CampaignReport of a Netanyahu and Chief of Staff clash over an Iran operation draws opposition attacks
Channel 12 reported on Sunday evening that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir clashed over an operation that could lead to a quick confrontation with Iran. According to the report, Zamir asked for an in-depth discussion and for legal documentation from the political echelon before acting. Netanyahu denied any confrontation. In a Channel 14 interview he called the report "nonsense," according to Behadrei Haredim. N12 says political sources called the military claims a "pure lie." Avigdor Liberman called the conduct "treason against the state and its security." Yair Lapid said Netanyahu wants escalation with Iran to delay the election. Gadi Eisenkot told Netanyahu "my eyes are on you" and said he has full trust in Zamir. These are the parties' own statements. The articles we opened do not say what the operation was.
CourtsHigh Court rejects petition to bar armed staff at polling stations
The High Court rejected a petition from Adalah and the Joint List. They asked the court to bar people serving in polling-station roles from carrying weapons. The petition followed plans by Likud and Religious Zionism to place about 2,000 observers in Arab communities and mixed cities, Walla reports. The court found no reason to override the discretion of the police and the Central Elections Committee chair. It said the petitioners' concerns had already been weighed in the election preparations. The petitioners said armed party representatives could deter Arab voters. This account rests on one outlet.
DealsRecording shows Kish relaying Netanyahu's approval of the Achi withdrawal terms
Ynet published a recording first aired by Channel 13 from the meeting with the Achi party, led by Rabbi Abergel. Education Minister Yoav Kish is heard summarizing a deal with Netanyahu on the phone. Achi leaves the race. Netanyahu pushes a law allowing a deputy minister who is not an MK, placed in the Prime Minister's Office and chosen by Achi. If the law stalls, Achi may pick any MK from Likud or Otzma Yehudit. An Achi representative asks for Netanyahu's approval and he answers that it is "completely acceptable," per Ynet. The article does not include a response from Netanyahu, Kish or Abergel. The 24 October edition covered the withdrawal. The recording adds the terms.
CampaignUnited Torah Judaism rally in Bnei Brak draws tens of thousands, outlets report
United Torah Judaism held its main rally on Sunday evening in Bnei Brak. Ynet, Maariv and Haaretz describe a crowd of tens of thousands. None gives a counted figure. Haaretz reports that party chair Yaakov Asher said the party belongs to the Torah bloc and to no other bloc. It says Moshe Gafni urged supporters not to back the bloc led by Eisenkot. Haaretz and Ynet say Rabbi Shraga Rosenberg told attendees to vote even though some object to voting in the state. Maariv reports recorded messages telling attendees to vote for the party list. Ynet says the party fears votes leaking to a rival Haredi list.
CampaignEisenkot tells Likud voters to leave Netanyahu at a Tel Aviv rally
Gadi Eisenkot spoke at a rally of his party in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening. He urged Likud and other coalition voters to abandon Netanyahu. He said it is the Likud party that strayed from its path, not its voters. He said Netanyahu wants a tie so he can argue he should stay in office. He said Netanyahu will go home on Tuesday only if Yashar wins significantly more seats than Likud. These are Eisenkot's own claims.
CampaignRabbi Sadan denies urging voters away from Winter
Rabbi Eli Sadan, head of the Bnei David pre-military academy in Eli, said he did not call on voters to avoid Ofer Winter's Amcha Yisrael. Ynet reports that Sadan did not heed a request from Netanyahu and Bezalel Smotrich to call on Winter to withdraw. In a published recording, Sadan said Netanyahu will have a full right-wing government only if Winter's party passes the threshold. He added, "I hope Ofer passes." Ynet says Netanyahu met Sadan at his home in Eli the week before, with Smotrich present.
CourtsElection Committee chair has received more than 276 propaganda petitions
Ynet reports that Justice Noam Sohlberg has received more than 276 propaganda petitions. It cites a figure of about 288 elsewhere in the article. It says the total is almost five times the previous election, when committee chairs usually handled 50 to 60 and 58 were filed for the 21st Knesset. Sohlberg decided 31 petitions last week, according to Ynet. One petition can cover more than 100 posts. The article says removal orders do not stop others from re-posting content.
LogisticsPolice plan more than 20,000 officers on election day
Ynet reports that police will deploy more than 20,000 officers, along with security guards and marshals. Police say they have no concrete warning of an attack but are preparing for every scenario, including an attack on polling stations. Police will set up roadblocks at entrances to large cities in the morning, according to the article. Police received information about possible Haredi road-blocking protests and announced zero tolerance. Ynet says the police investigation unit Lahav 433 is handling 18 files on suspected incitement tied to the election.
LogisticsUp to 650,000 expected to vote by double envelope as free intercity travel starts tonight
Ynet reports that the Central Elections Committee expects 600,000 to 650,000 voters to use double envelopes. In 2022 the figure was more than 460,000. Ynet ties the rise to long reserve duty and evacuations. Envelope votes are counted after election night, so results may not be clear for a day or two, the article says. N12 reports that intercity bus lines over 15 km and Israel Railways trains are free from Monday 26 October at 20:00 until the end of service on Tuesday. City buses stay paid.