Yair Golan, the leader of the Democrats in Israel, has condemned Prime Minister Netanyahu following allegations that the premier planned fresh strikes against Iran just weeks before the upcoming Knesset elections.
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Netanyahu ‚completely lacks legitimacy‘ to launch new war ahead of elections: Opposition leader Golan
His remarks came after The Financial Times reported that US President Donald Trump had rejected Netanyahu‘s plan to strike infrastructure and nuclear facilities in Iran, a military campaign that was reportedly set to begin on Oct. 10.
Trump opposes any military escalation ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm congressional elections in the US, fearing negative repercussions for the Republican Party‘s electoral prospects, according to the report.
Golan, also a former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli army, said in a post on US social media platform X: „Netanyahu is a sick and weak leader clinging to power by force, willing to put Israel‘s security at risk to save himself.“
After three disastrous years, Israel needs to rethink itself. A new government would be a start
The two issues the opposition has highlighted are understandably important to Israelis. For so many citizens, the disaster of 7 October and subsequent two-year hostage crisis became a crisis of faith in the state itself. Without accountability through an independent inquiry, society cannot move on. And even staunch supporters of peace cannot tolerate the rank injustice of some citizens serving and dying in wars while others are systematically let off the hook.
But what then? Israel’s war in response to 7 October has continued to devastate Palestinian society. But the past few years have damaged Israel internally as well.
US-Blockade führt zu Amputationen
Die spanische Tochterfirma Telstar des Stuttgarter Syntegon-Konzerns unterwirft sich der US-Blockade und verweigert einem kubanischen Krankenhaus medizinische Ersatzteile. Das in Barcelona ansässige Unternehmen lehnt unter Missachtung einer verbindlichen EU-Verordnung ab, eine Dichtung zur Reparatur seines wichtigen Gefriertrockners zu verkaufen. Der ist in der Gewebebank des Internationalen Orthopädischen Wissenschaftskomplexes »Frank País« installiert. Das größte orthopädische Krankenhaus Kubas benötigt das Gerät, um Amputationen zu verhindern und das Leben von Verbrennungsopfern zu retten.
Trumps Drohung: Hände hoch, Diesel her!
(October 1, 2026)
Alles nur, weil Trump seine Umfragewerte mit einem kurzen Militär-Quickie im Iran pushen wollte. Das jedoch löste eine destruktive Kettenreaktion sondergleichen aus, wie ein Elefant, nein, eine Atombombe im Porzellanladen. Diese Ära wird in ein paar Jahren zumindest gute Serien auf Netflix oder HBO erzeugen, und man wird sich fragen, wie zum Teufel ein Mensch wie Trump je an die Macht kommen konnte.
Israeli groups receive testimonies of 22 Palestinian prisoners shot at close range in Israeli detention
JERUSALEM, October 15, 2026 (WAFA) – Two leading Israeli human rights groups revealed on Thursday that they received testimonies of 22 Palestinian prisoners shot at close range in Israeli detention centers, according to Arab News.
Physicians for Human Rights Israel and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) said that they have documented “22 testimonies and reports from attorneys, prisoners’ families, and released prisoners point to the dangerous practice of firing rubber- or plastic-like bullets at close range inside prison wings.”
The testimonies span seven detention facilities, including Ofer, Ganot, Ktzi’ot, Gilboa, Megido, Nitzan and Eshel.
Torture in Israel Today
Does torture exist in Israel?
It definitely is.
Every year, the public committee against torture in Israel (PCATI) receives dozens of complaints alleging to physical and psychological torture used by ISA (Shabak) interrogators. Torture methods reported include painful shackling, sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme heat or cold, threats, sexual harassment, and religion- based humiliation. In addition, instances of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment by the Israel police and Israel prison service are regularly reported.
Is torture legal?
No.
Torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment are absolutely prohibited, both by international as well as Israeli law. However, Israel has yet to enact a law explicitly prohibiting torture, despite its previous commitment to do so.
The ICC strongly rejects US sanctions against the institution
This measure targets an independent judicial institution, created by treaty and entrusted by 125 States Parties with investigating and prosecuting genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. It is an attempt to obstruct the course of justice and to prevent the Court from doing what it was created to do. It is an assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order which strikes at the simple principle that no one stands above the law.
The designation is aimed at disrupting the Court’s operations and at intimidating those who work for or cooperate with the Court. The Court, for its part, will not be deterred. “The Court will continue to fully discharge its mandate, with independence and impartiality, acting only on the basis of the law and the evidence, for the sake of the countless victims of grave crimes” said ICC President Tomoko Akane.
