[56625] News Digest: Severe Confrontation with Iran, October 7 Legislation, and Political Upheavals

News Digest May 11-12, 2026

The Northern Front and Lebanon

• Extensive strikes and evacuation warnings: The IDF published evacuation guidelines for nine villages in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa, and launched an intensive wave of strikes. Concurrently, an IDF UAV attacked a vehicle in the Zibdin area.


• Fall of a soldier and alarms in the Carmel: Command Sergeant Major (Res.) Alexander Golovniov (47), of blessed memory, fell from an explosive drone blast, and three other soldiers were lightly injured. In the Hof HaCarmel and Neve Yam area, alarms were heard following a launch from Lebanon that ended with no casualties, while residents of Kiryat Shmona received threatening phone calls from Hezbollah.

Tensions with Iran and the United States

• Trump in China and the Strait of Hormuz: President Donald Trump embarked on a diplomatic visit to China while bluntly rejecting Iran's proposal for an agreement, which he called "stupid." Trump is considering renewing military activity in the Strait of Hormuz (Operation "Freedom"). Meanwhile, Iran threatens a "return to war," an American nuclear submarine (USS Alaska) was documented on its way to the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar, and a mysterious explosion was reported in Shiraz.

Politics, Government, and Law

• Netanyahu's trial and media interviews: PM Benjamin Netanyahu harshly attacked the State Attorney's Office and the police in his testimony in court, claiming a "witch hunt" and illegal use of spyware. Deputy Minister Almog Cohen was removed from the courtroom after shouting at the prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh. Additionally, Netanyahu was interviewed for the program "60 Minutes," where he took certain responsibility for the October 7 failure and claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei is hiding in a bunker.


• The October 7 terrorists law: The Knesset approved by an overwhelming majority (93 supporters) a law to prosecute the massacre terrorists in a designated military court, approving the death penalty and without the possibility of future release in deals. The Knesset debate was accompanied by a charged confrontation between Ahmad Tibi and a bereaved father, and a harsh speech by captivity survivor Rom Braslavski, who blamed the elected officials for the failure.


• The Mossad storm: An open confrontation between Netanyahu and Mossad Chief Dadi Barnea was revealed, after the latter sent a classified letter to the High Court of Justice strongly opposing the appointment of his designated successor, Roman Gofman. Netanyahu reprimanded Barnea, claiming an overstepping of authority.


• The coalition crisis: Opposition Leader Yair Lapid demands the immediate dissolution of the Knesset; on the other hand, the right wing warns that failure to regulate the draft law will lead to the collapse of the coalition (as 'Degel HaTorah' representatives already met with Netanyahu's new chief of staff). At the same time, the Attorney General attacked Minister Levin in the High Court of Justice for his refusal to appoint judges.

Military, Internal Security, and Crime

• The defense establishment and terrorism: Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir is advancing a plan to extend mandatory service to 3 years and expand the reserves. Border Police forces thwarted a shooting attack in Qalandiya and eliminated a terrorist who tried to harm the fighters. Additionally, a military court convicted the terrorist who murdered Staff Sergeant Amit Ben Yigal, of blessed memory, 6 years ago.


• Wave of violence and legal compromise: A violent 24 hours across the country included a woman murdered by gunfire in Ramla, and seriously injured individuals in Lod and Ramat Gan. On the civil front, the PMO and a manpower company will compensate an employee who sued Sara Netanyahu for workplace abuse with tens of thousands of shekels.

Economy, Technology, and Around the World

• Upheaval at Microsoft and millionaires at OpenAI: Microsoft Israel's CEO, Alon Haimovich, is stepping down amidst an internal investigation suspecting a breach of the ethical code regarding the defense establishment. Concurrently, a multi-billion dollar share deal turned dozens of OpenAI employees into millionaires.


• World News: Under pressure from the Trump administration, the Argentine government halted a project to build an advanced Chinese telescope; a massive fire is raging in South Florida; and the midnight sun phenomenon began in the city of Utqiagvik in Alaska, where the sun will shine continuously for 84 days.