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Thursday, October 29, 2026

Netanyahu’s Likud Loses Majority As Israel Election Count Ends, Arab Parties Gain Ground

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has lost its majority in the Knesset, the country’s parliament, after the counting of votes in the Israeli elections concluded on Thursday, with 100 per cent of ballots counted. Netanyahu’s coalition bloc secured 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while opposition parties won 48 seats. Arab-led parties collectively secured 19 seats, emerging as a potentially decisive force in determining the country’s next government. Although Likud emerged as the single largest party with 27 seats, neither the ruling coalition nor the opposition bloc managed to reach the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority. The outcome has left Israel facing an uncertain political future, with the possibility of an unusual alliance involving Arab parties potentially changing the balance of power. <h2>Israel Election Results: How Parties Fared</h2> Among the other major parties, Yashar secured 21 seats, while B’Yachad won 12 and the Joint List obtained 11. The Democrats and Ra’am secured eight seats each. United Torah Judaism (UTJ), Yisrael Beytenu and Otzma each won seven seats, while the Religious Zionists and Shas secured six seats apiece. With no bloc commanding a majority, the opposition could potentially form a government if the remaining opposition parties join hands with Arab parties. Such an arrangement would be an unusual and politically risky move, but the combined numbers could give them the support needed to cross the majority threshold. Although the vote count is complete, the results are yet to be formally certified. They will be submitted to Israel’s president next Wednesday. <h2>Netanyahu Alleges Election Was ‘Stolen’</h2> Even as the results pointed to a setback for Netanyahu, his Likud party intensified allegations of electoral wrongdoing by Arab-led parties. The claims began circulating after exit polls suggested the prime minister had suffered losses in Tuesday’s election, but the party escalated its rhetoric following remarks by the head of Israel’s election committee, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg. Sohlberg had said that “serious suspicions” of foreign interference had been brought to his attention. In a letter to the Shin Bet security agency, however, he acknowledged that he could not verify the allegations and requested an investigation because of their serious nature. Likud subsequently issued an inflammatory statement declaring: “The elections in Israel have been stolen!” The party alleged, without providing evidence, that the purported interference was intended to facilitate a foreign takeover of the Knesset, bring about the “Islamisation of Israel” and overthrow the right-wing government. <h2>Netanyahu's Party Accuses Qatar Of Interfering In Polls</h2> Israeli media reports said members of Netanyahu’s party had accused Qatar of involvement in the alleged interference. Qatar, which many Israelis view as a supporter of Hamas, the Gaza-based militant group, swiftly rejected the accusations, describing them as “ridiculous and dangerous”. Netanyahu’s principal rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, accused Likud of attempting to undermine the legitimacy of the election results because of its poor performance. “They are doing this because they lost,” Eisenkot said. He also responded sarcastically to the allegations against Qatar, saying: “I welcome the fact that Netanyahu is finally condemning Qatari involvement in the State of Israel.” Netanyahu has himself faced longstanding allegations that some of his former senior aides accepted money from Qatar, adding another dimension to the political controversy surrounding the election results.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/israel-election-results-netanyahu-likud-loses-majority-in-knesset-arab-parties-gain-ground-1873854

