Oct 20: IDF chief hails first-ever officers from IDF’s Hasmonean Brigade for Haredi troops

‘Close up your borders’: Trump blames French unrest on immigration

US President Donald Trump again blames immigration for protests and violence that have rocked France in recent days, urging Europe and French President Emmanuel Macron to tighten borders.

“What’s happening in France has to do with immigration, not schools, not anything,” Trump tells reporters in Washington, echoing his comments from the day before. “It’s immigration, and I told President Emmanuel Macron, close up your borders.”

Weekend demonstrations over soaring prices were held in Paris and other cities, degenerating into some of the worst street violence France has seen in recent years.

Trump recounted a conversation with Macron, telling him “a long time ago, you’re making a big mistake in France. You’re letting everybody from the world come in. The whole world was coming in.”

“Paris is going to be a Muslim city very soon,” the 80-year-old Republican adds.

“If Europe doesn’t close its borders and bring the criminals out, like the people that are protesting, Europe is finished.”

Trump made combating illegal immigration a central pledge of his 2024 campaign, at times relying on false claims that played on racial fears.

Saudi flagship investment conference delayed to 2027 amid Houthi attacks

Guests attends walk along a carpet embossed with the logo of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), on the first day of the conference in Riyadh on October 28, 2025. (Fayez Nureldine / AFP)

A major Saudi investment conference has been postponed to next year, its chief executive officer says, as the kingdom comes under repeated attacks from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.

The annual Future Investment Initiative (FII), often dubbed “Davos in the Desert,” was scheduled to take place from October 26-29.

For nearly a decade, it has served as a showcase for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to attract global investors, business leaders and heads of state.

The postponement deals a blow to the kingdom’s ambitions to draw foreign capital, diversify its oil-reliant economy and push its reform agenda.

In a statement posted on X, FII Institute CEO Maha Al Saud says the gathering will instead take place in 2027, saying organizers want to ensure the anniversary edition delivered the “full scale” and “extraordinary quality” expected by participants.

She says new dates will be announced soon, while current registrations and partnerships will remain valid.

Man who allegedly drove into Australian lawmaker said to post online about Gaza

This frame grab taken from video footage provided by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on October 19, 2026 via AFPTV shows police officers at the scene after Australian independent lawmaker Helen Haines was struck by a car and suffered critical injuries outside her office in Wangaratta, about 200 kilometers northeast of Melbourne. (AFP/AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

A man accused of deliberately driving into an Australian member of parliament reportedly posted against Israel on social media.

The suspect who drove into Helen Haines is identified in Australian media as 43-year-old Brendan Nugent, a longtime environmental activist.

According to the Australian News.com.au news site, Nugent aired a number of grievances on his X account, including about the war in Gaza.

The most recent post on the account attributed to him concerned news that Italy was probing Defense Minister Israel Katz and other Israeli officials over the treatment of Gaza flotilla activists.

The account attributed to Nugent wrote: “This investigation also involves sexual abuse, including rape, during processing and detention by israeli forces.”

He also posted a video from “Voice of Gaza” about growing food “in a genocide” and repeatedly issued fundraising calls for Gazans.

In May 2024, the account responded to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong writing: “You have not been clear on anything other than giving israel impunity to kill thousands of children.”

Local media reports that Haines lost her leg in the attack. She was hit yesterday by a Toyota Land Cruiser outside her office in the town of Wangaratta, northeast of Melbourne.

The driver was then arrested and police found a knife in his car.

It is not clear if there is any connection between Nugent’s purported views on Gaza and the alleged attack on Haines. In a statement on Haines’s website, she said she is “appalled by the ongoing loss of life in Gaza” and called for an immediate ceasefire while also condemning Hamas.

Trump warns Kansans that US will ‘burn’ like France if Democrats win

US President Donald Trump uses the violent unrest in France as an argument against Democrats in his battle to defend a Kansas Senate seat long held by Republicans but in danger of falling to his political opponents.

Trump’s rally on behalf of Republican incumbent Roger Marshall is his latest foray into conservative states where Republican candidates are on defense due to voter frustrations over the Iran war and rising prices.

“I love you Kansas, but I’m here for a guy named Roger Marshall,” Trump says.

In a new addition to his stump speech, Trump points to widespread protests in France as a scenario that could erupt in the United States unless Republicans win. France in recent days has seen some of the worst unrest in years as huge protests over the cost of living and underfunded public services descended into riots and looting.

Trump himself has struggled to make goods and services more affordable in the United States.

In his speech, Trump turns to rhetoric against immigrants and Muslims, the type that he used to fuel his three presidential campaigns.

“We’re not going to let that happen to this country,” he said. “When you see burning steeples and raging fires in France, just remember that is what the radical Dumocrats want to do to America.” (Trump has been mocking Democrats by calling them Dumocrats.)

Tehran’s foreign minister says Russia, Iran have ‘never’ worked so closely

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, right, shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov before their meeting in Tehran, Iran, October 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that Russia and Iran have “never” worked so closely, as Moscow seeks to play a mediating role in the Middle East war.

Araghchi hosted his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Iran yesterday, in his first visit since the outbreak of the conflict.

“We covered everything from Europe to West Asia, including Lebanon, Palestine, Ukraine and Yemen. Also focused on expansion of economic and nuclear cooperation,” Araghchi writes on X. “Never in our history have Iran and Russia worked as closely as now.”

Lavrov said ahead of the visit that Moscow’s efforts “aimed at preventing the return of a large-scale war,” with talks stalled between the United States and Iran.

His visit came after Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian this month that Moscow was prepared to contribute to mediation efforts.

Russia and Iran, two of the most heavily sanctioned nations in the world, maintain close ties.

The Russian foreign ministry said ahead of Lavrov’s visit to Iran that discussions were expected to focus on “ways to resolve the acute international crisis triggered by the unlawful aggression of the US and Israel” against the Islamic Republic. The ministry said the war had been a blow to stability and security “not only in the near and Middle East, but also on a global scale.”

Two injured, one seriously, in traffic accident involving truck near Beit Guvrin

A woman aged around 60 has been seriously wounded and a 21-year-old man has been moderately wounded in a crash involving a truck and several cars near Beit Guvrin, southwest of Jerusalem.

Medics rushed the two to hospital.

IDF says it struck Hamas weapons depots in Gaza

Three Hamas weapons depots were destroyed in airstrikes in the Gaza Strip last week, the military and Shin Bet announce.

The IDF says the sites struck on Thursday had been used by Hamas to store dozens of weapons, including Kalashnikov rifles, rocket launchers and rockets, RPGs, and other equipment.

Ahead of the strikes, the IDF issued warnings to civilians in their vicinity, according to the IDF.

The military and Shin Bet say they will “continue to act decisively to degrade the capabilities of terror organizations in the Gaza Strip and thwart any attempt to rebuild them or possess weapons intended to harm our forces.”

צה"ל ושב"כ השמידו שלושה מחסני אמצעי לחימה של ארגון הטרור חמאס ברחבי רצועת עזה

צה"ל ושב"כ תקפו ברחבי רצועת עזה בשבוע שעבר והשמידו שלושה מחסני אמצעי לחימה ששימשו את הזרוע הצבאית של ארגון הטרור חמאס.

