September 10.

As Haj Yahya began driving away from his home, Ahmed Msarwa and Muhammad Ghabali, both 28, blocked his route with a car that bore a fake license plate, and Msarwa got out and shot him at least 16 times, according to the indictment filed at the Lod District Court.

Adham Ghabali, 30, watched the shooting after pulling up minutes earlier in another car to serve as lookout, the indictment says, adding that he had been barred from driving for 11 months starting in June because of a prior offense.

The suspects had planned at least a day earlier to kill Haj Yahya, the indictment says, without specifying a motive.

After the shooting, the suspects fled the scene in the two vehicles, and the car that bore the fake license plates was set on fire elsewhere in Taibeh, the indictment says, without saying who set the fire.

The three suspects are charged with aggravated murder with intent and illegally carrying and transporting a firearm and ammunition. Adham Ghabali is also charged with driving illegally and without insurance.

Emirati official: UAE hoping for breakthrough in US-Iran talks, but ‘braced for the worst’

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, speaks at the Hili Forum 2026 in Abu Dhabi on September 7, 2026. (FADEL SENNA/AFP)

The UAE is hoping for a breakthrough in negotiations between Iran and the United States while being prepared for the worst, a senior official says, following threats of a resumption of the Middle East war.

“We’re hoping that there is a diplomatic breakthrough,” diplomatic adviser to the Emirati president Anwar Gargash says during a conference in Manama. “It is not the interest of the region to go through another round… But I think we’re also, as we’ve shown before, braced for the worst.”

Hundreds of thousands without power in Ukraine after Russia bombed grid, Zelensky says

A residential building is seen destroyed during a local ceasefire linked to a humanitarian aid mission in Oleshky, in the village of Kozatske, Kherson region, Ukraine, October 31, 2026. (AP/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Hundreds of thousands of households in Ukraine were left without power after Russia hit power infrastructure in four Ukrainian regions overnight, President Volodymyr Zelensky says on Telegram.

“The intensity of the strikes is very high, and the Russians are seeking to maximally exploit the deficit of ballistic missile interceptors,” Zelensky says.

Man arrested, indicted over posts calling for murder of Netanyahu and his supporters

The Cyber Department of the State Attorney’s Office charges a man from Kibbutz Ein HaHoresh with incitement to violence and terrorism for 21 responses he posted on X in September and October calling for the murder of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his supporters.

Raz Weinberger, 49, was arrested on October 23 for the posts, most of which received a few dozen views, with the most-viewed post receiving 283, according to the indictment filed at the Petah Tikva Magistrate’s Court.

He had roughly 40 followers when he posted the comments, the indictment says.

The posts quoted in the indictment accuse Netanyahu and pro-Netanyahu figures of treason and call for their decapitation and other atrocities.

Weiberger, who has no criminal record, faces 10 counts of incitement to terrorism and 18 counts of incitement to violence.

Prosecutors also ask to seize Weinberger’s phone and keep him in custody until the end of the proceedings, citing the “clear and present danger, especially amid the tense public atmosphere in Israel,” of the posts attributed to the suspect.

Reports: 8 killed in strikes in Gaza City, Khan Younis area

Hamas-affiliated media outlets in Gaza report that eight Palestinians were killed in two strikes in the Strip over the past few hours.

According to the reports, one strike targeted Hamas police in the Khan Younis area, while the other targeted a group of civilians in Gaza City.

Among those killed in Gaza City was a child whose age was not specified.

The reports did not specify how many people were killed in each strike.

There is no comment from the IDF.

#عاجل | ارتفاع حصيلة الشهداء إلى 8 جراء غارتين للاحتلال في قطاع غزة، إحداهما جنوب مواصي خان يونس واستهدفت قوة شرطية، والأخرى بمدينة غزة وطالت مجموعة من المواطنين، بينهم طفل. pic.twitter.com/AJ6nX39drf

— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) November 1, 2026

Head of Tel Aviv stock exchange urges creation of ‘broad-based government’

A man walks past the The Tel Aviv stock exchange, May 25, 2026. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

Tel Aviv bourse head Ittai Ben-Zeev urges political leaders from across the spectrum to set aside their differences and form a broad, consensus-based government capable of advancing an ambitious economic agenda and improving Israelis’ standard of living.

