Channel 14 News Israel

Category: Israel

  • Sderot Mayor to Party Leaders: Commit to Dismantling Hamas

    Sderot Mayor to Party Leaders: Commit to Dismantling Hamas

    Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi issued an explicit demand on Sunday to political party leaders, calling on them to present a comprehensive, long-term security doctrine for the Gaza Strip and border communities, and to publicly commit to the total dismantling of the Hamas terrorist organization, three years after the October 7 massacre.

    Hamas terrorists | Photo: Shutterstock

    “Residents of Sderot and the Gaza envelope are not asking for promises for another election cycle. They are demanding security for an entire generation,” Davidi stated at the “Future for the Gaza Envelope” conference. “We demand that party leaders publicly pledge how they intend to dismantle Hamas, how they will purge Gaza of terrorism, and how they will ensure we never return to the reality that preceded October 7.”

    Davidi sharply criticized Israel’s previous policy of containment in the years leading up to the massacre, arguing that even the military’s designated Yellow Line inside the Gaza Strip cannot substitute for a defined security doctrine. “The Yellow Line is not a security policy. It is merely a modest manifestation of an offensive operational posture that Israel must adopt. It is the line from which you launch an attack,” he stressed.

    October 7 massacre in the Kissufim area | Photo: Flash90

    As part of the mandatory framework he laid out, the mayor presented a series of non-negotiable measures that he argued every candidate for prime minister must adopt. These include the destruction of all underground terror tunnels and related infrastructure, the complete dismantling of Hamas’s civil administration and financial networks, and the sustained expansion of Israeli operational and security control across the Strip.

    “We do not want to keep hearing about the targeted elimination of the head of Hamas’s finance division. We want Hamas to have no financial apparatus left to begin with,” Davidi said, emphasizing that Israel must reject temporary tactical strikes that target individual senior operatives without eliminating the broader institutional framework.

    PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi | Photo: Yossi Aloni, Flash90

    Amid calls for continued offensive operations, Davidi demanded clear, transparent answers on the Gaza Strip’s future, including identifying the entity that will administer the enclave in the post-war period, specifying enforcement mechanisms for demilitarization, and establishing contingency plans if future arrangements fail. He also urged the rapid establishment of a permanent, heavily reinforced defense system for border towns, along with expanded administrative powers and municipal budget allocations for local regional councils.

    Concluding his address, Davidi addressed the political landscape and warned against the prospect of establishing a governing coalition dependent on Arab parliamentary factions: “Under no circumstances should a government be formed here on the backs of Hamas supporters like Mansour Abbas, Ahmad Tibi, Yousef Jabareen, and whatever the others are called—names I have no interest in knowing.”

  • Major Route 60 Section Between Gush Etzion and Jerusalem Opens

    Major Route 60 Section Between Gush Etzion and Jerusalem Opens

    The central section of Route 60 connecting the Gush Etzion regional bloc to Jerusalem is scheduled to open partially to vehicular traffic on Sunday night, with full operational capacity expected by the end of the week. The Moriah Jerusalem Development Company is carrying out the extensive infrastructure upgrade for the Ministry of Transport.

    The new section | Photo: Icon Productions

    The newly constructed two-kilometer section joins the already completed northern and southern segments, which span a combined 4.5 kilometers and are operating in their final widened format. The opening of this central link is set to eliminate a notorious, persistent bottleneck along the thoroughfare, which carries tens of thousands of commuters daily between Gush Etzion, Mount Hebron, and the capital, while significantly improving traffic safety and security along the corridor.

    As part of the wider project—budgeted at approximately NIS 490 million—Moriah is also advancing the upgrade of the Efrat North Junction and the grade separation of the Hashayarot Junction, which includes an underpass along Route 60. The sunken junction and underpass are slated to open to traffic in the first quarter of 2027.

  • Pollster Sticks to Forecast: Right-Wing Bloc Will Win Majority

    Pollster Sticks to Forecast: Right-Wing Bloc Will Win Majority

    Prominent political analyst and pollster Shlomo Filber is doubling down on his definitive forecast ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections, maintaining that the right-wing bloc is on track to secure a decisive majority of 63 to 64 mandates. Speaking in a radio interview, Filber made clear that despite fluid variables around voter turnout and vote dispersion across the political map, his underlying projection for the outcome remains unchanged.

    Archive | Photo: Maayan Toaff, GPO

    “I am not backing down from the assessment that in the end, it will conclude with 63 to 64 seats,” Filber stated. Nevertheless, he noted that several critical variables could still influence final margins, most notably voter participation rates within the Arab and Haredi communities. “Right now there are two major dynamics. First, we are treating turnout with caution because you cannot know what the participation rate will be among Arab voters. And until two days ago, you also didn’t know what the turnout would look like among the Haredim,” he remarked.

