Iran hints at preemptive strike on Israel if it sees 'indications of threats'
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January 06, 2026
January 06, 2026
Police launch manhunt after man shot dead in Bedouin town of Arara
Police say that a man was shot to death in the Bedouin Negev town of Arara early Wednesday morning. According to a statement, the man was evacuated to Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva where he was pronounced dead.
Police believe that the the shooting was the result of dispute between families.
A manhunt has been launched for the suspects.
One killed, three wounded as bus runs over Haredi protesters in Jerusalem
Medics evacuate the body of a Haredi protester run over by a bus in Jerusalem, Tuesday. Credit: Noam Revkin-Fenton
Medics evacuate the body of a Haredi protester run over by a bus in Jerusalem, Tuesday. Credit: Noam Revkin-Fenton
A 14-year-old ultra-Orthodox protester was killed, and three others were wounded after a bus ran over demonstrators at a Haredi protest in Jerusalem.
The victim was identified as Yosef Eisenthal from the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot.
An estimated 15,000 people are protesting in Jerusalem against drafting yeshiva students into the Israeli military. Several journalists and individuals at the scene were attacked while filming the events with smartphones.
An eyewitness spoke to Israeli media, saying that the protesters "stopped the bus ... and spat on the driver and that's it, and then he saw that he had no way out, he rammed all the Haredi protesters, and ran us over."
Syrian official says U.S.-led initiative halts all Israeli military action
A senior Syrian official said a U.S.-led initiative announced on Tuesday would immediately suspend all Israeli military activity against Syria, calling it a "historic opportunity" to advance negotiations between the two countries.
The official said Damascus saw the move as a positive step but stressed that progress on what he described as "strategic files" with Israel would be impossible without a binding and clear timetable for a complete Israeli withdrawal.
January 06, 2026
Israel, Syria to set up de-escalation, intelligence sharing mechanism
IDF forces in the demilitarized zone in Syria, in February. Credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Office
IDF forces in the demilitarized zone in Syria, in February. Credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Office
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said diplomatic dialogue between Israel and Syria "resumed with U.S. backing and support."
According to Netanyahu's office, "The dialogue took place in line with [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump's vision for promoting peace in the Middle East, during which Israel emphasized the importance of its citizens' security and removing threats from its borders."
Israel "reiterated its commitment to promoting regional stability and security and to the need to promote economic cooperation for the benefit of both countries," the statement continued, adding that the sides "agreed to continue the dialogue to promote common goals and maintain the security of the Druze minority in Syria."
Following the U.S.-mediated talks that took place in Paris on Tuesday, Israel and Syria are expected to announce a joint "fusion mechanism" for de-escalation, intelligence sharing, diplomatic dialogue and economic opportunities, Haaretz has learned.
January 06, 2026
Israeli forces raid West Bank university, wound 11; IDF says it dispersed 'incitement' rally
Israeli forces raided Birzeit University near Ramallah on Tuesday during a demonstration in support of Palestinian prisoners organized by the student council, the university said in a statement.
The IDF said its soldiers raided the West Bank's Birzeit University to disperse a "gathering in support of terror and incitement to terror."
Palestinian students flee as Israeli soldiers fire in Birzeit University in the central West Bank, Tuesday. Use under Section 27A of the Copyright Law
Medics said they treated 11 people wounded in the raid, including five wounded by live gunfire. In a statement released in Hebrew, the military said IDF soldiers and Border Police forces "used riot dispersal means, fired into the air and dispersed the gathering." The mention of gunfire at the beginning of the raid was omitted in the statement released in English.
"Later on, an additional violent confrontation broke out that involved hundreds of suspects, during which rocks were hurled from rooftops in the area toward the forces, posing an immediate threat to them," the IDF said in its English statement, adding that soldiers used "precise fire toward the main violent individuals."
January 06, 2026
Iran hints at preemptive strike on Israel if it sees 'indications of threats'
Iran's leadership warned on Tuesday of a preemptive strike against Israel, the country's newly created Defence Council said in a statement released Tuesday.
Any interference in Iran's internal affairs by the Islamic Republic's enemies or action to undermine stability in the country would be answered, the council, which was set up in August, said. It added that Iran would not limit itself to reacting "only after an action has taken place," but would also view "specific indications of threats as part of the security equation."
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps conducted military drills on Sunday, testing its air defense systems and the readiness level of its missile units. Iran's threat of a preemptive strike was issued at the same time as Iranian security forces are facing widespread protests that broke out due to the country's rising inflation.
Three killed in Aleppo attacks, Syrian government, SDF trade blame
People stand near damaged cars after a wave of attacks in Aleppo, Syria, in December. Credit: Karam al-Masri/Reuters
People stand near damaged cars after a wave of attacks in Aleppo, Syria, in December. Credit: Karam al-Masri/Reuters
At least three people were killed and several others wounded in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, state news agency SANA said on Tuesday, citing Aleppo's health director, after deadly attacks for which Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces traded blame.
Syria's defence ministry said in a statement that the SDF had continued its "escalation" by targeting army positions and residential areas in Aleppo. The SDF denied its responsibility, saying that the casualties were caused by "indiscriminate" artillery and missile shelling by factions aligned with the Damascus government.
The violence came days after a meeting between senior officials from the SDF and the Damascus government on implementing a deal agreed nearly 10 months ago that aimed to fully integrate the semi-autonomous Kurdish region into the central Syrian government.
Opposition MK: Would rather have Haredi parties in gov't than 'Arabs of one kind or another'
MK Simon Davidson from opposition leader Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party said he would prefer to include ultra-Orthodox MKs in a coalition rather than Arabs, adding he would not agree to work with Palestinians.
In an interview with the Knesset Channel, Davidson said both Haredim and Arabs are "not Zionists," adding, "personally, I would go for the Haredim," explaining that they have a sectarian interest and are "less involved in security."
He continued, "I am very afraid that we will have 61 seats, and within the 61 there will be four or five seats of an anti-Zionist party, of Arabs of one kind or another, and from a security perspective we'll get stuck."
He added that he doesn't trust United Arab List Mansour Abbas not to join forces with the Palestinian factions, saying, "After October 7, I don't want to work with any Palestinian ... Mansour Abbas identifies as a Palestinian."
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