St.-Sgt. (res.) Omer Balva, 22, was killed on the night of October 20 in an anti-tank missile attack along Israel’s border with Lebanon. Balva was a dual Israeli-American citizen who grew up in Rockville, Maryland. A resident of Herzliya, he served as a commander in the Alexandroni Brigade. He was in the US when he was called up to reserve service, flying back to Israel to report for duty.
President Biden requested on October 20 military aid for Ukraine and Israel in a massive $105.85-billion national security package. In an Oval Office speech, Biden requested $61 billion in military aid for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel, saying this would secure US interests for generations to come. His request came as the US House of Representatives was in limbo, as Republicans, who hold a narrow majority, unable to elect a speaker.
An agreement was reached on October 11 to bring Benny Gantz’s opposition National Unity party into an emergency government amid the war against Hamas, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Gantz announced in a joint statement. They created a small war cabinet, comprising Netanyahu, Gantz, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, with MK Gadi Eisenkot and Minister Ron Dermer serving as observers. Five members of the National Unity party were added to the broader security cabinet.
Top IDF brass, including Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevy and Military Intelligence Directorate head Maj.-Gen. Aharon Haliva said they bear responsibility for the failures that led to Hamas carrying out its surprise onslaught on October 7. “The IDF is responsible for the security of the country and its citizens, and on Saturday morning in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip, we did not handle it,” Halevi said. “We will learn, we will investigate, but now is the time for war.” Haliva said: “We failed in our most important mission, and as the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, I bear full responsibility for the failure.”
Public Diplomacy Minister Galit Distal-Atbaryan resigned in mid-October, saying she felt her ministry had become redundant and she couldn’t justify using up the budget. “The head of the hasbara (public relations) system decided to appoint the Diaspora Affairs Ministry responsible for the hasbara of the State of Israel in the international stage alongside the Foreign Ministry’s regular activity,” she said. “I respect that decision.”
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has appointed two special envoys tasked with fostering innovation and combating antisemitism. Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum was named Israel’s special envoy for innovation, while Michal Cotler-Wunsh was named special envoy to combat antisemitism. “Today, we introduce two distinguished diplomats who will bolster Israeli diplomacy, possessing proven experience and exceptional capabilities,” Cohen said. “They will engage with diverse audiences and represent the State of Israel on the global stage.”
Olympic champion Artem Dolgopyat gave Israel its first world gymnastics gold by winning the men’s floor final in Antwerp on October 7. Dolgopyat scored 14.866 points to take the title ahead of Japan’s Kazuki Minami (14.666), with Milad Karimi (14.600) of Kazakhstan receiving the bronze. Ukraine-born Dolgopyat, 26, won floor silver at the worlds in 2017 and 2019, before claiming the Olympic title in Tokyo.
