Benjamin Netanyahu confirms September 4 Israel election But many commentators suggested that he wanted to secure a fresh mandate before the United States holds its presidential election two months later in order to launch unilateral military action against Iran. He is banking on the likelihood that President Barack Obama would not want to alienate pro-Israeli voters in the United States by overtly challenging Mr Netanyahu, they said. "During this interim, the new Israeli government will have absolute authority, while the US administration will be impotent," said Ari Shavit, a columnist for Israel's Haaretz newspaper. By bringing the election forward, Netanyahu is defining the ideal time to attack Iran: September or October. Ron Ben-Yishai, a leading military correspondent, predicted in a column for the Israeli website Ynet that the early election would give Mr Netanyahu a two-month window to act before winter clouds close in, hampering the effectiveness of air strikes. Despite his position of strength, Mr Netanyahu must navigate two potentially tricky obstacles in the coming weeks that could dent his popularity. Israel's supreme court on Monday rejected the appeals of two Palestinian prisoners who have been on hunger strike for 69 days in protest at being held in detention without trial. Lawyers say the inmates, Bilal Tiab and Ta'ir Halale, are close to death. If either dies it could trigger widespread Palestinian instability, with one militant group in Gaza warning that it will end its ceasefire in such an eventuality. Demonstrations in the West Bank are also likely to grow and could become violent. Adding to the combustible mix, more than 1,500 other Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons have also gone on hunger strike. The supreme court on Monday also rejected a government request to annul a judicial order for the demolition of five settler houses built without planning permission on privately owned Palestinian land in the West Bank. Mr Netanyahu risks a backlash from the powerful settler community and its supporters if he carries out the demolitions, which must take place by July 1st.