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Why Israel's election is one of the most important in its history

BBC News •
October 25, 2026 • 10:05 PM
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Security and democracy emerge as central issues in Israel's highly anticipated general election, as Middle East correspondent Lucy Williamson reports.

Why Israel's election is one of the most important in its history

Israeli voters are preparing to head to the polls in an election some have described as the most consequential in the country's history.

It's the first general election since the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023. Tuesday's vote could see Benjamin Netanyahu's almost two-decade-long period of right-wing rule replaced by a more left-leaning government.

Emerging as Netanyahu's main challenger is Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff, who says the election is about Israel's identity as a liberal and tolerant democracy.

Netanyahu has made security central to his campaign, warning that electing his rivals would risk making Israel less safe.

Middle East correspondent Lucy Williamson reports.

Dozens of people had been inside the church for a funeral when the shooting began, local media report.

Orla Guerin travelled through Yemen, with forces loyal to its internationally recognised government, to a remote desert battlefield where Houthi rebels were dislodged just days ago.

Security correspondent Frank Gardner explains how the Iran-backed Houthis' precision strikes and guerrilla tactics have made it difficult for Saudi forces to gain the upper hand.

Footage from inside the airport shows the moment the strike hit on Saturday.

The ceasefire saw thousands of Palestinians held by Israel released in return for the remaining hostages held in Gaza.

The BBC reports from a school in Taiz, Yemen, where children are determined to keep learning despite the vicious civil war.

Witnesses say Raseel's tent was hit by an Israeli helicopter strike. Israel’s military says it has no record of the attack.

In rare access to Yemen's conflict zone the BBC travels to the front line with pro-government soldiers.

BBC Verify explains how we found the wreckage location of a Saudi F-15 fighter jet which the Iran-backed Houthi group says it shot down over Yemen.

Yemen's Houthis have seized territory near the Bab al-Mandab Strait - a key trade gateway for oil and global shipping.

Omar al-Bayoumi has always denied being an extremist and a Saudi spy.

Washington announced what it described as an "economic D-Day" against Iran, widening current sanctions and targetting countries with business ties with the regime.

Mojtaba Khamenei hasn’t been seen in public since March - but AI-generated images of him continue to spread online.

The BBC's chief international correspondent looks at how Iran's new leadership will respond to several issues affecting the country.

The US has launched the strikes on Iran in response to attacks on three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Huge crowds have lined the streets of Tehran for the funeral procession of Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet is in Tehran, where funeral events are taking place in honour of Iran's former leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Authorities expect up to 20 million people to attend ceremonies across Iran and Iraq over the coming days.

Iranian authorities say they expect millions of people to take part in funeral commemorations for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Dozens of boats are still anchored in the Strait, while ordinary Iranians try to continue to their lives.

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