Iran says seven ships hit near Hormuz as US and Israel reportedly plan post-midterm strikes Aramco evacuates headquarters and US pulls diplomats as Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia intensify Russia strikes Kyiv after Witkoff-Putin talks as Ukrainian drones target Moscow Ebola reaches Nigeria as WHO warns of a more complex outbreak Oil climbs to five-month high as global stocks fall Millions of exploit attempts follow AI-found PHP flaws as sites return online French risk premium hits euro-crisis levels as borrowing costs pass US Death toll passes 150 after drone strike on Abyei market Trilateral Ukraine talks eyed for November as Witkoff's Putin remark angers allies Magnitude 7 earthquake kills at least 16 in northern Tibet France bans non-union protests ahead of Saturday demonstrations Lula accepts Bolsonaro's terms for record disclosure before Brazil run-off AI debt worries weigh on markets as Meta credit risk hits record Taiwan and China prepare as Super Typhoon Champi approaches Israel's race stays tight as Netanyahu courts right-wing voters Experts expect Meta to fight $25bn New Mexico penalty on appeal Israel frees nine settler suspects to house arrest as UN calls West Bank violence out of control Serbia's student list rallies in Belgrade as campaign closes before Sunday's vote North Korea to restart border propaganda broadcasts as tensions rise DeepSeek reportedly raises $15bn as TSMC seeks rare-earth workarounds Germany arrests Ukrainian man suspected of spying for Russia Italian truckers ease fuel-price protests as government lines up aid Trump asked Musk to lift Starlink limits in Ukraine, as Rubio says access is Musk's call Tesla profit falls as analysts debate SpaceX merger Protests in Indonesia demand action as haze blankets Southeast Asia Ankara rejects Greek and EU criticism of Libya maritime deal Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict turns to proxy groups after eight months ICC wins EU Sakharov Prize while under US sanctions Indonesia moves to shore up markets ahead of MSCI index change Retail investors fully subscribe Jio Platforms IPO Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia sign defence industry pact Nestlé removes Russian business from accounts after Kremlin takeover Albanian lawmakers scuffle in parliament as street protests continue NATO agency to let Ukraine buy weapons through its procurement system Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to son for first time in over five years Israeli fire kills four in Gaza as hospitals face fuel and medicine shortages Barclays to cut 5,000 jobs as it steps up AI adoption Iran says seven ships hit near Hormuz as US and Israel reportedly plan post-midterm strikes Aramco evacuates headquarters and US pulls diplomats as Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia intensify Russia strikes Kyiv after Witkoff-Putin talks as Ukrainian drones target Moscow Ebola reaches Nigeria as WHO warns of a more complex outbreak Oil climbs to five-month high as global stocks fall Millions of exploit attempts follow AI-found PHP flaws as sites return online French risk premium hits euro-crisis levels as borrowing costs pass US Death toll passes 150 after drone strike on Abyei market Trilateral Ukraine talks eyed for November as Witkoff's Putin remark angers allies Magnitude 7 earthquake kills at least 16 in northern Tibet France bans non-union protests ahead of Saturday demonstrations Lula accepts Bolsonaro's terms for record disclosure before Brazil run-off AI debt worries weigh on markets as Meta credit risk hits record Taiwan and China prepare as Super Typhoon Champi approaches Israel's race stays tight as Netanyahu courts right-wing voters Experts expect Meta to fight $25bn New Mexico penalty on appeal Israel frees nine settler suspects to house arrest as UN calls West Bank violence out of control Serbia's student list rallies in Belgrade as campaign closes before Sunday's vote North Korea to restart border propaganda broadcasts as tensions rise DeepSeek reportedly raises $15bn as TSMC seeks rare-earth workarounds Germany arrests Ukrainian man suspected of spying for Russia Italian truckers ease fuel-price protests as government lines up aid Trump asked Musk to lift Starlink limits in Ukraine, as Rubio says access is Musk's call Tesla profit falls as analysts debate SpaceX merger Protests in Indonesia demand action as haze blankets Southeast Asia Ankara rejects Greek and EU criticism of Libya maritime deal Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict turns to proxy groups after eight months ICC wins EU Sakharov Prize while under US sanctions Indonesia moves to shore up markets ahead of MSCI index change Retail investors fully subscribe Jio Platforms IPO Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia sign defence industry pact Nestlé removes Russian business from accounts after Kremlin takeover Albanian lawmakers scuffle in parliament as street protests continue NATO agency to let Ukraine buy weapons through its procurement system Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to son for first time in over five years Israeli fire kills four in Gaza as hospitals face fuel and medicine shortages Barclays to cut 5,000 jobs as it steps up AI adoption

Symbolic image: Israel's race stays tight as Netanyahu courts right-wing voters

Symbolic image

Israel's race stays tight as Netanyahu courts right-wing voters

7 sources

Polls put Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar ahead of Netanyahu's Likud, but neither bloc has a majority. Israelis vote on Tuesday.

N12 and Channel 13 polls published on Wednesday, 21 October, gave Yashar 23 and 20 seats, with Likud at 19 in both. N12 put the opposition bloc at 55 seats and Netanyahu's at 51, Channel 13 at 52 and 49. According to a Jerusalem Post analysis, Netanyahu has stopped pressing Ofer Winter and Moti Leitner to quit the race after they refused, and now targets their voters directly. He and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warn of a repeat of 1992, when a split right-wing vote cost the bloc power.

Threshold may decide the blocs

The Taub Center estimates a party needs about 165,635 votes at 70% turnout. The two polls disagree on whether Winter's People of Israel or Yoaz Hendel's Reservists-Economic Party clears it. A Channel 13 pollster said the change bloc would gain more if both fall short, while Hendel says nobody can tell his voters how to vote.

Iran and Trump frame the close

Netanyahu told the Jerusalem Post that intelligence services warned of Iranian attempts to influence the vote, and that Israel would respond with force. Trump endorsed him on Sunday, 18 October; a Jerusalem Post editorial called that foreign interference.

Coalition options

Smotrich said he would not rule out a government with Eisenkot, but not at the price of boycotting right-wing partners. Assessments cited by the Jerusalem Post say Netanyahu might consider a unity government without Itamar Ben-Gvir.