ארגון הטרור חמאס אחסן בתוך המחסנים עשרות אמצעי לחימה מסוגים שונים ובהם RPG,… pic.twitter.com/ZranbRs2Qd

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) October 20, 2026

France to impose new curfews where necessary, PM says

Policemen patrol during an overnight curfew in Paris, October 20, 2026. (AP/Emma Da Silva)

France will impose new curfews in areas where needed today, the prime minister says, after a first night of partial curfews in major cities including the capital Paris.

“Targeted curfews have contributed to calm overnight,” Sebastien Lecornu writes on X. “Tonight new curfews will be decided where the situation requires it. These decisions will be made on the ground, by the prefects, in coordination with the mayors.”

Police: 21 IDF civilian contractors, career soldiers arrested for alleged fraud tied to Gaza

An Israeli excavator operates in southern Gaza's Rafah, amid IDF operations, June 18, 2024. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)

Police announce the arrest this morning of 21 IDF civilian contractors and career soldiers on suspicion of millions of shekels’ worth of fraud related to the operation of heavy machinery in the Gaza Strip.

The arrests follow a months-long covert investigation by both Israel Police and Military Police into alleged crimes including money laundering, bribery and fraudulent gain, police say in a statement.

The statement does not specify the specific alleged actions that led to the arrests. Ynet reports that the suspects include 16 civilian contractors and five non-commissioned officers who allegedly liaised between the IDF and the contractors. According to the news site, which cites a source involved in the investigation, investigators believe the contractors stole millions of shekels worth of fuel and also invoiced the military for work they left unfinished or never started.

The suspects were taken in for interrogation by police’s Lahav 433 major crimes unit and will be brought before the Beersheba Magistrate’s Court and Beit Lid military court later today for hearings to keep them in custody, police say.

Antisemitic conspiracy theories about French protests spread across social media — report

A collection of social media posts tying the violent protests in France to Jews and Israel (Screenshots)

The nationwide civil unrest that erupted in France over the weekend sparked an online wave of antisemitic narratives blaming the crisis on Jews and Israel, according to a new report by the Combat Antisemitism Movement’s Antisemitism Research Center.

The posts on social media follow similar patterns to those CAM identified after other recent events, including the thwarted attempt to crash an Israel-bound flydubai flight last month, and Spain’s border breach in Ceuta in August.

The new report documents 1,384 posts from 816 unique accounts on X over two days, October 16–18, as anti-government rioters clashed with police and vandalized buildings, including a synagogue. Research was based on 18,381 posts from X using 25 search queries in 7 languages.

The posts promoted narratives alleging that Jewish elites, Israel, Mossad or Zionists had orchestrated the unrest. Other recurring themes invoked the Rothschild family, the Great Replacement conspiracy theory, and claims that Jews were profiting from the crisis.

Seven posts called for violence against, expulsion or extermination of Jews, according to the report.

“Once again, with the unfolding situation in France, we are seeing the rapid and systematic exploitation of a news event by antisemites to spread conspiracy theories against Jews and Israel,” says Barney Breen-Portnoy, CAM’s editor-in-chief.

Alberta rejects a move toward independence from Canada, in victory for Carney

Supporters wait for results at the pro-Canada watch party in Edmonton, Alberta October 19, 2026. (James Maclennan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Voters in Canada’s oil-rich Alberta province overwhelmingly back remaining in Canada, with early referendum results delivering a boost to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s push for national unity amid US President Donald Trump’s trade war and annexation threats.

With more than 1.4 million votes counted, 76% support remaining in Canada, while close to 24% back beginning a process toward separation, according to unofficial results from Elections Alberta.

The referendum wasn’t a direct vote on independence. Approval would have set Alberta on a path toward a future vote on separation from Canada.

“Albertans made a clear choice,” Carney says. “They chose unity, to build together, and to take care of each other. Above all, Albertans chose Canada.”

Carney says that the result will allow Canadians to move forward together and accelerate efforts to diversify trade, develop major infrastructure projects and make Canada a global energy powerhouse, with Alberta at its center.

Alberta’s separatists, however, see a silver lining.

“We don’t have the final results. I think the numbers are going to fluctuate, but it is fair to say that at least a quarter of Albertans feel that Alberta needs to be treated better,” says Keith Wilson, a leader of the separatist movement.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith welcomes the early results, saying they show widespread support for remaining in Canada.

“Albertans have voted for a stronger Alberta in a united Canada,” Smith posts on social media.

US envoys Witkoff, Kushner to take part in Ukraine talks in Oslo

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will take part in talks in Oslo today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of Norway and Finland, Norway’s government says.

“Ukraine has requested that US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner join the meetings. I am pleased that they are able to participate,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store says in a statement.

Witkoff will travel to Oslo and take part in person while Kushner will participate remotely, Norway says.

Store and Finnish President Alexander Stubb will also take part in the talks.

“Diplomatic efforts have previously taken place in several countries, and Norway and Finland are pleased to be able to continue this work. The aim is to put diplomatic efforts on a more constructive path,” Store says.

During his visit in Oslo, Zelensky will also meet with Norway’s king and visit parliament.

News outlet Axios earlier cited an anonymous US official as saying that Witkoff would then travel to Russia, “where he hopes to meet with President Vladimir Putin and present ideas.”

The White House does not immediately respond to an AFP request for confirmation.

Report: Settlers set fire to traffic circle at entrance to Palestinian village

Palestinian media outlets report that settlers set fire to a traffic circle at the entrance to the village of Burqa, near Ramallah, overnight.

No injuries have been reported.

Police say they have launched an investigation, with investigators beginning to collect evidence and witness statements at the scene.

فلسطين المحتله
عصابات المستوطنين الارهابية هاجمت فجر اليوم قرية برقا قضاء نابلس , واشعلت النيران واحرقت ممتلكات المواطنين pic.twitter.com/yGZQctvL7k

— سالم محمد 2 (@L1JmG9xosh7fgo1) October 20, 2026

IDF: 2 struck after crossing Gaza’s Yellow Line, trying to sabotage army infrastructure

Two Palestinian suspects who attempted to “sabotage operational infrastructure” in the Gaza Strip yesterday were targeted in a drone strike, the military says.

The pair had crossed the Yellow Line into Israeli-held territory and tried to steal pipes used by the military as part of its tunnel-detection project.

The IDF says that after the pair were spotted as “posing an immediate threat,” they were struck. The military says “hits were identified,” without confirming whether the two were killed.

UTJ’s Asher accuses authorities of trying to disrupt election with arrests of Haredi draft dodgers

United Torah Judaism party chairman MK Yaakov Asher attends the opening of the party’s election campaign headquarters in Jerusalem, October 11, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

United Torah Judaism leader Yaakov Asher accuses authorities of attempting to interfere in next week’s election by arresting ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers, claiming without evidence that the detentions are part of a politically motivated campaign to intimidate Haredi voters.

His remarks come after Military Police detained more than 40 members of the Chabad-Lubavitch community at Ben Gurion Airport this morning as they returned to Israel from the United States, for evading mandatory military service.

“For some time now, I have been warning about attempts to disrupt the election process” through “unnecessary arrests” intended to “instill fear and terror in the Haredi public and thereby prevent the democratic process of elections,” the leader of the ultra-Orthodox party says.

