Netanyahu Says Hamas May Try to Disrupt Election, Rules Out Plea Deal in His Trial

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview reported on Friday, a month before the Knesset election, that Hamas could launch rockets or drones from Gaza even on the eve of the vote in order to disrupt it. "Gaza is no longer a real threat to Israel," he said, adding that "in the end, Hamas will not be there." Netanyahu stated that there would be no plea bargain in his criminal trial, though he would be willing to enter mediation. He said judicial reform has not been shelved and will be advanced in the next Knesset term, with the aim of reaching broad agreement.