Netanyahu says election was stolen, as US and Israel prepare for new offensive against Iran

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated in a post online that the Israeli election was stolen by Arab parties that, according to him, support terrorism and the elimination of the Jewish State. The accusation comes amid an impasse in government formation and on the eve of a possible new round of fighting between the US, Israel and Iran, according to a report aired by Fox Business.

In the text, read by presenter Sandra Smith, Netanyahu cites serious crimes, such as bribery, threats and forgery, and the use of prohibited software to mobilize voters. He classifies the episode as a severe blow to Israeli democracy and its citizens' right to vote, and defends that the authorities act with an "iron fist" and immediately. The transcript does not contain evidence presented by the prime minister.

Guest on the program, Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, adopted a more cautious tone. He said he trusts that the authorities will investigate the case and reach their own conclusions. He acknowledged that there were some arrests on voting day, with cash found in some places and villages, but advised waiting for the result of the investigation.

Impasse and government formation

Danon highlighted popular participation: almost 80% of Israelis went to the polls, which, in his assessment, shows the strength of the country's democracy. According to the ambassador, the prime minister's party obtained a very good result, but he still needs to negotiate to put together a coalition, a process that will take a few weeks and, in his estimation, "at least a month".

According to the presenter, the Israeli president will begin consultations with parties next week before giving a name the mandate to form the government. She noted that Netanyahu could seek a unity government, but that he does not appear interested and called on Tuesday night for a strong right-wing government. Danon warned Israel's opponents not to take the transition period as a gap: Netanyahu remains Prime Minister, and the Armed Forces remain in their posts.

Military preparation and negotiations with Tehran

On the foreign front, the Wall Street Journal reported, as reported by correspondent Jeff Paul, that American officials have asked several Gulf Arab countries to prepare for a short, intense military campaign aimed at reducing Iran's capabilities and possibly forcing it back to the negotiating table. According to the report, the preparations aim to give the president options, and there is no indication that Donald Trump has made a decision.

The US has already sent additional Patriot air defense assistance to the Middle East and is expected to deploy another aircraft carrier group to the region. Asked about the attacks, Trump replied: "I can't say, but anything is possible." He also stated that Iran is patiently waiting for the American election, but that the election will not help it. In another speech, he mentioned possible targets, including Pickaxe Mountain and the island of Kharg.

Trump also stated that Iran has one of the highest inflations in the world, under sanctions and blockaded ports, and that many Iranians have difficulty buying essential items. Mediators reported that Iran has received a new draft agreement to end the conflict, and Tehran's response is expected by the end of the week.

What to watch out for

For the market, the episode combines two sources of uncertainty: a political situation in Israel that could take weeks to resolve and the possibility of a military escalation in the Gulf, a central region for global energy. The transcript does not contain market numbers or economic projections, but investors tend to closely monitor the outcome of the Iranian response to the new draft and possible military movements, due to their potential to affect risk appetite in stock markets, interest rates and exchange rates.

Automatically translated from Portuguese.