Israel’s founding prime minister and father of the state
The Altalena, the Irgun’s wartime cargo ship sunk in 1948 after a clash with Ben-Gurion’s government, has been located off Tel Aviv. Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir are using the find to sharpen right‑wing messages ahead of the October 27 vote, while historians caution the episode remains a symbol of internal nationalist tension.
Haaretz has published book excerpts saying UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Benjamin Netanyahu in late September 2023 that Hamas was planning a major operation. Haaretz says Netanyahu reacted calmly and did not inform Israel's security chiefs; Netanyahu has denied the call, instructed lawyers to sue Haaretz, and rivals have seized the story ahead of the Oct. 27 election.
Netanyahu has faced sustained political pressure as he heads into a parliamentary election. Critics say he relies on victimhood rhetoric and populist tactics to deflect scrutiny, amid new reporting and shifts in opposition dynamics that could reshape Israel’s political landscape.