Tense Shabbat in Israel as pivotal elections approach
Unless there is a major emergency, many of the far-right politicians who have set the tone in Israel for the past four years will put down their phones and log off for Shabbat on Friday evening. The country’s secular community will keep campaigning to some extent, but might also opt for a moment of rest before the crucial final days until polls open on Tuesday morning. After a week as frantic as…
In the tense days leading up to Israel's pivotal elections, the country grapples with a series of crises. On Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the "full closure" of the occupied West Bank following a shooting incident near Hebron. Five individuals, including family members Mohammad Jaaba and Firas Jaaba, were injured.
The military claimed the attackers planned a "large-scale" attack on Israelis. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who resides in the illegal settlement of Kiryat Arba, called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ordered the demolition of illegal Arab structures near the attack site. Defence officials warned of increased settler violence during the elections, fearing a potential change in government might lead to the demolition of illegal settlements.
Violence erupted as candidates from various political factions campaigned. Michael Illouz, whose son Guy was abducted during the October 7 attacks, was assaulted by supporters of Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. In Jerusalem, a glass bottle was thrown at Netanyahu's motorcade after a market visit, though no one was injured. Supporters of Netanyahu attacked a man heckling him about transferring funds to Hamas, while a billboard displaying opposition leader Yair Golan received death threats.
Defence Minister Israel Katz faced criticism for accusing opposition leaders of responsibility for future attacks on Israel. Both Netanyahu and Katz warned of potential Iranian interference in the elections. Opposition leaders argued that Netanyahu might launch another conflict against Iran for political gain, as the polls remain deadlocked.
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