Tuesday's headlines were dominated by a serious terror attack in the West Bank that has left the son of Israel's ambassador to the United States critically injured, alongside significant political developments both at home and abroad. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa addressed the UN on prospects for peace with Israel, while domestic politics saw fresh controversy over the exclusion of Arab parties from October's local elections.

Security

Neria Leiter, son of Israel's ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, was seriously wounded on Tuesday when a Palestinian assailant rammed a vehicle into a police patrol car near Beit Horon on Route 443. The attacker was shot dead at the scene. Neria, a reserve soldier, is fighting for his life at Shaare Zedek Medical Center; his elder brother, Major Moshe Yedidya Leiter, fell in combat in Beit Hanoun during the Gaza war. Ambassador Leiter is returning to Israel and will not accompany Netanyahu on his UN visit. Separately, Israeli forces uncovered a tunnel roughly 25 metres deep beneath Kalkilya, along with the beginnings of a second tunnel shaft, a rifle, sniper rifle, ammunition and bomb-making materials; four suspects were arrested. In further counter-terrorism activity, commandos arrested a Palestinian Authority colonel suspected of advancing terrorist activity, and two Palestinians were charged with plotting to assassinate National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and carry out other attacks.

Politics

Israel's Central Elections Committee has temporarily barred the Arab Ra'am and Joint List parties from running in October's local elections, pending a Supreme Court ruling. The decision has become a rallying point for opposition parties seeking to unite against the move. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett urged Netanyahu to declare Qatar an enemy state during his UN address, saying such a declaration would draw support from across the political spectrum and represent "historic justice" for victims of the 7 October attacks; Netanyahu has previously pressed Qatar to choose between "civilisation and barbarism" without going that far. Meanwhile, coalition tensions are simmering ahead of Netanyahu's UN speech, with Ben Gvir demanding the security portfolio, Gottlieb pushing for the justice ministry, and Avigdor Liberman making inflammatory remarks. Democrats leader Yair Golan has privately voiced concern that National Unity's Gadi Eizenkot may lead a campaign that could siphon votes from his party, with bloc leaders due to meet at the weekend to coordinate messaging.

International

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said peace with Israel was possible but insisted the Golan Heights would remain Syrian territory, demanding an Israeli withdrawal from the border buffer zone and stating that Israel has carried out roughly 500 strikes since the fall of the Assad regime. In Europe, the Netherlands announced it would end its Eurovision boycott and return to the contest in 2027, with Belgium also confirming participation next year while stressing this was "not an endorsement" of events in Gaza. In Ukraine, a Russian missile strike on an Interpipe factory in Dnipro killed four people and wounded seven overnight. Elsewhere, New York Times shareholders have filed a lawsuit against the paper's parent organisation over alleged bias in its Israel coverage, accusing the company of withholding records for four months, most relating to its reporting on the Israel-Hamas war. In Canada, NDP leader Avi Lewis faced criticism after a Yom Kippur message in which he said Jews had "failed to stop an ongoing genocide committed in our name."

Economy

Israel's Finance Ministry is launching a pilot compensation scheme worth 35 million shekels for business owners whose property was damaged by protection racket criminals. Beginning Wednesday and run by the Property Tax Authority for an initial two-month period, the scheme will cover direct damages not included under existing insurance. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged business owners not to pay protection money.

Technology

Israeli-founded legal technology startup Chamelio has raised $26 million to expand its AI-powered tools for legal teams. The company already counts Wiz, Wonderful.ai and monday.com among its clients and has customers in the UK.

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