🌍 DIPLOMATIC TIES, NETANYAHU’S STATEMENTS AND DOMESTIC LEGAL AFFAIRS

🕑 Published: September 18, 2026 · 6:21 PM Israel time

🤝 Regional diplomacy and defense cooperation: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz agreed at a New York summit on measures to upgrade Israel–Morocco ties and advance the Abraham Accords. Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon said the agreements include establishing embassies in both countries, facilitating economic cooperation and mutual investment, and expanding direct flights. He cited the Jewish people’s historical roots in Morocco and said closer relations would benefit both countries.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported secret Israel–Kuwait talks following Iranian attacks across the region, including Kuwait. Israeli Ambassador to the UAE Yossi Shelley said another country was expected to join the Abraham Accords within months, suggesting that “Kuwait might be the next one.” Israel and Kuwait have neither mutual recognition nor diplomatic relations.

The Israeli and Greek navies exchanged personnel and practiced emergency scenarios during a joint exercise, which accompanying source commentary characterized as a signal to Erdoğan. Separately, Defense Minister Israel Katz said: “If Erdogan wants to help Hamas members in Gaza, he should invite them to move to Antalya”.

🏛️ Netanyahu’s campaign and public statements: Netanyahu called at his campaign launch for completing the mission by toppling Iran’s regime. At a Shin Bet ceremony, he pledged to eliminate Hamas and said defeating Iran’s regime came “first and foremost.” At a Likud conference, he claimed credit for saving Israel from destruction, saying the state had almost ceased to exist.

At a cornerstone-laying ceremony for a memorial honoring fallen members of the Christian community, Netanyahu described accusations of Israeli war crimes and persecution of minorities as a global assault and a “big lie.” He called the IDF the world’s most moral army and Israel an island of progress and security, asserting that it was the only place in the Middle East where the Christian community was flourishing.

Following the controversy over the film “Naza,” Netanyahu said: “We will revoke the citizenship of anyone who slanders IDF soldiers, and hit them financially.”

⚖️ Election rules, protection arrangements and domestic legal disputes: Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh asked the Central Elections Committee to reject an Otzma Yehudit disqualification petition concerning his article praising the massacre’s achievements. He claimed that when he wrote it on October 8, he did not know the scale of the massacre and that “the full extent of the atrocities had not yet become clear.”

Meeting without the prime minister, the Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs authorized the agency to determine protection arrangements independently for party leaders who are private citizens and currently lack protection, until the 26th Knesset is sworn in. Zini will decide whether and how to protect Eisenkot, Golan and Ofer Winter. Bennett, Lapid and Liberman already receive protection because of their former positions.

The Association of Community Rabbis announced that it would petition the District Court against Tel Aviv Municipality’s prohibition of gender segregation “by physical means” at the association’s Selichot event at Tel Baruch Beach.

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