United News of Bangladesh

China is deeply concerned about the sustained regional tensions in the Middle East, and opposes attacks on civilian targets such as civil aviation airports, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday. China calls on relevant parties to resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiation to help restore peace and tranquility in the Middle East at an early date, he added. Guo made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on new attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi group. The Houthis claimed on Tuesday that it had launched attacks on multiple targets in Saudi Arabia using ballistic missiles and drones, including the Saudi Defense Ministry and Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia.  

Israel's national election produced no clear winner, according to exit polls, as votes continued to be counted early Wednesday, raising the prospect of weeks of negotiations to form a governing coalition. The inconclusive outcome leaves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in place as caretaker head of government while political parties attempt to secure the parliamentary majority needed to establish a new administration. Exit polls released by major Israeli television stations after voting ended on Tuesday and revised overnight indicated that neither Netanyahu's political bloc nor the alliance led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot had secured the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. Israeli voters elect political parties rather than a prime minister directly, and parties must form alliances to achieve a parliamentary majority. No single party has ever won an outright majority. The election took place amid deep divisions over Netanyahu's leadership and the continuing impact of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the subsequent wars across the Middle East. 60% of votes countedOfficial figures released by Israel's Central Elections Committee on Wednesday morning showed Netanyahu's Likud party leading with 21.4% of the vote, followed by Eisenkot's Yashar party with 16.2%, with 60% of ballots counted. The figures did not yet establish how many parliamentary seats each party would ultimately secure. Strong Arab vote raises coalition questionsThe strong performance of Arab-led parties has emerged as a significant factor in the post-election political debate, as their support could prove decisive in forming a government. An analysis published by the left-leaning Haaretz newspaper described the outcome as a test for political groups that identify themselves as democratic. It warned that excluding Arab citizens from political participation despite their efforts to engage in the democratic process could undermine the future of the bloc presenting itself as democratic. President to choose government formation candidatePresident Isaac Herzog is expected to select the politician he believes has the best chance of forming a government. Although the presidency is largely ceremonial, the role becomes significant during coalition negotiations. The leader of the party winning the most votes is usually given the opportunity to form a government, although Herzog is not legally required to appoint Netanyahu even if Likud finishes first. Given the divisions surrounding Netanyahu's government, some Israelis may favour an alternative candidate during the coalition-building process. Military turnout reaches nearly 80%Israel's military reported a voter turnout of 79.9% among its personnel, more than six percentage points higher than in the previous election. Hundreds of thousands of ballots cast by military personnel were still awaiting counting. Some polling stations had been established in combat zones. Attack outside Israeli Embassy in SerbiaSeparately, Serbian police said an unidentified attacker armed with two knives assaulted a security guard outside Israel's Embassy in Belgrade early Wednesday and was shot dead. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic described the incident as a terrorist attack. Authorities raised the terror threat to its highest level and increased security at key locations. Dacic said the attacker was a minor who shouted “Allahu Akbar,” an Arabic phrase meaning “God is great,” during the assault. The police officer shot the assailant in self-defence and sustained minor injuries, he added. Trump says Netanyahu performed wellUS President Donald Trump rejected suggestions that Netanyahu was heading towards defeat, saying he had heard that the Israeli leader had performed well. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday after returning from campaign rallies in Texas, Trump said it was too early to draw firm conclusions. He added that he had not yet spoken with Netanyahu about the results. Trump endorsed Netanyahu late in the election campaign, while Netanyahu highlighted his close relationship with the White House in his election-night address. Netanyahu rules out government dependent on Arab partiesAddressing enthusiastic supporters in Jerusalem after 3am Wednesday, Netanyahu said exit polls suggested Likud would emerge as the largest party in the next parliament. He highlighted Israel's military achievements over the previous three years and pledged to complete the campaign against Iran's government. Netanyahu also declared that no government should be formed with the support of Arab parties. Their strong electoral performance could make them influential in coalition negotiations if the two main political blocs remain unable to secure a majority. Both camps celebrate despite uncertain outcomeSupporters at the headquarters of both Netanyahu and Eisenkot celebrated despite the inconclusive exit polls, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding the next government's formation. Speaking in Tel Aviv early Wednesday, Eisenkot emphasised national unity and pledged to form a government, promising Israelis “a new era — an era of hope.” “Today, Israel went out to a referendum over the leadership that will lead Israel in the coming years,” he told cheering supporters. “The people decided in favour of change.”Editorial note: The source contains several election-specific claims and developing figures. Verify the date, party names, official vote count and attribution before publication.

