Wednesday, September 30
Seven stories that matter in Israel right now, each one compared across the newsrooms that covered it.
Tonight's brief: the aftermath of a dramatic mid-air attack on a FlyDubai flight bound for Israel dominates the news, alongside legal and political battles over Knesset eligibility and Netanyahu's clash with the media over October 7th warnings.
- 1Indian Pilot Fought Off Co-Pilot's Attack on Flydubai Jet
Ynetnews reports that Indian pilot Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv but fought back, helping crew and passengers subdue the attacker before the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia and continued on to Israel.
- 2Passengers Recount Terrifying Flight Evacuation, Praise Saudi Hospitality
Ynetnews says passengers evacuated on the FlyDubai rescue flight described a terrifying ordeal at Ben Gurion Airport, particularly hard on children, while praising Saudi Arabia for its hospitality and assistance during the crisis.
- 3FlyDubai Flights Resume Amid Passenger Apprehension After Incident
Cursorinfo reports FlyDubai flights have resumed from Ben Gurion Airport hours after the incident, with passengers showing mixed reactions of apprehension and reassurance as Israeli carriers brace for higher demand on alternative routes.
- 4Israel's Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Disqualify Jewish Power Party
Kikar reports Israel's Supreme Court has rejected a petition to disqualify the Otzma Yehudit party from the 26th Knesset elections, upholding the Central Elections Committee's earlier decision and keeping the party on the ballot.
- 5Israel's Attorney General Backs Banning Arab Israeli Lawmaker from Knesset
i24_he reports Israel's Attorney General has recommended the High Court bar Arab Israeli lawmaker Sami Abu Shehadeh from running in the Knesset elections, citing his support for armed struggle and recent controversial remarks about Hamas terrorists.
- 6Netanyahu Sues Media Over Hamas Attack Warnings, Faces Probe Risk
Arab48 reports Prime Minister Netanyahu is suing several media outlets for 2.6 million shekels over reports that he was warned ahead of the October 7th Hamas attack, a case that risks evolving into a broader probe of pre-attack failures as outlets seek to prove the warnings were delivered.
- 7Palestinian Elections May See New Alliances Including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Dahlan Faction
Ashams reports upcoming Palestinian legislative elections could see a new unified list bringing together Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Mohammed Dahlan's faction to challenge Fatah's dominance, marking a notable shift for Islamic Jihad, which has historically boycotted such votes.