He alleges the arrests are “part of a planned campaign” intended to provoke demonstrations and public outrage for political gain.

“I call on Justice [Noam] Sohlberg, the chairman of the Central Elections Committee, to intervene in this matter and instruct the police to stop these premeditated arrests at such a sensitive time,” Asher says. “This contributes nothing to the army. It serves political parties in these elections.”

Asher provides no evidence to substantiate his allegations of political interference. The detainees are legally required to enlist and are being held for violating the Defense Service Law, which the IDF says it routinely enforces at border crossings, including Ben Gurion Airport.

Blasts heard in Saudi capital after danger alert

The Saudi capital is shaken by two blasts, according to AFP journalists, after authorities issued an alert warning of potential danger.

“A warning has been issued by the National Early Warning Platform in Riyadh City to alert for a potential danger,” the Saudi civil defense said earlier in a statement on X.

Shas accuses attorney general of election interference over arrests of Haredi draft dodgers

Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri attends a Knesset plenum vote for the next state comptroller, in Jerusalem, June 3, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The ultra-Orthodox Shas party accuses Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of interfering in next week’s election by instructing authorities to arrest Haredi draft dodgers.

In a statement condemning this morning’s arrest of more than 40 Chabad-Lubavitch yeshiva students at Ben Gurion Airport for evading mandatory military service, Shas alleges that the attorney general is engaging in “blatant and unprecedented political interference in the election campaign” by ordering “violent arrests of yeshiva students.”

The party also claims that the arrests violate temporary legislation intended to prevent political interference during the election period.

Earlier this month, Baharav-Miara instructed the IDF to resume arresting draft evaders who have failed to comply with enlistment orders, after the military acknowledged that it had not been actively enforcing those orders against Haredi draft dodgers.

Shas says its faction chairman, MK Yinon Azoulay, is working under the instructions of party leader Aryeh Deri with senior IDF officials to secure the detainees’ immediate release.

The accusations echo those made earlier today by United Torah Judaism leader Yaakov Asher, who similarly alleged without evidence that the arrests were part of a politically motivated campaign to intimidate Haredi voters.

The detainees are legally required to enlist, and the IDF says it routinely enforces the Defense Service Law at border crossings, including Ben Gurion Airport.

Australia stopped 4 ‘major’ terror plots since Bondi, didn’t inform public — report

Australian authorities have thwarted four “major” terror plots that were either imminent or in advanced planning stages since last December’s Bondi Beach massacre, but did not inform the public, The Australian reports.

In total, 16 schemes at various threat levels were stopped since the Bondi attack, in which Islamist terrorists opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration, killing 15 people.

The newspaper says authorities confirmed the matter only after being directly queried, raising questions about the lack of transparency.

The report says the first time the matter came up was when Mike Burgess, head of Australia’s domestic security body ASIO, noted in a statement commemorating the 9/11 attacks in America that 16 plots had been thwarted since Bondi.

Police eventually confirmed the four “major” plots to The Australian. Details on them and their targets were very limited. In one case, a 20-year-old man from West Australia was accused of planning to attack mosques, police and the state’s parliament. In a second, a 13-year-old from New South Wales was charged with creating a document “connected with terrorism” and possessing extremist materials. In the third, a 24-year-old from Queensland was accused of planning terror attacks. In the fourth, two teens aged 15 and 16 “allegedly accessed extremist material online.”

As to why authorities had not been more forthcoming with the information, a police spokeswoman explained that it often takes time to establish whether a threat was “major.”

Former Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo says: “It’s really a matter for the prime minister and the [current home affairs] minister to make a statement, preferably to the parliament, laying out in very sombre, clinical terms how many serious, imminent attacks were foiled at the last moment, and their ­locations and intended targets.”

Church leaders condemn Taybeh attack, ‘wide-scale terror’ by settlers

The heads of the historic churches in the Holy Land issue a joint condemnation of Saturday’s “heinous attack” by Jewish extremists in Taybeh in the West Bank, in which farmers and diplomatic officials were assaulted.

“This wild attack on the Christian village of Taybeh and against its peaceful population is not an isolated incident,” say the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem. “In the past weeks the Palestinian villages of the West Bank have been exposed to a wide-scale terror by settlers, which is reaching a peak during this time of the olive harvest.”

The church leaders note President Isaac Herzog’s condemnation of the attacks, the rejection by mainstream rabbis of Rabbi Dov Lior’s ruling that Jews can steal olives from Palestinian farmers, and some arrests made by police.

“Unfortunately, the facts on the ground show that these attacks continue because of the impunity enjoyed by those who commit them,” say the Christian leaders.

“We call upon the competent authorities to bring those responsible to justice, and we urge the international community to intensify its efforts to ensure the protection of the people of Taybeh and the West Bank, as well as all those who visit these areas to express their solidarity,” they say.

Police say Palestinian terror suspect caught by commandos near Jenin

A Palestinian terror suspect was apprehended by Israeli commandos near Jenin in the northern West Bank overnight, police say.

Undercover Border Police officers raided the village of Kafr Dan and surrounded a building where the wanted man was residing, following intelligence provided by the Shin Bet on his whereabouts.

The commandos raided the building and captured the man, who was handed over to the Shin Bet for questioning, police say.

No Israeli security officers were injured in the operation.

Zim employees protest proposed sale to Hapag-Lloyd, noting ties to Qataris and Saudis

Employees of Zim Integrated Shipping Services demonstrate in Tel Aviv against the planned sale of the Israeli container carrier to Germany's Hapag-Lloyd, October 20, 2026 (Courtesy)

Employees of Zim Integrated Shipping Services hold a demonstration against the proposed sale of the Israeli container shipping company to Hapag-Lloyd, due to the German shipping firm’s Gulf backers.

An estimated 400 employees demonstrate in Tel Aviv, warning about the risks of Hapag-Lloyd’s ties to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Demonstrators hold up banners cautioning about the danger of dependence on entities hostile to Israel and risks to national security and maritime independence, calling for Zim to remain Israeli.

Among Hapag-Lloyd’s shareholders are Qatar Holding, a subsidiary of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, which owns a 12.3% stake, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which has a 10.2% stake.

The demonstration is being held in cooperation with the Zim workers’ union and the Histadrut Labor Federation.

The protest is taking place after months of uncertainty over the proposed deal announced in February, including concerns about the potential impact on employees and their job security. The Zim workers’ union demands employee representation in the deal framework and protection of workers’ rights, and has warned that decisions made over employees’ heads will not be accepted.

Hendel makes universal draft a condition for joining government, slams PM as well as rivals

Reservists-Economic Party chairman Yoaz Hendel and his co-chairman Yaron Zelikha speak in Modi'in, October 20, 2026 (Reservists-Economic Party)

Reservists-Economic Party chairman Yoaz Hendel says that his party will only join a government committed to universal military or national service, unveiling a plan to increase soldiers’ salaries, expand benefits for reservists and sanction draft evaders.

“Netanyahu called today for the passage of a draft-evasion law as a condition for forming a government,” Hendel says. The prime minister said earlier he hoped to be able to fulfill the Haredi demand to pass a law before a government is formed.

“We are calling for universal conscription as a condition for forming a government,” Hendel says.

