All Articles ByYuval Aviv

A powerful explosion at a cafe in central Damascus killed five people and injured 16 others. According to reports, an explosive device had been planted at the scene.

Marking 1,000 days since the war began, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Iran remains the military’s top readiness priority. He urged continued vigilance, warning: "We are in an interim period. The arenas are interconnected, and any action in one could affect the others."

The Finance Ministry and Defense Ministry have agreed on a framework to resolve their budget dispute through the end of the year. The deal includes an immediate funding increase, a monitoring mechanism, and approval to move forward with the military’s long-term buildup plan.

After Israel’s High Court ordered a new election for state comptroller, the political system reacted immediately. The opposition welcomed the decision, while voices in the coalition called for the court’s ruling to be ignored. Here’s how Israeli politicians responded.

A pro-Palestinian march in Thessaloniki set off a public uproar and led to a police investigation over suspected incitement. Greece’s Jewish community and the World Jewish Congress issued sharp condemnations.

IDF officials said troops from the 91st Division are continuing operations in the security zone in southern Lebanon, where they say they have been locating Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure. In the latest activity, forces uncovered an underground shaft, a rocket storage site, explosives, and additional weapons.

In a dramatic ruling, Israel’s High Court canceled attorney Michael Rabilo’s election as state comptroller and ordered a new Knesset vote, following a dispute over ballot secrecy and after a hearing before an expanded panel of five justices.

The Knesset gave preliminary approval to the so-called muezzin bill, which aims to limit the use of loudspeaker systems at houses of worship. Under the proposal, operating loudspeaker systems in mosques would be banned unless special permission is granted by the environmental protection minister.

Indirect technical talks between the U.S. and Iran are taking place in Doha with mediation from Qatar and Pakistan. According to a Saudi report, a preliminary agreement has been reached to release $3 billion for Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump said, "The talks with Iran are going very well."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to threats from Israeli Defense Minister ישראל כ״ץ, calling Israel President Donald Trump’s “pets” and demanding that the White House “restrain it.”

Edna Arbel, one of the most senior figures in Israel’s legal system, has died at 82. Over decades of public service, she held a long list of key positions and left a lasting mark on law enforcement and the courts.

Thousands are taking part in the funeral procession for Rabbi Amos Guetta in Netanya under heavy police security. At the same time, the court has extended the detention of the murder suspect by eight days as the investigation continues.

A booth selling pendants shaped like the map of the land in the colors of the Palestinian flag was shut down during a student event at the Technion. Following the incident, the organization "B'Tsalmo" is calling for an internal investigation.

A Hamas platoon commander was killed in southern Gaza: according to the IDF and Shin Bet, Adel Jihad Mohammed Asfour was involved in advancing sniper attacks and planting explosive devices against IDF forces, and in recent days had been working to carry out immediate attacks and rebuild the terror organization’s operational capabilities.

Israel’s Finance Ministry is moving ahead with plans to close the rabbinical court in Tzfat as soon as after the *Tishrei* holiday season. Rabbis, staff members, and Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi David Yosef, are opposing the move, while the ministry says it is part of an efficiency effort.

At Israel’s Foreign Ministry, officials signed the agreement allocating land for the future permanent U.S. Embassy building in Jerusalem. During the ceremony, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee presented Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar with a one-dollar bill as a symbolic gesture marking the land allocation for the project.

Marking 20 years since the Second Lebanon War, Israel held the state memorial ceremony for those who fell in the war. In his remarks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Not only is Israel not weak like a spider’s web, as Nasrallah said — Israel is strong like strands of steel."

A court on Tuesday rejected the petition filed by Lt. Col. A., who served as the Gaza Division’s intelligence officer on October 7, against the termination of his service, allowing the IDF to continue the dismissal process. At the IDF’s request, the sweeping gag order on the case was also lifted.

Israel’s Defense Ministry and Rafael have completed a broad series of Iron Dome tests that included operational upgrades and integration with "Or Eitan." The systems were evaluated against a range of current and future threats.

The IDF says it has completed sealing the tunnel in southern Rafah where Lt. Hadar Goldin הי"ד was held. The route, stretching more than 16 kilometers, also served as a major Hamas command center in the southern Gaza Strip.