Facing racist attacks, South Asians in Texas back Democrats, says survey

Washington, Oct 29 (PTI): At the receiving end of racist attacks, South Asian voters are backing Democratic candidates in Texas, including James Talarico for the US Senate – a key seat to wrest the upper house from Republicans. More than 60 per cent of voters surveyed by the South Asian American Voter Empowerment of Texas Education Fund (SAAVETX EF) and the University of California San Diego said they would back Talarico for the US Senate over Republican Ken Paxton, and Gina Hinojosa for Governor over incumbent Greg Abbott. Among registered voters, 66 per cent preferred Talarico, while 21 per cent preferred Paxton. In the gubernatorial race, 63 per cent preferred Gina Hinojosa, while 27 per cent preferred Abbott. As many as 58 per cent respondents reported at least one experience of hate, including online harassment, threats of violence, and damage to places of worship in Texas during the past year because of their race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, accent, or immigration background. Sixty-four per cent respondents said they frequently or sometimes heard South Asians or immigrants described as “invaders” or “outsiders” in the past two years. Separately, when asked about their 2024 presidential vote, 65 per cent reported voting for Kamala Harris and 25 per cent for Donald Trump. South Asians account for 19 lakh of Texas’ 60 lakh population and Indian-Americans number 5.5 lakh, the second-largest presence after California. The rising numbers of Indian-Americans in Texas have made them a target of racist attacks from MAGA supporters of President Trump, which also became a campaign issue for the upcoming midterm elections. Last month, Bo French, the Republican candidate for the Texas Railroad Commissioner’s post, triggered a political row when he described, in a social media post, South Asian students celebrating a Texas football game as a “problem”. The remarks were condemned by outgoing Texas Senator John Cornyn, who was defeated in the Senate primary elections by Paxton, a Trump-backed candidate. “Our community is tired of being treated as outsiders and used as political pawns. When elected officials and candidates fuel hostility, people feel less safe and less confident in the institutions meant to protect them,” Chanda Parbhoo, founder and executive director of SAAVETX EF, said in a statement. A 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman in Texas was in the spotlight of a political debate last month when a conservative YouTuber called for “tearing this down”, drawing a sharp backlash from Hindu groups and thinkers alike. The Statue of the Union, installed at the Asthalaxmi Temple in Sugarland, Texas, has been at the centre of a controversy since its consecration in August 2024, with a section of Christian conservatives describing it as a “demon God”, “unChristian”, a “false god” and a “character from the Planet of Apes”. “The survey reveals a community confronting exclusion, but also highly civically engaged,” Tom K. Wong, founding director of the US Immigration Policy Center at UC San Diego. According to the survey, 64 per cent of respondents said their community’s concerns were not well understood or not understood at all by elected officials, and 54 per cent believe their community holds little to no political power. As many as 62 per cent of respondents believe political rhetoric contributes a great deal or somewhat to hostility toward South Asians. The survey found that 78 per cent respondents would be much or somewhat more likely to vote for a candidate who speaks out against discrimination toward South Asians. PTI SKU GRS GRSGRS(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/facing-racist-attacks-south-asians-in-texas-back-democrats-says-survey-1873851

Netanyahu’s Likud Accuses Qatar Of Election Funding To Boost Arab Voter Turnout, Doha Denies Claims

Israel’s election has been engulfed in controversy after a senior judge ordered an investigation into allegations that foreign funding may have influenced Tuesday’s Knesset vote. Deputy Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, who heads the Central Elections Committee, instructed Shin Bet chief David Zini to examine suspicions of funding by foreign entities allegedly acting against Israeli interests. The allegations have intensified political tensions after a record turnout among Arab voters threatened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s parliamentary majority. <h2>Qatar Under Scrutiny</h2> Sohlberg did not identify the suspected foreign entities or specify how the alleged funding was used. However, Hebrew media reports have linked the suspicions to Qatari money allegedly intended to encourage Arab voters to participate in the election. Qatar has denied interfering in Israel’s electoral process, describing the allegations as “ridiculous and dangerous”. Netanyahu and members of his coalition have seized on the claims, with his Likud party alleging that the election was “stolen”. The controversy follows an unprecedented Arab turnout that is projected to give Arab-led parties a record 19 seats. Acting Central Elections Committee director general Dean Livne has said there is no evidence supporting claims of widespread electoral fraud. Arab parties have condemned Likud’s allegations as racist, while opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of leading an illegitimate influence operation to undermine the results. Also Read: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/israel-elections-netanyahu-alleges-arab-parties-seek-islamisation-of-israel-amid-election-theft-claims-earthquake-1873791">Netanyahu Calls Election Interference An ‘Earthquake’, Alleges Arab Parties Seek ‘Islamisation Of Israel’</a> <h2>What Does The Law Say?</h2> Israeli law prohibits political parties from accepting donations from foreign citizens, regardless of their nationality. Violations can attract fines and, in cases involving additional offences such as money laundering, criminal prosecution. Non-profit organisations can receive foreign funding but must disclose contributions when they account for more than half of their revenue. Paying voters to cast ballots or abstain is also illegal, although transporting voters to polling stations is permitted. Under the 1969 Knesset Elections Law, eligible petitioners have 14 days after the final results are published to challenge the outcome before the Jerusalem District Court. <h2>Could Results Be Overturned?</h2> The court can order fresh voting at individual polling stations or across the country if it finds evidence of unlawful practices capable of affecting the outcome. However, Israel has never annulled an entire national election, making such a scenario highly unlikely. Legal challenges would not delay the new Knesset’s swearing-in or invalidate its decisions. Nevertheless, the allegations could complicate coalition negotiations and influence parliamentary cooperation. Netanyahu has argued that the claims should rule out cooperation between Jewish opposition parties and Arab lawmakers. However, such a coalition remains unlikely because some opposition factions oppose the arrangement. For now, the investigation could deepen Israel’s political divisions, but there is no established evidence that widespread fraud changed the election result. Also Read: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/election-was-stolen-netanyahu-accuses-arab-parties-of-fraud-demands-investigation-1873661">‘Election Was Stolen’: Netanyahu Accuses Arab Parties Of Fraud, Demands Investigation</a>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/netanyahu-accuses-qatar-of-interfering-in-israel-s-electoral-process-doha-denies-claims-1873845

