As Israel counts down to the 27 October election, security and political developments have taken centre stage. The IDF detained dozens of volunteers accompanying Palestinian olive farmers near Bethlehem, including a prominent American congressional candidate, while new reporting suggests Prime Minister Netanyahu sought to strike Iran earlier this month before being dissuaded by Washington. Meanwhile, domestic political tensions within the coalition and ongoing legal proceedings involving senior officials continue to shape the pre-election landscape.

Security

The IDF detained around 90 volunteers, including former New York City Comptroller and Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander, near Bethlehem on Wednesday. The group, organised by Rabbis for Human Rights, had been accompanying Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest in an area requiring military coordination. Lander was released with a warning and criticised the detention, saying that while he considers the occupation unlawful under international law, 'harvesting olives is not a crime.' Separately, the Financial Times reported that Netanyahu had planned a strike on Iran earlier this month that would have been more intense than February's operation, but was blocked by President Trump. Israeli sources told the Jerusalem Post that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir was unusually excluded from related discussions with US Defense Secretary Hegseth, raising questions about the political considerations behind the decision. Elsewhere, a state inquiry into the submarine affair has summoned Netanyahu, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and ex-defence minister Moshe Ya'alon to testify under warning, while IDF Chief Zamir and former President Rivlin will also testify, though not as suspects.

Politics

With election day set for 27 October, the IDF has opened roughly 850 polling stations, including mobile sites for soldiers stationed in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. Separately, the military has sought clarification from the Attorney General regarding a planned address by Netanyahu to graduating officer cadets, after members of the public raised concerns about potential electioneering. Tensions within the right-wing bloc have also surfaced, with the Likud party accusing Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of spreading 'blatant lies' against Netanyahu and damaging the right-wing bloc's prospects ahead of the vote. In legal developments, Minister Mai Golan was questioned under caution over bribery allegations, months after police concluded their investigation into suspected public corruption; prosecutors had asked police to confront her with accumulated evidence before deciding on an indictment. At Netanyahu's ongoing trial, former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified that he suspected leaks from within the prosecution and police, saying he felt journalist Ben Caspit was 'operating the police' during investigations into the prime minister. Mandelblit also confirmed he was unaware at the time that a senior investigator was romantically involved with Judy Nir Moses, who had a falling out with Sara Netanyahu. Elsewhere, bereaved mother and Amach Yisrael party figure Lali Dery rejected calls from Netanyahu ally Ofer Winter to withdraw from the race, declaring 'I am also from the bereaved families, and I am not going anywhere.' In Kiryat Shmona, associates of mayor Avichai Shtern pushed back against claims he had reversed his stance on Netanyahu, amid divided local reactions to his recent comments.

International

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in the Financial Times that Tehran remains committed to a dignified, peaceful resolution of the nuclear standoff but is 'fully prepared' to defend itself, adding that Washington had shown little willingness to engage diplomatically. In Russia, the Kremlin said a settlement to the war in Ukraine was 'theoretically possible' but depends heavily on decisions made by Kyiv, warning that Ukraine's position would worsen if it failed to act. In Britain, a new report commissioned for Sir David Bell's independent review into antisemitism in English schools found that three in five Jewish students have experienced antisemitic hate, with researchers warning that many institutions fail to properly identify it as a distinct form of prejudice. Separately, a Tory peer has called for an assessment of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell's record on combating antisemitism, following concerns raised in the House of Lords over his wife's social media activity. In the United States, white nationalist Nick Fuentes claimed in a leaked clip that former Fox News host Tucker Carlson is a 'true Jew hater,' saying he had tried unsuccessfully to persuade Carlson to change his views during a visit to Maine.

Other Developments

Police arrested three suspects, including a state employee and two contractors, over an alleged bribery scheme linked to the illegal employment of Turkish nationals. Investigators allege the contractors paid the state employee to avoid oversight at construction sites employing unauthorised foreign workers, with some of the funds reportedly collected from the workers themselves.

Sources: Ynet, Walla, www.israelhayom.co.il, Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post