Global concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide reached record levels in 2025, intensifying the risk of extreme weather and threatening economies and societies, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned. According to the agency’s latest Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, the average global concentration of CO2 reached 426.8 parts per million (ppm) last year, equivalent to 153 percent of the pre-industrial level recorded in 1750. “Every additional part per million matters because it traps additional heat. In effect, we are supercharging the ocean and the atmosphere. That means that heat waves, tropical cyclones, and rainstorms are intensifying faster than our historical baselines prepared us for,” WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett told journalists in Geneva. Methane and nitrous oxide, the second and third most significant long-lived greenhouse gases generated by human activities, also recorded unprecedented concentrations in 2025. “Another year, another new record. Greenhouse gases are trapping an unprecedented amount of heat in the atmosphere, providing energy for more extreme weather and associated risks to our economies and societies,” Barrett said. She noted that the past 11 years had been the warmest on record and that the trend was expected to continue. As CO2 remains in the atmosphere for a long time, its effects on the global climate will persist for decades and even centuries. When the WMO first published the bulletin in 2004, the annual average CO2 concentration recorded by its Global Atmosphere Watch monitoring network stood at 377.5 ppm, compared with nearly 427 ppm today. El Niño accelerates the rise The rate of CO2 accumulation has tripled since the 1960s, rising from an annual average of 0.8 ppm to 2.4 ppm per year during the decade from 2011 to 2020. WMO senior scientific officer Oksana Tarasova said the exceptional 3.5 ppm increase recorded in 2023-2024 coincided with a strong El Niño event, which weakened the biosphere’s capacity to absorb carbon because of increased drought, drier vegetation and more wildfires. Although the annual rise slowed to 2.8 ppm between 2024 and 2025, Tarasova described it as a substantial addition of carbon to the atmosphere from fossil fuel burning. She warned that CO2 concentrations could rise further in 2026 because of continued fossil fuel use and the development of a powerful El Niño, which could weaken land-based carbon sinks, as happened in 2023-2024. Greenhouse gases drive greater warming The WMO bulletin measures the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere rather than annual emissions. Around half of the CO2 emitted each year remains in the atmosphere, while the remainder is absorbed by land ecosystems and oceans. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Annual Greenhouse Gas Index shows that the warming effect of greenhouse gases on the climate increased by 56 percent between 1990 and 2025. CO2 accounted for about 81 percent of that increase, known as radiative forcing. Energy transition brings new concerns As countries shift towards cleaner energy systems, the WMO has called for close monitoring of two less abundant gases associated with electricity production and distribution: molecular hydrogen (H2) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). SF6, widely used to suppress electrical sparks in power distribution systems, has seen its use increase steadily over the past three decades alongside global electrification. The gas remains in the atmosphere for more than 1,000 years and has a 100-year global warming potential approximately 24,300 times that of CO2. The increase in atmospheric SF6 in 2025 was the highest on record, according to the bulletin. Meanwhile, atmospheric hydrogen concentrations rose by 5.3 percent between 2010 and 2024. Hydrogen is increasingly used for energy storage and in sectors that are difficult to decarbonise, including steelmaking and shipping. It also supports renewable energy systems, long-duration storage and transport. However, hydrogen leakage from production facilities, pipelines, storage tanks and fuel cells is emerging as a concern. Although hydrogen is not itself a greenhouse gas, it affects atmospheric chemistry and can contribute indirectly to global warming, the WMO said. The agency warned that hydrogen leakage and the long atmospheric lifetime of SF6 could undermine the climate benefits of the global energy transition. It stressed that continuous monitoring of the atmosphere is essential to identify, understand and prevent unintended consequences of changes in energy systems. The WMO publishes the bulletin to provide authoritative scientific evidence for negotiators attending the annual UN climate conference. The 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31), scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, aims to translate climate commitments into concrete action.

