Confusion over Mossad bid to find fate of airman * Facebook’s self-inflicted shutdown * An Azeri gunman in Cyprus * Royal flush w/Temple-era toilet * Saudi books improve

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Tuesday, October 5, 2021 Presented by OurCrowd [Mossad kidnapped an Iranian general to obtain info on Ron Arad – report]( By [Emanuel Fabian and Amy Spiro]( [Hebrew media reports reverse course on operation, citing sources indicating it was a success after earlier reporting it as a failure]( [Mossad op to find info on missing soldier Ron Arad was a failure – reports]( By [TOI staff]( [Mossad agents went on recent mission to find info on Ron Arad, PM reveals]( By [Amy Spiro]( [Sufferers of major vaccine side effects could get ‘Green Pass’ without 3rd dose]( By [Amy Spiro]( [Top Health Ministry official says an exceptions committee will look into such cases, which are believed to be rare]( [IDF restricts access to military camps to Green Pass holders only]( By [Emanuel Fabian]( [EU drug agency gives green light to COVID vaccine booster for adults]( By [AP and TOI staff]( Israel media review [A failure to communicate: What the press is saying about the hunt for Ron Arad]( By [Joshua Davidovich]( [Bennett’s news that spies carried out a mission for info on the captured airman sets off a whirlwind of criticism and counterclaims, leaving nobody the wiser as to his actual fate]( ToI podcast [TOI staff]( [Daily Briefing Oct. 5 – Should Shin Bet help fight crime among Arab Israelis?]( [Breaking news editor Emanuel Fabian speaks about using the security service to stanch intra-Arab violence; environmental reporter Sue Surkes discusses Chevron court case, Arava oil]( From our sponsor [Israeli startup helps boats, planes and trains run on time]( [Linda Gradstein]( [IntellAct uses AI to help airlines, seaports and transportation hubs save billions]( [Back after mammoth 6-hour outage, Facebook blames changes it made to its routers]( By [TOI staff and Agencies]( [Almost unprecedented global shutdown reportedly exacerbated by tech chaos that kept staff from getting into building to find and fix problem; Zuckerberg’s wealth said dipped $6b]( [Q&A / Why did Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp shut down; why did it take so long to fix?]( By [Katy Lee and Daniel Hoffman]( [Azerbaijani hitman said at center of Iran plot to attack Israelis in Cyprus]( By [TOI staff]( [Suspect reportedly crossed from Turkish side of island on bike and was casing out Israeli businessmen; was arrested by anti-terror unit while in possession of gun and silencer]( [Failed Cyprus assassination seen as Iranian revenge plot — TV]( By [TOI staff]( [Iran urges UN watchdog to condemn nuclear site ‘sabotage’ it blames on Israel]( By [AFP]( [Azerbaijan denies Iran’s claim it is hosting Israeli military troops]( By [AFP]( From the blogs [Efraim Inbar]( [Israel must actively oppose US return to the JCPOA]( [Even if Bennett’s government is staying quiet for appearance’s sake, its silence on the nuclear deal poses numerous threats to Israel’s security]( Live updates [LIVE: Bennett: Israel seems to now have ‘upper hand’ against current COVID wave]( By [TOI staff]( [‘All indicators are showing a gradual decline in morbidity,’ PM says, but cautions ‘we cannot become complacent’]( Top Ops [Alice Gomstyn]( [Giving my children the Jewish education I never had]( [As a child of Soviet Jews, I want my children to experience Jewish community – and I hope they’ll help provide strength in numbers to a population under siege]( [Alon Tal]( [The new Europe-Asia crude oil pipeline deal is terrible for Israel]( [The agreement, shrouded in secrecy and misinformation, will reportedly increase tanker traffic 10-fold, multiplying the risk of yet more catastrophic spills]( [Israelis discover ‘traitor’ immune cells that first fight, then aid brain cancer]( By [Nathan Jeffay]( [White blood cells initially combat brain cancer, but then ‘guard’ tumor and help it grow; Tel Aviv U. scientists