Two wanted members of the Hamas terror organization were arrested overnight in Judea and Samaria. One was arrested in village of Al-Mazra’a al-Qibliya near Ramallah, and the other was detained in Surif, near Bethlehem.

They have been transferred for questioning by the Israeli security forces.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon announced on Friday that he is quitting his position and political life due to a “lack of trust” in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The move follows a deal struck by Netanyahu to replace Ya’alon as defense minister with MK Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party.

“I informed the prime minister this morning that, due to his conduct during recent developments and the lack of trust in him, I am quitting the government and the Knesset and am taking a break from political life,” Ya’alon wrote on Twitter.

Netanyahu and Ya’alon, both members of the Likud party, have publicly butted heads recently over a series of issues related to the independence of the IDF top brass from its political leadership.

Ya’alon said that he would deliver a speech at 12:00 in Tel Aviv.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended his condolences to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on the EgyptAir flight from Paris to Cairo that went missing over the Mediterranean Sea last night. The flight was carrying 66 passengers, among which 30 were Egyptian citizens.

“On behalf of all the citizens of Israel, I offer condolences to Egyptian President al-Sisi and to the Egyptian people following the catastrophy of the plane in the Mediterranean Sea,” the prime minister said.

A stabbing attack was thwarted on Thursday as a Palestinian teenager, approximately 16 years old, was caught carrying a butterfuly knife with the intention to stab Israeli police officers, the Jerusalem Police announced.

The teen aroused the suspicion of police officers and border patrolmen stationed near the Shuafat light rail station in eastern Jerusalem, who then followed him onto a bus heading toward Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate, the statement said. The officers searched the teenager and found the knife, whereupon he was taken for questioning and admitted that he intended to carry out a stabbing attack against Israeli police officers.

“We continue to act with our widespread and enhanced activity in Jersualem to ensure the security of its residents,” said the Jerusalem police district commander. “The ability of officers and border patrolmen to identify the abnormality of the suspect’s behavior in the operational environment attests to proper professionalism and the highest degrees of preparedness and alertness. We will continue to act diligently to protect the security of all the capital’s residents.”

The Palestinian Authority’s foreign affairs office said earlier today that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition agreement with Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Liberman, is evidence of the absence of a will on Israel’s part to engage in a peace process with the Palestinians.

“The Prime Minister of Israel is sending a message to the world that Israel prefers extremism and devotes itself to occupation and settlement over peace,” the office said in a statement.