With just a week until Israelis head to the polls, the political landscape continues to shift dramatically following Benny Gantz's withdrawal from the race. Meanwhile, maritime security concerns resurface in the Gulf region, and the IDF carries out a high-profile detention of draft evaders arriving from abroad.

Politics

A new Walla poll shows Benny Gantz's exit from the electoral race has reshaped the contest, with Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party widening its lead over Netanyahu's Likud to four seats. Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad has also gained ground, though neither major bloc appears set to reach the 61-seat majority needed to form a government outright. Commentators are debating alternative paths to stable governance that would avoid another costly election cycle. Separately, a lone protester staged a dramatic sit-in outside the President's Residence in Jerusalem, recreating the biblical tale of Honi HaMe'agel by drawing a circle around himself and vowing not to leave until the current government steps down, citing the seven days remaining before the election. Questions are also being raised in some quarters about the president's silence over recent comments by the US president regarding the Israeli election, with critics arguing he should have spoken out more firmly against perceived foreign interference.

Security

The IDF's Military Police detained approximately 50 Hassidic draft evaders upon their arrival from New York at Ben-Gurion Airport, having received advance notice of the group's travel plans. Officials confiscated the passports of several of the young men as part of the operation targeting those avoiding mandatory military service.

International

Maritime security concerns have resurfaced in the Gulf region. The UK Maritime Trade Operations organisation reported an incident involving a tanker and military forces approximately 224 kilometres east of Duqm, Oman. Separately, Iranian Revolutionary Guard sources reported that two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, reportedly after striking naval mines, though the circumstances remain unverified. In a related development, Britain is reportedly preparing to send Royal Air Force Typhoon jets to help defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks, according to Bloomberg sources, with the UK also expected to provide an A400M transport aircraft and military advisers. Elsewhere, the International Criminal Court has been shortlisted for the EU's Sakharov human rights prize, a move European lawmakers say demonstrates support for the court's work despite US sanctions against it; the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 over the Gaza war. In Australia, investigators are probing a car-ramming attack on politician Helen Haines, with reports indicating the suspect, a family friend, had previously shared pro-Gaza content and criticised Israel online, though a motive has not been formally established. A watchdog group also reported a surge of over 1,300 antisemitic posts on social media falsely blaming Jews and Israel for recent unrest in France, while in London, a man was arrested after a series of assaults on Jewish women in Stamford Hill, with community security volunteers assisting in the investigation.

Health

The Health Ministry has issued a rabies alert after a stray dog found in the Modiin area—spotted in Lapid, Nachal Modi'in and Ganei Modi'in—tested positive for the disease. One person exposed to the animal has been referred for preventive vaccination, and two pets were reportedly attacked. An epidemiological investigation is ongoing.

Other Developments

Forecasters say an autumn heatwave is on the way, with hazy skies expected on Thursday followed by hot, dry and windy conditions over the weekend. Temperatures are expected to climb as high as 38 degrees in the Jordan Valley and above 30 degrees along the coast, with no rain forecast for the coming week.

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