    However, according to Filber, one of the most volatile factors shaping the parliamentary map is the number of votes captured by parties hovering precariously near the 3.25% electoral threshold. He argued that two specific parties currently caught in that threshold trap are effectively burning a substantial number of mandates for both sides, with the right-wing bloc sustaining the heavier damage. “The third and most significant factor is that there are currently two parties sitting in the middle; right now they are burning between six and seven mandates across both camps, but they are burning more mandates for the right than for the left,” he explained.

    Photo: Olivier Fitoussi/FLASH90

    This dynamic means that votes cast for factions that ultimately fail to cross the statutory threshold will simply be discarded and will not translate into parliamentary representation. According to Filber’s analysis, while this threshold attrition damages both political blocs, it disproportionately penalizes the right-wing camp—a dynamic that could prove acutely sensitive in the broader battle for Knesset control.

    Yet, despite persistent questions regarding sectoral turnout and the electoral viability of marginal factions, Filber remains wedded to an unambiguous outcome: when the final ballots are counted, he projects that the right-wing bloc will cross the finish line with 63 to 64 mandates, securing a firm governing parliamentary majority.

  • Netanyahu May Attend Beitar Game, Breaking Five-Year Absence

    Netanyahu May Attend Beitar Game, Breaking Five-Year Absence

    Beitar Jerusalem is finalizing preparations for its high-profile top-of-the-table clash against Maccabi Tel Aviv at Teddy Stadium. At the same time, club officials are also coordinating for the potential arrival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The anticipated visit comes just a week before the upcoming Knesset elections, scheduled for October 27.

    Beitar Jerusalem fans, archive | Photo: Flash90

    The capital club has already begun reviewing the security arrangements and logistical requirements needed to facilitate the Prime Minister’s appearance. However, Netanyahu’s arrival has not yet been confirmed, as it depends on his official schedule and last-minute developments.

    Should he attend the fixture at Teddy Stadium, it will mark the first Beitar Jerusalem match Netanyahu has watched in person in roughly five years. While the Prime Minister is publicly recognized as a longtime supporter of the Jerusalem club, he has refrained from attending live matches in recent seasons, despite previous speculation regarding planned appearances.

    למה לא שריין את וינטר?
    PM Benjamin Netanyahu | Photo: Chaim Goldberg, Flash90

    Last season, during the peak of the championship race, reports surfaced suggesting Netanyahu might attend the match between Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Be’er Sheva. However, the visit ultimately did not materialize. Club administrators are once again considering a last-minute schedule change.

    Approximately 30,000 supporters from both sides are expected to fill the stands at Teddy Stadium for the Premier League encounter, considered one of the round’s marquee fixtures. Beyond its sporting significance, the match marks Beitar Jerusalem’s final home game before the national vote.

  • Mike Tyson Threatens to Sue Supreme Over Israel Flag Swap

    Mike Tyson Threatens to Sue Supreme Over Israel Flag Swap

    American boxing legend Mike Tyson was slated to collaborate with global streetwear titan Supreme and British designer Martine Rose on an exclusive apparel collection, centered around a signature jacket modeled directly after his personal wardrobe. However, during product development and without Tyson’s consent, the garment’s design was altered, and the Israeli flag originally stitched onto it was replaced with a ‘Palestinian’ flag.

    תמונה
    Photo: social media

    According to a formal statement delivered by Tyson’s representative, the former world heavyweight champion never authorized the switch at any stage of the process: “The company altered the design without consulting him and dragged Tyson into a political dispute against his will.” The spokesperson emphasized that the unilateral alteration was a blatant breach of the agreement between the parties, confirming that Tyson intends to take the necessary legal steps to protect his intellectual property, commercial rights, and public reputation.

    With the dispute poised to move to the courtroom, the official statement did not specify whether a formal lawsuit had been filed or what damages the boxer intends to pursue. Meanwhile, Supreme decided against launching the joint capsule collection altogether, ensuring that the controversial jacket at the center of the dispute will not be released for retail sale.

  • Lieberman Reveals Plan to Block Netanyahu After Election

    Lieberman Reveals Plan to Block Netanyahu After Election

    Listen carefully to Avigdor Liberman, because the masks have come off entirely. The same political figure who incessantly invokes “democracy” and the “rule of law” stood in front of the television cameras and admitted without blinking to the actual playbook of the “Anyone But Bibi” camp. When you realize you cannot defeat your opponent at the ballot box, you attempt to disenfranchise the electorate through manipulated legislation.

    PM Netanyahu | Photo: Flash90

    The declared blueprint is straightforward: immediately following the upcoming election, the opposition intends to oust Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, seize operational control of parliament, and hastily enact the controversial “Indictment Bill.” The ultimate objective is equally transparent: forcibly disqualify Benjamin Netanyahu from holding public office, immediately dissolve the Knesset, and force repeat national elections with the recognized leader of the national camp legally barred from competing. “And with that, the story is over,” Liberman declared. Just like that—as if by political sleight of hand. The sheer audacity of the scheme is breathtaking.

