Israel News Today: US Aid Phaseout Confirmed, Coalition Talks Shift, and IDF Cuts PA Coordination Over Terror Leak Fears
Israel's political landscape shifted sharply on Friday as Netanyahu's office declined to deny reports that US military aid will end as early as next year, while coalition negotiations took a significant new turn with Avigdor Liberman announcing willingness to compromise on the haredi IDF draft law. Separately, the IDF has quietly severed a long-standing security coordination practice with the Palestinian Authority, citing fears of information leaking to terrorists.
US Military Aid: Netanyahu's Office Declines to Deny Phaseout
In a development that has rattled Israel's security establishment, Ynet reports that Netanyahu's office has not denied that President Trump reached an agreement with the Prime Minister to end US military aid as early as next year — and that neither the defence establishment nor the Treasury Ministry were informed in advance. The Prime Minister's office offered only the assurance that "the economy is strong and stable."
The confirmation gap deepens a crisis that has been building since the US midterm elections earlier this week. According to the Jerusalem Post, as hostility towards Israel grows on both the American Left and Right, prolonged coalition negotiations and the prospect of yet another Israeli election carry a mounting strategic cost. The paper warns that Israel would be making "a serious mistake" to ignore the political calculations now reshaping Washington's posture.
Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren, cited by Maariv, was blunt: "If Netanyahu remains in office, the chance of improving relations with the US is negligible" — while adding that replacing him would not necessarily be sufficient to repair the relationship.
Arutz Sheva offered a dissenting perspective, arguing that the biggest myth about US aid is finally collapsing in Israel's favour — that most money the US "gives" Israel must be spent in America, and that the arrangement has historically given Washington leverage over Israeli decision-making. The end of that arrangement, the outlet argues, could ultimately free Israel strategically.
VP Vance's Remarks Demand a Response from Jerusalem
Both the Jerusalem Post's editorial board and its opinion pages focused heavily on Vice President JD Vance's post-midterm comments, in which he linked Republican electoral losses to the Iran war. The Post's editorial board called on Vance to clarify what changes he wants in US-Israel ties and why distancing Washington from Jerusalem would help. A separate Jerusalem Post opinion column described Vance as "beginning to sound more like Rahm Emanuel on Israel" — a reference to voices on both sides of the American political aisle now questioning the terms of US support.
Ynet reported that Donald Trump Jr. echoed Vance's framing, claiming the Iran war drove up fuel prices and pushed voters away from Republicans, while insisting the electoral losses have no connection to his father's broader policy record.
IDF Stops Alerting Palestinian Authority Ahead of Arrest Operations
In a significant operational change, Arutz Sheva reports that the IDF has decided to stop providing the Palestinian Authority's security forces with advance notice of arrest operations in the West Bank. The decision followed an Arutz Sheva report and was driven by concerns that information was being leaked to the very terrorists the IDF was attempting to apprehend. The practice of advance coordination had been a feature of security cooperation between Israel and the PA for years; its suspension marks a notable deterioration in that relationship.
Shin Bet Election Probe: Police and Shin Bet in Open Conflict
The institutional standoff between the Israeli Police and the Shin Bet over the investigation into alleged interference in the recent elections intensified on Friday. Ynet reports that the head of the Police Investigations Division, Commissioner Boaz Blat, wrote formally that any assistance to the Shin Bet — including downloading camera footage, conducting investigations, or any other action related to the probe — must pass through him personally. This follows days in which the Shin Bet withheld investigative material from the Police. A senior former Shin Bet official, Israel Hasson, speaking to 103FM radio and cited by Maariv, delivered a sharp public rebuke of Shin Bet chief David Zini, warning of damage to democracy and comparing the handling of the affair to "brain surgery with an axe."
Coalition Talks: Liberman Softens on Haredi Draft, UTJ Responds
In the clearest shift yet in post-election coalition negotiations, Avigdor Liberman, chairman of Yisrael Beytenu, announced via a post on X that it is "permitted and desirable to be flexible and compromise" in order to form a government without Netanyahu. Crucially, Liberman signalled willingness to compromise even on the haredi IDF conscription law — the issue that has most sharply divided potential coalition partners.
