News and Updates
Netanyahu ballot favourite as Israelis drift right
Surveys predict a narrow win in Tuesday's vote for hawkish ex-premier Benjamin Netanyahu, his comeback fuelled by the inconclusive wars in southern Lebanon and Gaza, formerly areas under Israel's control and now bastions of hostile Islamists (Source: Reuters).
Politically disaffected and jittery over their security and economy, Israelis will likely slip right-ward in an election next week, pitching U.S.-backed peace efforts with the Palestinians into deeper uncertainty.
Surveys predict a narrow win in Tuesday's vote for hawkish ex-premier Benjamin Netanyahu, his comeback fuelled by the inconclusive wars in southern Lebanon and Gaza, formerly areas under Israel's control and now bastions of hostile Islamists.
Many Israelis fear a similar takeover in the occupied West Bank, where secular Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas holds sway despite seeing his credibility sapped by failure to deliver his people independence in years of talks with the Jewish state.
