Yedioth Ahronoth senior journalist Ben-Dror Yemini said a wider Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank would bring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu little political benefit ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 election.
In an interview with France 24, Yemini also questioned whether the broader action would happen. “Politically, it’s not something that will help anybody,” he said.
After two soldiers died in a Hebron-area shooting, Netanyahu said a wider West Bank operation was in preparation, though he set no start date, according to EconoTimes’ earlier account of the attack.
Yemini linked Netanyahu’s declining popularity to the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023. He said the prime minister’s standing alone may not determine the result: Netanyahu’s political bloc needs enough support to form a government. Yemini also noted that Netanyahu has won past elections despite unfavorable polling.
Israel’s Central Elections Committee lists Oct. 27 as election day.