In an open letter following last week’s election, Tel Aviv Stock Exchange CEO Ben-Zeev says the results “place before Israel’s leadership a national task that transcends the considerations of any political camp.”

“National responsibility must prevail over short-term political considerations,” he says. “A broad-based government, resting on cross-bloc agreements, does not require eliminating differences or giving up principles.”

“It requires recognizing that some national priorities are greater than the differences between us, and that Israel’s economic future can’t be held hostage to political disputes.”

Ben-Zeev praises the strength of Israel’s economy, crediting entrepreneurship, innovation, skilled human capital and a determined business sector. He says Israeli companies kept growing through the country’s hardest periods, while investors kept their confidence, helping the Tel Aviv bourse post among the best performances in the world.

But he cautions that “technological advantage alone does not guarantee economic prosperity.”

Ben-Zeev says a broad government is needed to tackle the economy’s main challenges: passing a responsible, growth-supporting state budget; increasing infrastructure investment; building an education system suited to the world of tomorrow; expanding workforce participation; and broadening the circle of those who share the national burden.

Israel must also capitalize on regional opportunities, expand the Abraham Accords and open new markets for Israeli companies, he adds.

“Investors are looking for opportunities, but they also demand certainty, consistent policies and a clear economic outlook,” Ben-Zeev says. “Israel can attract substantial investment and become an economic hub with global influence.”

“To achieve this, Israel must signal to the world that it knows not only how to cope with crises, but also how to unite around its long-term goals,” he says.

Iranian negotiators in Doha for third day of talks on war, official says

Iranian negotiators are in Doha for a third consecutive day of talks with Qatari mediators aimed at pushing for a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran, an official briefed on the talks says.

In update, UK police say 325 arrested at London protest in support of banned Palestine Action

Demonstrators hold placards in support of Palestine Action, outside the US embassy, in London, October 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

British police say they arrested 325 people at a London protest in support of Palestine Action yesterday, ahead of a court appeal over the government’s ban of the group.

Demonstrators staged a “mass action” outside the US embassy ahead of the Supreme Court holding a two-day hearing, starting Wednesday, on the UK government’s July 2025 decision to outlaw Palestine Action under anti-terror legislation. The United States also designated Palestine Action as “terrorist” in August.

“In total, 325 people were arrested yesterday,” London’s Metropolitan Police says in an update. “The vast majority of arrests — 320 — were for expressing support for a proscribed organization under the Terrorism Act.”

A smaller number of protesters also rallied outside the US consulate in the Scottish capital Edinburgh, but no arrests were made there at the time.

“Enquiries are ongoing to identify people seen wearing t-shirts and holding banners showing support for a proscribed organization,” Police Scotland say in a statement. “Evidence is being reviewed and further action will be taken as appropriate.”

Palestine Action was outlawed under Britain’s terrorism legislation in 2025 after its activists broke into the Royal Air Force’s Brize Norton base and damaged two military planes. It also carried out a series of actions targeting Israel-linked defense companies in Britain, including one in which a police officer was hit in the spine with a sledgehammer and seriously wounded.

Iran designates UK naval and air forces as terrorist organizations, MI6 as hostile entity

A transport aircraft prepares for landing at UK's RAF Akrotiri air base near Limassol, Cyprus, March, 3, 2026. (AP/Petros Karadjias)

Iran designated Britain’s Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organizations and declared its MI6 foreign intelligence service a hostile entity, state-run news agency IRNA reports.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has accused the United Kingdom of participating in US-Israeli military attacks on Iran by providing military bases and logistical support.