The party’s proposal includes NIS 6 billion ($1.9 billion) to raise soldiers’ salaries by at least NIS 2,000 ($644) monthly. It ties housing, mortgage, daycare and tax benefits to service, and prioritizes reservists for land, civil service jobs and public tenders. It also provides financial assistance to employers and the self-employed, establishes centralized IDF screening, and expands tailored military service for Haredim and national service for Arab citizens.

Hendel and party co-chairman Yaron Zelekha criticize other party leaders for prioritizing replacing Netanyahu over universal conscription, singling out Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot, People of Israel chairman Ofer Winter and B’Yachad leader Naftali Bennett over their respective policies.

“If you start handing out exemptions, nobody will be drafted. Are religious Zionist Torah students somehow inferior students [to Haredi ones] in your eyes?” Hendel asks. “Why should one group receive an exemption for a third of the population while the other does not?”

While both Winter and Eisenkot advocate drafting Haredim, Winter has pledged to back only Netanyahu, who depends on Haredi parties opposed to compulsory enlistment, while Yashar proposes one-year military deferments for Torah study for up to 3% of each conscription cohort, potentially amounting to 30% of eligible Haredim.

“Anyone promising NIS 1 million toward an apartment for every reservist is lying to you,” says Zelekha, taking aim at Bennett’s proposed housing benefits for reservists. He argues that such benefits cannot be funded solely by cutting subsidies to draft evaders and require broader economic reforms.

Mandelblit says he doesn’t remember if Netanyahu was cautioned on bribery charge, wording was ‘ambiguous’

Former attorney general Avichai Mandelblit testifies in the corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Jerusalem District Court, October 20, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Former attorney general Avichai Mandelblit says he does not remember whether the caution he issued to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before questioning in the criminal investigations against him included a suspicion of bribery, and acknowledges that the wording of the caution was “ambiguous.”

Mandelblit, who indicted Netanyahu in 2020, is testifying today in the Jerusalem District Court for the third time.

Asked by Netanyahu’s defense attorney Amit Hadad what crime specifically he authorized the prosecution to investigate as reflected in the wording of the caution to Netanyahu, Mandelblit says, “I don’t remember if the caution was for bribery.”

Judge Moshe Bar Am challenges Mandelblit, asking him, “What did you think the prosecution was investigating?” Mandelblit responds, “I think that it could be that I said to investigate him for ethical misconduct offenses.”

Hadad asserts this claim is not true, saying that the phrase “ethical misconduct offenses” never appeared in minutes of meetings between Mandelblit and the prosecution.

Questioned further on the issue, Mandelblit says that the text of the caution to Netanyahu was “ambiguously worded,” leading Bar Am to ask “Do you think it is appropriate to have ‘ambiguous wording’ for matters concerning the prime minister?”

Mandelblit says in response that he wanted to have wording in the caution that was “something between bribery and breach of trust,” adding that the wording of the caution was more suited to breach of trust, but was ambiguous enough to enable an investigation into other crimes.

Mandelblit indicted Netanyahu for fraud and breach of trust in Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000, and for taking a bribe in the form of positive media coverage in Case 4000.

The wording of the caution to Netanyahu is important, because if he was never told he was suspected of bribery before being charged with the offense, he would not have been given a fair chance to defend himself from that allegation before being indicted for it.

US oil price soars over 5% on Mideast conflict

Tankers and cargo vessels are seen in the Gulf of Oman, along shipping routes linking the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea, June 16, 2026. (AP)

The main US oil contract soars more than five percent in trading on increased concerns over tight supplies as a result of the Middle East conflict.

West Texas Intermediate surges 5.7 percent to $109.60 per barrel.

The main international benchmark, Brent North Sea crude, jumps 2.0 percent to $111.69 per barrel.

Education minister suspends national standardized test, bars assessment officials from ministry

Education Minister Yoav Kisch at the Ministry of Education in Jerusalem, in preparation for the opening of schools the following day, August 31, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Education Minister Yoav Kisch has ordered the temporary cancellation of Israel’s Meitzav exam, which tests language, math and science skills among fifth- and eighth-graders, and has barred officials from the body that manages the assessment, the National Authority for Educational Measurement and Evaluation (RAMA), from entering the Education Ministry, Hebrew media reports.

The exam normally takes place toward the end of the school year.

The move comes amid a bitter dispute between Kisch and the authority, following the publication of poor student performance results, and despite the findings of an independent review that praised RAMA’s professionalism and recommended closer cooperation with the ministry.

Kisch has called into question the reliability of the test results.

According to reports, the Education Ministry’s legal adviser challenged Kisch’s new decision during a meeting, telling him, “You cannot paralyze RAMA.” The ministry’s Director General Meir Shimoni insisted, however, that the minister’s directive would stand.

Kisch confirms the suspension of RAMA’s activities at the ministry, telling several outlets, “We cannot continue working in such a dysfunctional manner.”

Last month, the Education Ministry published the results of RAMA assessments showing that only 3% of ninth-grade students met the requirements of the national science curriculum, with another 16% coming close but falling short. The findings came alongside the release of Israel’s worst-ever scores on the global Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests, with students performing below average in reading, mathematics and science.

Kisch blamed the results on the wars that were raging on multiple fronts when Israeli students took the PISA tests in mid-2025. At the time, Israel was fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Kisch says the suspension is temporary and intended to allow reforms recommended by the independent review to be implemented.

Smotrich predicts high turnout among anti-Netanyahu voters, warns of ‘extreme’ left

An election campaign billboard featuring Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the Religious Zionism party chairman, is displayed on a hotel building in Jerusalem, ahead of the upcoming election, October 14, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says he fears high voter turnout among supporters of the anti-Netanyahu bloc in next week’s election, warning that the opposition is driven by anger and will seek to dismantle everything the coalition has built if it comes to power.

Speaking on Israel Hayom’s “Game of Thrones” podcast, Smotrich says he believes the election will be decided by voter turnout, predicting particularly high participation in what he calls “left-wing strongholds.”

“Right now, the left is very angry, very furious,” he says, referring to the anti-Netanyahu bloc, most of whose parties are not actually left wing. “The leadership of the left has become much more extreme in recent years.”

“The left is coming with negative energy. It will trample everything here without blinking if, God forbid, it manages to form a government,” he warns.

Smotrich predicts that opposition supporters will “rush to the polls in droves,” comparing their motivation to that of right-wing voters following the Oslo Accords.

“They’re coming with a sense of urgency, as though they’re fighting for their lives,” he says, claiming that anti-Netanyahu voters are influenced by opposition leaders, who are “messing with their heads” by telling them that the political right is dangerous.

Britain says it will carry out defensive air missions over Saudi Arabia

Britain will fly Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets on defensive missions to help protect Saudi cities and critical national infrastructure from Houthi aerial attacks, the Ministry of Defence says.

The ministry says the aircraft would operate only in a defensive role and will not conduct offensive strikes against the Iran-aligned Houthis, whose attacks Britain says threaten regional stability and risk disrupting energy supplies and trade routes.

“The continuing attacks from the Houthis on our ally Saudi Arabia are absolutely despicable. The targeting of the airport in Riyadh in particular shows the lengths the Houthis are going to escalate the situation in the region,” defense minister Wes Streeting says in a statement.

“That’s why today I have approved further UK military support. RAF Typhoons will fly defensive air missions to help protect Saudi airspace from drones and missiles.”

