Israeli statesman and general who served as prime minister in two terms
Israel's election scene has intensified as rival parties push security and national service reforms. Eisenkot's Yashar gains in polls amid debates over security doctrine and universal service, while Netanyahu faces AI-assisted attacks and controversy over ultra-Orthodox exemptions. The mix of new coalitions and legal challenges shapes the race.
The Altalena, a wartime Irgun cargo ship sunk in June 1948, has been located off Tel Aviv. Israel has been salvaging the wreckage for years. Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu calls the find a deep national wound and notes it underscores Menachem Begin’s order to prevent civil war. Netanyahu’s government now leans on the episode to frame right-wing strength.
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.
Jewish communities face heightened threats ahead of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, with rising antisemitic incidents in Britain and the United States. Leaders urge preparation over hope as security concerns intensify amid political strains over Israel and Gaza.
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.
Trump has publicly endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s elections, calling him a “Great Warrior Prime Minister” and a “Partner for Peace” in confronting Iran. The endorsement follows months of strain over the Iran war, with Netanyahu seeking to maintain a right-wing coalition as polls suggest a tight race.