Israel's election tightens as right-wing fractures, regional tensions spike, and settler violence draws international pressure
Netanyahu scrambles to consolidate votes as splinter parties threaten bloc unity
Right-wing fragmentation reshapes election race — Throughout the week, the Israeli election campaign was dominated by the right-wing bloc's struggle to coalesce. Internal polls and surveys from Kan 11 and other outlets showed Yashar! under Gadi Eisenkot leading Likud, with the right-wing bloc weakening to 48-50 seats against the Change bloc's 52-54. Netanyahu worked to persuade small parties to withdraw, meeting Rabbi Sadan and others to convince Ofer Winter's Amcha Yisrael party to drop out, but Winter refused despite offers from Netanyahu and Smotrich. The Achi party under Rabbi Yoram Abargel did withdraw, but fragmentation persisted, with media personality Avi Shoshan backing Winter and splitting the right further. The Haredi draft crisis also flared, with protesters storming a UTJ meeting and the AG reporting 67,230 Haredi draft dodgers, adding to coalition tensions. US-Iran tensions and IDF readiness spike ahead of elections — The week saw a sharp escalation in US-Iran tensions, with US Ambassador Tom Barrack warning of a possible US strike on Iran this weekend, and President Trump hinting at further military action called 'Epic Fury'. The US reduced diplomatic presence in several Middle Eastern countries. Israel and the US were reportedly close to a joint strike on Iran but halted it, while the USS Theodore Roosevelt deployed to the region. The IDF declared high alert, froze leave, and flew a large-scale maneuver to the Iran border. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir prepared for escalation in Judea and Samaria after a Hamas attack at Yehuda Junction wounded five, and security officials suspected Hamas in Turkey behind a shooting near Hebron that killed two soldiers. The military also faced a severe 40 billion shekel budget gap, with cuts across ministries and limited procurement. Settler violence and European pressure intensify — International pressure on Israel over settler violence escalated sharply this week. The US, European, and other nations demanded Israel crack down after attacks on a Washington Post photographer and a European diplomatic delegation in the West Bank, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling for prosecution. The British Foreign Secreta