The designation could expose individuals accused of working with MI6 to prosecution under Iranian law and could heighten the risk of military confrontation between the two countries.

US State Dept. official says ‘hand of negotiation extended’ to Iran, but all options on table

US State Department official Donald Blome says that the US has extended a hand in negotiations to Iran, but it’s prepared to also go in the other direction.

Blome, the US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, is speaking at the Manama Dialogue, a security forum held in Bahrain.

“The hand of negotiation has been extended, and those channels have continued to be open and active. At the same time, we’ve been also prepared to go in another direction,” Blome says. “We just can’t allow Iran to take this region and the global economy hostage.”

Over 770 arrested amid France protests, interior ministry says

A car is on fire during protests in Paris, France, October 31, 2026. (Emma Da Silva/AP)

More than 770 people were arrested during weekend protests in France, the interior ministry says, a day after hundreds of thousands demonstrated against soaring prices and inequality.

Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of 2 airstrikes on medical school

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen report two airstrikes on the University of Hodeida today, according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV channel.

The group blames the strikes on Saudi Arabia, which it says hit the university’s medical school. There was no immediate word on casualties.

The strategic port city of Hodeida has repeatedly come under attack since fighting escalated months ago between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces, reigniting Yemen’s devastating civil war.

Saudi-led coalition says it carried out ‘precision’ operation against Houthis

The Saudi-led anti-Houthi coalition says it carried out a “precision military operation” today aimed at the “vital resources” used by the Houthis to attack Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping.

The Joint Forces Command says that the Yemen-based rebel group “continues its deliberate and systematic attacks against civilians and civilian objects in Yemen and Saudi Arabia,” highlighting its ballistic missile and drone program.

The coalition says the Houthi group “will bear the consequences of its hostile behavior” if it doesn’t cease attacks.

In recent weeks, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have ramped up attacks on Saudi Arabia, including by launching deadly strikes on Riyadh airport that forced its closure for two weeks and the cancellation of flagship events — threatening the kingdom’s economic diversification plans.

Somali pirates seize Iranian fishing vessel, raising fears of attacks on cargo ships

Somali pirates have seized an Iranian fishing vessel carrying 23 people, says the Maritime Security Center Indian Ocean, warning that the ship was approaching a commercial shipping lane and could become a floating base for further attacks.

The Azini was hijacked Thursday between the coastal towns of Bandar Bayla and Hafun in northeastern Somalia, says a maritime security officer with the Puntland Maritime Police Force.

The officer tells The Associated Press that 12 pirates seized the vessel, which was carrying 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali security guards. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak with the media.

The crew’s safety was unknown, the center said in an alert dated yesterday. In an updated warning, it says that pirates can use the vessel as a “mother ship” to support attacks on commercial vessels.

The European Union’s naval Operation Atalanta is investigating. The center urges ships in the area to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.

UN says more than 300,000 have fled fighting in western Yemen

Yemeni children are seen at a makeshift classrom made out of wood and straw at a camp for the internally displaced who fled their homes due to renewed clashes between Yemen’s Saudi-backed government forces and the Houthi authorities, in Abs in Hajjah governorate on October 31, 2026. (Essa AHMED/AFP)

More than 300,000 people have fled their homes in western Yemen because of intensifying fighting in the country, pitting the Houthis against Saudi-backed government forces, the UN says.

Almost all were displaced in the last two months, and they “urgently need shelter, food, clean water and health care,” the International Organization for Migration says in a statement.

Court approves 2-day remand for suspect in Ra’am vote-buying case, releases another to house arrest

A bike carrying flags of Ra'am and the Joint List sits next to a van decked out in Ra'am flags, in Qalansawe, October 27, 2026. (Noam Lehmann/Times of Israel)

The Beersheba Magistrate’s Court rejects the police’s request to extend by eight days the remand of two southern Bedouin Ra’am activists accused of plotting to buy votes for the traditionalist Arab party.

