The region tries to assume its responsibilities. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan - the signatories to Mecca joint defence pact - travel to Tehran in a bid to avert Iran sliding back into a disastrous third war against US and Israel. The discussion point will be a regional security pact that includes Iran, a long standing Iranian proposal, but of which many versions exist.

Yisrael Beytenu, chairman Avigdor Liberman, called on Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to open a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on suspicion of treason, according to a statement released on Monday and reported in Israeli media. Liberman's appeal does not establish criminal wrongdoing or mean an investigation has opened. The demand follows a report by N12 on Sunday that Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir had clashed over a proposed military operation that could trigger a confrontation with Iran, just two days before Israel's October 27 election. Liberman accused Netanyahu of attempting to draw Israel into a military confrontation to prevent the elections from taking place. In a statement published on X on Sunday, Liberman said he believed Netanyahu was attempting to force Israel into military action to prevent the vote, describing the alleged conduct as a betrayal of the state and its security. He further argued that the chief of staff had a responsibility to prevent the military from being used for political purposes and to protect soldiers from unnecessary risks. Speaking at a campaign rally shortly before Channel 12’s report aired, Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot had told supporters that Netanyahu would go to any lengths to retain power. “I see the polls, I know the data, and I know Netanyahu,” Eisenkot said. “He’ll stop at nothing — no lie, no extreme measure — to stay in power.”