Cyclone Arnab completed its landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast early Wednesday after a process lasting more than six hours, bringing heavy rainfall to parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in a bulletin issued at 9:50 am, said the very severe cyclonic storm had moved completely over land along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts. At the time of the bulletin, the cyclone was located around 20 km east of Narsapur, 40 km south-southwest of Yanam, 60 km south-southwest of Kakinada and 90 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam. According to the IMD, Arnab crossed the coast with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125–135 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 150 kmph. The system subsequently weakened into a severe cyclonic storm at 8:30 am. More Than 180,000 People EvacuatedThe cyclone brought heavy rainfall to several districts in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, prompting authorities to evacuate more than 180,000 people ahead of its arrival. In Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam recorded the highest rainfall, receiving 315 mm up to 8:30 am. Vizianagaram recorded 301 mm, followed by Anakapalli with 275 mm, Srikakulam with 257 mm and Krishna with 223 mm. In Odisha, Koraput received 188 mm of rainfall, while Ganjam and Gajapati recorded 161 mm and 135 mm, respectively. Airlines cancelled flights to Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada on Wednesday amid the adverse weather conditions. No casualties had been reported in either state at the time of the report. However, electricity supplies were disrupted, trees were uprooted and some schools were closed. Several train services were also cancelled. Officials forecast that heavy rainfall would continue in affected areas on Wednesday and Thursday as the cyclone's impact persisted. How Cyclone Arnab Got Its NameBangladesh proposed the name Arnab, which is part of the official list of tropical cyclone names adopted in 2020 by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Panel on Tropical Cyclones. The name is associated with the Bengali word for the ocean or sea. The regional naming list comprises 169 names contributed by 13 countries: Bangladesh, India, Iran, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Each country submitted 13 names. These names are used sequentially for tropical cyclones forming over the North Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Cyclone naming helps distinguish individual weather systems, improve public awareness and reduce confusion when multiple storms occur simultaneously.  Source: NDTV   

A US cruise ship offering a residential voyage around the world has suspended operations in Cambodia due to soaring fuel costs, leaving more than 200 passengers without their floating homes. The Odyssey began its three-year journey two years ago, offering residents the opportunity to live at sea while travelling across all seven continents. Florida-based operator Villa Vie Residences said monthly fuel costs per cabin, which historically averaged $1,800, had recently surged to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia amid the war in Iran. The company said it had attempted to control expenses by reducing the ship's speed and extending its stays in ports, but these measures failed to offset the sharp increase in fuel prices. “We have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses,” the company said in a statement, adding that transferring the full increase in costs to residents was not a practical option. It said its immediate priority was to support residents, crew members and employees while working to restructure its operations. According to a statement issued last week by Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, the ship arrived on Oct. 23 for a five-day stay. Although it was scheduled to travel to Vietnam, it remained at the Cambodian port on Wednesday. The ship was carrying 203 passengers from 15 nationalities, most of them Americans, along with 156 crew members. It had accommodation for up to 650 residents. Passengers have been instructed to leave the vessel, while the status of the crew remained unclear. The Odyssey had a confirmed travel schedule extending through November 2027. Villa Vie Residences had also planned to launch a second residential cruise ship in early 2029, but its statement announcing the suspension did not clarify whether the plans for the second vessel would be affected.

Cyclone Arnab made landfall along India's Andhra Pradesh coast early Wednesday, bringing powerful winds and heavy rainfall after authorities evacuated nearly 89,000 people from vulnerable coastal areas. Prakhar Jain, head of the state's disaster management authority, said the cyclone had weakened slightly before landfall but continued to pack maximum winds of up to 185 kph (115 mph). Heavy to very heavy rainfall affected several coastal districts, disrupting normal life. Officials expected the storm to weaken further as it moved inland, with wind speeds forecast to drop to around 110 kph (68 mph) later in the day. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that heavy rain and strong winds would continue in coastal Andhra Pradesh and parts of neighbouring southern Odisha for the next four hours. “The tip of the system has already entered the land mass and the entire process will take around four hours,” IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said. Cyclone Arnab intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm late Tuesday, bringing strong gusts and heavy rain to coastal areas as it moved across the Bay of Bengal. Authorities placed all coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh on high alert and evacuated residents from low-lying and flood-prone areas. Some train services were also cancelled as adverse weather conditions began affecting the coast. According to an official statement, at least 89,000 people had been evacuated in Andhra Pradesh by Wednesday. Jain said more than 2,000 cyclone shelters had been established across 20 districts, while emergency alerts were being sent to millions of mobile phone users, the Press Trust of India reported. Authorities also secured more than 30,000 fishing boats along the coast and deployed nearly 1,100 medical teams to provide emergency assistance. More than 12 million people live along the cyclone's projected path, according to the state's disaster management authority. In neighbouring Odisha, officials planned to evacuate around 48,000 people from areas expected to be affected by the storm.

