Fifty-two heads of state will gather for NATO's annual summit in Turkey, which is set to become an unprecedented font of confrontation. On one side is the worsening clash between the isolationist Trump administration and many European countries. On the other is the meteoric rise of Erdogan as a central axis in the alliance. While the US president lavishes praise and military assistance on Turkey, and Europe courts its enormous army, Israel is watching the Turkish president's growing strength with concern.

Senior opposition figures, the justice system and media organizations harshly criticized the government's decision not to comply with a High Court ruling on the composition of the Second Authority for Television and Radio Council. They also warned of damage to the Israel's rule of law and freedom of the press.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was at war, not conducting a "special military operation," while blaming the West for the escalation • Russia fired more than 2,000 drones and 1,700 guided bombs at Ukrainian territory over the past week.

In a statement issued by the government, it said, “The government unanimously approved the proposal by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and declared that it would not recognize any decision, approval, appointment or action carried out by the Second Authority Council as long as it does not meet the explicit threshold conditions set by law.

Attorney Dean Livne said the Central Elections Committee was preparing for “the most transparent elections ever” in an effort to prevent delegitimization of the results. He said it was impossible to rig Israel’s elections, but it was possible to make the public believe they had been rigged. Livne warned against fake content in the age of AI: “Do not believe what you received on WhatsApp.”