TEL AVIV, October 6, 2026 (WAFA) – The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that a US report warned Israel is facing multiple crises that have brought it to the brink of "civil war or political collapse."
The newspaper noted that "there is a crisis centering on [Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu himself, who is struggling to retain power in Israel."
This appeared in a Maariv report titled: "Secret CIA Report Reveals Alarming Warning: Israel on the Verge of Civil War and Political Collapse."
The newspaper cited the US report as warning that "Israel is experiencing a combination of political polarization, economic pressures, and tensions surrounding the mandatory military conscription crisis, placing the country at risk of civil war or political collapse."
Maariv added that the US report was published by the website "Drop Site News" and contained a warning from the CIA that "years of war in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran have deepened political, economic, and social rifts within Israel."
The report noted that the Israeli Knesset elections, scheduled for October 27, are taking place amidst an accumulation of internal crises. According to the report—as cited by Maariv—these crises include "an economic crisis, soaring military spending, and the return of army troops from three full years of combat, with some suffering from severe psychological trauma."
The US report highlighted other issues, such as the "crisis over mandatory conscription," noting that it deepens the rift between secular and religious Israelis; the exemption of Haredi Jews from military service is a major source of resentment within Israeli society, alongside the escalation of settler violence in the West Bank.
The CIA went further, identifying a crisis centered on Netanyahu himself as he struggles to retain power in Israel, Maariv reported.
The US report also noted that Israel faces international isolation—including waning support in the US—with its growing status as a "near-pariah state" cited as a factor that could lead to its disintegration.
Netanyahu has led the current government—described as the most right-wing in Israel's history—since late December 2022.
As general elections approach, opinion polls show the Jewish opposition bloc leading Netanyahu’s camp, though without a sufficient majority to form a government.
Domestically, Netanyahu (76) faces corruption charges that could result in imprisonment if he is convicted; he is also wanted to appear before the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
K.T