Two British men have been charged with national security offences over an alleged Iran-backed plot targeting a US-operated military air base in England, prosecutors said Tuesday. Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24 and from London, were charged under the National Security Act, according to the Crown Prosecution Service. Abdulkarim is accused of assisting Iran’s intelligence service, while Essghir faces a charge of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom. The case centres on RAF Fairford in western England, which has been used by the US military for strikes against Iran during this year’s war. The US withdrew its bombers from the base following a security scare last month, when five men were detained near its perimeter. Prosecutors told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that Abdulkarim acted as an intermediary for a handler identified as Ali, who police believe is based outside Britain and working for Iran. Prosecutor Louise Gray said Ali instructed a group of men to drive three vans carrying containers of gasoline to the base, leave the vehicles and walk away. In the early hours of September 27, the men received a phone message saying there was a bomb in the vehicles, prompting one of the suspects to contact police. Armed officers rushed to the area, and five men, including Essghir, were arrested. Residents were evacuated while army bomb-disposal experts searched the vehicles. Police later found oil drums containing gasoline but no explosives. Essghir was initially released on bail before being arrested again last week. The charge against him relates to an alleged reconnaissance mission to film the base on August 22. Abdulkarim was arrested in the past week. Prosecutors alleged that he helped Ali by purchasing equipment for the operation and received payments totalling about £70,000 ($93,000). Essghir was remanded in custody until his next hearing, while Abdulkarim, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, was granted bail. Both are scheduled to appear in court again on November 20. Six other men have also been arrested and released on bail as the investigation continues. Iran has denied involvement in the incident, although it has previously said that any military base used to attack its territory would be considered a legitimate target. Earlier this month, MI5 chief Ken McCallum warned that Iran and Russia were expanding their hostile activities in Britain, adding that the RAF Fairford incident was not an isolated case. McCallum said Iran was seeking to extend its operations beyond its traditional targets, including opponents of the country’s Islamic authorities. More than 50 people have been arrested over Iran-linked plots in the past year, he said. Laurence Taylor, head of Britain's Counter Terrorism Policing, said authorities believed several recent incidents had been directed by the Iranian state and were working to identify and respond to the threat.

Russia and Ukraine began observing a localized ceasefire in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky on Tuesday to allow humanitarian aid delivery, while Russian missile attacks continued elsewhere. The truce, which began at 3am, was brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, according to the White House. Food and medical supplies are running critically low in the city, where drones and land mines restrict movement for up to 2,000 remaining residents. Russian and Ukrainian negotiators and their militaries confirmed the ceasefire. Previous attempts at limited truces have often failed amid deep mistrust between the two sides. Meanwhile, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the war and planned trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States, expected next month in Abu Dhabi. Stubb described the discussion as “frank and substantive”. The Nordic leaders later spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to his office. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed scepticism about contacting Putin, saying she saw no signs that Russia wanted peace with Europe and stressing the need for European unity. The Kremlin said lasting peace was possible only if Russia’s interests were fully and unconditionally taken into account. Zelenskyy urged Russia to stop attacks, including strikes on Ukraine’s power grid, to create a path to peace. Melania Trump’s office said she led discussions with civilian negotiators from both countries after receiving a briefing from UN officials on Oleshky. Pope Leo XIV also spoke with Putin and Zelenskyy this month, urging them to allow humanitarian aid and safe civilian evacuations. Negotiators said doctors, medicines, food and water would be delivered before evacuation corridors were opened. Moscow and Kyiv have blamed each other for the crisis. Under international law, Russia, as the occupying power, must ensure the safety of civilians under its control. Ukraine has repeatedly sought a humanitarian corridor for aid deliveries and evacuations.

Senior officials from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye met in Tehran on Monday and agreed to continue talks to strengthen cooperation on promoting peace and security in the region. The meeting, the first of its kind among the four countries, was hosted by Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei, and attended by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization Director Ibrahim Kalin, a statement issued after the meeting said. "The participants agreed to continue discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation among the four regional countries, including in the realm of peace and security in the region," the statement said. Speaking at a separate meeting with the senior officials from the Mecca Defense Alliance countries on Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran supports any understanding that leads to unity, solidarity, security and development in the region, according to a statement published on the website of his office. Pezeshkian accused Israel of committing "acts of violence and widespread crimes" in West Asia with "U.S. support," urging Muslim states to guard against "interventionist and divisive" moves and play an active role in regional stability, Xinhua reports. He reiterated that Iran does not seek to develop nuclear weapons and wants to continue its nuclear activities within the framework of its international rights and obligations. Meanwhile, the Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday reiterated it’s firm commitment to advancing regional de-escalation, underscoring its strong support for all initiatives aimed at easing tensions, particularly the mediation efforts spearheaded by Qatar and Pakistan. Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman chaired the Cabinet session in Riyadh, reports Saudi Gazette. The Cabinet discussed the content of talks held on Monday between states party to the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement—Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan—and senior officials of Iran. The Cabinet reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to establishing regional and international security and stability, the pivotal role of the Makkah Agreement states in ensuring regional security. It reiterated the Kingdom's support for mediation efforts by Qatar and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions, as well as for all endeavors aimed at achieving peace. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye on Aug. 7 signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, under which an attack on one member is seen as an attack on all.