    This is not an “Indictment Bill”; it is a legislative decree aimed at consigning the ballots of millions of right-wing citizens straight into the trash. To the opposition architects, the democratic majority is treated as irrelevant and unworthy of consideration. Confronted by unfavorable polling trends, realizing that the patriotic public rejects their political posturing, and understanding that they cannot cobble together a viable governing coalition in a fair electoral contest, they seek to circumvent the democratic process entirely.

    Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana | Photo: Yonatan Sindel, Flash90

    Their solution is to invalidate the democratic decisions of millions of citizens, telling every voter who cast their ballot for Likud or chose Netanyahu: “Your vote counts for nothing. We will decide for you who is fit to lead.” This is not democratic governance; it is authoritarian overreach stripped of any democratic facade—the total loss of composure by a frustrated political faction utterly incapable of accepting the verdict of the sovereign voter.

    Whenever the rules of the democratic playing field do not deliver their desired outcome, they move to upend the system. They do not hesitate to drag an entire nation, in the midst of an existential multi-front war, into yet another exhausting, polarizing election campaign merely to satisfy an intense personal obsession.

    Illustration | Photo: Olivier Fitoussi, Flash90

    The patriotic and rational electorate will not allow this political maneuvering to stand. In this decisive election, the answer to Liberman, Gadi Eisenkot, and their political partners will be delivered with unmistakable clarity: the majority will not erase its votes, a democratically elected leader will not be sidelined by parliamentary subterfuge, and a radical political minority will not rule by decree. The decisive answer to this overreach will be rendered where it belongs—at the ballot box, with unprecedented democratic force.

  • Opposition Hits New Low—And Not Just in Polls

    Opposition Hits New Low—And Not Just in Polls

    Within Israel’s opposition bloc—which for months held confident leads in public opinion surveys and projected an imminent electoral victory—recent days have signaled a concerning shift in momentum. The gradual erosion of their lead in the polls has prompted a marked escalation in public rhetoric and a wave of aggressive personal attacks directed against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu | Photo: Flash 90

    The sharpest manifestation of this trend surfaced on Sunday morning when Yisrael Beytenu Chairman MK Avigdor Liberman issued a scathing personal statement. Opening with a direct challenge, Liberman declared: “The end of the Netanyahu era.” He added: “This week Bibi will turn 77, and the election outcome must mark the conclusion of his era in Israeli politics. Bibi is weaker than he has ever been. He has become a hostage to draft-dodgers and a handful of anarchists who undermine the settlement movement and destroy Israel’s remaining bastions of international support, first and foremost in the United States. Bibi is weak, and he is making the State of Israel weak.”

    Liberman went on to argue that the Prime Minister is banking on an emergency coalition to preserve his political standing: “He understands this and is banking heavily on a national unity government in which someone from the serving camp comes to rescue him. He will promise half the kingdom and more, but as always, he will deceive in the end.”

    Avigdor Liberman | Photo: Yonatan Zindel, Flash 90

    Despite the unfavorable polling trend, Liberman maintained that the opposition could still prevail: “We can win, and win big, despite all the surveys. The message from the heads of the four parties in the serving bloc must be unified: we must produce voter turnout rates higher than ever, avoid voting for trend parties, and refrain from wasting votes. Vote only for one of the four established parties. If we do that, we will win big.”

    Political analysts note that the increasingly combative tone across the opposition is neither incidental nor temporary. According to assessments, it reflects mounting exasperation as party chiefs confront electoral mathematics: even if they succeed in denying the current coalition a 61-seat majority, they lack the parliamentary capability to establish a viable alternative government without relying on the Arab factions.

    Illustration | Photo: Oliver Fitoussi, Flash 90

    Under such circumstances, the opposition’s maximum achievable outcome would likely be limited to a parliamentary obstruction maneuver rather than the formation of a stable, functioning government of its own. The prevailing assessment indicates that if the downward trend in the polls persists over the coming week, the opposition is likely to escalate its rhetoric even further, with political insiders warning that intensifying personal attacks reflect the acute frustration taking hold after months of unchecked optimism.

  • Cabinet Passes NIS 2.6B Defense Boost via 4.9% Slash

    Cabinet Passes NIS 2.6B Defense Boost via 4.9% Slash

    The Israeli government on Sunday approved a NIS 2.6 billion supplement to the Ministry of Defense budget for 2026 to finance urgent military procurement and the acquisition of critical defense equipment. The funding will come from an immediate 4.9% across-the-board reduction in the baseline budgets of all government ministries.