The court extends the remand of Hussein Masoudin, 63, by two days, and releases Ibrahim al-Garibi, 42, to house arrest until Sunday.

Police are appealing the court’s decision on Garibi. Judge Eran Tzabari says he approved house arrest for Garibi because of the “serious suspicions” against him even though the case against the suspect “has not intensified,” and in the days since the arrest has “even weakened.”

The judge earlier today ordered the unconditional arrest of a third suspect, Saef Abu Raesh, and criticized police for failing to bring any new evidence to back up the request to extend the suspect’s remand.

13 foreign nationals deported for allegedly violating closed military zone order in West Bank

Illustrative: Palestinian firefighters extinguish a fire at a scrapyard following an alleged attack by extremist Israeli settlers in the Palestinian village of Ein Yabrud, near Ramallah in the West Bank, October 4, 2026. (Flash90)

Thirteen foreign nationals who allegedly violated a closed military zone order in the West Bank have been deported from Israel, while another is awaiting deportation, also following a violation of a closed military zone order imposed by the IDF near the village of Lubban al-Gharbiya in the Ramallah area of the West Bank last week.

According to police, “following a report received over the weekend of a confrontation near a farm in the area, IDF forces were dispatched and arrested 14 foreign nationals suspected of involvement in the incident.”

Police say the suspects were detained and questioned “on suspicion of violating a lawful order and entering a closed military zone. Upon completion of their questioning, the investigation materials were transferred to the Population and Immigration Authority for review, a hearing and a decision regarding their deportation from Israel, as part of cooperation and efforts to prevent provocative activity.”

Their lawyer, Alon Sapir, tells The Times of Israel that the group consisted of 15 foreign nationals who had come to assist Palestinians with the olive harvest in the West Bank. When soldiers arrived at the scene, they presented the group with a closed military zone order that Sapir said had been issued for the area that same day.

One Australian woman who was also part of the group was removed from the area along with the others but was not deported, for reasons that remain unclear. According to the lawyer, one of those deported is a Portuguese journalist.

Footage circulating online shows the group being removed from the area by two settlers in civilian clothing, one of whom was carrying a rifle.

The IDF has yet to comment on the incident.

مستـ ـوطنون يطردون قاطفي الزيتون والمتضامنين الأجانب من أراضي قرية اللبن الغربي، شمال غرب رام الله. pic.twitter.com/pHt9cn4Fpo

— قناة القدس (@livequds) October 29, 2026

Iran’s foreign minister says outcome of talks depends on US’s ‘rationality’

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a press conference after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at Iran’s Foreign Ministry in Tehran, Iran, October 19, 2026. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

Iran’s top diplomat says consultations with mediators are ongoing as diplomatic efforts try to avoid a return to all-out war, and the final outcome depends on answers provided by the United States to the “Iranian questions.”

In an interview shared on his Telegram channel, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran hopes the US will choose “diplomacy over other paths.” He says Iran is ready for both defense and diplomacy, depending on Washington’s “rationality.”

Araghchi yesterday said Iranian negotiators are in Qatar for talks on a proposal that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the US meets several conditions. He said no direct talks are being held with the US.

Bennett announces his party will recommend Eisenkot as next PM

Opposition party leaders Naftali Bennett of B'Yachad (left) and Gadi Eisenkot of Yashar (right) cross paths in the Channel 12 News on October 24, 2026, three days before elections. (Channel 12 Screenshot)

In a largely expected move, former prime minister Naftali Bennett announces that his B’Yachad faction will recommend that Yashar chief Gadi Eisenkot be tasked with forming the next government.

A statement from the party says that Bennett “made it clear throughout the election campaign that he would respect the decision of the voter, and that’s what he is doing.”

Eisenkot’s party received 21 votes compared to just 12 for B’Yachad.

