Israel wakes to a mix of security and political developments, from an unresolved siege in the West Bank to renewed threats from Washington towards Tehran. On the home front, coalition politics continue to shift as smaller parties confront their electoral prospects.

Security

For nearly four weeks, the Abu-Rida family home in the village of Kafr Qusra, near Nablus, has remained under siege by hilltop extremists and Israeli soldiers, with residents reporting that the pressure is designed to force them out. The case has struggled to gain traction even amid growing global scrutiny of settler violence in the West Bank. Separately, concern is mounting within the security cabinet over the risk of Palestinian security forces' weapons being turned against Israeli communities, a scenario dubbed 'barrel reversal.' While ministers from Religious Zionism have raised the alarm repeatedly, the IDF says it holds no current intelligence pointing to such a plan, with some officials suggesting Palestinian factions may be amplifying the narrative ahead of elections. In Lebanon, a wave of Israeli strikes continued, with two militants killed in a motorcycle strike and further fatalities reported, partly in response to a drone launched at Israeli forces. Interceptions were also observed over the Kinneret, believed to originate from Iranian-linked launches towards Jordan. Meanwhile, Hamas is attempting to understand how Israel's Shin Bet reportedly extracted senior Gaza operative Moein al-Arabid from deep within the territory, describing months of covert preparation including the use of tranquilliser-loaded weapons.

Politics

The Joint List's number two candidate on the Hadash slate, Ja'far Farah, has withdrawn from the race following testimony alleging sexual harassment, with the party praising his 'responsibility and courage' in stepping aside. Talks on a merger between Benny Gantz's Blue and White and Gideon Sa'ar's… actually Gideon Ardan's Unity party have collapsed, with neither expected to clear the electoral threshold on current polling. Ardan confirmed his party will not run in the coming election, citing public demand for clarity on the prime ministership over broader unity governments. Gadi Eizenkot, meanwhile, predicted 'surprises' regarding possible party mergers in the coming days and repeated his account that Netanyahu was unreachable following the 2018 downing of an Israeli F-16, challenging the prime minister to release his schedule from that day.

International

According to a New York Times report, US investigators have polygraphed roughly 50 senior officers at the Joint Staff following leaks about weapons shortages linked to the conflict with Iran, apparently to deter further disclosures. Intelligence assessments reportedly indicate Tehran intends to sustain the confrontation with Washington at least through the US midterms in an effort to exhaust President Trump's resolve. Trump himself renewed threats against Iran, suggesting a strike on the Fordow facility 'very soon' and downplaying the scale of the conflict by comparing the 18 American fatalities to Vietnam-era losses. Separately, a Palestinian facing deportation from the United States has petitioned to remain, arguing that return to the West Bank would expose him to settler violence, a case being closely watched by pro-Palestinian advocacy groups. In Paris, an 80-year-old Israeli woman was assaulted and robbed in her hotel room, sustaining facial fractures; French authorities say the attacker was intoxicated and see no indication of an antisemitic motive, while her family arranges medical evacuation to Israel.

Economy

The prospective buyer of Arkia airline, Ezra Unger, is facing fresh scrutiny in New York after claiming in a sworn statement that he cannot pay a $500,000 fine linked to a troubled Williamstown real estate project, which reportedly involved millions in buyer deposits, ownership disputes and loss of building control. Sources close to the Arkia deal suggest Unger may be acting merely as a broker without personal capital behind the acquisition, raising questions about the transaction's viability.

Sources: Ynet