In the Financial Times’ “Big Read”, Andrew England considers Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s respective geostrategic repositioning. England describes the “lofty ambitions and soaring confidence of oil-rich Gulf states — buoyed by petrodollar windfalls after last year’s surge in energy prices — that are determined to chart their own courses in an era of polarising, shifting global dynamics.” In the context of US efforts to facilitate normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, England considers the increasing confidence in these states over the greater options provided by increasing multi-polarity. “The message to the US from Riyadh and Abu Dhabi,” he writes, “is, ‘We will come to you first, but if you don’t deliver we will go elsewhere,’ analysts say, be it weapons or technology. They add that the Gulf states are not averse to playing one country off against another. But it is a fine balance.”

The Independent covers Iran’s unveiling of a new drone yesterday. Resembling the US’s MQ-9 Reaper, the state-run IRNA news agency said the Mohajer-10 is able to fly for up 24 hours, has the range to reach Israel, and is able to fly up to 24,000 feet with a speed of 210 kph (130 mph), carrying a bomb payload of up to 300 kilograms (660 pounds). On a visit to inspect the weapon, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said “Today, we can firmly introduce Iran as an advanced and technologic nation to the world.”

The BBC reports the death of 17-year-old Palestinian militant Othman Abu Kharj during an Israeli raid near Jenin on Monday night. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed Abu Kharj as a fighter in their “rapid response unit”, while the BBC reports that raids took place in at least 20 locations across the West Bank following the killing of three Israelis in separate attacks by Palestinian gunmen this week.

In the wake of the recent furore over actor Bradley Cooper’s portrayal of the Jewish American composer Leonard Bernstein, The Daily Mail features Dame Helen Mirren describing criticism of her own casting as former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, despite her not being Jewish, as “utterly legitimate”. “It was certainly a question that I had, before I accepted the role,” said Mirren. “I said, ‘Look Guy [Nattiv, the film’s director], I’m not Jewish, and if you want to think about that, and decide to go in a different direction… I will absolutely understand.’”

Much of the Israeli media is dominated by the quadruple homicide in Abu Snan in the Western Galilee yesterday evening, in which four members of the Saab family were shot dead at point blank range by an as yet unknown assailant. The dead consist of local mayoral candidate Ghazi Saab (53), Zaher Al-Din Saab (45), Ameer Saad (28), and another family member from Yarka. Maariv records that last month Ghazi Saab wrote a Facebook post which read: “Lately, there has been a marked escalation in violence and crime in our villages. These violent acts have crossed all lines and we cannot remain silent. Stop the violence, We are very saddened about what’s happening in our beloved country. I call on you, don’t act with violence, because there is no reason to kill, there are other ways to cope. We hope the violence disappears from our villages.”

Maariv also reports that security forces were called to village of Abu Snan after violent riots began, which saw stones thrown at investigating officers. Kan Radio reports that following the Saab murders, in a separate incident a resident of Likiya in the Negev arrived last night at a local police station with his son, who was critically-injured after sustaining multiple stab wounds. A Magen David Adom team rushed the young man to Soroka Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The two incidents bring the total number of Israeli Arabs murdered in 2023 to 155, with today seeing the funeral of Abed al-Rahman Kashua, director general of the Tira municipality who was murdered on Monday. After al-Rahman’s killing, Prime Minister Netanyahu said: “The murder of the director general of the city of Tira crossed a red line. We cannot tolerate these murders, the criminal organisations, the protection rackets and the takeover of the municipality. We will use all means, including the Shin Bet and the police, all means, in order to defeat this crime. We have eliminated organised crime in the Jewish sector in Israel and we will eliminate organised crime in the Arab sector in Israel. Every citizen of Israel must feel secure and not under the shadow of the threat of internal terrorism.”

Following yesterday’s murders, Kan Radio also reports the Druze community convening an emergency meeting under the auspices of its spiritual leader Sheikh Muwafaq Tarif. In a statement released after the meeting the community demanded immediate government action to stem the violence. In response, the prime minister announced that he will convene an urgent meeting of the government subcommittee charged with addressing crime in the Arab sector today.

Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Ameer Basharat argues, “The numerous attacks on public servants in Arab local government as well as attacks on candidates running in the municipal elections, prove that this is all part of a method, which has an objective and purpose.” Basharat goes on to write, “Minister Smotrich understands the problem perfectly well, as did Minister Shaked before him. They also know what the solution is: to deter the criminals and to prevent any attack on government. But neither he nor she had any interest in protecting democracy in Arab society… For years, Israeli governments have acted deliberately by turning a blind eye and refraining from dealing with violent crime in Arab society, creating a monster that on a daily basis attacks local government, the public’s choice and the public arena.”

Kan Radio discusses the latest disagreement between Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Baharav-Miara informed Levin that the committee he intends to form to investigate alleged abuses involving Pegasus spyware would be barred from reviewing cases that are currently pending, including those involving the prime minister. The AG cited fears of obstruction of justice and of undermining the law enforcement system’s independence, while Levin, in response, accused her office of itself having a conflict of interest and announced his determination to form the committee soon.

Ynet reports a significant recent increase in inquiries from Israelis wanting to obtain a European passport or an immigration visa. “Some link it to the judicial overhaul legislation,” said an Israeli European envoy, “while others believe the reason to be the high cost of living. There are more and more Israeli families requesting passports, queues have been growing to numbers we haven’t seen before. We feel like this has become a phenomenon.” Embassies reporting particularly notable spikes include France, the Netherlands, Romania, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Italy, and the Baltic states.