Find articles

Israelis head to the polls today for one of the most consequential elections in the country's history — with rival camps warning that victory for the other would put Israel's future in jeopardy. Why it matters: The elections are yet another referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and the path he's taken the country down over the past four years. It's Israeli voters' first chance to hold Netanyahu accountable for the security failures that led to the Hamas-led October 7 attacks — or to reward him for what he claims were unprecedented military successes in the three years of war since. If Netanyahu and his far-right coalition win, they're likely to renew the war with Iran in an effort to topple its regime, intensify their crackdown on Israel's democratic institutions and move to end Netanyahu's corruption trial. Driving the news: Netanyahu's campaign was totally focused on the war with Iran. After two military campaigns over the last 18 months in which he claimed that Israel destroyed Iran's nuclear program, Netanyahu's main talking point was that Iran is moving closer to a nuclear bomb. Earlier this week, Netanyahu went as far as posting an AI-generated image of Tel Aviv being destroyed by an Iranian nuclear bomb — implying that's what will happen if he loses. Behind the scenes: Netanyahu spent weeks trying to persuade President Trump to give him a green light to strike Iran ahead of the elections. Trump did not go along. In the 72 hours before the elections, Netanyahu tried to order the Israel Defense Forces to take steps to lay the ground for a potential new military strike or take actions short of an overt attack, Israeli officials say. IDF chief of staff General Eyal Zamir refused to abide. He warned that such a strike could lead to a miscalculation that quickly escalated hostilities and potentially forced the elections to be called off, the officials said. The Israeli officials said Zamir insisted there was no operational urgency in taking these steps ahead of the elections and eventually got Netanyahu to back off. The other side: Netanyahu's main opponent, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, ran on holding Netanyahu accountable for the October 7 failure, forming a national commission of inquiry and drafting ultra-Orthodox men to strengthen the IDF after three years of war. Another Netanyahu opponent, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, blamed the incumbent for what he called extreme government dysfunction the past four years. Both attacked Netanyahu over the fact that some of his closest advisers and his campaign manager received money from Qatar in return for trying to sway Israeli public opinion during the war. Bennett called it "treason." (Netanyahu said he didn't know his advisers were paid by Qatar, and the aides said the money was for a project involving the World Cup.) State of play: Netanyahu and his ultranationalist, ultra-Orthodox bloc arrived at the election unorganized, divided, and highly unpopular. Many of its voters are demoralized, and they face a significant risk of losing voters who back pro-Netanyahu parties that don't pass the 3.25% electoral threshold. The opposition bloc, by contrast, arrived at the elections well organized and with little risk of losing votes to the electoral threshold. The voters of the opposition parties have been much more motivated, with many civil society organizations focusing on canvassing and increasing turnout. More than 50,000 Israelis who have left the country over the last four years traveled back to participate in the elections, according to estimates. Most of them are expected to vote for the opposition parties. The turnout among the Arab minority in Israel is pegged to be the highest ever, with the two Arab parties projected to win around 15 seats combined. With 61 seats needed for a majority, that's a sizable bloc. But the final days of the campaign saw infighting between the opposition parties. Some members of Eisenkot's bloc have yet to accept his leadership. Yes, but: Netanyahu has defied all odds multiple times before. He could still energize his base on election day and win back disgruntled voters who considered switching sides. Netanyahu doesn't have to win. He only needs to get enough seats to block his opponents from forming a coalition or swearing in a minority government. That would allow him to serve as a caretaker prime minister for another six months until another election is held. What to watch: If the opposition bloc wins more seats than Netanyahu's, it will be up to Eisenkot to quickly unite his political partners behind a government that would remove Netanyahu from power. More than 7 million people are eligible to vote, and turnout is expected to be the highest in decades. Polls close at 4 pm ET.

Renewed diplomatic efforts to end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil prices lower

Israel heads into a high-stakes election with Benjamin Netanyahu's political future and legacy on the line as voters weigh his security record and the continuing Iran threat.

A rare joint visit to Tehran is expected by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan amid reports that the U.S. and Israel are drawing up plans to renew their war on Iran.

High-profile delegates from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey arrived Monday in Tehran for talks aimed at avoiding another escalation in Iran's war with the U.S. and Israel.

Officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey met in Tehran on Monday to avert a wider war between Iran, Israel and the United States.