    Defense Minister Katz and PM Netanyahu | Photo: Yonatan Sindel, Flash90

    The supplemental funds are earmarked to address critical procurement requirements aligned with assessments from professional echelons inside the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Finance. A portion of the sum will be allocated to equipment programs subject to clearance by the Ministerial Committee for Defense Development and Procurement Programs. Meanwhile, the remaining balance will fund acquisitions detailed in a classified annex.

    To finance the allocation, the cabinet mandated broad reductions across 2026 ministerial budgets, along with cuts to future commitment authorizations. Under the measure, civilian ministries will be compelled to adjust their operational ledgers to facilitate the rapid redirection of resources to the defense establishment.

    Cabinet meeting, archive | Photo: Haim Zach, GPO

    The decision specifies that the cuts will also apply to budgets previously designated for implementing prior government resolutions. However, the decision included flexibility mechanisms to allow adjustments if a specific budget line cannot absorb the cut, enabling ministries to offset reductions across alternative line items within the same budgetary sphere.

    Explanatory notes accompanying the draft resolution emphasized an acute operational necessity, cautioning that any delay in clearing the budget could compromise essential security responses. The document clarified that the decision does not constitute a new long-term fiscal policy, but rather addresses urgent defense contingencies strictly within the current budget year.

    Netanyahu at cabinet meeting, archive | Photo: GPO

    The sweeping reduction threatens to strain ongoing ministerial operations, particularly with only months remaining before the close of the fiscal year. Absorbing a significant cut late in the calendar year is expected to force government departments into immediate administrative and programmatic cutbacks. However, a senior government official told our political correspondent, Moti Kastel, that the across-the-board reduction is a temporary financing mechanism that will likely be rescinded before the end of the year. “This is an interim loan to bridge urgent defense requirements,” the official stated.

    “An alternative funding source is slated to become available before the year concludes, which will allow the cut to be practically revoked without undermining ministerial activities,” the official added.

  • Top Iran Official Threatens Israel, U.S. With New War Plan

    Top Iran Official Threatens Israel, U.S. With New War Plan

    Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, issued a new wave of threats directed at Israel and the United States on Sunday via the social media platform X, claiming that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic have formulated a military blueprint far more destructive than those utilized in previous conflicts, ready to be activated in the event of renewed hostilities.

    Mohsen Rezaei | Photo: Wikipedia

    Rezaei pushed back against recent statements made by senior officials in Jerusalem and Washington, writing: “The nonsense and repeated threats of recent days by American and Zionist officials do not change the reality on the ground.”

    The senior Iranian official further asserted that Tehran maintains full operational readiness should active fighting resume: “Iran’s armed forces have prepared a plan more destructive than that of the 12-day and 40-day wars, in the event of any new adventure.”

    Intercepting an Iranian missile during Operation Days of Repentance | Photo: Matanya Tausig, Flash 90

    Concluding his post, Rezaei delivered an explicit warning regarding how Tehran intends to conduct future military confrontations, stating: “Iran’s new operational plan will not operate according to the rules they know.”

  • Rubio Heads to Central Asia to Expand Abraham Accords

    Rubio Heads to Central Asia to Expand Abraham Accords

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed on Sunday for an official visit to Uzbekistan, where he is scheduled to confer with the leaders of five Central Asian nations amid coordinated American initiatives to broaden influence in the region and evaluate the potential inclusion of additional states in the Abraham Accords with Israel, according to a report by Reuters.

    Signing of the Abraham Accords at the White House, archive | Photo: Arab social media

    Rubio is expected to land in the historic city of Samarkand to participate in the C5+1 diplomatic forum, which brings together the United States and Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The five-nation bloc represents an area of acute geopolitical significance, strategically positioned between Russia, China, and Iran, and endowed with abundant natural energy reserves and critical rare-earth mineral deposits.

    The diplomatic trip follows a high-profile summit hosted last November by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, during which the leaders of all five regional states were received, and Kazakhstan formally agreed to join the Abraham Accords. Building on exploratory contacts initiated over the past year, the Trump administration is actively examining the feasibility of extending the normalization accords to other Central Asian partners. However,h it has not yet made a formal announcement about an impending accession.

    The signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords on the White House lawn | Photo: Flash90

    Beyond potential diplomatic normalization with Israel, a primary pillar of Rubio’s mission centers on securing American economic and industrial supply chains across the region. A commercial delegation of more than 200 business leaders is accompanying the Secretary of State, with administration officials prioritizing direct access to rare-earth mineral deposits vital to high-tech manufacturing and defense applications.

    Rubio’s Central Asian mission unfolds against the backdrop of multifaceted international flashpoints confronting Washington, including open hostilities with Iran, the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, and complex diplomatic frictions surrounding Ukraine. According to the report, while Rubio focuses his portfolio on high-value economic and resource frontiers, senior administration figures, including Vice President JD Vance and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, manage other sensitive geopolitical negotiations.