A first poll conducted after the submission of party lists shows Gadi Eisenkot's party strengthening by two seats and opening a lead at the top of the opposition, while Yoaz Hendel's party passes the electoral threshold and could complete a 61-seat bloc for Eisenkot, according to a report Tuesday evening.
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
The FrontDeveloping
Israeli security forces neutralized a major terrorist cell in Judea and Samaria that was planning attacks in the Jerusalem area. The cell's leader reportedly intended to assassinate National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, according to i24NEWS.
Judea and SamariaSamariaJerusalem
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
StatecraftDeveloping
The United Kingdom has imposed trade restrictions on products from Judea and Samaria and personal sanctions on several settlement activists, including Baruch Marzel, Benzi Gopstein, and Eliav Libi, according to The Zioneer. US Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro praised the move as 'a step in the right direction.'
Judea and SamariaSamaria
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
StatecraftDeveloping
A court ruled Tuesday that right-wing activist Tal Yanon Dardik must be held until the end of legal proceedings, after Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed not to renew the restraining order against him. The ruling came as security establishment sources accused Dardik of severe abuse of Palestinians, including tying a victim's genitals with a zip-tie — allegations Dardik vehemently denies.
17:24–17:25
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
StatecraftDeveloping
Channel 14 commentator Yaakov Bardugo stated Tuesday that he would accept the position of Justice Minister if it were offered to him, according to a report.
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
StatecraftDeveloping
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Likud secretariat meeting on Tuesday that Israel is approaching a decisive blow against the 'head of the octopus,' his metaphor for Iran's leadership, according to reports. The statement comes two months before national elections.
17:13–17:15
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
StatecraftDeveloping
Unnamed sources in the Finance Ministry and senior Israel Police officials are formulating a plan to transfer funds directly to the police, bypassing the National Security Ministry headed by Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, according to N12 journalist Adar Gitzis. The reported initiative aims to circumvent the minister's alleged attempts to thwart the Police Commissioner.
17:06–17:12
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
StatecraftDeveloping
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said he appealed to the Prime Minister demanding the immediate closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem, accusing it of operating openly on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, according to N12.
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
StatecraftDeveloping
Four opposition figures — Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan — issued a rare joint statement Tuesday, accusing Prime Minister Netanyahu of ignoring warnings before the October 7 Hamas attack and calling him unfit to lead. They demanded a state commission of inquiry.
16:23–16:26
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
StatecraftDeveloping
The Zioneer reports: The new community of Bitaron in the Jordan Valley was officially established Tuesday, with 20 pioneering families arriving as the first residents. Minister Orit Strock said the settlement is part of the government's Eastern Axis plan, which aims to establish 15 new communities along the Jordan Valley. Bitaron is the first new settlement in the region in approximately 40 years.
16:17–16:25
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
The FrontDeveloping
Security analyst Hananel Aviv reports, citing Yemeni army sources, that forces of the Presidential Leadership Council captured the strategic Al-Yatama area in Al-Jawf province in northeastern Yemen in recent hours. The report is from a single source and has not been independently confirmed.
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
The FrontDeveloping
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Tuesday that the kingdom remains committed to diplomatic solutions but will not hesitate to protect its interests and security, following an overnight Houthi attack. "I am not saying that the path of diplomacy is closed," he said, according to N12. The remarks follow a Foreign Ministry condemnation earlier today that reported 73 civilians wounded in the attack.
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
StatecraftDeveloping
Senior figures in Likud are reportedly furious and claim that the numbers published by Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding his reserved slots do not match the positions approved for him by the party's Central Committee, according to The Zioneer. The dispute adds to persistent internal friction ahead of the party primaries.
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
StatecraftDeveloping
President Isaac Herzog warned the UK against imposing sanctions on Israel, calling the move a 'grave miscalculation' and 'gross interference in the democratic elections of a sovereign nation,' The Zioneer reports. The warning comes as London considers sanctions over Israeli policy in Judea and Samaria.
15:29–16:18
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
StatecraftDeveloping
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the government's decisions to appoint Dr. Yifat Ben Hai Segev as chair of the Second Authority for Television and Radio council, and Kineret Barashi and Dr. Haim Shain as council members, must be voided, according to Israeli media reports.
15:52–16:07
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
StatecraftDeveloping
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that former IDF general Ofer Winter's rejection of unity proposals 'casts a heavy shadow over his judgment,' as reported by Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh (Army Radio) on Tuesday. The comments come amid Winter's decision to run independently in the upcoming elections.