The UN General Assembly dominates today's headlines, with Donald Trump denouncing Iran and hinting at renewed diplomatic contact, while Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for a closely watched address later this week. At home, the aftermath of a recent terror attack continues to reverberate, the IDF has unveiled a new officer recruitment initiative, and the Attorney General has waded into a politically sensitive election dispute.

International

World leaders convened in New York for the UN General Assembly, with US President Donald Trump branding Iran a 'terror regime behaving badly' whilst simultaneously striking an optimistic tone about renewed contact between American and Iranian representatives, describing recent talks as 'very good'. UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened proceedings by condemning Hamas's October 7 attack while also describing Israel's military response in Gaza as causing 'a scale of death and destruction unlike anything I have seen'. Benjamin Netanyahu is due to address the Assembly on Thursday, with observers noting he will need to present compelling evidence to persuade Trump to back further action against Iran, particularly given Trump's parallel meeting with Gulf state leaders. Ahead of the Israeli premier's visit, a coalition of demonstrators including Jewish New Yorkers, Israelis and anti-Zionist activists are preparing rival protests, while at a separate Yom Kippur gathering, City Comptroller Brad Lander and activist Mahmoud Khalil accused Israel of 'genocide' and highlighted alleged American complicity. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan used his UN platform to criticise LGBT rights, describing what he called a 'siege on the institution of the family'. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham strongly defended British sanctions on Israel over settlement activity during a joint press conference with Trump, who praised Burnham's condemnation of antisemitism. A UN Population Fund report alleged that the Gaza war has heightened risks of sexual violence against Palestinian women, citing family, community and other perpetrators. In Britain, police say they foiled a suspected terror plot targeting Manchester's Jewish community on Yom Kippur, arresting two men, while London's King Solomon High School – a Jewish secondary in Ilford – is facing possible closure after pupil numbers plunged, leaving 385 places empty.

Politics

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has said that disqualifying Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadah from standing in elections 'should be seriously considered', citing a post-October 7 article she believes may constitute support for armed struggle. The Yisrael Beiteinu and Blue and White parties have thrown their support behind an Otzma Yehudit-led bid to bar him from running, setting up a contentious legal and political battle ahead of the next election.

Security

The family of Netanel Shakron, killed in last Friday's shooting attack at a spring, spoke movingly of the moment his 16-year-old son Yoav witnessed the attack and stayed by his father's side as he was struck. In a call with Prime Minister Netanyahu, the family said they were given only 'the usual words' and called for the reality to change, following assurances that justice would be pursued to the fullest extent. Separately, the IDF has launched a new unit named 'Gamah' aimed at overhauling how the military recruits, retains and redeploys officers, with expanded pathways for personnel to move into or return to combat and combat-support roles. Meanwhile, two Israelis travelling through the Taba border crossing into Sinai described being subjected to invasive and humiliating searches by Egyptian security personnel, including inappropriate physical contact and being forced to undress, in what one described as a deeply distressing experience.

Other Developments

Linor Sasson, a suspect in the murder of Binyahu Razi, was hospitalised amid concerns over a possible stroke after complaining of severe headaches and difficulty with vision and walking. The Israel Prison Service maintains her condition is unrelated to her detention and disputed the severity of her symptoms, while her lawyer accused authorities of dismissing her as feigning illness.

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