The additional support follows a request from Saudi Arabia’s government, which Prime Minister Andy Burnham said earlier this month Britain was prepared to consider.

Britain will also deploy an Atlas A400M transport aircraft and military advisers, expanding assistance announced in September which included an RAF Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft but not fighter jets.

Houthi attacks against Saudi oil facilities and other infrastructure have intensified in recent weeks as the conflict in Yemen has escalated.

France arrests man, calls in counterterror police over burning of town hall

Fire burns and destroys the city hall after a group of individuals forced entry into the building during ongoing protest action against cost of living, in Limoges, central France, on October 17, 2026. (Melaine PAYZAL/AFP)

French security forces arrest a man believed to be connected to the ultra-left over the burning down of a historic town hall in central France during rioting at the weekend as part of nationwide protests.

Anti-terror police have also been called in to investigate the suspected arson on the town hall in the central city of Limoges, a building dating back to 1883 whose roof and belfry collapsed when it was engulfed by fire on Saturday.

The destruction of the building has become a symbol of the violent rioting that erupted on the margins of a day of protests Saturday that were called in a show of anger against grievances including the rising cost of living and conditions in schools.

The scenes of the building collapsing as it was hit by fire also brought back memories in France of the April 2019 fire that ravaged Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris which investigators believe started by accident but horrified the country.

The man, believed to be aged 40, was arrested by officers from the specialized RAID police unit in the nearby town of Val d’Issoire, the office of the Limoges prosecutor says.

He had previously been flagged as someone requiring surveillance as a potential threat and is linked to ultra-left movements, a source close to the case says.

Meanwhile, France’s Counter-Terrorism Sub-Directorate (SDAT), a branch of the judicial police, has been called in to investigate the case further, another source close to the case adds, asking not to be named.

New election poll has pro-Netanyahu camp at 48 seats

A new poll published by the Walla news site has opposition parties in the lead a week before the country goes to the polls, but still short of a 61-seat majority.

Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar wins 23 in the survey, while Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud is at 19. Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid’s B’Yachad snags 14, with The Democrats at 9. Next up are Yisrael Beytenu, Shas, Otzma Yehudit and the Joint List with 8 each, followed by United Torah Judaism with 7. Bringing up the rear are Religious Zionism and Ra’am at 6 each and the Reservists party with 4.

The People of Israel party led by Ofer Winter does not pass the electoral threshold.

The Zionist anti-Netanyahu camp thus has 54 seats, with another potential 4 from the Reservists, for a total of 58. The pro-Netanyahu camp stands at 48. Arab parties Joint List and Ra’am have a total of 14.

US-Israel fund to invest $7.4 million in seven new joint R&D tech projects

A 3D-printing system for orthopedic tools, an early cancer detection platform, and an AI-based seed sorting technology are among the seven new joint research and development projects between the United States and Israel that will get $7.4 million in funding from the Israel-US Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation.

In addition to the grants from BIRD, the seven R&D projects will gain access to private-sector funding, bringing the total value of all projects to up to $20 million, BIRD says in a statement.

Apart from allocating up to $1.5 million in funding for each approved project, the foundation works with the selected companies to identify potential strategic partners.

The BIRD Foundation promotes joint ventures between US and Israeli companies in various technological fields such as digital health, quantum computing, and semiconductors, to create new products in tandem. To date, BIRD has backed over 1,200 joint projects for a total investment of over $470 million, and helped generate direct and indirect sales of more than $10 billion.

Israel and Lebanon to hold ‘working level’ talks in Florida today, US official says

IDF troops of the 91st Division operate in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo published October 20, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

Israel and Lebanon will hold US-mediated discussions at the “working level” in Tampa, Florida, today, without the participation of Jerusalem’s or Beirut’s ambassador to Washington, a US official tells The Times of Israel.

The talks set for October 20-21 are expected to focus on advancing the Trilateral Framework Agreement aimed at disarming Hezbollah and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s presidency said last week that its military delegation will demand an end to Israeli attacks in Lebanon at the trilateral meeting.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told The Times of Israel during a briefing on Sunday that Israel would demand that the Lebanese Armed Forces demonstrate its ability to clear Hezbollah threats from two designated pilot areas under the framework, warning that Israel would take action itself if the Lebanese military failed to do so.

“We gave you two ‘pilot zones’ – go in, clear them out. Can you do it? Good. You can’t do it? We’ll take care of it,” he said.

He also suggested that Hezbollah’s elimination could pave the way for peace between Israel and Lebanon, but did not specify a deadline for the Lebanese military to disarm the terror group.

The talks come amid heightened tensions within Lebanon over communications between the two countries, including a legal complaint filed against Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad after she allegedly contacted Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter to condemn the West Bank car ramming attack that left his son in critical condition — in apparent violation of Lebanon’s laws forbidding direct contact with Israel. The US State Department publicly condemned the complaint against Moawad and was weighing sanctions against Lebanese judges involved in handling it, a US official familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel last week.

Turkish troops to stay in Syria, Iraq ‘until border security ensured,’ says defense minister

Turkey’s Defense Minister Yasar Guler poses as he arrives for a NATO Defense Ministers meeting at the NATO headquarters, in Brussels, on June 5, 2025. (NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP)

Turkey will keep its own troops in Syria and Iraq until border security with its two neighbors has been fully ensured, Defense Minister Yasar Guler tells AFP in an interview.

“We are maintaining our military presence in Iraq and Syria. When we assess that the necessary conditions have been met in terms of regional and border security, the status of our base areas and our presence in the region will be reconsidered,” he says in a written answer to AFP questions.

Lebanon judge summons 2 Hezbollah officials over seized explosives shipment

A Lebanese judge orders two Hezbollah officials to appear for questioning over their alleged involvement in a delivery of explosives seized by authorities this month, a judicial official tells AFP.

Lebanese authorities had been carrying out investigations after arresting two suspected Hezbollah members accused of transporting half a ton of explosives, which the Iran-backed group subsequently said were part of its “capabilities” to be used against Israel.

They were caught on October 8 at a security checkpoint in Dahr al-Baidar in Lebanon’s east in a vehicle headed toward Beirut, with a source telling AFP that one was the son of a Hezbollah official and the other was also a group member.

The judicial official, requesting anonymity, tells AFP that the judge today ordered two Hezbollah officials to appear for questioning “after initial investigations… established their identities.”

Security agencies are working to locate them and take them into custody, the official adds.

French PM vows ‘massive’ police deployment during Saturday’s demonstrations

Policemen patrol during an overnight curfew in Paris, October 20, 2026. (AP/Emma Da Silva)

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu says authorities will mobilize a “massive” security presence next weekend, in response to organizers announcing plans for new protests after riots erupted on the sidelines of nationwide demonstrations.

“The deployment for next Saturday will be massive,” Lecornu says in parliament, acknowledging that the security operation for the protests last weekend had been “too static and not mobile enough.”

Netanyahu’s attorney asks Mandelblit if he sought to save democracy by indicting PM; court to decide whether he must answer

Former attorney general Avichai Mandelblit arrives to testify in the corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Jerusalem District Court, October 20, 2026, as Netanyahu's attorney Amit Hadad stands in the background. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s defense attorney Amit Hadad asks former attorney general Avichai Mandelblit about a comment he reportedly made to prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh implying that there was political importance to indicting the prime minister.