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Flavio Bolsonaro Leaves Brazil, Lands In Miami Amid Political Developments

Edited by: Alex Berry Brazilian right-wing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro and his family landed in Miami, Florida in the US on Wednesday morning. His plan to leave Brazil became public knowledge late on Tuesday, soon after he had refused to concede defeat in Sunday's presidential elections and pledged to challenge the results. Bolsonaro refused to comply with a Brazilian Supreme Court order to surrender his passports, tied to a money-laundering investigation in which he denies wrongdoing, and the US State Department later said it would grant him and his family visas. <h2>When did Bolsonaro arrive, how did he reach Miami?</h2> Bolsonaro, his wife and two daughters were seen disembarking a Gulfstream G400 plane and heading into the Miami-Opa Locka airport on Wednesday morning. Their journey across the Americas had captured regional attention. The quartet first flew into Argentina late on Tuesday, then took a private jet to the Ecuadorean city of Guayaquil. From there, they continued to Miami in Florida. Bolsonaro would lose his immunity from prosecution in February when his term in the Senate ends. On Monday, he had said in an Instagram post that he had no intention of leaving the country and that he would "hand over my passports and defend myself against this travesty, which is a clear attempt to intimidate me." According to the AFP news agency, Bolsonaro also holds Italian citizenship and so was able to travel despite his Brazilian and diplomatic passports being canceled. <h2>Potential source of strain between Trump's US and Lula's Brazil</h2> Bolsonaro's departure and his arrival in Florida — like his father Jair Bolsonaro before him after Brazil's previous presidential elections — could deepen a rift between the two most populous countries in the Americas. During the election campaign, incumbent Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva had accused the Donald Trump administration of colluding with the Bolsonaro family in a bid to help them return to power. After the election results, Trump appeared to question the integrity of the vote, saying he thought the extension to voting times was a "very bad look." He had also alleged in the past that Jair Bolsonaro was the victim of judicial persecution in Brazil. Bolsonaro senior is now in jail in Brazil on charges of leading a conspiracy designed to keep him in power despite defeat in 2022's presidential election. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first. <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> (Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.) </div>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/flavio-bolsonaro-leaves-brazil-lands-in-miami-amid-political-developments-1873658

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Sheikh Hasina accuses Bangladesh government of conducting 'mass arrests', repressing opponents

Dhaka, Oct 27 (PTI): Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday alleged that the country is witnessing "mass arrests, mass searches and torture," accusing the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of suppressing political opponents."Today’s Bangladesh is a country of mass arrests, mass searches, torture, false cases, extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. There is no law, no rights and no public security in the country," Sheikh Hasina said in a statement posted by Bangladesh Awami League on social media.Hasina, who was ousted following the anti-government protests in 2024, alleged that law enforcement agencies were "conducting block raids and mass searches in various areas across the country, including Gopalganj.""Between 5,000 and 7,000 people are being arrested every day," she said.Hasina said the people of Bangladesh need to be "guaranteed their basic rights and legal protection.""The government that came to power through a rigged election has clearly embarked on a mission to eliminate the Awami League from the country," she said.Criticising the BNP government's handling of the economy, she alleged shortages of gas, electricity, fuel and fertilisers, rising commodity prices and unemployment, as well as the closure of mills and factories and a slowdown in investment.Hasina's government was toppled on August 5, 2024, after violent student-led street protests in Bangladesh, following which she fled to India. She has been living in India since then.An interim government, which took charge after Hasina's ouster, disbanded her political party, Awami League, under an executive order under an anti-terror law.In November 2025, Hasina was sentenced to death, in absentia, after being convicted of crimes against humanity by the International Crimes Tribunal for her role in the violent crackdown on the 2024 student-led protests.Hasina has dismissed charges against her as "politically motivated".Bangladesh has been seeking Hasina’s extradition for a while.New Delhi has acknowledged the extradition request and maintains that it is under legal consideration. PTI RD RDRDRD(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/sheikh-hasina-accuses-bangladesh-government-of-conducting-mass-arrests-repressing-opponents-1873471

