This afternoon's briefing covers the escalating investigation into the attempted hijacking of a FlyDubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, fresh details on an alleged terror plot targeting a Manchester synagogue, continued friction within the UK's Green Party over an antisemitism-related motion, and the IDF's ongoing preparations along the Lebanese border. Domestically, Israel's political campaign season is intensifying as parties sharpen their messaging ahead of elections.

Security

Investigators continue to piece together the sequence of events aboard the FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, after Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly attacked the captain with the cockpit's crash axe and attempted to crash the aircraft. An analysis by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, based on minute-by-minute flight data, suggests the co-pilot may have shut down the engines mid-air after pushing the throttles forward, with emergency lights activating while the plane was still airborne. Australian counter-terrorism police are examining al-Hammami's history in the country, where he studied on a student visa between 2015 and 2017, amid concerns he may have undergone a process of religious radicalisation during that period. He is also reported to have studied at a UK university. Meanwhile, Israel's Transport Ministry has denied responsibility for vetting foreign pilots' security backgrounds, despite being assigned oversight of foreign-flight security by the Prime Minister's Office earlier this year, with officials stating that intelligence vetting falls outside its remit. Separately, along the Lebanese border, the IDF's 55th Brigade has deepened its defensive line to 12 kilometres from the frontier as forces prepare for a new phase of operations, amid concerns that Hezbollah may exploit the ceasefire to smuggle weapons through pockets along the Blue Line, with reports of unusually large weapons caches found in homes throughout the area. The IDF Medical Corps has also unveiled a series of technological advances aimed at saving soldiers' lives in combat, including whole-blood transfusions in the field, dedicated refrigeration units in evacuation vehicles, and a shift from paper medical forms to real-time digital systems transmitting vital signs to the command chain.

Politics

Israel's political campaign is gathering pace as the post-holiday period begins, with Likud sharpening its attacks on Avi Winter, amid claims from senior party figures that he has privately aligned himself with Avigdor Liberman despite public statements suggesting he would support Netanyahu. An old interview with the party's number two, in which he reportedly expressed support for a Palestinian state, has also resurfaced, a stance the prime minister had previously sought to court.

International

Two Iranian nationals, Salam Ahmadyan, 36, and Rahman Salehi, 34, have been charged in the UK with preparing terrorist acts after allegedly identifying Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester as a target for a bomb plot. Both men, who arrived in the UK on small boats in 2020 and 2023 respectively, have been remanded in custody. The case has heightened concerns over threats to Jewish communities in Britain. Separately, tensions flared at the Green Party's conference in Brighton, where a motion describing Zionism as racism prompted the party to open a 'safe room' for Jewish members concerned about their safety. The controversy deepened after deputy leader Mothin Ali appeared at a fringe event alongside Ismail Patel of Friends of Al-Aqsa in support of the motion, exposing a significant rift within the party. On the diplomatic front, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is still awaiting mediators to relay Washington's final position on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, insisting a negotiated solution is the only path out of the crisis, while Iranian officials stressed that the strait will not reopen until conditions set out in June are met. In Ukraine, Russia has intensified drone strikes on bridges over the Dnieper River in Kyiv in what appears to be retaliatory action following a Ukrainian operation, causing major traffic disruption; Kyiv's mayor described the situation as 'dramatic', while the Kremlin has warned diplomats and civilians to leave the city ahead of further strikes. Elsewhere, Iran-backed militias in Iraq have been seen trampling the American flag, underscoring ongoing questions over Iraqi sovereignty as Washington shifts its focus to militia activity following the withdrawal of US forces from the country.

Other Developments

Families of those murdered, kidnapped and wounded in the 7 October attacks have been sharing the final messages exchanged with their loved ones on social media under the hashtag #WeAreAll710, marking the ongoing efforts to preserve memory of that day. Among the messages shared was one from Osnat, whose husband Haim Perry was kidnapped and murdered in captivity, and from lookout Roni Eshel, who texted her mother 'I'm fine, don't worry about me' shortly before she was killed.

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