»Schurkengericht«: US-Regierung verhängt weitreichende Sanktionen gegen Strafgerichtshof
Wir werden Transaktionen mit diesem Schurkengericht verbieten, seine Ressourcen beschneiden und seine Arbeit lahmlegen«, hieß es weiter. Washington stößt sich insbesondere an den im vergangenen Jahr erlassenen Haftbefehlen des Gerichts gegen israelische Regierungsvertreter, darunter Ministerpräsident Benjamin Netanjahu. Zudem ermittelte der IStGH zu mutmaßlichen Kriegsverbrechen von US-Soldaten in Afghanistan, stellte das Vorhaben jedoch nach eigenen Angaben inzwischen zurück.
Nearly 240 dead in this illegal campaign of extrajudicial killings, i.e., murder at sea. Where is Congress to stop the horror?
(…)
‘More Performative Killing at Sea’: Another Trump Boat Strike Leaves 4 Dead
Citing a federal memo that it aims to keep concealed from the public, the Trump administration claims to be at war with drug cartels and that the killings in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean are justified. Legal experts and human rights advocates argue the bombings are at least war crimes, if not outright murder.
Sunday’s strike was the administration’s first confirmed boat bombing since Ben Saul, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, said last month that even if the targeted vessels were engaged in drug trafficking, there are no “international legal rights to unilaterally use military force” to counter cartels.
Israel bans Arab parties from election: Who they are, why it matters
(September 26, 2026)
Israel’s Central Elections Committee has voted to bar the country’s two main Arab-majority political lists from next month’s parliamentary election, potentially leaving Palestinian citizens of Israel without their principal representatives in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.
The committee also voted to disqualify Ofer Cassif, a Jewish politician from the Arab-Jewish Hadash party, and Sami Abu Shehadeh, the leader of the Palestinian nationalist Balad party.
IN PICS: hundreds arrested at Palestine protest outside Labour conference
Hundreds of people have been arrested as the Defend our Juries group protested against the government’s ‘proscription‘ (terrorism ban) on anti-genocide group Palestine Action. While al-Qaeda subsidiary HTS in Syria has been de-proscribed and whitewashed by the UK and US, Palestine Action remains banned. The Crown Prosecution Service and judiciary continue to collude to try to ensure the longest and harshest possible sentences.
More than 3,000 people, mostly pensioners and disabled people, have been arrested for ‘terror’ offences for opposing the proscription. That total is climbing rapidly.
Israeli election authorities ban all Arab parties from running in upcoming Knesset poll
Israel‘s Central Elections Committee (CEC) has barred all of the country’s Arab parties from running in the Knesset elections in October.
The committee, which is made up of representatives from major political parties, including MKs, voted to exclude the entire Joint List, which is made up of the Balad, Hadash, and Ta’al parties, as well as the Ra’am party.
Delegates walk out as Benjamin Netanyahu begins his UN speech
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told world leaders Thursday that attacking Iran “was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make” and denounced as “moral cowards” a mass of delegates who walked out of the U.N. General Assembly when he took the podium to speak.
Trump plans to form ‘AI Force,’ appoint ‘AI Czar’
The president compared his proposed “AI Force” to the Space Force, which he established during his first term, but did not elaborate on how the agency would operate or what its duties would entail.
For the new “AI Czar” position, Trump said, “Only High I.Q. individuals need to apply!” He did not expand further on the latest iteration of the role.
Cuba hit with another nationwide blackout amid US fuel blockade
Cuba suffered a total blackout after the collapse of its electrical grid on Friday. The blackout is the latest of at least six partial or total grid collapses since the beginning of this year, as the island grapples with an ongoing US fuel blockade.
4 killed in U.S. strike on alleged drug-smuggling boat in Caribbean, Pentagon says
The U.S. military attacked a boat suspected of being used to smuggle drugs in the Caribbean Sea on Saturday, killing four people, as the Trump administration continues its monthslong campaign against alleged traffickers in Latin America.
The latest attack brings the number of people who have been killed in boat strikes by the U.S. military to at least 231 in 69 strikes since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls „narcoterrorists“ about one year ago.
Google’s Gemini Hacked Three Companies in May, and It’s Only Admitting That Now
(September 18, 2026)
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Google has confirmed that a Gemini instance was able to leave its sandbox and attack other companies during a security test back in May. The company running the test was frontier AI security firm Irregular—which the Journal noted just so happens to have been involved in similar breakouts at OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta. The common thread between all of the incidents, according to the New York Times, is that AI models obtained unauthorized internet access during Irregular’s tests.
