Sep 13, 2026

Israel News Today: Antisemitic Bottle Attack in Berlin, IDF Holds South Lebanon Ridge, Houthi Naval Threat Reaches Eilat, and Israeli Documentary Wins Venice Prize

A Jewish woman was assaulted with a broken glass bottle in Berlin after her Star of David necklace was noticed by her attackers. Simultaneously, the IDF is maintaining its position on the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, a suspected vessel approached Eilat prompting a naval exercise simulating mass coastal infiltration, and an Israeli documentary has won the Venice Film Festival jury prize amid controversy over its claims about IDF conduct in Gaza.

Antisemitic Attack in Berlin

A 43-year-old woman was attacked in Berlin by two men who noticed the Star of David chain she was wearing, according to Maariv. The men verbally abused her, and one of them assaulted her with a broken glass bottle. The incident is the latest in a series of antisemitic incidents reported in Germany in recent months.

For diaspora Jews, the attack is a stark reminder that visible Jewish identity remains a target in the heart of Europe. Community organisations in Germany and the UK have repeatedly warned that public displays of Jewish symbols carry growing personal risk.

IDF Holds Ali Taher Ridge in Southern Lebanon

Following last week's demolition of terror infrastructure on the Ali Taher ridge, sources within IDF Northern Command told Walla News that Israeli forces have not withdrawn from the position and will not do so. "We will enforce our presence," the sources stated. The IDF also issued a warning that if the Lebanese Army fails to act, Israel will enforce the Yellow Line itself. Walla also reports growing pressure inside Lebanon on Hezbollah to remove weapons from the area.

Suspected Vessel Near Eilat — Navy Drills for Worst Case

A suspicious vessel approached Eilat, according to Maariv, with one report describing the Red Sea and the city's hotels as having appeared "suddenly very close." The Israeli Navy responded by conducting a large-scale exercise simulating a mass infiltration from the sea — including a scenario in which attackers seize a hotel, take dozens of hostages, and fight on multiple fronts simultaneously. Maariv describes the exercise as designed to prepare for a repeat of an October 7-style coastal assault. The Arab world, Maariv also notes, is openly speculating that "Israel may go to war close to the elections."

Houthi Forces Seize Bab al-Mandab — Red Sea Threat Deepens

Building on previous coverage of the regional energy crisis, Houthi forces have now captured the port city of Mocha and the island of Perim, achieving what Maariv describes as de facto control over the Bab al-Mandab strait — the southern gateway to the Red Sea. Maariv says the rapid operation exposed "the depth of the Saudi failure and the rot in the Yemeni army." Walla reports that more than 45,000 displaced people have fled Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen in recent days, with one evacuee telling the New York Times: "We took only the clothes we were wearing. Water is only available in tanks."

Walla further reports that air raid sirens were activated in the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushait and Abha, and that explosions were heard on Qeshm Island in Iran's Hormozgan province. The Yemeni army separately struck Houthi positions in Al-Bayda province in 20 sorties, according to Maariv. Saudi Arabia is said to be holding back a full military response while reserving its right to act. Walla reports that Iran has now effectively encircled Saudi oil routes from both sea and land, with a drone strike from Iraq having disabled a pipeline intended to bypass the maritime blockade.

The closure of Bab al-Mandab compounds the pressure on Hormuz, tightening what Walla calls a "chokehold" on global energy supply. The consequences for oil prices and regional stability are of direct concern to Jewish communities whose economies and governments are closely tied to Gulf stability and Western energy security.

Israeli Documentary Wins Venice Jury Prize — IDF Pushes Back

An Israeli documentary titled NAZA has won the jury prize at the Venice Film Festival, according to the Jerusalem Post. The film challenges IDF claims about civilian deaths in Gaza. The IDF rejected the documentary's claims, stating that it "relies on anonymous testimonies from individuals whose identities, military roles, and involvement could not be verified." The Jerusalem Post also reports separately on Israeli artist Belu-Simion Fainaru, Israel's representative at the Venice Biennale, who has navigated anti-Israel pressure from within the arts world.

Europe and Settlement Policy: A Week of Opinion

Several Jerusalem Post opinion pieces this week address the intensifying European pressure on Israeli settlements. France is leading a push to restrict goods from Israeli settlements, but the Jerusalem Post notes the initiative "faces serious questions over its legal force and compatibility with EU law." A separate piece argues that Britain's settlement sanctions risk damaging ties with Israel while "exposing a glaring double standard." Another columnist writes that boycott campaigns have "generated headlines but failed to change Israel, while inspiring Americans to strengthen economic ties with Judea and Samaria." A further opinion piece frames the broader European stance bluntly: "After a thousand years of expulsions, restrictions, and bloodshed, the answer from Europe cannot once again be to tell Jews where they are allowed to live."

For diaspora Jews in the UK and Germany in particular, the debate over settlement sanctions is not abstract — it reflects how their governments are choosing to engage with Israel at a moment of acute regional tension.

IDF Investigates Shooting of Palestinian Near Jenin

A security source told Ynet that the IDF is investigating whether a soldier who shot a Palestinian in the village of Faqua, near Jenin, "exceeded the rules of engagement." The source said the Palestinian was shot "without an apparent reason," and that initial examination indicated the incident began when several Palestinians gathered around a shepherd in the area. The soldier's conduct is under review.

Israeli AI Founder Pleads Guilty to $27 Million Fraud in New York

Ilit Razt, founder and former CEO of the Israeli AI startup Joonko, pleaded guilty in New York to making false claims about her company's customers and revenue in order to raise approximately $27 million from investors, the Jerusalem Post reports. The case follows earlier reporting on the same story and marks the formal conclusion of the legal proceedings against her.

Yamam Fighter Identified as Diver Found Dead in Haifa

Police have identified a body found at Students Beach in Haifa as Itai Persson, a fighter with the Yamam counter-terrorism unit, according to the Jerusalem Post. Official statements say Persson went approximately one kilometre into the sea by kayak with his uncle and did not surface during a free-diving attempt.

Aliyah: From Bench to Tour Guide, and a Holocaust Survivor at 86

Two aliyah stories appeared in the Jerusalem Post today. Retired Australian judge David Parry described his move to Israel as "the mission of my life," saying it was "such an incredible blessing to be here" to facilitate his family's return. Separately, 86-year-old Morton Pancer, who fled Nazi persecution as a baby and built a life in the United States over the following decades, has made aliyah after 57 years in America. "It's time to go home," the Jerusalem Post quotes the framing of his journey.