Israelis went to the polls on Tuesday in a crucial election that could end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long tenure, as the country remains deeply divided after years of conflict, the October 2023 Hamas attack and ongoing debates over its political and national identity. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, is facing a challenge from several political parties seeking to remove him from office, with opinion polls indicating a close contest involving his main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. More than seven million people are eligible to vote, with tens of thousands reportedly returning from abroad to participate. Security and national defence have dominated the campaign inside Israel, while international criticism over the war in Gaza and violence by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank has raised concerns about Israel’s global standing and the safety of Jewish communities worldwide. Israel’s fragmented parliamentary system makes it difficult for any single party to secure an outright majority. Neither Netanyahu’s religious and ultranationalist alliance nor the parties seeking to replace him may win enough seats to form a government independently, potentially leading to weeks of coalition negotiations. Arab-led parties in Israel could play a decisive role in determining the next government if other political groups agree to cooperate with them. Mansour Abbas, leader of the Islamist Ra’am party, expressed confidence while casting his ballot, saying the election would bring a change in government. He also hoped voter turnout in Arab communities would exceed 70 per cent. Arab citizens account for around one-fifth of Israel’s population. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned that Abbas could end up influencing the next government if Netanyahu and his allies failed to secure victory. Ben-Gvir has drawn criticism for his treatment of Palestinian detainees and remarks dehumanising Palestinians in Gaza. According to preliminary figures from the Central Elections Committee, nearly 17 per cent of eligible voters had cast their ballots within the first three hours of voting. Emotions run high as voters head to pollsThe election has stirred strong emotions among voters. In Kiryat Shmona, a town near the Lebanese border considered a Netanyahu stronghold, one voter was seen kicking and tearing down a campaign poster of Eisenkot. The vote is Israel’s first national election since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza and a wider regional conflict. In Tel Aviv, families of people killed in the attack and former hostages observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims. Yona Adam, whose daughter Mapal Adam was killed, urged people to remember those who had lost their lives. Eisenkot visited communities attacked on October 7 early Tuesday, criticising the government for failing to take responsibility for the security failures surrounding the assault. He said government officials should have begun election day by visiting the communities near Gaza that were targeted. Netanyahu had not appeared in public during the first three hours after polling stations opened. Around 330,000 young Israelis are eligible to vote for the first time, many of them facing compulsory military service amid continuing security challenges. Tensions with Iran have also featured prominently in the campaign. Netanyahu intensified his warnings to Tehran ahead of the election, threatening a devastating response if Iran attacked Israel. Security, military service and democracy at stakeBeyond choosing a government, the election is widely viewed as a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership and Israel’s future direction — whether the country should move further towards religious and nationalist politics or strengthen its liberal and secular democratic traditions. Israel has faced growing international isolation over its military campaign in Gaza and its policies in the occupied West Bank. Public support for Israel in the United States has declined, while several European and other international partners have imposed sanctions. Netanyahu’s supporters regard him as an experienced statesman who has guided Israel through multiple conflicts. They credit him with protecting the country’s Jewish identity and restraining what they consider excessive intervention by the judiciary. His opponents, however, accuse him of deepening political divisions, prolonging the Gaza war and the hostage crisis for political survival, and undermining judicial independence and democratic institutions. They also criticise his government for maintaining arrangements that allow many ultra-Orthodox Jewish men to avoid compulsory military service. “The present government is driving the country into the ground,” said Angela Bengur, a voter in Jerusalem. Eisenkot’s supporters see him as a credible alternative with extensive military experience who could help counter what they regard as growing authoritarian tendencies. The conflict has also affected him personally, as his son and two nephews were killed in Gaza. Parties expected to support Eisenkot have pledged to restore Israel’s international standing, strengthen judicial independence and increase military enlistment among ultra-Orthodox men. For many voters, compulsory military service has become a central election issue. The election is about “who serves and who evades service — who takes an active part in building this country and who doesn’t,” said Nisso Shitrit, a voter in Jaffa.