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A man looking towards an Israeli tank in Zawtar Gharbieh, southern Lebanon, on Oct. 25, 2026. (Credit: Ammar Ammar / AFP) Add as preferred on Google Israelis went to the polls on Tuesday, but it may take several days to find out who will be able to form the next government. In Lebanon, the vote is being watched particularly closely. The country has long found itself holding its breath ahead of Israeli elections. In April 1996, Operation Grapes of Wrath was launched against Lebanon while the border strip was still under occupation. The operation culminated in the Qana massacre, when the Israeli air force shelled a camp for villagers run by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), killing around 100 people. Shimon Peres’ narrow defeat in the election came a month later. Beyond the debate over the link between these two events — which was never settled — the key point is that Lebanon has long served as a political variable in Israel’s electoral calculations. Read... You have reached your article limitStay informed about a Middle East in crisis.Subscribe for $0.5/month for the first 3 months. Subscribe now Log in This article is only available to L’Orient Today subscribers. Subscribe now Log in Create a free account to continue reading this article. You’ll also receive The Morning Brief, our must-read daily digest of Middle East news. Opt out anytime Email Address Password Email Address Password I would like to receive special offers from L'Orient Today as well as selections of the best articles. Register By creating an account, you agree to the terms and conditions of use and our privacy policy. Register Or register with: Facebook
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