Netanyahu discusses Iran with Hegseth before Israeli elections

Israelis are set to vote on October 27 to elect all 120 members of the parliament that will decide the future of the incumbent far-right government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

An Associated Press reporter says, "Israelis don't vote for individual candidates like Netanyahu. They vote for political parties that compete for seats in the Knesset, that's Israel's parliament. Now no party has ever won a parliamentary majority on its own. Instead, a new government is formed when a group of party leaders agree to join together in a coalition."

He says: "Netanyahu leads Likud, that's the largest party, and since 2009, he has been a master at cobbling together majority coalitions. But opinion polls are signalling an extremely tight race where Netanyahu and his main rival, retired General Gadi Eisenkot, they could each struggle to form a government."

"That could force them to explore some unexpected alliances."

Netayahu's opponents are calling on voters to deny him another premiership over failures that led to the Hamas attack in October 7, 2023. Media reports indicate the prime minister's political loyalties in cities such as Kiryat Shmona are facing a test after a period of significant turmoil.

Meanwhile, Tel Aviv says US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed Iran with Netanyahu in an unannounced trip to Israel on Monday, amid Iran-aligned Houthi rebels' intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia.

On the same day, the militia releases footage of their renewed battles against Saudi-led forces in Yemen's al-Jawf province, showing blasts, burning cars and gunfire in the desert.