Israeli West Bank operation may boost Netanyahu's election chances

Israel has launched a major military operation in the occupied West Bank days before the national election, following the killing of two Israeli soldiers. The offensive has forced hundreds of Palestinian families from their homes in Hebron. The operation began after Palestinian gunmen killed two soldiers on Friday, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order a closure of the West Bank. Israeli forces have demolished buildings, arrested around 40 people, and imposed a siege on Hebron, which the Palestinian Authority calls collective punishment. The escalation follows a 340 percent rise in settler violence since 2021, and analysts say Netanyahu may use the operation to boost his standing in Tuesday's vote, where he faces a tight race against challenger Gadi Eisenkot.