Saturday brought a flurry of security, political and international developments as Israel heads into the final stretch before election day. The IDF widened its counterterror operation in the Hebron area following Friday's deadly shooting, the Shin Bet confirmed it will take over security arrangements for Yisrael Beiteinu rival Gadi Eisenkot, and tensions in the Gulf escalated after Houthi rebels claimed fresh strikes on Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv to renew calls for a state inquiry into the October 7 attacks.
Security
The IDF significantly expanded its counterterror operation near Hebron following Friday's fatal shooting attack. Troops demolished illegal structures close to the attack site, searched roughly 200 locations in the surrounding area, and arrested ten suspects as the operation continues. Separately, reports from Syria indicated that Israeli forces detained three Syrian nationals in Jubata al-Khashab in the country's south on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activity.
Politics
The Shin Bet notified the Yisrael! party led by Gadi Eisenkot that, from Sunday morning, the former IDF chief of staff will be placed under protection via a private security firm, operating under the direct guidance of the agency's Unit 730. Eisenkot had not previously received Shin Bet-coordinated security during the election campaign. Meanwhile, thousands attended a rally in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square on Saturday night, organised by the 'October Council' and backed by survivors, former hostages and bereaved families, renewing demands for an independent state inquiry into the October 7 attacks. Rabbi Elchanan Danino told the crowd that "whoever avoids a state inquiry probably has something to hide." Eisenkot and Avigdor Liberman were both present at the event. Separately, a report claimed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shifted Israel's diplomatic position to favour Argentina in its long-running dispute with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, though stopping short of formally backing Argentina's sovereignty claim. The move has raised concern that Israel could go further should the UK impose additional sanctions linked to settlements.
International
Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed to have struck three targets in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, including King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Najran Airport, and the Khamis Mushait air base, though no Saudi confirmation or casualty details have yet emerged. This followed earlier Houthi claims of strikes on Sanaa that reportedly killed 11 people, including six women and a child at a cement factory workers' residence, while Saudi authorities said they intercepted two ballistic missiles aimed at Taif and Yanbu. Riyadh separately reported shrapnel from intercepted missiles falling in Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh after Houthi claims of attacks on Saudi oil facilities and major airports. In the UK, Haringey council leader Mark Blake made fresh claims about the "weaponisation of antisemitism" amid an ongoing Zionism row, after a local synagogue warned that his party's stance was making Jewish residents feel unsafe. In Gaza, a teacher with 15 years' experience alleged she was threatened with having her tongue removed after challenging anti-Jewish content in lessons, claiming pupils were encouraged to hate Jews and support Hamas, amid renewed scrutiny of UNRWA's educational materials. In the UK, an 18-year-old admitted possessing the manifesto of a synagogue killer alongside sharing far-right terrorist material and drafting his own manifesto suggesting plans for a future attack. In Turkey, thousands rallied in Istanbul and Ankara against an escalating crackdown on the media, with the journalists' union reporting that 11 reporters have been jailed and several outlets shut down over the past two months.
Economy
The Bank of Israel issued a statement stressing that cryptocurrencies "cannot serve as a route to bypass sanctions" on Israel, adding that the correct approach for the Israeli economy is to preserve economic relations with its main trading partners and focus on preventing sanctions and their negative effects, a matter it said falls within the political echelon's remit. The statement came as Prime Minister Netanyahu defended his stance on digital currencies, saying in an interview that he takes objections into account but is not convinced it is the only tool available, adding that it was uncertain whether cryptocurrency would ultimately be used. He also defended his broader economic record, saying he has led Israel to "unprecedented economic prosperity." In a further boost for Israeli business abroad, supermarket giant Tesco began stocking Israeli plant-based meat producer Redefine Meat's burgers and lamb-style koftas across 391 UK stores, building on the company's existing presence at Asda and Ocado.
Media Consensus
Hebrew and English-language outlets broadly agreed on the facts of the Hebron counterterror operation and the Shin Bet's decision to secure Eisenkot, though commentary pieces in Hebrew media diverged sharply on Netanyahu's handling of Iran policy and the economy, with some framing his crypto remarks as an admission of failure. Coverage of the Houthi-Saudi exchange relied heavily on competing claims from Houthi media and Saudi officials, with casualty and damage figures still unconfirmed.
What to Watch
- Developments in the IDF's expanded counterterror operation around Hebron, including further arrests or demolitions
- Saudi Arabia's official response and any confirmed damage from the latest Houthi missile and drone claims
- Turnout and tone at further pre-election rallies in Tel Aviv as the vote approaches in three days
Sources: Ynet, Walla, www.israelhayom.co.il, Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post