Democrat Haley Stevens endorses Republican Senate opponent of El-Sayed in Michigan in spat over Israel

Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, right, and US Rep. Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat, attend a service at Perfecting Church, November 1, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan. (AP/Jose Juarez)

Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s former opponent in the US Senate primary, Haley Stevens, stuns party officials by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers, after Democratic tensions boiled over days before the election that could determine the balance of power on Capitol Hill.

Stevens endorses Rogers after attending a Detroit church service with him. The remarkable show of support for US President Donald Trump’s backed candidate in the tightly contested race comes after she was uninvited to a joint event the same day with El-Sayed, who defeated the congresswoman by a slim margin in the August primary.

“Our Democratic nominee for Senate said I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away,” Stevens says in a video announcing the endorsement. “And he’s right. And that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today.”

While Stevens has been critical of El-Sayed’s comments surrounding Israel, she had recently reaffirmed she would vote for the former public health official who would be the country’s first Muslim senator if elected Tuesday.

Stevens was initially set to join El-Sayed and US Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina at a Democratic unity church event. Those plans unraveled after a dispute over Israel and an outside group’s campaign advertisement escalated into a public exchange of criticism between the rivals.

At the church north of Detroit, Stevens and fiancé Jason Turkish worship with Rogers and his wife, Kristi. Turkish said last week that he was going to vote for Rogers, arguing that El-Sayed had not done enough to address the Jewish community’s concerns.

Report: Netanyahu pressed Trump to resume Iran war after US midterms; president undecided

US President Donald Trump (R) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak to journalists during a joint press conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 29, 2025. (Jim WATSON / AFP/ File)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged US President Donald Trump over the phone on Saturday to resume the war against Iran immediately after Tuesday’s US midterm elections, but Trump currently wants to give diplomatic negotiations with Tehran more time, Channel 12 reports.

Citing an Israeli source and an American source familiar with the details of the call – which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal – the Hebrew network says the two leaders held a “pointed” conversation over ongoing US-Iran talks mediated by Qatar.

Netanyahu reportedly fears the talks could lead to a dramatic easing of pressure on Iran, while Trump wants Israel to refrain from interfering with the diplomatic effort for now.

Qatari mediators have held talks with Iranian officials in Doha for three consecutive days while maintaining direct contact with US Vice President JD Vance and Trump’s top envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the report adds.

The White House and Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment on the report.

Earlier reports did not indicate any disagreement between the two leaders during the call, which took place as Trump publicly discussed US preparations for possible renewed strikes on Iran.

Eisenkot hails election chief’s approval of vote, says Netanyahu trying to ‘delegitimize’ results

Yashar chair Gadi Eisenkot speaks at the party’s election headquarters in Tel Aviv, following the closing of polling stations, October 28, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/ Flash90)

Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot hails Central Elections Committee chairman Noam Sohlberg’s statement that last week’s national vote was “conducted properly” and that most reported allegations about election interference are false, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of leading a “campaign of delegitimization” against the inconclusive results.

“The despicable and malicious attempt to deny the election results, undermine the will of the public, smear an entire community, and drag Israel into another round of elections has failed,” Eisenkot says in a Hebrew-language post on X, referring to allegations from Netanyahu and his allies of illegal activity to boost Arab turnout.

“Only someone who understands that they have lost would be willing to embark on such a blatant campaign of delegitimization — even at the cost of further damaging public trust in the institutions of the state,” he continues, asserting that the election results “are valid and clear.”

He urges Israelis to “ignore the background noise and the hourly spin,” saying the government “has no majority, and it has lost.”

18-year-old arrested in Eilat for alleged rape and sexual abuse of several minors

An 18-year-old has been arrested in Eilat on suspicion of raping and sexually assaulting several minors.

A statement from police says that the suspect was questioned after a complaint was filed alleging sexual abuse of a minor.

During questioning, the suspect “implicated himself in a series of serious sexual offenses against minors, including rape and indecent acts,” police say.

Hebrew media reports say the case involves at least 13 minors, some of whom are as young as 7 years old.