Hadad is questioning Mandelblit in the Jerusalem District Court over his decision-making process in indicting Netanyahu in three cases on corruption charges.

“Did you say to prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh ‘Netanyahu will lead to a regime change like in Hungary and Poland? Do you prefer to be in a case that will save democracy or a prosecutor in a dictatorship?'” Hadad asks Mandelblit.

Tirosh, one of the prosecutors present in court, strongly objects to the question insisting that there is no scope for questioning the motivations of the attorney general within the scope of Netanyahu’s trial, and saying that the trial is not “an administrative process” or a “commission of inquiry into the prosecution.”

After lengthy deliberation in chambers, the judges question Hadad on the source of the quote and eventually decide that Mandelblit is not immediately required to answer the question and that they will rule on the matter.

Netanyahu spokesman confirms Hegseth meeting, says pair discussed ‘threats in region’

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (R) places his hand on his heart as he welcomes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, on February 5, 2025. (Jim WATSON / AFP)

A spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirms to Reuters that the premier met yesterday with visiting US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the prime minister, confirms Netanyahu met with Hegseth at the Ovda Air Force base in southern Israel.

Netanyahu and Hegseth discussed “the threats in the region” and the US-Israel partnership in dealing both offensively and defensively with those threats, Spielman says.

Hegseth also thanked Israel for hosting US forces, who Spielman says number in the thousands, and discussed US President Donald Trump’s support for the prime minister.

“There’s a deep personal relationship here that was at the core of this discussion,” Spielman adds.

The meeting was kept secret at the time and not revealed until it was reported overnight in Axios that the pair met in private, a week ahead of Israel’s national election.

IDF: 27 of 42 Haredi draft evaders arrested at airport released after promising to enlist

Illustrative: The arrivals hall at Ben Gurion International Airport, March 26, 2025 (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

Among the 42 ultra-Orthodox male draft evaders who were apprehended at Ben Gurion Airport this morning as they landed in Israel, 27 have been released home after expressing willingness to enlist, the IDF says.

The 27 signed an agreement before a judge committing to enlist “and were found fit for military service,” the IDF says. They received suspended jail sentences and will soon begin enlistment procedures and start their service.

Another 13 draft dodgers refused to enlist and were “consequently tried and sent to military prison,” the IDF says.

The IDF says two others, “who had been evading military service for an extended period of more than 540 days,” were immediately sent to a military prison upon being detained at the airport.

The men are members of the Chabad-Lubavitch community who were returning to Israel following a year studying abroad in New York.

The Military Police had received advance information about their arrival and dispatched additional officers to the airport.

The IDF says it “will continue to enforce the Defense Service Law equally and uphold the obligation to serve.”

Netanyahu says Israel is ‘committed’ to eliminating the ‘terrorist regime in Iran’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits supporters in Haifa, ahead of Israel’s upcoming general election, October 14, 2026. (Sharon Leibel/Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is “committed” to bringing down the Iranian regime, which will in turn topple Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Speaking at the opening of the academic year at the new Tel Hai University in Kiryat Shmona, next to the Lebanon border, Netanyahu says while the IDF has made major progress in pushing back Hezbollah, “I am committed to finishing the job.”

“Finishing the job means bringing down the terrorist regime in Iran. It is the head of this poisonous octopus. You cut it off, and it will fall. We will also have peace with Lebanon,” Netanyahu says.

“We must complete the elimination of the Iranian regime — that is the primary objective,” the prime minister adds. “I have spoken about this with President Trump more than once, including the day before yesterday.”

Netanyahu says that as long as the Iranian regime remains in power, “even if it is battered, wounded and beaten, it is so fanatical that it will try again to do what it did a year ago, and which we stopped them from doing: producing nuclear bombs and rebuilding the ‘axis.’ Therefore, the only way to prevent this is to bring down this regime, and then the elimination of Hezbollah will follow.”

Herzog meets Hungary’s new PM Magyar in Budapest, invites him to Israel

President Isaac Herzog (left) meets Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar in Budapest on October 20, 2026. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)

President Isaac Herzog meets Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar in Budapest, in the first meeting between an Israeli leader and Hungary’s new premier since he ousted longtime pro-Israel leader Viktor Orban earlier this year.

According to Herzog’s office, the two discussed “advancing bilateral cooperation and Israel’s relations with the European Union,” as well as regional “challenges” during a private meeting and working lunch with senior Hungarian ministers.

Herzog thanks Magyar’s government for its stance against antisemitism and invites him to visit Israel, an invitation the Hungarian leader appears to accept, telling Herzog: “Thank you for visiting us, and see you in Israel.”

The meeting comes six months after Magyar unseated Orban, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu whose 16-year government was among Israel’s staunchest defenders in the EU amid mounting tensions between Brussels and Jerusalem over policies in Gaza and the West Bank.

While Magyar has pledged to maintain strong ties with Israel, his government reversed Orban’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

At least three Jewish women attacked in north London in alleged hate crime

Several Jewish women were allegedly assaulted yesterday in Stamford Hill, north London, in suspected antisemitic hate crimes, according to Jewish volunteer security organization Shomrim.

A 33-year-old male suspect has been arrested on suspicion of racially and religiously aggravated grievous bodily harm, say Metropolitan Police.

Shomrim said it received a call from a visibly Jewish woman who said she had been punched in the face by a middle-aged male on Clapton Common, a neighborhood park area. Volunteers arrived on the scene within 30 seconds and witnessed a second assault on another Jewish woman: she was punched twice in the face, leaving significant bruising, the organization says.

At least one more woman was assaulted as she was pushing her young baby in a stroller, say Metropolitan Police. Further assaults have been reported, but the victims have yet to come forward, Shomrim says.

???? Hate Crime;
Jewish ladies viciously assaulted

???? CCTV shows 2nd attack

???? Shomrim received a call from a visibly Jewish lady, reported being punched in the face by a middle-aged male on Clapton Common, E5.

???? Shomrim volunteers arrived on scene 30 seconds later to witness a… pic.twitter.com/RHjZW0rvgd

— Shomrim (London North & East) (@Shomrim) October 19, 2026

Victims told Shomrim they believe they were assaulted because they were Jewish, as the offender only targeted Jewish women.

The suspect is also suspected of assaulting a woman he knew in a separate incident last Friday, police say.

“These shocking attacks are utterly unacceptable,” the European Jewish Congress posts on X following the attack. “Jewish women should not have to fear violence simply for being visibly Jewish.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan writes on X that “no one should face abuse or violence because of their faith,” adding that he wants “to reassure our Jewish communities that police have made an arrest, are investigating and have increased patrols.”

No one should face abuse or violence because of their faith.

Following these despicable assaults in Stamford Hill, I want to reassure our Jewish communities that police have made an arrest, are investigating and have increased patrols.

Anyone with information should contact the…

— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) October 20, 2026

Netanyahu, Smotrich meet with Winter’s rabbi in bid to pressure him to quit race

Rabbi Eli Sadan leads a Torah lesson at the Bnei David pre-army academy in the Eli settlement on February 28, 2018. (Screen capture/YouTube)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Religious Zionism chairman and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich meet with Rabbi Eli Sadan, the spiritual mentor of People of Israel chairman Ofer Winter, in an effort to pressure the former IDF general to withdraw from next week’s election, according to a statement from the party.