Israel votes for its new government tomorrow in an election which has been widely described as the most consequential in decades. Benjamin Netanyahu is fighting to retain his premiership, with retired general Gadi Eisenkot emerging as his main rival. But the election campaign has been consumed largely by Iran, national security, and the three-year war inside the country. Shira Efron, Distinguished Chair for Israel Policy and Senior Fellow at RAND & Ryan Bohl, Senior Middle East and North Africa Analyst at RANE spoke to Bloomberg’s Abeer Abu Omar on Horizons Middle East & Africa. (Source: Bloomberg)

High-level delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey were in Tehran on Monday for meetings with Iranian authorities to try to avert renewed fighting between Iran and Israel and the United States, two regional officials said. The talks come as many in Iran are...

President Donald Trump renewed his endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday evening, urging Israelis to reelect him in Tuesday's election with a renewed call to “finish the job” against Iran. The post Trump Re-Endorses Netanyahu Ahead of Israeli Election: ‘We Have to Finish the Job’ Against Iran appeared first on Breitbart .

Iran has drawn up detailed plans to strike undersea communications cables in the Persian Gulf if the United States and Israel attack it again, two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters.The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, gave few details and did not...

Many Iranians are bracing for a return to all-out war as Israeli and U.S. leaders sharpen their threats ahead of elections in both countries in the coming days, and as Iran's leaders remain defiant despite mounting pressure.

On Bloomberg This Weekend, former US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro assesses the risk of renewed fighting with Iran after elections in Israel and the US and warns that another round of military operations could deepen regional and global economic strains. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Shapiro examines Israel’s election and argues that a change in Israeli leadership could provide an opportunity to reset a US-Israel relationship that has become increasingly strained. (Source: Bloomberg)

University of Chicago political scientist Robert Pape warned Saturday on Newsmax that the conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States could escalate dramatically in the coming weeks, with upcoming elections in Israel and the U.S. potentially creating conditions...

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that new threats of war would not dissuade his country's approach to its war with the United States and Israel.

On Bloomberg This Weekend, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert discusses how security, democracy and the war in Iran are shaping Israel’s election and argues that the country needs a change in its approach to settler violence in the West Bank. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Olmert also examines how the US midterms could affect the US-Israel relationship and says decisions about further military action against Iran should be based on intelligence rather than electoral politics. (Source: Bloomberg)

On Bloomberg This Weekend, Bloomberg Economics Defense Lead Becca Wasser and Bloomberg News Middle East correspondent Dan Williams examine how elections in the US and Israel could shape the next phase of the Iran war, including the possibility of renewed US strikes after the midterms. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Wasser and Williams assess potential US military options, Iran’s capacity to retaliate and the political calculations facing President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Source: Bloomberg)

With new intelligence and the possibility of all sides seeking pretexts for action, the war in Iran is entering a dangerous phase ahead of elections in the United States and Israel.

The United States and Israel have drawn up plans to renew strikes against Iran, creating a sense of dread among war-weary residents.

A Middle East war that President Donald Trump said would be over in a matter of weeks now looks set to escalate as it enters its eighth month.

Iran is not happy with the term "Iran conflict" to describe the regime's battle with the U.S. and Israel.

Multinational ‘anti-war bloc’ uses Istanbul summit to call for a diplomatic solution to Middle East crisis Foreign ministers at a summit of eight European and Middle Eastern countries have urged the US and Israel not to renews their attacks on Iran, warning a fresh outbreak of fighting would spread conflict and push oil prices even higher. The development of a new multinational “anti-war bloc” represents a challenge to the increasingly open plans by the US and Israel to relaunch strikes on Iran while talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme remain deadlocked. Continue reading...

The US-Israel war with Iran has been dormant for months, beyond sporadic flare-ups.

In Israel, unlike in the US, the war against the Islamic Republic was broadly popular.

Iran has warned that if the U.S. and Israel relaunch air strikes, it will strike American bases, warships and airports, pipelines and other civilian targets throughout the Persian Gulf, The Wall Street Journal reported.

President Donald Trump warned Thursday that the United States may launch further strikes against Iran, as Washington and Israel prepare for a possible new offensive following the November midterm elections. The post Trump Signals More Iran Strikes — ‘We May Do It a Little Bit Further’ appeared first on Breitbart .