ElectionsGantz pulls Blue and White out of Israel's election eight days b…Kinneret-213.70 m USD/ILS₪3.108 Hanukkahin 46 days · December 5, 2026 Hebrew date9 Cheshvan 5787

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Tuesday, 20 October 2026 · 9 Cheshvan 5787

Written in the Israel.com newsroom from events reported independently by two or more organisations, or by an official body. Every story links its sources. How we source and check this.

Illustration of an empty press conference podium with microphones before rows of vacant chairs in a quiet hall in Ramat Gan.

Elections

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Elections2026-10-19Updated

Gantz pulls Blue and White out of Israel's election eight days before vote

Benny Gantz withdrew his party from the October 27 vote after polls showed it below the threshold, as rivals moved to court its remaining voters.

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Education

Education2026-10-19

France imposes partial night curfews as riots follow student and union protests

Illustration of a small hilltop settlement with prefab homes above olive terraces in the Samaria hills at dusk.

Security

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Security2026-10-19

Evyatar infiltration alert lifted after IDF says suspect was Israeli civilian

Illustration of the hazy skyline of northern Gaza City seen from distant farmland under an overcast dawn sky.

Security

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Security2026-10-19Updated

IDF says weekend strikes in northern Gaza killed three Hamas operatives

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Security2026-10-19
Duvdevan commandos arrest two suspects over planned attack in Kafr Aqab
The Israeli military says two Palestinians detained near Jerusalem were preparing an imminent attack and building a militant network, acting on Shin Bet intelligence.
Illustration
Security2026-10-19
IDF raises alert level and freezes soldiers' leave before Knesset election
Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir ordered a leave freeze from Thursday and sent paratrooper reinforcements to the West Bank, saying the army's task is to let the vote proceed safely.
Illustration
Security2026-10-19Updated
IDF says Hamas planned bombs near Gaza displacement camps to cover escape
The IDF says an April 2024 Hamas paper proposed detonating explosives near camps for displaced Gazans as troops approached, to create panic and cover fighters' escape.
Security2026-10-19
Israeli woman surrounded by mob in Istanbul mall, led away by security
A crowd accusing Claudia Medina of bringing Israeli soldiers to Turkey confronted her in an Istanbul mall, Israeli outlets report, before security staff got her out.
Illustration
Transport2026-10-18Updated
Austrian Airlines says no danger found on diverted Tel Aviv-Vienna flight
Searches in Sofia of flight OS82, its passengers and crew found nothing dangerous, the airline said, and the flight continued to Vienna that night.
Illustration
Emergency2026-10-18
Israeli civilians set fire to storage container in South Hebron Hills village
The IDF says several Israelis sprayed graffiti and burned a shed near Wadi a-Rahim, as security forces moved to clear a nearby illegal outpost the same day.
File photo
Elections2026-10-18Updated
Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu meets doubts it will move Israeli voters
Netanyahu's campaign moved fast to amplify Trump's backing, but JTA reports polls show his bloc trailing and an analyst doubts the endorsement will shift votes.
File photo
Courts & Crime2026-10-18
Macron condemns French riots after nearly 2,400 arrests in a single day
France's president addressed the nation after cost-of-living protests turned violent, as fresh clashes broke out in Paris and opponents demanded accountability.
Illustration
Security2026-10-18
Time documents show Israel helped move about $2 billion from Qatar to Gaza
An investigation by the US magazine says successive Israeli governments backed Qatari payments to Gaza for over a decade, including after warnings about Hamas.
File photo
Government2026-10-18
Netanyahu unveils security doctrine with 450 billion shekels more for defence
The prime minister named a nuclear Iran as the top threat, warned the US could turn hostile, and said he hopes to avoid a head-on clash with Turkey.
Illustration
Security2026-10-18Updated
Iran's new defence minister Akhlaghi warns US of 'enormous damage'
Confirmed by parliament, missile industry veteran Mehrdad Akhlaghi warned the US against resuming attacks and pledged to rebuild Iran's military industry.
File photo
Elections2026-10-18Updated
Yashar billboards accuse Netanyahu and Magal after 'monkey' slur on Eisenkot
Eisenkot's party answered the Channel 14 host's slur with billboards labelling Netanyahu and Magal as disparaging Mizrahim, after Netanyahu condemned the remark.
Illustration
Emergency2026-10-18
Young child riding a scooter killed by bus on a Modiin Illit street
Paramedics pronounced the boy dead at the scene on Avnei Nezer Street; reports differ on whether he was 5 or 6, and police are investigating.
Illustration
Government2026-10-18
EU condemns settler attack on European diplomats near Taybeh in the West Bank
The European Union's foreign service condemned settler violence in the West Bank, including an attack on visiting European diplomats, and called for full accountability.
Courts & Crime2026-10-18
Arrest figures range from 1,200 to 1,800 after a day of unrest across France
Protests over the cost of living turned into looting and clashes across France, with reports giving differing counts of arrests and injured police.
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Courts & Crime2026-10-17Updated
Rubio urges Israel to curb settlers after attack on Washington Post photographer
The US Secretary of State says Israel must act against violent settlers, as the Washington Post's chief executive calls for a probe into the beating of Heidi Levine.
Illustration
Courts & Crime2026-10-18Updated
Police chief vows zero tolerance after Haredi protest blocks Highway 4 near Yavne
Police cleared a Jerusalem Faction protest over jailed yeshiva students, and the commissioner vowed a harsh response to future road blockades.
Illustration
Courts & Crime2026-10-17Updated
No arrests after Taybeh attack on diplomats as police cite lack of cooperation
Police say European missions declined requests for testimony and footage, while the army and police trade blame over the failure to make arrests.
File photo · Chris Gallimore / Unsplash
Environment2026-10-18
Kinneret Drops 3.0 cm to -213.675 m, Sitting 0.68 m Below the Lower Red Line
The lake has lost 21.5 centimeters in 30 days and 49.0 centimeters in twelve months, leaving it 4.88 meters short of full.
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Courts & Crime2026-10-17
Teen, 17, dies after violent incident on Herzl Street in Ashkelon
A 17-year-old died in hospital after being hurt in Ashkelon and a second teen was lightly injured; police suspect a dispute between criminal figures.
Illustration
Emergency2026-10-17
Palestinian pedestrian, 21, killed by car on Route 443 near Ofer checkpoint
Magen David Adom medics pronounced the man dead at the scene with multiple injuries; the reports do not say who was driving or how the collision happened.
Illustration
Emergency2026-10-17
Man, 19, hospitalised with penetrating injuries near Shuafat checkpoint
Magen David Adom says a 19-year-old man was taken to Shaare Zedek in moderate condition after being brought to its crews near the Shuafat checkpoint in Jerusalem.
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Security2026-10-17Updated
IDF says it killed 4 Hamas men in Gaza; Palestinian media call one a journalist
Palestinian outlets describe Ubaida Murtaja, whom the Israeli military called a Hamas sniper, as a journalist; an analyst says he appears to have held both roles.
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Emergency2026-10-17
Man, 35, seriously injured in Route 1 crash near La Guardia interchange
Magen David Adom says two men were taken to Ichilov hospital after a road accident on Route 1, one with a head injury and impaired consciousness.

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