Sep 12, 2026

Israel News Today: Rosh Hashanah Rocked by Phuket Protest, Germany Hamas Plot, EU-Israel Row, and Regional Oil Crisis

Overview

As Jewish communities worldwide entered the Rosh Hashanah 5787 period, a cluster of developments struck close to home for diaspora Jews: anti-Israel protests in Thailand forced the cancellation of a Chabad New Year meal, Germany charged seven men over a Hamas terror plot, and Israel's Foreign Minister publicly clashed with the EU's top diplomat. Meanwhile, a major disruption to a Saudi oil pipeline sent Brent crude above $100 a barrel, the Houthis completed their seizure of Yemen's Red Sea coast, and fresh IDF operational details from Lebanon were disclosed.

Phuket: Chabad Rosh Hashanah Meal Cancelled After Anti-Israel Protests

A Rosh Hashanah feast planned for hundreds of Israelis at the Chabad house in Phuket, Thailand, was cancelled following a large anti-Israel demonstration near the venue, according to Walla News and Maariv. More than 500 people participated in the protests, according to local media cited by Walla News. Israeli security officials subsequently warned: "Please do not approach the area — the protesters may be violent." Maariv reported that the event will not take place in its original format. The incident is a direct blow to what is typically one of the largest holiday gatherings for Israeli travellers in South-East Asia.

Germany: Seven Men Charged Over Hamas Terror Plot

German authorities have charged seven men in connection with a Hamas terror plot involving weapons procurement, the Jerusalem Post reports. By October 2025, the suspects had already acquired more than 700 rounds of ammunition, a fully automatic rifle, and 13 pistols intended for use in a planned attack, according to the Jerusalem Post. The case is a significant reminder that Hamas's operational network extends into Europe, and follows previous reporting on Hamas infrastructure across the continent.

Israel vs. the EU: Sa'ar Rejects Crimea Comparison

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar issued a sharp rebuke to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas after she suggested that Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria should be treated in the same way as Russia's occupation of Crimea. Arutz Sheva reported Sa'ar calling Kallas's position "completely unacceptable," while Ynet quoted him stating: "Judea and Samaria have never belonged to a Palestinian state that never existed." Kallas's remarks were linked to her support for an EU trade ban against settlement goods. The exchange represents one of the sharpest public confrontations between Jerusalem and Brussels in recent months, with implications for trade and diplomatic relations that directly affect Jewish communities in EU member states including Germany.

Saudi Oil Pipeline Disabled; Brent Crosses $100

Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline — which allows the kingdom to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and transport up to seven million barrels per day — was temporarily disabled following strikes near Riyadh and Medina, according to Maariv. Satellite images showed nine major fire sites along the pipeline route, Ynet reported. The disruption, combined with ongoing Houthi control of the Bab al-Mandab strait, has pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel, Maariv said. Gulf states are now being described as caught in a "double bind," searching for alternative export routes.

Houthis Seize Yemen's Entire Red Sea Coastline

Following earlier gains in the Red Sea, Iran-backed Houthi forces have now seized Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, including the Bab al-Mandab strait and three strategic islands, according to Arutz Sheva. The move tightens the Houthis' grip on a vital trade route linking Europe and Asia. Separately, Maariv reported that Saudi Arabia is considering a broad independent military operation against the Houthis — even without direct US participation. Washington, according to that report, is prepared to supply intelligence and target identification support but is at this stage refraining from joining combat operations directly.

Iran Used US-Developed AI to Track American Warships

A report from AI company Anthropic, cited by both Walla News and Ynet, alleges that an entity linked to Iran used Anthropic's Claude AI model to gather data from ship and aircraft transponders, military photographs, and commercial satellite imagery, in an effort to track and identify vulnerabilities in US Navy vessels in the Middle East. Ynet noted that Anthropic's report warns of growing national security dangers posed by state actors exploiting commercially available AI tools.

IDF Rosh Hashanah Security: 220-Plus Arrests

Maariv reported that the IDF carried out a large-scale security operation ahead of the Rosh Hashanah holiday, conducting more than 220 arrests. The army said it was "taking no risks" during the holiday period.

Weapons Smuggling Foiled on Jordan Border

Ynet reported that female observation soldiers from the 909th Combat Collection Battalion identified and tracked two Jericho residents who crossed from Israel into Jordan and returned carrying more than 30 handguns and two M-16 rifles. The soldiers alerted ground forces, who set up ambushes and arrested the suspects. Ynet quoted military sources saying that without the observers' alertness, the smuggling would have been discovered only after the fact.

New Details on IDF Tunnel Operation in Lebanon's Ali Taher Ridge

Walla News disclosed new details about an IDF operation on the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, in which forces operated for four months to locate and destroy Hezbollah's strategic tunnel infrastructure. According to the report, the IDF employed a deception exercise to delay enemy manoeuvre in the area; Hezbollah was caught off guard and retreated northward fearing for its forces' lives. This follows earlier reporting on the ridge operation but adds the operational deception element and the four-month timeframe for the first time.

Shofar Blown in the UN General Assembly Hall

In a moment described as historic, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon and a Chabad rabbi sounded the shofar inside the UN General Assembly Hall for the first time as a Rosh Hashanah greeting, according to Arutz Sheva.

Trump Links 9/11 Anniversary to War Against Iran

At the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, President Donald Trump spoke at the Pentagon and explicitly linked the original war on terror to the current conflict with Iran, according to Arutz Sheva. Trump vowed that the United States "will never, ever forget" the attacks, and said the fight against Iran is a direct continuation of that post-9/11 mission. MI5's director-general used the anniversary to warn that Britain faces a dangerous combined threat — from Islamist terrorism, espionage, sabotage, and cyber attacks by hostile states, according to Maariv.

What This Means for Diaspora Jewish Communities

The Phuket cancellation is the most immediate concern: with Rosh Hashanah under way, Jews travelling in South-East Asia should be aware that anti-Israel protest activity can directly disrupt community events, and should follow guidance from local Israeli security officials and Chabad representatives before attending gatherings. The Germany Hamas weapons case is a concrete reminder that the threat is not abstract — organised terror procurement was active on European soil as recently as late 2025. For Jews in EU countries, the Sa'ar-Kallas confrontation over the Judea and Samaria-Crimea comparison signals a hardening of EU postures on Israel that could affect trade, travel, and the political environment facing Jewish communities. The oil price surge and Houthi Red Sea control add to a regional instability that, taken together with Iran's AI-assisted surveillance of US naval assets, points to a Middle East in active, multi-front flux as the new Jewish year begins.