Netanyahu Meets Hegseth at Ovda Air Base Before Election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Israel's Ovda air base ahead of Israel's national election, according to the source report published on October 20, 2026. The unannounced meeting took place eight days before the vote as Washington and Jerusalem discussed potentially resuming military operations against Iran. The meeting brought together senior Israeli and US officials at a sensitive point in regional security discussions.

The report did not disclose further details about the discussions between Netanyahu and Hegseth or identify any decisions reached during their meeting. The encounter was reported amid broader discussions between the United States and Israel about the possibility of renewed strikes against Iran. The source did not provide a timetable for any potential military action or confirm that a decision to resume operations had been made.

The report also highlighted Israeli political developments ahead of the election, including a reference to Hanegbi backing Liberman. However, the available source text did not provide further details about that political position or explain its implications for the election.

The meeting followed earlier public appearances by Netanyahu and Hegseth. A photograph cited in the source showed the two officials at an arrival ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on July 9, 2025. The October 20 report also included a separate update from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry stating that Israeli Defense Forces strikes had killed four people in Gaza. That update was listed separately from the report about Netanyahu and Hegseth's meeting.