The key facts
- Netanyahu posted an AI-generated image on X of a nuclear strike on Tel Aviv with a warning of a 'second Holocaust' if he loses the election
- Netanyahu posted on X an AI-generated image of a nuclear strike on Tel Aviv with a warning of a 'second Holocaust' if he loses the election
- Trump renewed his endorsement of Netanyahu, saying Israel and the US must 'finish the job' in Iran
- The Palestinian Authority reported nearly 2,700 displaced people during the operation in Hebron after two Israeli soldiers were killed
- The Palestinian Authority reported nearly 2,700 displaced people during the operation in Hebron following the deaths of two Israeli soldiers
A campaign under pressure from the polls
According to polls, Israel's general election is expected to be a tight race, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as The National writes, is 'throwing everything he can at the voter'in order to hold on to power. The outlet listed the six most controversial steps taken by the prime minister in the final days of the campaign.
Warning of a 'second Holocaust' and a clash with the army
On Sunday, Netanyahu posted on X an AI-generated image of a nuclear strike on Tel Aviv with a caption warning of a 'second Holocaust' if he is not re-elected. This contradicts his earlier statements about Israel's and the US's 'historic victory' over Iran, which allegedly set back Tehran's nuclear programme. Former prime minister and opposition figure Naftali Bennett called it fear-mongering: in his words, the claim that 'if he loses, we will all die — is a lie.' Hours after the prime minister's post, reports emerged of an 'unprecedented standoff' between him and the chief of the general staff , Eyal Zamir, who, according to media reports, resisted Netanyahu's attempts to launch some kind of military operation. CNN reported that the prime minister had sought a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran before the election, but Trump did not approve it. Opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot expressed 'full support' for Zamir.
Escalation in the West Bank
After Friday's attack in Hebron in which two Israeli soldiers were killed, Netanyahu ordered a large-scale military operation. The Palestinian Authority said the operation has already led to the displacement of nearly 2,700 people. Israeli officials, according to The National, boast of using the same harsh methods as in last year's demolition of refugee camps. The effect on voters, however, appears limited: Israeli broadcaster Kan reported that soldiers taking part complain that they are 'sitting in ambushes doing nothing,' accusing the government of political motives behind the operation.
Cryptocurrency idea rejected by economists
On Friday, Netanyahu proposed starting to use cryptocurrency and blockchain to counter sanctions related to the West Bank. The Bank of Israel rejected the idea, saying such technologies 'cannot be used as a way to circumvent sanctions,' and stressed that the right path is maintaining relations with key trading partners. The idea was also condemned by more than 100 leading economists and business leaders, and Eisenkot called it a threat to national security, saying that after 'dismantling Israeli society,' Netanyahu 'has marked out the next target: dismantling the Israeli economy for generations to come.'
Second Trump endorsement and meetings with the police
Late on Sunday, Netanyahu received a renewed endorsement from Donald Trump, who wrote on Truth Social that Israel and the US must 'finish the job' in Iran, and attached his week-old endorsement, noting his 'wonderful relationship' with Netanyahu. The prime minister regularly emphasises his closeness to Trump and criticises his opponents for lacking experience in relations with the US. A separate scandal was caused by his meeting with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and police chief Daniel Levy, which the attorney general initially deemed improper. The Central Elections Committee allowed the meeting on condition that the election would not be discussed; however, Haaretz reported that on Monday Netanyahu expressed concern about 'left-wing anarchist' demonstrations on election day — despite the committee's ban.
A deal with the ultra-Orthodox party
Another scandal was sparked by footage in which, according to reports, Netanyahu and his entourage negotiate with the ultra-Orthodox rabbi Chaim Yosef Abergel, accused of sexually abusing children. The prime minister sought the withdrawal from the race of the small 'Ahi' party led by the rabbi in order to secure more votes for his bloc; in the video, it is claimed, Netanyahu offered him the post of deputy minister in the next government, and the party subsequently withdrew from the campaign. Bennett called for 'the entire Jewish people to see this secret documentation,' describing what happened as a 'corrupt deal'.