In response, Winter says, “Guys, get it through your heads. The people of Israel want a different kind of politics. The people of Israel are fed up with the ugly, unprincipled campaign you have led and the dishonest methods you employ.”

“We came to offer an alternative, a different kind of leadership for the right,” he declares, calling for leaders who take responsibility and work to unite Israelis.

“Smotrich, this is the way of the Torah of Israel,” he adds. “You may have plenty of resources, but we have our inner conviction. We are here solely for the people of Israel, and we are going all the way, with all our strength.”

The meeting comes amid an aggressive campaign by Likud and its allies to pressure Winter’s party to withdraw, despite his pledge to join only a Netanyahu-led government. With the party hovering around the 3.25% electoral threshold in recent polls, they fear it could waste critical votes if it fails to enter the Knesset.

IDF chief hails first-ever officers from IDF’s Hasmonean Brigade for Haredi troops

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir meets with a cadet of the Hasmonean Brigade for ultra-Orthodox troops near the Western Wall in Jerusalem, October 20, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

The first-ever cadets in the IDF’s Hasmonean Brigade for ultra-Orthodox soldiers complete their officers’ course today.

In total, 15 cadets complete the eight-month training course, and at a ceremony this evening near the Western Wall in Jerusalem, they will be qualified as officers and receive their ranks.

The cadets include soldiers who began their service in the Hasmonean Brigade and rose through the ranks, as well as Haredi troops from other units who joined the brigade to serve as squad commanders.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir meets with the cadets today, telling them they are “making history and breaking new ground.”

“You are leaders fulfilling a great vision of the entire Jewish people. I see the Haredi community as an inseparable part of Israeli society,” Zamir says, according to remarks provided by the military.

“You are already integrated into operational activities, and you will be able to be deployed for any mission, on defense and offense,” the IDF chief tells the cadets. “Your success is important to the IDF and the entire people of Israel.”

The military says the officers’ course took place in accordance with the IDF’s protocols on integrating members of the Haredi community into the army, “while accommodating their lifestyle.” This included strict kosher food standards, designated study and prayer times, and a gender-segregated environment.

The course still included all the content normally delivered at the Bahad 1 officers’ school.

The next officers’ course for soldiers in the Hasmonean Brigade is set to begin in November.

The establishment of the brigade is part of the military’s efforts to expand the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men, as it faces personnel shortages caused by the war. It also aims to demonstrate, despite opposition to enlistment from leading Haredi rabbis, that military service can go hand in hand with ultra-Orthodox observance.

IDF says airstrike kills final Hamas member who took part in kidnapping Shani Louk

This IDF infographic published on October 20, 2026, shows Hamas terrorists driving to the Gaza Strip with the body of Shani Louk on October 7, 2023. (AP/Ali Mahmud; Israel Defense Forces)

A Hamas terrorist who took part in abducting the body of Israeli hostage Shani Louk during the October 7 onslaught was killed in an airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip yesterday, the military and Shin Bet announce.

The killing of Tamer Muhammad Ibrahim al-Sabbagh in northern Gaza’s Jabalia on Monday marks the final member of the Hamas cell that was seen abducting Louk on October 7, 2023, with three others killed earlier in the war and one captured by Israeli forces.

Infamous photos taken by AP freelance photographer Ali Mahmud showed a half-naked woman, later identified as Louk, lying unconscious face-down in the back of a pickup truck in Gaza filled with armed men.

The army says al-Sabbagh, seen in the photo, invaded Israeli territory on October 7 and took part in the abduction of Louk, 22, who was attending the Supernova music festival.

During the war and recently, al-Sabbagh had carried out advanced attacks on Israeli troops and civilians and acted to restore Hamas’s capabilities, “in systematic violation of the ceasefire,” the joint statement says, adding that he was killed to “remove the threat he posed.”

Louk’s body was recovered by IDF troops and returned to Israel in May 2024.

Iran’s president discusses mediation efforts in meeting with Pakistan’s army chief

In this photo released by the Iranian Presidency Office, President Masoud Pezeshkian, right, meets Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir in Tehran, Iran, August 24, 2026. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian discusses mediation efforts and regional developments during a meeting with Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in Tehran, Iran’s Nournews reports.

Pakistan is a key mediator between the US and Iran. Its earlier mediation efforts with both parties resulted in an interim peace agreement ​signed in ⁠June. But the Islamabad Memorandum quickly faltered, amid new fighting between Iran and the US weeks after.

Israel granted request to become partner in Pacific Islands Forum

From left: Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the opening of the Fijian embassy in Jerusalem on September 17, 2025. (Rafi Ben Hakoon/GPO)

Israel has joined the Pacific Islands Forum as a partner, the Foreign Ministry announces.

The ministry says that Nauru’s Baron Divavesi Waqa informed Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar of the decision following a meeting of the forum in Palau.

Sa’ar submitted a request to join during a trip to Fiji in June.

The ministry points out that three PIF members — Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Nauru — have opened embassies in Jerusalem in recent years.

Israel will now be able to participate in the Forum’s Sectoral Partnership Stream, the ministry adds, noting Israel’s ability to contribute in the areas of “water management, desalination, agriculture, climate change adaptation, innovation and sustainable development.”

UK Police: 2 men rearrested on suspicion of helping Iranian intel over RAF Fairford incident

Police guard a road leading to RAF Fairford, in Fairford, England, September 28, 2026. (Alastair Grant/AP)

British police say they have rearrested two men on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service as part of their investigation into activity at the RAF Fairford air base last month.

Counter Terrorism Policing say in a statement that they had re-arrested a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national. The country to which the investigation relates is Iran, CTP adds.

13 more Haredi draft dodgers arrested at airport promise to enlist, says IDF

The 13 ultra-Orthodox male draft evaders who initially refused to enlist after being apprehended at Ben Gurion Airport this morning as they landed in Israel have signed affidavits expressing their willingness to draft, the military says.

They join 27 other draft evaders who were released home earlier today after signing the agreement committing to enlist before a judge.

The IDF says this means that 40 ultra-Orthodox men will be enlisting in the military “in the coming period and be assigned to the various Haredi service tracks.”

The 40 all received suspended jail sentences.

Two other Haredi men who were also detained at the airport this morning were immediately jailed, as they had been evading army service for an extended period.

Environment ministry pledges $970,000 to deal with rodent problem in Gaza border area

The Environmental Protection Ministry is offering Western Negev local authorities up to NIS 3 million ($970,000) in total to cope with a surge of rodents in communities near the Gaza border.

The Agriculture Ministry and the Tekuma Directorate are meanwhile working with the authorities to reduce the population explosion of mainly field mice in agricultural lands.

The unusual increase in rodents was first reported within the Eshkol Regional Council, south of the Besor Stream, and in the area between Kissufim and Kerem Shalom. The phenomenon spread to communities in the regional authority areas of Sha’ar HaNegev, Sdot Negev and Hof Ashkelon.

Emphasizing that pest control should only be carried out by licensed professionals, the Environmental Protection Ministry also calls on residents to remove waste and junk from yards, repair leaks, trim dense vegetation, store food in sealed containers, keep trash cans closed and avoid leaving pet food outdoors.

