As Israel's election campaign intensifies, party leaders traded barbs and unveiled new policy pledges, while former Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit gave dramatic testimony in the Netanyahu corruption trial. Internationally, the UK Green Party faces mounting accusations of antisemitism, US President Trump claimed a Russia-Ukraine 'energy ceasefire' that Kyiv disputes, and a passenger from the hijacked flydubai flight has called for an investigation into the crew's conduct.

Politics

Israel's election campaign sharpened on Sunday as rival camps traded accusations and unveiled fresh pledges. Former prime minister Avigdor Liberman dismissed any prospect of serving alongside Benjamin Netanyahu, calling the idea that 'the world would turn upside down' before it happened, while praising Netanyahu as one of Israel's better finance ministers. He also challenged the opposing bloc to commit that Netanyahu would not serve even as a minister for regional cooperation. Naftali Bennett, head of the Yachad party, presented his 'Servants' Revolution' plan, promising to redirect NIS 30 billion from 'draft evaders' to those who serve in the IDF, including free day care for reservists' children and a 50% reduction in various payments, alongside up to NIS 1 million in housing subsidies. A rival party led by Winter also unveiled its own programme, featuring a significant pay rise for conscripted soldiers while recognising up to a quarter of ultra-Orthodox men as Torah scholars. Separately, Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yesh! party, criticised new Shin Bet appointments, suggesting loyalty should be 'to the state, not the government,' and signalled that if the change bloc forms the next government, the appointments would be reviewed. Meanwhile, dozens of candidates across the political spectrum, including former Likud ministers, are closely watching polls as they hover near the electoral threshold. In the corruption trial, former Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit testified that he had approved the investigation into Netanyahu but admitted he had not reviewed the full indictment or approved every police action, saying some actions had made him 'furious.' Likud ministers renewed calls for the trial to be cancelled. Commentators noted that both prosecution and defence have long taken their arguments beyond the courtroom to the public. Separately, Netanyahu formally demanded the prosecution of participants in the 'NAZA' documentary, alleging severe security offences, criminal defamation and harm to Israel's diplomatic and security interests.

International

The UK Green Party faced growing accusations of tolerating antisemitism after local branches backed a 'Zionism is racism' motion. Barnet Labour MPs demanded an explanation from local Greens on how the position could be reconciled with representing a 'diverse and tolerant community,' while Jewish community leaders in Hastings said the party could 'fairly be called institutionally antisemitic,' comparing some of its positions to those of fascist groups. Green MP Ellie Chowns said the party must guard against 'capture by racists' and insisted she wanted to keep it free from extremism. Separately, a Jerusalem Post investigation found that recent global anti-Israel protests were coordinated in advance by an international network, with the London-based Global Alliance for Palestine, a coalition of roughly 200 organisations, found to be behind much of the preparation and messaging. On the diplomatic front, US President Donald Trump claimed that Russia and Ukraine had reached an 'energy ceasefire,' though he offered no further details; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the claim was 'news to me,' amid ongoing tension over strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said only a negotiated settlement could resolve the current crisis, adding that Tehran was still awaiting the US's final position on its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which he said depends on Iran's conditions being met. A passenger from the recent flydubai hijacking, Asaf Rajuan, told the Jerusalem Post he suspected some crew members may have aided the hijacker, alleging attempts to interfere with the attacker's restraints, and called for a formal investigation. In the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV announced he will undergo surgery in the coming days for a lung nodule detected at an early stage, with recovery expected to take about a week; the 71-year-old pontiff is still set to visit Latin America next month.

Other Developments

Police arrested seven teenagers in Ramla on suspicion of violently assaulting a young man in the Noot Shamir neighbourhood, an attack caught on video; five were taken in for questioning after a passer-by tried to intervene. Residents described the area as a new neighbourhood plagued by violence with little police presence. In the Galilee, a two-year-old girl from Tur'an died after she was accidentally run over by her father during a family visit to Bu'eine Nujeidat; she was rushed to hospital in critical condition but could not be saved, and police are investigating the circumstances. In a separate incident, a 21-year-old man was seriously injured in a violent altercation in Shibli in the Lower Galilee and was evacuated to Emek Medical Centre in critical condition. In Jerusalem, construction work for a new neighbourhood south of Ramat Rachel has uncovered a 300-metre stretch of the city's ancient aqueduct, which will be prominently preserved and displayed as part of the development, highlighting the site's historical significance. In the United States, a powerful nor'easter battered the northeastern seaboard, triggering flooding and power outages affecting over 73,000 homes and businesses across Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island; hundreds of flights were cancelled and thousands delayed as the National Weather Service issued warnings for the region.

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