This Tiny Israeli Startup Just Managed to Hack Three of the World’s Most Powerful AI Labs
(one month ago)
Over the past two weeks, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta all disclosed that their AI models went rogue during routine security testing. Every single incident traces back to one company: Irregular, a three-year-old Israeli startup that operates cybersecurity testbeds for frontier AI models.
Founded in Tel Aviv by by Dan Lahav, CEO, and Omer Nevo, CTO, and backed with $80 million from Sequoia and Redpoint Ventures, Irregular runs Capture-the-Flag exercises for major AI labs. In these exercises, models are instructed to find vulnerabilities inside simulated corporate networks.
Fox News Poll: 71% think Trump administration lacks plan to end Iran war
Since 2023, the sharpest decline in support for Israel — down at least 20 points — comes from women, Hispanic voters, voters under age 45, voters with a college degree and Democrats. Republican support has fallen 10 points during the same time.
US support for Israel falls to record low as Gaza war continues: Fox News poll
Around 48 percent of voters said they sided more with Israelis in the conflict, compared with 38 percent who said they sided with Palestinians.
The figure marks a decline from 54 percent in June and from a high of 68 percent recorded at the outset of the conflict in October 2023, when 18 percent said they sided more with Palestinians.
General Assembly Adopts Resolution Allowing State of Palestine to Participate Virtually in High-level Debate
By a recorded vote of 152 in favour to 3 against (United States, Israel and Paraguay), with 4 abstentions (Colombia, Honduras, Panama and Peru), the 193-member organ adopted the resolution on “Participation by the State of Palestine during the eighty-first session” (document A/81/L.2)
Over 150 countries reject US decision to bar Palestinian delegation from upcoming UN General Assembly
On Thursday, 152 countries voted in favour of a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly, rejecting the US‘s decision to prevent the Palestinian delegation from participating in the upcoming UN General Assembly session in New York City.
The resolution called on Washington to reverse the decision, considering it a clear violation of the Headquarters Agreement, which legally obliges the host country to facilitate the entry of diplomatic delegations.
U.S. State Department Must Reverse Decision to Ban Palestine Delegation from Attending UNGA Session in New York
“The decision by the U.S. State Department to deny visas to a high-level delegation of the State of Palestine to attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly must be reversed. The State Department’s statement makes it obvious: this decision is designed to punish the State of Palestine for pursuing international justice and accountability at international institutions, including through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ). This measure is part of a relentless campaign of reprisals against the very notion of international justice.
US blocks Palestinians‘ Abbas from attending UN meeting, for second year in a row
The U.S. has denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas an entry visa to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York next week, extending a ban in place since last year, a Palestinian official familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
Without naming specific officials, the State Department said on Wednesday it would extend visa sanctions against Palestinian officials over actions they took to „internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,“ including pursuing cases against Israel at international tribunals.
Bernie Sanders urges Trump, Xi to negotiate treaty to pause advanced AI
“When the future of humanity is at stake, we need a PAUSE on advanced AI development and a ban on artificial superintelligence — an AI mind smarter than any human and capable of operating independently beyond our control,” Sanders said.
The US Senator further said: “At their upcoming AI summit, Trump and Xi must negotiate a treaty to pause AI and ban superintelligence before it is too late.”
AI development concerns common well-being of all humanity; threat narratives would disrupt global AI governance, says FM on calls to slow AI development
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that the development of artificial intelligence concerns the common well-being of all humanity. He called on all parties to jointly promote the open, inclusive and universally beneficial development of AI for good, warning that spreading threat narratives, provoking confrontation and engaging in malicious competition would only disrupt global AI governance and serve no party‘s interests.
WATCH LIVE: House meets as pressure to regulate AI grows
House Speaker Mike Johnson says it‘s time for President Donald Trump to „summon everyone together“ and take the lead addressing questions about AI at the White House, rather than Congress.
A fateful turning point for humanity and AI could redefine American politics
If a terrorist threat led subject experts to warn of a near-term existential menace to humanity, the weight of the US government would mobilize in an immediate and limitless effort to save the day.
Yet a remarkable sequence of warnings by leaders of artificial intelligence firms that their creation may soon outpace humans’ capacity to control it has so far been met with a shrug by Republicans who run Washington.