The response from the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party was cautiously positive. UTJ chairman Yaakov Asher said, according to the Jerusalem Post, "It is heartening to see the flexibility displayed by all political players regarding the issue of military conscription." A UTJ source, cited by Maariv, went further: "If we find a genuine meeting point, we can move forward."
Ynet reported that Change Bloc member Yair Golan welcomed the development positively.
Saudi Normalisation: Not Under Netanyahu, Source Says
A Saudi source cited in a Jerusalem Post report delivered an unambiguous message on the prospects of normalisation with Israel: "Saudi Arabia wants peace, negotiations, and for the Israeli-Palestinian issue to be closed via a two-state solution. But Netanyahu is not there." The report states flatly that Saudi normalisation will not happen under the current Netanyahu government.
Iran-Linked Ships Tracked Over Gulf Communication Cables
Ynet, citing a Financial Times report, flagged a concerning pattern in the Gulf of Oman: at least four ships linked to Iran were documented sailing unusual routes and loitering above underwater communication cable lines. Three of the vessels are tankers under US sanctions. The report describes the behaviour as consistent with "the profile of mine-laying." Any disruption to undersea cables in the Gulf would have wide consequences for regional and global communications infrastructure.
Jerusalem: Beit Hanina Compound Demolished
Israeli police demolished a compound in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Beit Hanina that had been used to house Palestinians living in Israel without permits, the Jerusalem Post reports. The demolition followed a police operation at the site approximately three weeks ago in which 155 Palestinians from the West Bank were apprehended.
Shin Bet Thwarts Planned Attack; Weapons Found at Base
Maariv's breaking news desk reported that a Shin Bet-guided unit arrested three suspects who had been planning a terrorist attack. Separately, Maariv reported that a civilian arrived at a military base with what was described as a "bomb array," which sappers worked to neutralise over three and a half hours. In a further incident, security personnel discovered boxes of ammunition and dozens of grenades inside a small vehicle at the entrance to a base.
Mor Shmali Buried Beside Her Husband Alon
In a moment of profound grief, Ynet reports that Mor Shmali, 35, was laid to rest beside her husband Alon in the section of the cemetery reserved for victims of the 7 October massacre. Mor survived her injuries for an extended period before passing away. Her mother eulogised her: "My firstborn daughter, I did everything to keep you with us." She was described as "an educator by grace, a teacher for life" who brought children with special needs to achievement.
Antisemitism in the UK: Schools and Accountability
Arutz Sheva published a pointed commentary noting that Jewish children in the United Kingdom are being abused at school because of their identity, and arguing that a child's right to feel safe must carry greater legal and institutional weight than the rights of adult activists to promote political agendas in educational settings. For diaspora Jewish communities — particularly in Britain — the piece reflects ongoing concern about the safety of Jewish children in state schools.
Sources
- Jerusalem Post: After America's midterms, the clock is ticking for Israel
- Jerusalem Post: The alliance with America is changing – opinion
- Jerusalem Post: After vague midterm remarks, VP Vance must clarify – editorial
- Jerusalem Post: Why JD Vance is beginning to sound more like Rahm Emanuel
- Ynet: Netanyahu does not deny US aid will be stopped next year
- Ynet: Trump Jr. – the Iran war caused the Republican loss
- Arutz Sheva: IDF stops informing PA about arrest operations
- Ynet: Police chief of investigations – no information to Shin Bet without my approval
- Ynet: Liberman – we will compromise on IDF draft too
- Jerusalem Post: Liberman willing to compromise on haredi IDF draft law
- Jerusalem Post: Saudi normalisation will not happen under Netanyahu – source
- Ynet: Iran-linked ships tracked over Gulf communication cables
- Jerusalem Post: Police demolish Beit Hanina compound
- Ynet: Mor Shmali buried beside her husband Alon
- Arutz Sheva: In the UK, Jews are abused. In Israel, Arabs vote and are elected.
- Arutz Sheva: The biggest myth about US aid to Israel is finally collapsing