The suspect is slated to be indicted tomorrow, and police will request for him to be kept in custody until the end of legal proceedings.

“Harm to children and teenagers is among the most serious and difficult offenses, and we are committed to using every means at our disposal to protect them,” says Eilat District Commander Ch. Supt. Alon Kalfon “Israel Police will continue to act resolutely against perpetrators of sexual offenses against minors, with the aim of bringing them to justice and ensuring the safety and security of children and teenagers.”

Netanyahu posts old Ra’am platform, falsely says it is Mansour Abbas’s

A combination image showing then-former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) (Marc Israel Sellem/POOL) and Ra'am party leader Mansour Abbas March 23, 2021. (Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posts a Ra’am party platform from more than two decades ago and falsely attributes it to MK Mansour Abbas, who only took the helm of the traditionalist Arab party in 2018 and backed away from some of its earlier Islamist views.

According to the Israeli Democracy Institute, the document shared by Netanyahu is the Ra’am party platform from Israel’s 1999 elections. The party was established in 1996 as a political arm of the Islamic Movement’s Southern Branch.

Among the positions contained in the old Ra’am platform are “ending the Israeli occupation and establishing a Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem,” “granting a right of return to all Palestinian refugees in accordance with international law,” “releasing all Palestinian prisoners,” “canceling the racist Law of Return” that lets Jews automatically become citizens in Israel, and “legislating a constitution in Israel that recognizes its Arab citizens as a national minority, and changing state symbols accordingly.”

“This is Mansour Abbas’s platform. No government can be formed with him,” writes Netanyahu, who lost his parliamentary majority in Tuesday’s election on the heels of unprecedented Arab turnout that has made Ra’am and the Arab-majority Joint List kingmakers.

In fact, since taking the helm of Ra’am, Abbas has declared that he was severing ties with the Islamic Movement, and that “Israel was born as a Jewish state and so it will remain.”

He also ran in Tuesday’s election with a Zionist former lawmaker and senior police officer, Yoav Segalovitz, at No. 2 on the Ra’am candidate slate.

Under Abbas, Ra’am also conducted negotiations on joining a Netanyahu-led coalition after the 2021 election, but the move was nixed by Religious Zionism chief Bezalel Smotrich and Ra’am ended up joining the so-called “change government” that unseated Netanyahu in 2021-2022.

Abbas responded to Netanyahu’s false post: “Netanyahu is well aware of the Ra’am platform and its demands” since they were enshrined in their 2021 coalition agreements that failed to materialize and in the 2019 memorandum of understanding that Abbas has said Netanyahu tried to woo him with.

Iran’s IRGC Navy says two tankers ‘exploded’ after hitting mines in Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy says two oil tankers “exploded” after striking mines while traveling through an “unauthorized route” in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reports.

Iran has imposed restrictions on vessels seeking to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and has attacked ships it says violate those restrictions, as it seeks to assert control over the strategic waterway and exert pressure on the US.

Nine dead as Learjet slams into Florida roadside, says US official

Law enforcement respond to a plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1, 2026. (AP/Mark Elias)

A small Learjet crashed into a southern Florida neighborhood today killing all nine people aboard, US officials say, noting the aircraft departed from Austin, Texas and was bound for the Bahamas.

“Today’s plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida is a horrific tragedy,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says in a statement, referring to the same county where US President Donald Trump’s resort home of Mar-a-Lago is located.

Ukrainian air force says public air raid alert app has been hacked

A residential building is seen destroyed during a local ceasefire linked to a humanitarian aid mission in Oleshky, in the village of Kozatske, Kherson region, Ukraine, October 31, 2026. (AP/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Ukraine’s Air Force says that the public air raid alert app has been hacked.

The app for a short time showed Kyiv and other areas subject to a nuclear alert. But the abnormality later disappeared.

“The air alert app appears to have been subjected to enemy influence,” the air force says on Telegram. “There is no radiation threat! Stay calm and follow our updates on our channel!”