Friday, October 2
Seven stories that matter in Israel right now, each one compared across the newsrooms that covered it.
Tonight's brief covers the dramatic Flydubai mid-air attack and its aftermath, Supreme Court rulings on Knesset candidacies, a US crackdown on Hamas financing, and relief at the pump for Israeli drivers.
- 1Passengers Subdue Attacker on Flydubai Flight, Avert Disaster
N12 reports that Israeli passengers on a Flydubai flight overpowered an attacker who stabbed the pilot and tried to crash the plane, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia that saved all 174 people aboard.
- 2Israeli Passenger Recounts Harrowing Mid-Air Struggle on Flydubai Flight
INN carries survivor Yaniv Hayun's account of rushing the cockpit during the violent mid-air struggle, briefly taking the controls himself before the crew regained command and landed safely.
- 3Hundreds of Israelis Stranded in Dubai After Flight Diversion
Hamal reports hundreds of Israelis remain stranded in Dubai after flight cancellations tied to the security incident, with travelers complaining of poor communication and support from both the airline and Israeli authorities.
- 4Supreme Court Urges Withdrawal, Allowing Joint List and Others to Run
Jpost reports the Supreme Court pushed back on the Central Elections Committee, clearing the Joint List, Ra'am and MK Ofer Cassif to run while Sami Abu Shehadeh agreed to withdraw his own candidacy.
- 5Supreme Court Urges Arab Party Leader to Withdraw to Avoid Disqualification
Haaretz (Hebrew) reports the Supreme Court had urged Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh to step aside after judges reportedly leaned toward disqualifying him, with a final ruling expected by Sunday.
- 6US Sanctions France-Based Fundraisers Accused of Funneling Millions to Hamas
i24NEWS reports the US Treasury sanctioned two France-based fundraisers and a Hamas operative accused of funneling over $2 million to Hamas—$1.5 million of it after October 7—under the cover of Gaza humanitarian aid.
- 7Israel to Cut Fuel Tax, Lowering Gas Prices Next Week
Ice reports Israel's Finance Minister is set to sign a decree cutting the gasoline excise tax by about 50 agorot per liter, dropping pump prices to 7.77 shekels in the second such tax cut this year.