Israeli politician and former prime minister
The Board of Peace-backed roadmap has reached a final draft in Cairo, with Hamas accepting the framework while stipulations hinge on Israel’s withdrawal and disarmament. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey push for a staged implementation, though Netanyahu’s position on disarmament and the timing of a withdrawal keep the plan in flux amid Israel’s elections.
The Times of Israel reports ongoing confrontations within Israel's ruling coalition over ultra-Orthodox exemptions from military service. Lawmakers have pushed through measures while facing opposition from a shrinking band of dissenters; the issue shapes the political landscape ahead of the upcoming election.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, establishing a mutual defence framework. The pact treats an armed attack on any member as an attack on all, while stopping short of detailing automatic troop deployment. It builds on prior defense ties and signals a move toward a more regionally driven security order amid heightened Gulf tensions and Iran-Israel dynamics.
Airservices Australia reports ongoing delays at major airports amid a shortage of air-traffic controllers. Officials say delays have reduced slightly year-on-year, but disruption remains a risk as the workforce faces high demand and rostering challenges.
The Times of Israel reports on a senior official’s call for Muslim states to unite against Israel amid ongoing regional tensions. The interview characterizes Israel as a product of historical declarations and notes Pakistan’s stern stance toward Israel, highlighting a broader regional polarization.
The Guardian reports that Gadi Eisenkot, Israel’s former military chief and leader of the Yashar party, is gaining ground in the polls ahead of October elections. Western media have spotlighted his profile against Netanyahu, while critics note his record during the Gaza war and his past role in the war cabinet.
Settlers have returned to Kadim, north of Jenin, with around 30 pioneer families arriving under military escort. The reopening follows the 2005 disengagement and signals a broader push to revive four northern West Bank settlements, amid a wider surge in settlement activity under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. Palestinian residents fear displacement as tensions rise alongside new outposts and tenders in nearby areas.
The Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash), Balad and Ta'al announce a three-party Joint List to confront Israeli political challenges. They say unity is essential to defend Palestinian rights, rebuild trust, and push for ten seats in the Knesset, aimed at countering a fascist right-wing government.
A far-right Israeli lawmaker and aides have destroyed a Palestinian monument in Madama under Israeli escort. The move draws widespread condemnation from international observers, Palestinian leaders, and Israeli officials, who say it undermines security and current attempts to defuse tensions.
A former Israeli police official will run on Raam's election list, making him the first Jewish Israeli to stand for an explicitly Arab party. Mansour Abbas announces the anti-crime platform and Yoav Segalovitz joins, highlighting cross-communal cooperation as polls project Raam to win five or six seats in the Knesset.
Israel’s parties have submitted candidate lists ahead of the 2026 elections. Likud and Religious Zionist Party are among the last to file, while the Joint List also appears on the slate. Polls suggest no single party will secure a majority, and democracy concerns are rising among Israelis amid a shifting political landscape.
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.
NAZA, an 80‑minute documentary by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, has premiered at the Venice Film Festival, won a special jury prize and prompted sustained criticism from Israeli officials. The film presents anonymous testimony from 24 Israeli military and intelligence personnel alleging AI‑assisted targeting and frequent civilian deaths in Gaza; Israel’s defence establishment has rejected the claims and ordered inquiries.
A new wave of polls shows no bloc winning a clear 61-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Surveys indicate tightening odds for coalitions and room for potential cross-bloc deals, depending on small party performances ahead of the October vote.
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.
Britain has announced sanctions in response to West Bank settlement activity, with measures targeting imports from settlements and discretionary sanctions on entities supporting settlement expansion. The move comes ahead of Israel's looming election and amid international coordination with France and Canada.
Israeli and Palestinian sources have reported two deadly incidents in the occupied West Bank on 20 September 2026: a shooter opened fire at people at a spring near the Neve Tzuf settlement, killing an Israeli settler who later died in hospital; and Israeli forces have shot dead a driver who allegedly attempted a ramming attack near the Ganim settlement. Security forces have arrested a suspected shooter at a Ramallah hospital and have imposed closures and raids across multiple West Bank villages.
A US-backed Board of Peace has presented a six-month, $2.45bn, 66-project recovery plan for Gaza but implementation has not started. Israel has expanded control over much of the Strip, Hamas has not fully disarmed, donor pledges remain largely unpaid and international forces and Palestinian technocrats have not entered to begin reconstruction.
Arab warnings from Egypt and the UAE are now corroborated by multiple outlets, including The Atlantic and The Wall Street Journal. The reports describe Israeli leaders receiving cautions about Gaza's volatility in the weeks before the October 7, 2023 assault, with Egypt’s Abbas Kamel and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed reportedly warning of imminent danger.
Israel’s prime minister faces defamation lawsuits as Haaretz and other outlets are accused of publishing false reports about warnings to Netanyahu before the October 7, 2023 attacks. The stories persist as other outlets report related warnings from Egypt and the UAE, while Netanyahu denies having been warned.
Israel marks three years since the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023, with memorials, vigils and protests across the country. Activists demand a state commission of inquiry into security failures. The day features national ceremonies, regional gatherings, and a moment of silence at 6:29 a.m. as communities reflect on the war’s toll.