Rodents have crossed into Israel following the widespread disruption to ecosystems caused by military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu said to call Charedi Public leader to pressure him to quit race

Moti Leitner, chairman of the Charedi Public party, speaks during the party’s election campaign rally at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem, ahead of Israel’s upcoming general elections, October 17, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has personally intervened in efforts to persuade Moti Leitner’s Charedi Public party to withdraw from next week’s election, speaking with Leitner by phone on Saturday evening, according to Channel 12.

Netanyahu’s associates have also recently held several meetings with Leitner, offering to advance policies important to his party, the report says.

Leitner says he does not feel he has the “moral right” to quit the race.

The party says it will stay in the election. Its priorities include funding for ultra-Orthodox yeshivas, an agreed-upon military conscription plan and core curriculum studies for the Haredi community.

Leitner says Likud and the Haredi parties missed their chance to reach an agreement before the party lists closed last month, adding that he is now less willing to cooperate and does not trust their promises.

No poll has shown Charedi Public winning enough votes to enter the Knesset, raising the prospect that its support could be wasted if it falls short of the 3.25% electoral threshold.

The pressure campaign has also targeted Ofer Winter’s People of Israel party, which has hovered around the threshold in recent polls. Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich met with Rabbi Eli Sadan, Winter’s spiritual mentor, earlier today in an effort to persuade Winter to withdraw.

IDF: Senior officer in Hamas’s general security killed in Israeli airstrike

A senior officer in Hamas’s general security apparatus was killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza City earlier today, the military and Shin Bet announce.

The strike killed Akram Bassam Shaaban Yassin, who is identified by the IDF and Shin Bet as a top member of the apparatus.

The security apparatus, according to the military, is a clandestine Hamas body responsible for security for top Hamas officials, communications between them, coordinating their meetings, and transporting them between emergency sites.

The mechanism is also responsible for producing intelligence assessments, “which assists the organization’s senior leadership in decision-making and in carrying out terror plots against the State of Israel,” the IDF adds.

The military says his killing continues an “ongoing effort to target senior officials in the apparatus and weaken its capabilities in the Gaza Strip.”

In June, the Israeli Air Force and Israeli Navy struck and killed several top commanders in the security apparatus.

Report: Egypt warned Israel of ‘consequences’ amid Qatar-backed smear campaign by Netanyahu aides

A senior Egyptian official warned an Israeli cabinet minister in Jerusalem that Israel would face “consequences,” amid a 2024-2025 campaign to promote Qatar and disparage Egypt, Channel 12 reports.

Israel Hayom reported in August that three advisers to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – Jonatan Urich, Yisrael Einhorn, and Eli Feldstein – leaked classified information to Qatar about Israeli concerns regarding Egypt while they were allegedly on Doha’s payroll, which was then passed on to the Israeli press as part of the campaign.

The Jerusalem meeting took place shortly after the campaign began, Channel 12 reports.

“You’re trying to push us away from the table,” the Egyptian official said.

The unidentified Israeli minister responded that Israel wanted greater cooperation with Cairo, including regarding the IDF operation in Rafah at the time. The Egyptian official replied that Israel was not treating Egypt with respect and that this had “consequences.”

According to the report, an internal security document written after the meeting noted that Egypt believed Israel was spreading messages against it.

An Israeli diplomatic official also received a call from a senior Egyptian counterpart asking, “Why is Israel treating us this way?”

Senior legal officials are still discussing the campaign against Egypt and whether it could constitute an offense involving harm to Israel’s foreign relations, Channel 12 reports.

Arrest of men suspected of plotting terror attack near Jerusalem said to be based on fake alert

Two suspects who allegedly planned a terror attack are seen captured by an elite counterterrorism force on the Route 1 highway near Jerusalem, October 19, 2026. (Social media: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

The person who called in an alert about an imminent terrorist attack yesterday has admitted the warning was false, after it led to the arrest of two people on Route 1 outside Jerusalem last night, Channel 12 reports.

According to Channel 12, the two people arrested near the Latrun Junction had no weapons in their car, and their interrogation indicated the initial alert was false.

Following the interrogation, law enforcement today detained the person who had called in the alert, and he confirmed having called in a fake warning, the network says.

Nonetheless, both the caller and the two people who were arrested last night are still under Shin Bet investigation to ensure none of the three are terrorists, Channel 12 says, quoting a security official as saying that “in such a sensitive period, we don’t take any risks — every unusual indication is checked rigorously.”

Other Hebrew media outlets also reported earlier today that law enforcement in central Israel had made a third arrest based on intelligence from the interrogation of last night’s Route 1 detainees.

Those outlets described the third detainee as a suspected accomplice in the purported terror plot.

Libya approves maritime border deal with Turkey, sparking Greek condemnation

Libya’s eastern parliament approves a maritime boundaries deal with Turkey, drawing swift condemnation from Greece, which calls it a violation of international law.

The deal is part of a years-old dispute over competing claims to sea borders and energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean.

It was originally agreed in 2019 by Libya’s internationally recognized government in Tripoli in the west, but the rival eastern administration under military commander Khalifa Haftar had withheld its approval for years.

Greece, Egypt and Cyprus have long been opposed to the deal, which they see as infringing on their own maritime claims.

In a foreign ministry statement, Athens says the deal “remains illegal, null and void, contravenes international law of the sea, and infringes upon the sovereign rights of states in the region.”

Turkey’s foreign ministry welcomes the Libyan parliament’s decision, saying the agreement respects the mutual rights and interests of both countries under international law and the principles of equity.

Trump says he ‘can’t’ elaborate on meeting between Netanyahu, Hegseth

US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, October 20, 2026, in Washington. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)

US President Donald Trump declines to share any details of the meeting yesterday between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during the latter’s secret visit to Israel.

“I can’t do that now, no,” Trump says when asked by a reporter to elaborate on the conversation in the Oval Office.

Trump also suggests that things with Iran are “going very well” but that Washington must decide what path it wants to take.

“We’re doing very well with Iran, we just have to make a final decision of which way do we want to win. Do we want to win the nice way or the not nice way,” Trump tells reporters in the Oval Office, echoing similar comments he has made threatening military action if the diplomatic path falls apart.

Trump on Iran:

We just have to make a final decision on Iran. Which way do we want to win, the nice way or the not nice way?

But we're doing very well. pic.twitter.com/gaMEki2tMS

— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 20, 2026

Rubio accuses Iran of using ‘Nazi tactics’ in Strait of Hormuz by targeting commercial shipping

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a Freedom 250 reception at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, October 20, 2026. (Kylie Cooper/Pool via AP)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accuses Iran of using Nazi tactics in the Strait of Hormuz by targeting commercial shipping, which he says is a throwback to World War II.

In an interview with the Indian outlet News1, Rubio says people should pay more attention to what Iran is doing and trying to do to close the strait.

“We have a nation-state that is openly saying, ‘We are targeting commercial vessels; we are trying to kill sailors who have nothing to do with the war; we are trying to sink commercial ships,’” Rubio says. “You haven’t seen that since the Second World War. They are doing Nazi U-boat tactics. And that’s what the world should be rallying around and condemning.”

By contrast, he says that US forces in the region are defending commercial shipping and the vast majority of attempted Iranian attacks have been thwarted.