BNN Election Coverage | Powered by The Petek Israel's Central Elections Committee ratified the results of the election for the 26th Knesset today, with 15 members voting in favor, two against and 14 abstaining…

BNN Election Coverage | Powered by The Petek Israel's Central Elections Committee ratified the results of the election for the 26th Knesset today, with 15 members voting in favor, two against and 14 abstaining, according to Ynet. Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg delivered the official results to President Isaac Herzog at noon. The committee said its review found no irregularities indicating that the election had been compromised or the results altered. Sohlberg said the foreign interference suspicions remain under investigation, but that their impact, even if substantiated, would be limited. He stressed that the election results must be respected. Herzog will begin government formation consultations at 5 p.m. Israel time with representatives of Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party, according to the updated schedule published by Ynet. Shas follows at 6:15 p.m., Yisrael Beiteinu at 7:30 p.m. and Moshe Feiglin's Zehut at 8:45 p.m. Zehut will meet the president separately despite running on a joint electoral list with Religious Zionism. Tomorrow, Herzog will meet United Torah Judaism, Otzma Yehudit, the Democrats and Ra'am in the morning, followed by the Joint List and B'Yachad later in the day. Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar is scheduled for 7:15 p.m., with Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud last at 8:30 p.m. Herzog is beginning with the smaller parties before hearing from the largest factions. Each delegation will recommend a candidate to form the next government. Speaking at today's handover, Herzog urged parties to show flexibility over campaign commitments to avoid another election. Under Basic Law: The Government, Herzog must assign the task within seven days of publication of the official results. The chosen lawmaker receives 28 days to form a government, with a possible extension of up to 14 days. The outgoing government continues serving until a new government takes office.

UPDATE: Home Front Command confirms no orders issued to open shelters In response to an inquiry from BNN regarding reports of municipalities in northern Israel opening and preparing shelters, the Home Front Command…

UPDATE: Home Front Command confirms no orders issued to open shelters In response to an inquiry from BNN regarding reports of municipalities in northern Israel opening and preparing shelters, the Home Front Command clarified: "The Home Front Command is not ordering the opening of shelters, as the entire country is currently at the green level." The clarification confirms that the shelter preparations reported in Carmiel and elsewhere are not the result of a Home Front Command directive. Municipalities may take precautionary measures independently, but there has been no change to the Home Front Command's official civilian safety instructions.

Israel has shared intelligence with the United States suggesting that Iran is considering using chemical weapons against its adversaries, according to The New York Times, citing American and regional officials. Israeli…

Israel has shared intelligence with the United States suggesting that Iran is considering using chemical weapons against its adversaries, according to The New York Times, citing American and regional officials. Israeli intelligence agencies reportedly believe Iran is rapidly developing the capability to deploy chemical weapons through ballistic missiles or smuggle them into other countries for attacks. The intelligence has also been shared with several Gulf states. American officials are divided over the assessment. Some believe the threat warrants serious attention, particularly amid recent intelligence warnings about Iranian preparations to attack American interests. Others suspect the Israeli government is using the chemical weapons threat to pressure the Trump administration into resuming major military operations against Iran. Officials in Gulf countries also expressed skepticism. One regional official told the Times that Israel had presented its assessments without providing supporting evidence. Some American officials reportedly compared the situation to the flawed intelligence assessments concerning Iraq's weapons of mass destruction before the 2003 invasion. Israeli journalist Barak Betesh separately said he understands that intelligence was indeed shared, but that the information was not as concrete as the Times report might suggest. BNN previously investigated the possibility of Iranian chemical and biological warheads in February. In a February 24 interview with BNN, Brig. Gen. (res.) Amir Avivi, founder of the Israel Defense and Security Forum, warned that Iran might already possess operational chemical and biological missile warheads. "The threat is not theoretical," Avivi told BNN. "There is a good chance they already have it and this is something that we believe may be operational." At the time, BNN questioned why Israel's Home Front Command had not distributed gas masks or updated public guidance for chemical attacks. The IDF International Press Desk responded directly to BNN, stating: "There has been no change in the Home Front Command's directives." The new intelligence reported by the Times does not establish that Iran currently possesses operational chemical warheads or has decided to use them. The report also highlights technical challenges in effectively dispersing chemical agents through missile warheads.

Northern Israeli communities prepare shelters amid concerns of renewed fighting with Iran Communities in northern Israel are taking precautionary measures, including opening and preparing shelters, amid concerns over a…

Northern Israeli communities prepare shelters amid concerns of renewed fighting with Iran Communities in northern Israel are taking precautionary measures, including opening and preparing shelters, amid concerns over a possible resumption of fighting with Iran and escalating security tensions along the northern border. In Carmiel, the municipality confirmed that its public shelters were opened approximately two weeks ago, under the direction of Mayor Moshe Koninsky, and remain ready for use if needed. In a separate audio message addressed to employees in Carmiel, a speaker said that instructions had been received from the municipality to prepare shelters and reinforced safe rooms for the possibility that fighting could break out while children are at school. The speaker instructed employees to clean and prepare the shelters immediately and inspect them daily to ensure they could accommodate children in an emergency. Importantly, these preparations were not ordered by the Home Front Command. They appear to be precautionary decisions made at the municipal level, potentially informed by security assessments and briefings provided to local emergency officials. The measures indicate heightened local preparedness for a possible escalation, but do not constitute confirmation of an imminent outbreak of fighting or a change in official civilian safety instructions.