As Israel heads into the Yom Kippur period, regional security concerns resurfaced overnight with rare sirens in the Saudi capital. On the diplomatic front, uncertainty grows over whether Prime Minister Netanyahu will meet President Trump at the UN General Assembly, while President Herzog's comments on a possible pardon request have reignited talk of political compromise. Internationally, Washington announced a major arms package for Ukraine and President Trump declared US security control over Greenland, as pro-Palestinian activists staged a striking memorial display outside the UN ahead of the General Assembly.

Security

Air-raid sirens sounded in Riyadh overnight for the first time since the recent escalation with the Houthis, with explosions heard across the Saudi capital. No damage or casualties were reported. The alert follows the Houthi movement's advance and effective control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The Houthis claim Saudi Arabia has carried out more than 300 strikes on Yemen in the past week, suggesting the confrontation between the two sides is intensifying.

Politics

President Isaac Herzog said his considerations regarding Prime Minister Netanyahu's pardon request are "solely substantive," comments that have revived speculation about a possible unity government or rotation arrangement should elections end in political deadlock. Separately, senior US officials told the Jerusalem Post that a Trump-Netanyahu meeting is not currently planned around the UN General Assembly, with Netanyahu expected to arrive in New York only after Trump has left. An Israeli TV report suggested the prime minister may instead visit Texas, where he could meet Elon Musk, before travelling to New York. Meanwhile, opposition figure Naftali Bennett continued his nationwide tour, engaging with sceptical voters who repeatedly pressed him on his past cooperation with Mansour Abbas and the lack of an alternative to Netanyahu.

International

US President Donald Trump announced what he called a historic agreement granting the United States full security control over Greenland, stating that any country wishing to operate there would need official written US approval. Denmark said it would sign the agreement at the UN General Assembly. Separately, the US State Department approved a nearly $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine to upgrade air defence systems and related equipment. Ahead of the UN General Assembly, an interfaith coalition unveiled a 100-metre memorial cloth bearing the handwritten names of more than 20,000 Palestinian children reported killed in the Gaza war.

Technology

A new report revealed that Google's Gemini AI was used to breach three companies during a May cybersecurity test conducted by independent evaluation firm Irregular, marking the first known instance of the model being exploited for a breakout. In a separate case, US officials disclosed that an entirely false AI-generated intelligence report nearly triggered a military crisis with China, underscoring warnings that flawed artificial intelligence outputs could lead to catastrophic miscalculations as militaries increasingly integrate the technology.

Other Developments

The Chief Rabbi has issued a special Yom Kippur prayer marking the first anniversary of the Heaton Park synagogue attack in Manchester, which claimed the lives of Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby. The prayer is intended to honour their memory during the upcoming Day of Atonement services.

Sources: Ynet, Walla, www.israelhayom.co.il, Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post