Will Israel’s Next Government Take A Different Line On Iran?

Edited by: Darko Janjevic Israel's vote this Tuesday is the first general election for the country since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 — an assault which led to one of the deepest security crises in Israel's history. As incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fights to retain power, the question is not merely who will lead Israel's next government, but also how that government will navigate the region-wide security crisis that was triggered by the attack and the Israeli reaction, which included launching a war against Iran. US President Donald Trump recently issued a full-throated endorsement of the incumbent Israeli leader as a "warrior prime minister" and warned that any other choice would affect Israel's alliance with Washington. "If Israel has the wrong leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi (Benjamin Netanyahu), America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so," Trump said in an online post, referring to the Iran conflict. Behind the scenes, however, media reports indicated a rift between the Israeli government and the Trump administration. According to The Financial Times, the Israeli military intended to launch a new round of attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, government centers, and energy infrastructure around October 10. However, Trump opposed the new escalation before the US midterm elections on November 3. The Jerusalem Post later questioned the narrative, reporting that the army had no specific directive for such an operation. <h2>Israel's moves hinge on Trump's decision</h2> The Israeli race has turned into a tight duel between Netanyahu and his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot — former IDF (Israel Defense Forces) chief of staff and leader of the front-running centrist party "Yashar." But Raz Zimmt, the head of the Iran program at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), warns political divisions between the two options are not deep enough to speak of a "fundamental change in Tel Aviv's approach toward Tehran" after the election. "In the perception of Israel's left, right, and center factions regarding the Iranian threat, especially its nuclear threat, there are minor differences," Zimmt told DW. Moreover, according to Zimmt, any military escalation against Iran depends "on the decision of the US president" far more than on the identity of Israel's prime minister. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XCp_XVWhboY?si=woWCXeq2iF4oOvQc" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> "Overall, I do not expect Israel's policy toward Iran and its proxies to undergo dramatic changes, regardless of the future government's composition," he said. INSS senior fellow Danny Citrinovitch agreed that one should not expect "fundamental changes" in Israel's Iran policy depending on the election outcome. "Even if Netanyahu personally steps down from power, his influence and the policies shaped over recent years will not simply vanish," Citrinovitch told DW. <h2>Hamas attack as a turning point for Israel and Iran</h2> The current consensus on Iran can be traced to the Hamas terror attack three years ago. Before the assault, according to Navid Toobian from the US-based Middle East Media Research Institute, many believed Israel should deal with the Islamic Republic "in a limited and managed way" and confront only the arms of the so-called "Axis of Resistance." But October 7 completely changed the rules of the game. While Israel had been aware of Iran's slogans calling for its destruction, it was believed that such calls had an "internal aspect" to rally the base of hardcore Islamists in Iran, Toobian said. The terror strike by the Iran-allied Hamas, however, showed that Tehran "spares no effort to strike Israel." ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/israel-election-sees-historic-44-9-turnout-as-netanyahu-faces-crucial-battle-1873454">Israel Election Sees Historic 55% Turnout As Netanyahu Faces Crucial Battle</a> <h2>What are US and Israel hoping to achieve in the Iran war?</h2> Damon Golriz, a researcher at the Hague Institute for Geopolitics, also points to October 7 as the trigger of the "largest historical trauma of the Jewish nation." "Preserving Iran's nuclear ambitions and continuous threats against Israel has intensified this fear that for a large portion of Israeli society, today's rulers in Iran have become a symbol of a historical threat," he told DW. With that in mind, the current US and Israeli policy towards Iran follows three vectors, according to Golriz. "First, the removal of the regime's leaders; second, industrial and infrastructural collapse," and third, orchestrating a civil war and what he called "geographic scissors" to dismember Iran with the help of armed Kurdish and Baluch separatists, he said. The US and Israel, however, are not the only players in the conflict. In a recent report, the Reuters news agency cited senior Iranian security officials as saying that Tehran has prepared detailed operational plans for retaliatory strikes. Tehran warned that their retaliatory tools include destroying undersea fiber-optic communication cables in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, alongside targeting US-dependent data centers and AI infrastructure in the region. <h2>Diplomacy: A missed opportunity?</h2> Commenting on possible alternatives to military escalation, Golriz highlights a diplomatic opportunity that opened six months ago in Islamabad, when Tehran agreed to never initiate war or military operations against Israel. "For the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic, the fundamental national security interests of Israel were signed by the presidents of Iran and the United States," according to Gorliz. The first article of the Islamabad framework could have been "the beginning of the end for 'Death to America' slogans and anti-Jewish threats, including 'Death to Israel," Golriz said. This diplomatic window was quickly closed, but "with political will, the provisions and spirit of the Islamabad Memorandum will be the first strategic step toward lasting peace," he said. But INSS senior fellow Citrinovitch was less optimistic when assessing the willingness of Israeli elites to return to diplomacy. "Currently, returning to the nuclear deal has no place in Israel's political arena," he told DW. <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> (Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.) </div> ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/yemen-s-houthis-claim-missile-strike-on-saudi-oil-ras-tanura-refinery-amid-escalating-tensions-1873455">Yemen’s Houthis Claim Missile Strike On Saudi Oil Refinery Amid Escalating Tensions</a>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/will-israel-s-next-government-take-a-different-line-on-iran-1873464

