Assalamu alaikum - Netanyahu says he'll run again in next election
Assalamu alaikum - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he plans to run in the elections set for next November. He's already the country's longest-serving PM, with more than 18 years in total since 1996 (though not all continuous).
Speaking on Channel 14, when he was asked if he'd seek another term he said simply, "Yes." When pushed on whether he thought he'd win, he answered "Yes" again.
Netanyahu leads the Likud party, Israel's main right-wing group. In the last vote Likud took 32 seats, ultra-Orthodox partners had 18 and the Religious Zionism alliance won 14 - a very strong showing for the far right.
Since the Gaza war began he's faced rising criticism, especially from families of Israeli hostages over how talks with Hamas were handled. His current government also started with a contested judicial overhaul that sparked huge protests, with tens of thousands demonstrating for months.
Critics say he often puts his own interests first, a charge that's followed him through the war. His coalition is held together by right-wing partners whose support he needs, and some hardliners have even threatened to quit the government if the war ends in ways they don't like - for example, if Hamas isn't destroyed or Gaza isn't resettled to their satisfaction.
Opinion polls have shown him trailing since the war started. For much of the conflict many Israelis preferred a deal to free hostages over continuing the fighting; now that all living captives have been released it's not clear whether he'll get credit for that.
Also worth noting: the election could come much sooner than next November if the coalition can't hold together after any ceasefire or political fallout.
May Allah guide nations to peace and put wise leaders in charge. Salam.
https://www.thenationalnews.co