{
  "id": 14635011,
  "title": "Netanyahu fears Iran war before election could cost Likud power, give Eisenkot the win",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/netanyahu-fears-iran-war-before-election-could-cost-likud-power-give",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T07:10:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-911761"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fears that launching a military campaign against Iran in the weeks leading up to the election could harm his Likud party's prospects of retaining power, sources close to the situation told Maariv. Internal Likud evaluations have bolstered confidence that the competing factions could emerge with an equal number of seats or that Netanyahu's bloc could achieve a majority, but Netanyahu remains apprehensive that a security escalation could alter the electoral landscape. In recent discussions between Jerusalem and Washington, it was conveyed that Israel would rather wait until after the October 27 Knesset election to begin military action against Iran. Netanyahu has expressed two primary concerns about initiating a campaign at this juncture: the challenge of postponing the election and the possible consequences of Iranian retaliation on Israel's domestic front. A senior Likud official stated that these scenarios are \"precisely the scenes we cannot afford to see,\" highlighting Netanyahu's stance. Likud officials worry that missile strikes, casualties, and prolonged disruptions to daily life could shift public opinion in the final days before the election. Despite assessments published in the US suggesting that renewed strikes against Iran could result in Iran launching hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel, Netanyahu considers postponing the election due to a security emergency to be impractical. The 80-member requirement in Basic Law: The Knesset to pass legislation extending the Knesset's term, along with special circumstances that prevent the election from occurring as scheduled, makes securing the necessary opposition support unlikely. While Likud officials remain optimistic based on internal assessments, public polling presents a mixed outlook, with some polls indicating Netanyahu's bloc falling short of the 61 seats required for a majority. Senior Likud officials believe their bloc can improve its position before the election and wish to avoid an escalation that might undermine their efforts. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the opposition Yashar party, recently stated that he is unaware of any critical development justifying immediate joint US-Israeli action against Iran. However, he emphasized that he has not had access to the most recent intelligence since leaving the war cabinet. The information attributed to Netanyahu in private differs from briefings suggesting he favors a strike before the election, believing another campaign would politically benefit him. Despite reports of discussions between Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump regarding resuming an Iran war, the White House denied any such talks. Israeli officials believe the White House's denial aims to distance Israel from the American debate, avoiding reinforcement of claims that Netanyahu influences Trump's decisions. Tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high, with Trump threatening Iran in a recent campaign rally and the Pentagon preparing for extensive military operations against Iran. However, the operational assessment in Israel is that Trump has not made a final decision on attacking Iran, and no date has been set for action in the near future. Military preparations continue, while Iran strengthens defenses around strategic facilities and restores capabilities damaged in the previous campaign. Diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran persist, focusing on issues such as Iran's nuclear program, shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz, and a potential agreement to prevent further escalation.",
  "summary": "Israel has told Washington it would prefer military action against Iran to begin after the October 27 election, according to sources familiar with the matter.",
  "key_points": [
    "Netanyahu fears Iran war before election could cost Likud power",
    "Likud officials worry missile strikes, casualties could shift public opinion",
    "Gadi Eisenkot leader of opposition Yashar party unaware of critical developments"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Prioritizing electoral stability over immediate military action signals that political survival and the risk of domestic disruption now outweigh the strategic urgency of striking Iran before the upcoming election.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}