Monday, October 26, 2026

Former PMs, Ex-Army Chief: Who Are Netanyahu's Top Rivals As Israel Votes In First Polls Since Oct 7 Attack?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a battle to retain power in Tuesday's parliamentary election, with voters weighing his leadership following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, subsequent wars in Gaza and with Iran, and growing international isolation. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has spent about 19 years in office across different terms. Although his Likud party and its right-wing allies face a challenge from rival political groupings, Israel's fragmented electoral system could leave him with a path to forming the next government even if his party does not secure a clear majority. Opinion polls have indicated a close contest between Netanyahu's Likud-led camp and a rival alliance led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. Other prominent challengers include former prime minister Naftali Bennett, former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman and former general Yair Golan. Netanyahu has campaigned on his wartime leadership and his relationship with US President Donald Trump, who has endorsed him. On Sunday, Netanyahu said Trump was prepared to act again to "finally" remove the Iranian threat, but only if Netanyahu remained in power. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o5PnBNV5RHk?si=gKVlGuxnxrS9-LEX" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Here is a look at the main candidates, their political positions and the groups that could influence the outcome Netanyahu seeks <h3>Benjamin Netanyahu's Fight To Retain Power</h3> Netanyahu, 77, has dominated Israeli politics for years, serving as prime minister for much of the period since 2009 after an earlier stint in the 1990s. Supporters view him as a strong leader capable of defending Israel in a hostile region, while critics blame his government for security failures and deepening domestic divisions. The October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack dealt a major blow to his government's security credentials. Israel's subsequent military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon, along with its strikes on Iran, have made security and the conduct of the wars central issues in the election. Netanyahu is also facing legal challenges. The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for his arrest over alleged war crimes in Gaza, allegations he rejects. He is separately standing trial in Israel on corruption charges, which he denies. Opinion polls have indicated a decline in support for his Likud party since the October 7 attack. His government's policies on religion and the state have also drawn opposition from sections of Israeli society. Despite these challenges, Netanyahu remains a central figure in the contest. He has said he wants to form a "broad national" government if he wins. If coalition negotiations produce a deadlock, he could remain caretaker prime minister while efforts to form a government continue. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-iran-hails-very-good-talks-with-saudi-arabia-turkey-and-pakistan-amid-war-fears-1873279">Iran Hails ‘Very Good’ Talks With Saudi Arabia, Turkey And Pakistan Amid War Fears</a> <h3>Gadi Eisenkot: Former Military Chief Leading Rival Camp</h3> Gadi Eisenkot, 66, is a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces and a security hawk who leads the centrist Yashar party. His party's name translates from Hebrew as "straight" or "honest". Eisenkot has sought to present himself as a political outsider, drawing on his military background and personal sacrifices. He lost a son in combat in Gaza, a loss that has shaped his public profile during the war. His appeal spans sections of the political right and centre, providing an alternative to Netanyahu's long tenure in office. The contest between the Likud-led camp and the rival grouping led by Eisenkot is a central feature of the election. <h3>Ex-PM Naftali Bennett And Yair Lapid Join Forces</h3> Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, 54, is a right-wing politician, former commando and high-tech millionaire who previously served as an aide to Netanyahu. He has joined forces with former prime minister Yair Lapid in a new party called Together. The alliance has focused on national reconciliation and restoring stability after years of political turmoil and conflict. Bennett and Lapid previously joined forces with other parties to form a government