behind finding believe discovery will lead to better treatments]( [Royal flush: Rare First Temple-era private toilet unearthed in Jerusalem]( By [Amy Spiro]( [‘Only the rich could afford toilets’ 2,700 years ago, says Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist who uncovered the ancient latrine]( [Saudi textbooks show dramatic improvement in depictions of Jews — study]( By [Lazar Berman]( [IMPACT-se report says ‘profound changes’ taking place in the kingdom; but problematic material on Zionism, gender roles remains]( [Israeli ministers meet UAE counterparts on sidelines of Dubai Expo]( By [Amy Spiro]( [Israel inks $630 million air defense sale to Czech Republic]( By [Emanuel Fabian and AFP]( [Biden national security adviser to host Israeli counterpart for talks on Iran]( By [Jacob Magid]( [Sullivan, Hulata to hold 1st in-person meeting of bilateral forum established to address Tehran nuclear threat, will hold follow up meeting to discuss Palestinians, Abraham Accords]( [Republican senator blocks expedited US passage of Iron Dome funding]( By [Jacob Magid]( [Iran signals it could return to nuclear talks next month]( By [AFP and TOI staff]( [Herzog lands in Ukraine ahead of Babi Yar massacre memorial ceremony]( By [AFP and TOI staff]( [‘Never forget terrible’ 1941 slaughter of 33,000 Jews, president urges as he embarks on first official overseas visit since taking office]( [Former Nazi death camp secretary, 96, released from custody after fleeing trial]( By [Yannick Pasquet]( [Failed leadership: Bennett, Netanyahu trade blame on COVID, Iran in Knesset]( By [Raoul Wootliff]( [At opening of winter session, opposition chief accuses current coalition of ‘abandoning people to their deaths’; PM claims previous government led ‘2 years of stagnation’]( [Coalition said to agree on avoiding incendiary bills until after budget passes]( By [TOI staff]( [Poll shows increased support for Likud, Yesh Atid; coalition dips slightly]( By [TOI staff]( [Lapid pleads for coalition to stay united, as Netanyahu vows to topple it]( By [Amy Spiro]( Analysis [Lazar Berman]( [Pandora Papers fuel growing domestic discontent with Jordan’s Abdullah]( [Key Israeli partner accused of corruption, as citizens suffer from economic downturn; regime is in no existential danger but revelations will add to criticism]( [Pandora Papers: Jordan’s King Abdullah denies misdoing in luxury home purchases]( By [AP]( [‘Pandora Papers’ reignite calls for more scrutiny of tax havens, and dodgers]( By [AP and TOI staff]( [Judge asks witness in Netanyahu trial: How can we tell when you’re lying?]( By [TOI staff]( [Ilan Yeshua, former CEO of the Walla news site and a key prosecution witness in Case 4000, tells the court that he used to lie regularly — but he is not a liar]( [CRM]( More Headlines [Hollywoes / ‘Jewface’: Sarah Silverman pans casting of non-Jews as Jews]( By [Amy Spiro]( [Police suspect murdered 17-year-old-girl was buried alive]( By [TOI staff]( [Government approves establishment of gender equality cabinet]( By [Stuart Winer and TOI staff]( [Israeli ‘smart road’ startup to deploy charging infrastructure in Tel Aviv]( By [Ricky Ben-David]( [High school graduation rates ticked up last year despite COVID]( By [Amy Spiro]( [Congressman Madison Cawthorn cites ‘Christian principles’ of King David in ad]( By [JTA and TOI staff]( [Prof. Arie Levine named as top doctor suspected of sexual assault of women, girl]( By [TOI staff]( [Earth is dimming as climate change boils away clouds, study finds]( By [Stuart Winer]( [Retail giant Gap acquires Israeli AI analytics company CB4]( By [Ricky Ben-David]( [Leaning Ra’anana apartment building demolished amid fears of collapse]( By [Amy Spiro]( [David Schoen, lawyer who defended Trump during impeachment, to chair ZOA]( By [Ron Kampeas]( [Israel’s Orca Security raises additional $340m at $1.8b valuation]( By [Ricky Ben-David]( [Unsubscribe from this List]( Email not displaying correctly? 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