Israel's political landscape continues to shift in the aftermath of recent elections, with Avigdor Liberman's apparent softening on the contentious ultra-Orthodox draft law provoking fury within his own party even as it opens a path towards government formation. Meanwhile, Jerusalem finds itself navigating a delicate diplomatic moment after President Trump's announcement that American military assistance will wind down, a claim the Prime Minister's Office has chosen to reframe rather than reject. Elsewhere, a spate of bomb threats has disrupted major British broadcasters, and northern Israel is reeling from a cluster of fatal shootings within Arab communities.

Politics

Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman has signalled he is prepared to compromise on the haredi IDF conscription law, abandoning a long-standing red line against sitting with the ultra-Orthodox parties. For years Liberman demanded full, unconditional enlistment of yeshiva students and even called for cuts to child benefits for draft dodgers, but he now says he is willing to 'recalculate the route' given the election results. UTJ chairman Yakov Asher welcomed the 'flexibility displayed by all political players' on the issue. The shift has provoked a backlash within Liberman's own party: MK-elect Dan Ilouz said he would fight against draft exemptions 'even as a citizen', while fellow party figure Hendel asked how the move differed from the positions of Smotrich and Netanyahu if it meant enabling mass draft evasion for the sake of power. Analysts note that forming a coalition without the Arab parties now hinges on securing the backing of both haredi factions, whose 13 seats are seen as the key to the next government. Reports suggest Naftali Bennett shares Liberman's veto on a minority government reliant on Arab-majority parties, while Gadi Eisenkot's Yesh! has vowed to act on any mandate it receives, though internal disputes within the bloc are already shaping events on the ground. A further sign of political manoeuvring came with news that Michael Rabillo, Netanyahu's personal lawyer and his preferred candidate for State Comptroller, has withdrawn his candidacy, potentially leaving Matanyahu Englman's rival as the sole contender. Commentators have also warned that prolonged coalition talks, or the prospect of a further election, carry a strategic cost as Israel seeks to navigate a more polarised political environment in Washington following the US midterms.

International

The Prime Minister's Office has not disputed President Trump's statement that US military aid to Israel will halt at the end of 2026, instead describing the shift as a move 'from aid to partnership' that underscores the strength of the bilateral relationship. A PMO spokesman said Netanyahu has been working with Trump to manage 'the correct transition out from aid towards partnership', framing the change as a mutual investment rather than a rupture. Separately, Iran's deputy head of its senior security body said Tehran would not accept 'commitments on paper' as sufficient grounds to resume diplomacy with Washington, insisting that practical steps must precede any renewed talks. In Britain, a wave of bomb threats disrupted major broadcasters: Sky News said it had received a security threat and was in contact with authorities, hours after Irish broadcaster RTÉ evacuated its headquarters over a bomb threat and was forced to air repeat programming. An email sent to the Irish broadcaster reportedly claimed the threat was linked to the same group behind a series of threats against flights across Europe. In London, the Greater London Assembly voted to condemn the Green Party's 'Zionism is Racism' motion, with Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Reform UK and independent members all opposing the Greens' stance. At a Jewish charity's refugee awards event, Kindertransport survivor Lord Dubs condemned the use of 'invaders' rhetoric by politicians, warning against hostile language as two campaigners were honoured for helping refugees rebuild their lives. Interfaith Week also launched this week, with Progressive Judaism Movement co-lead Rabbi Charley Baginsky calling for unity in diversity towards 'a more cohesive country and a brighter world for all people'.

Security

Three Arab men were shot dead in northern Israel within a 24-hour period, in a cluster of violent incidents that has raised fresh concern about crime within Arab communities. The victims included an inmate who was shot while en route to a rehabilitative day job, and a man found dead alongside a woman who showed signs of injury at her home in a Bedouin hamlet; the woman's brother was reportedly killed separately in a car crash. The incidents add to a long-running pattern of unresolved violence that has plagued Arab towns and villages across the country.

Health

Dr Asnat Raziel, director of the multidisciplinary Assia Medical Centre at Assuta, has outlined the symptoms and risk factors associated with Bell's palsy, a condition causing sudden weakness in the facial muscles on one side. She explained which warning signs require urgent medical attention, the importance of protecting the affected eye during recovery, and what treatments may help speed healing.

Other Developments

Planned lane closures on the Ayalon Highway over the weekend were cancelled after the Israel Electric Corporation completed nearby works at the Glilot interchange earlier than expected, though train disruptions will continue due to separate maintenance works, with no direct service between Savidor and Herzliya stations and replacement shuttles in operation. Meanwhile, roughly six months after the launch of the Ayalon's fast lanes, enforcement cameras remain switched off and the project is removing only around 6,000 vehicles a day from the road, with plastic bollards still blocking some regular bus routes; authorities are now preparing the next phase, which would allow private drivers to use the lanes for a fee or free of charge when carpooling with three or more passengers. In Petah Tikva, a man was hospitalised in serious condition after a suspected violent assault; police have arrested a suspect who is expected to appear in court for a remand hearing as the investigation continues.

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