{
  "id": 7053324,
  "title": "Israel’s election polls are stable, but the country is not",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/israels-election-polls-are-stable-but-the-country-is-not-7053324",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-13T03:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/09/13/israels-election-polls-are-stable-but-the-country-is-not/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As Israel concludes the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, many are praying for peace and calm amidst a period of heightened regional tension. The nation remains on high alert due to reports of Iran rebuilding its nuclear and missile facilities, heightening fears of an Iranian attack. Israel is facing unprecedented international isolation, exemplified by the UK along with 11 other Western nations imposing sanctions on illegal settlements in the West Bank.\n\nWith election polls scheduled for October, Israeli parties have submitted their final candidate lists. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced significant backlash for allegedly disregarding warnings about Hamas preparing for the October 7, 2023 attacks. Within voting blocks, disputes persist over strategies and egos, with concerns that foul play could determine the outcome. A survey by the Israel Democracy Institute revealed that 59% of Jewish Israelis believe there is a high likelihood of internal interference, while 72% expressed concern over the integrity of the elections.\n\nDespite the mounting tensions, the current electoral landscape is one of deadlock. Pollster Dahlia Scheindlin noted that the positions of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his opposition remain remarkably stable, with no significant shifts in either direction. If there is no late surge for Netanyahu or a sudden shift in coalition dynamics, Israel may be left with a caretaker government until new elections, potentially triggering further cycles of elections.\n\nDespite his uncertain prospects, Netanyahu's long-standing tenure has established him as the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history. Some speculate that he might seek strategic escalations in the region or the occupied West Bank, or even pressure US President Donald Trump to intervene on his behalf. However, pollster Scheindlin remains skeptical that another escalation would significantly impact the polls. She suggested that such an escalation might portray Netanyahu as cynically exploiting ongoing conflicts for political gain, or at the very least, demonstrate that he lacks control over perpetual military interventions.\n\nFor the broader region, a Netanyahu loss would present a significant opportunity for Palestinians in Gaza. Dr. Ali Al Awar, a Hebrew University researcher, believes that such an outcome could provide hope for Palestinians and potentially prompt pressure from the Trump administration and the international community to facilitate a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, southern Lebanon, and a security agreement with Syria. Additionally, it could lead to a change in Israel's approach to the West Bank and East Jerusalem, possibly halting the protection of settler populations. Michael Hanna, director of the US programme at International Crisis Group, expressed uncertainty about President Trump's commitment to Netanyahu's re-election, but acknowledged that Netanyahu's loss would benefit Israel by ending the headache caused by extremist-right policies within his cabinet. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the relationship between the two countries remains deeply institutionalized, suggesting that Trump's influence may be limited.",
  "summary": "As Israel concludes Rosh Hashanah, when Judaism teaches that God determines humanity’s fate for the coming year, many are praying for peace and calm after a long period of regional conflict. The country is on high alert for an Iranian attack, amid reports that Iran has started rebuilding nuclear and ballistic missile facilities. All this comes as Israel deals with unprecedented international…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Israel’s election polls are stable, but the country is not",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/israels-election-polls-are-stable-but-the-country-is-not",
        "published": "2026-09-13T03:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}