Israel's political and security establishment faced renewed scrutiny today following a New York Times report alleging that the UAE's president warned Netanyahu of an imminent large-scale Hamas attack days before October 7, 2023. Elsewhere, diplomatic efforts continued to expand the Abraham Accords, opposition figures sharpened their criticism of the prime minister, and several serious road accidents and violent incidents were reported around the country.

Security

The New York Times reported, citing multiple sources, that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu in late September 2023 that Hamas was preparing for a major attack, describing it as an impending 'earthquake'. According to the report, the warning was not raised at a security discussion Netanyahu convened on 1 October 2023, at which he opposed pre-emptive strikes on senior Hamas figures for fear of escalation and damage to normalisation efforts with Saudi Arabia. The newspaper said bin Zayed later referenced the conversation to the CIA director. Netanyahu has firmly denied receiving any such warning. Separately, violent crime continued in northern Israel, with a young man from Tamra shot dead in Kabul in the Western Galilee – the latest in a wave of killings within Arab communities, which has claimed 177 lives this year. Two further violent incidents were reported in Nazareth, leaving one man critically injured with a stab wound and another seriously hurt in a workplace incident.

Politics

Domestic political tension continued to build ahead of expected elections. Sources close to Gideon Sa'ar's Camak Yisrael party say they see Netanyahu's limited public engagement on the security situation in Judea and Samaria, amid a recent spate of attacks, as an opening to appeal to new voters. Meanwhile, Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot told the Jerusalem Post that Netanyahu, whom he dubbed 'Captain America', had brought Israel's standing with the United States to an all-time low, and outlined how he would approach replacing him as prime minister while addressing the failures of 7 October. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also spoke to the Jerusalem Post about his diplomatic priorities, including efforts to relocate foreign embassies to Jerusalem and safeguarding Israeli interests internationally.

International

Israeli and American officials met Abraham Accords partners in New York to discuss translating diplomatic ties into practical cooperation, marking what officials described as the next stage of the agreements. In Ukraine, a 14-year-old Israeli, Daniel Umansky, was killed in a Russian drone strike on a Kyiv apartment building that left four others dead and at least 20 injured; his family has asked for his body to be flown to Israel for burial. Yemen's Presidential Council chairman, Rashad al-Alimi, publicly denounced the Houthis as a 'terrorist militia', called on citizens to join the Yemeni armed forces, and offered amnesty to defectors. In Italy, police uncovered a neo-Nazi network – including 14 minors among 17 suspects – accused of glorifying Hitler and plotting attacks on a synagogue and a mosque, with investigators citing extensive antisemitic and white supremacist material shared within the group. In Germany, the town of Heidenau voted, with support from centrist and far-right councillors, to ban future installations of Holocaust memorial 'stumbling blocks' commemorating Nazi victims, against the recommendation of city administrators. In Britain, Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said recent police action reflected efforts to 'apprehend those plotting against British Jews', while also suggesting a tougher government stance on Israel could benefit Labour in an upcoming by-election.

Health

Jewish welfare organisations Norwood and Kisharon Langdon warned that Jewish patients with learning disabilities risk missed diagnoses under the NHS, following a report by Baroness Casey highlighting systemic failings in disability care that leave families facing additional barriers to appropriate treatment.

Technology

A new Israeli study from the Weizmann Institute of Science, conducted with the University of Patras in Greece, found that 68% of young children naturally reason like scientists. Researchers said children could be taught scientific thinking more effectively by being asked 'how' things work rather than 'why', with implications for early education methods.

Other Developments

Israel's roads saw a series of serious accidents. On Route 90 near Masu'a in the Jordan Valley, a 60-year-old man was killed and two others seriously and moderately injured. Near Jerusalem's Shlomtzion area, a four-vehicle collision left one man dead and five others injured, with casualties airlifted and taken by ambulance to hospital. Near Ein Harod on Route 71, a two-vehicle crash left six injured, including a 25-year-old in moderate condition. In Ashkelon, rescue teams pulled two swimmers, aged 24 and 17, from the sea in serious and moderate condition, while a search continued for a third missing swimmer.

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