Three years after Hamas’s October 7 assault, Israelis mark memorials at Nova festival and other sites. Bereaved families and survivors recall loss as elections loom, while calls for accountability and investigations into security failures persist amid ongoing Gaza fighting and international reactions.
Three years after Hamas’s October 7 onslaught, Nir Oz memorials reopen with exhibits showing personal items of victims, survivors recount the siege, and residents reflect on rebuilding as elections loom.
A video shows Rabbi Dov Lando, 96, the spiritual leader of Degel HaTorah, condemning Zionism and questioning Israel’s state, while also saying ultra-Orthodox service exemptions are tied to politics. The remarks come three weeks before the October 27 election and add fuel to debates over Haredi military exemptions and the government’s stability.
A group of ORT Ma’alot students and teachers on a hiking trip near the Lebanese border has been struck by an unexploded ordnance believed to be a Hezbollah cluster submunition. One 14-year-old student has died and about two dozen more are injured. Investigations focus on the route approval, UNACCESSIBLE warning signs, and the handling of ordnance near a military frontier.
Arab-Israeli voters are mobilising ahead of the October 27 election, with turnout surging among Palestinian citizens of Israel. Polls suggest Arab lists could be kingmakers, potentially shaping whether Netanyahu or Eisenkot leads the next government. The dynamic is redefining coalition math in a deeply divided Israel.
The Guardian‑produced NAZA, based on 24 anonymous Israeli military insiders, has sparked a political backlash after Venice’s Special Jury Prize. Netanyahu has called for investigations and citizenship revocation; filmmakers face legal and security pressure even as the film screens in over 50 countries. A counter‑film and online misinformation efforts have emerged, challenging NAZA’s claims.
Israel has approved budget cuts totaling around NIS 4.9 billion affecting education, health, welfare, and other ministries, while defense procurement proceeds with AH-64E Apache helicopters. The government argues the measures fund urgent projects and security needs, though opponents criticize the impact on public services and welfare programs. The debate centers on funding sources and the balance between defense and social spending.
President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 election, offering a “complete and total endorsement” and calling him a “Great Warrior Prime Minister.” Multiple outlets report Israeli officials asked Trump for added statements and media outreach; Likud has denied those reports. Partial returns have left Netanyahu’s bloc short of a Knesset majority.
Israel has held tightly contested elections in which both Benjamin Netanyahu’s right‑wing bloc and a Zionist opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot have fallen short of a majority. Arab‑led lists have increased turnout and are on course to win a record number of Knesset seats, giving them potential leverage while most major parties rule out formal coalition ties.
Israel has held a high-turnout election whose early counts and exit polls have shown Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition each winning roughly 50–52 Knesset seats, short of the 61 needed to form a government. Arab-led parties have surged to about 17–18 seats and are positioned to hold the balance of power as final results are completed.
Israel faces a pivotal election since Hamas’s 2023 attacks, with Netanyahu’s Likud bloc opposed by Eisenkot’s Yashar-led alliance. Polls show a tight race, a fractured Knesset, and debates over security, settlements, and Arab-party leverage. Voters weigh wartime leadership, economic stability, and the path to a possible coalition.
Israeli forces have launched a large operation in Hebron after two soldiers were killed at a checkpoint, displacing roughly 3,000 people, demolishing homes and infrastructure, and imposing a citywide lockdown. Israeli leaders have defended the raids as counterterror measures; UN officials and rights groups have warned the steps amount to collective punishment and risk ethnic cleansing.
Netanyahu has said Israel is preparing ways to bypass sanctions through an alternative economy, including blockchain-based currencies. The Bank of Israel rebukes the idea, warning it cannot replace traditional finance. The comments come amid growing international sanctions pressure and Israel’s political confrontations ahead of elections.
Protesters in Tel Aviv rally three days before Israel’s general election, organized by the October Council to demand accountability for the October 7 Hamas attack. Opponents and supporters convene, with polls showing a tight race between Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc and a rival coalition. The event seeks a state commission of inquiry into security failures while authorities warn of potential provocations.
Israelis cast ballots in a pivotal Knesset election as exit polls point to a tight race between Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc and Eisenkot’s Yashar coalition, with Arab parties potentially kingmakers. Results suggest no clear majority, setting the stage for weeks of coalition talks and possible caretaker governance.
The Israeli prime minister has warned of existential danger and has reportedly pressed the IDF toward action on Iran on the eve of elections. Reports also indicate pressure on military leadership and mixed signals from allied leaders about possible pre-election strikes.
The 2026 elections are underway with high turnout across the country. Netanyahu and rival parties warn of irregularities, while Arab voters show strong engagement. Arabic-language ballot access and reports of arrests and suspected interference shape the day’s events.
Palestinian rights groups report a surge in settler attacks in the West Bank, while Israeli authorities expand settlement activity. The combination risks further inflaming a volatile regional situation.
With 85% counted, Likud leads with 53 seats; Eisenkot’s Change Bloc holds 48. Arab-led parties are rising to a record 19 seats. Final results could take days as absentee ballots are tallied and a governing coalition forms, or a new election is called.
Arab-led lists appear poised to hold a record number of seats in Israel’s Knesset, potentially influencing coalition formation as final results loom. Netanyahu’s bloc and Eisenkot’s opposition remain short of a majority, while Arab turnout is at historic levels.