After a storm of controversy following a series of statements, Daniel Davis, who was slated to be appointed as the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Mission Integration—a position very close to the US president—will not take up the role, an informed source told the Jerusalem Post.In the past, Davis condemned US support for Israel in the war against Hamas and accused the United States and Israel of pushing Iran to accelerate its efforts to develop nuclear weapons, while referring to Tehran as a "marginal regional power."

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday it had prevented a series of attacks against military and civil servants, the Interfax news agency reported.According to the FSB, "Ukrainian special services" planned to send explosive devices in parcels by mail.

Senior political sources reported that Itamar Ben-Gvir is expected to return to the government next week, Ynet first reported on Thursday.According to Ynet's sources, talks are underway regarding the return of former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the government. Ben-Gvir's party, Otzma Yehudit, however, immediately denied the reports, saying it was "devoid of any basis.""Contrary to the statements from political sources, there is no agreement on returning to the government.""We will return to the government only when the government returns to functioning as a right-wing government that defeats Hamas and returns the hostages by force, and does not beg Hamas to agree to continuing a reckless deal."

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Thursday that a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine backed by the US and Ukraine needed to be reworked to take account of Russia's own interests, the RIA state news agency reported."The document, it seems to me, has a hasty character... It will be necessary to work, think, and take into account our position, too. It outlines only the Ukrainian approach," RIA cited Ushakov as saying.