A dramatic announcement from US President Donald Trump that American military aid to Israel will end by the close of 2026 has dominated the day's headlines, catching Israeli defence officials off guard and reigniting fierce political infighting. Meanwhile, controversy swirled around the Shin Bet chief's handling of the election interference investigation, the Supreme Court delivered a stinging rebuke to the Knesset speaker, and fresh details emerged about Israeli intelligence warnings to Washington over Iran's chemical weapons capabilities.

Security

President Trump announced on the morning of the US midterms that Washington would halt $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel by the end of 2026, claiming he had reached the agreement with Prime Minister Netanyahu months ago. The claim surprised Israeli defence officials, given that the bilateral memorandum of understanding is formally set to run through 2028. Military planners are now grappling with how such a funding cutoff would reshape Israel's future procurement plans and force structure. Separately, the New York Times reported that Israel has warned the United States that Iran may be considering using chemical weapons against its regional rivals, with senior Israeli officials reportedly framing this threat as more urgent than Tehran's nuclear ambitions, though some US officials are said to harbour serious doubts about the intelligence. In the West Bank, a security expert raised concerns that a newly established cement factory could pose a major risk, warning the material might be diverted to build underground tunnel networks similar to those Hamas constructed in Gaza. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir visited Haredi yeshiva students in Gan Yavne, stressing that the military does not seek to change their religious identity but hopes to expand the pool of those serving amid ongoing security challenges. In the Golan Heights, the regional council announced controlled explosions would take place as part of minefield clearance operations, reassuring residents there was no cause for alarm.

Politics

Trump's aid announcement triggered sharp political backlash in Israel. Opposition figure Benny Gantz's ally Gadi Eisenkot demanded Netanyahu provide answers "this very evening," warning that his conduct represented a genuine risk to the country, while Avigdor Liberman and Michael Golan accused the prime minister of endangering Israel's future. Netanyahu's office had not commented by the time of publication. Separately, a report revealed that Shin Bet chief David Zini is seeking to question Arab Knesset figures including Ahmad Tibi, Ayman Odeh and the Balad party chairman as part of the election interference probe, without presenting evidence for most cases; only one suspect's file, whose identity remains under gag order, has been passed to the attorney general. The push to classify the investigation as a security offence—which would grant the Shin Bet expanded powers including restricting access to legal counsel—has drawn controversy. Election Commission chairman Yitzhak Amit and senior commission officials reportedly held talks with Likud representatives in an effort to avert a refusal to certify election results, with President Herzog backing the demand for timely publication amid warnings of a genuine constitutional crisis. In a related ruling, the Supreme Court found that the Knesset speaker had violated a court order requiring a repeat vote for state comptroller, describing the prolonged delay as a serious breach of governance norms, though the petition was dismissed given the new Knesset's formation. Elsewhere, analysts examined the growing political weight of Arab-led parties, which secured a combined 19 seats in the last election, even as their positions on Zionism and Palestinian nationalism continue to complicate potential partnerships with Jewish-led parties.

International

In Michigan, a closely watched Democratic primary pitted candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who has pledged to oppose US aid to Israel, against rival Haley Stevens, in a contest widely seen as testing the Democratic Party's relationship with Jewish voters. Commentators noted that El-Sayed's criticism of Israel has pushed some Jewish voters toward the Republican side, exposing a deeper rift within the party over antisemitism and loyalty. In Ukraine, Russian forces struck a school in Zaporizhzhia that had been converted into a humanitarian aid distribution centre, killing at least 33 people with dozens more feared buried under the rubble, prompting Ukrainian officials to decry what they called a deliberate massacre. In Antigua, King Charles III expressed "sorrow" over the historical slave trade at a Commonwealth summit, acknowledging its lasting shadow without issuing a formal apology, as protesters gathered outside the venue. In the UK, a group of London Jewish schoolchildren were among 181 passengers evacuated after their flight from Heathrow to Poland was diverted following a bomb threat. A new report from IMPACT-se found that German textbooks perform well on Holocaust education but are inconsistent in their treatment of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the organisation's CEO warning that accurate education matters more than ever amid rising antisemitism in Germany.

Other Developments

Israeli football officials are preparing to file a formal complaint with UEFA against the Football Association of Ireland over comments made by the Irish national team's manager referencing "genocide," as well as player protests during the national anthem and the treatment of Israeli journalists at recent matches. Separately, seven people were injured, four moderately, in a three-vehicle collision on Route 232 near Mifalsim, with Magen David Adom paramedics and IDF medical personnel treating the wounded at the scene before transferring them to Barzilai Hospital.

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