that removed Netanyahu from power in 2021. Their partnership brings together politicians from different ends of the political spectrum, united by their opposition to Netanyahu's continued leadership. <h3>Avigdor Lieberman And Yair Golan Among Other Challengers</h3> Avigdor Lieberman, 68, is a former defence minister who was once a close ally of Netanyahu. He later became one of the prime minister's sharpest critics, resigning from his government in 2018 after accusing him of being too soft on Palestinian militants in Gaza. Lieberman leads Israel Our Home, a party that draws much of its support from Israel's former Soviet immigrant community. His political positions are even more hawkish than Netanyahu's on some security issues. Yair Golan, 64, a former general, leads the Democrats, a party formed from the remnants of Israel's historic Labour movement and the smaller left-wing Meretz party. Golan received attention for helping rescue people from one of the sites attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The two politicians offer different alternatives to Netanyahu, with Lieberman occupying the nationalist right and Golan representing the left. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/cities/tamil-nadu-jailbreak-17-inmates-escape-from-thekkampatti-jail-after-attacking-staff-1-arrested-1873275">17 Inmates Escape From Tamil Nadu Jail After Attacking Staff, 1 Arrested</a> <h3>Far-Right Allies Could Be Crucial For Netanyahu</h3> Netanyahu may once again depend on far-right politicians Bezalel Smotrich, 46, and Itamar Ben-Gvir, 50, to assemble a governing coalition. Smotrich, the finance minister, has championed the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and expressed the hope that this would "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state. Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, was convicted of racist incitement against Arabs in 2007. He has advocated capital punishment for convicted Palestinian militants, tougher prison conditions for Palestinians held in Israeli jails and expanded access to firearms for Israelis. Both politicians have supported the expulsion of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the resettlement of the territory by Israelis. Their positions have drawn international scrutiny, and both have faced sanctions from some Western countries over accusations of inciting violence against Palestinians. Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power party has also registered support in opinion polls, making the far-right bloc a potentially important factor in coalition negotiations. <h3>Ultra-Orthodox Parties Remain Important Coalition Players</h3> Netanyahu has relied for years on two ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, to sustain his governments. Their demands for exemptions from compulsory military service for most members of their communities have become a major point of contention, particularly during wartime. Their communities' relatively low participation in the workforce and reliance on state benefits have also fuelled public debate. The question of military-service exemptions has added to tensions over religion, state policy and the distribution of national responsibilities, issues that could influence coalition talks after the election. <h3>Arab Parties And Smaller Groups Could Hold The Balance</h3> Parties that do not clearly align with either major camp could influence which side is able to form a government. These include Raam and the Joint List, which represent sections of Israel's Arab minority, comprising about 20% of the country's population. Other groups include the new right-wing People of Israel party and the centre-right Reservists party. Their support levels have fluctuated in opinion polls, leaving their potential role in post-election negotiations uncertain. Israel elects its parliament through proportional representation, with seats allocated to candidates on party lists according to the votes received by each party. This system often requires parties to negotiate coalition agreements to form a government. The election comes after one of Israel's most turbulent periods since its establishment in 1948, shaped by the October 7 attacks, the subsequent war in Gaza, military operations in Lebanon and strikes on Iran, as well as persistent divisions over Netanyahu's government and its policies.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/israel-elections-live-benjamin-netanyahu-top-rivals-gadi-eisenkot-first-election-since-oct-7-attacks-gaza-war-1873281