Hello and welcome to the intelligence on Economist Radio.

I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

Hundreds of people in America have suffered a mysterious illness. Seven have died. The culprit appears to be e-cigarettes. The booming industry could surely do with more transparency, but still, it seems clear that vaping is less risky than smoking. And even the ever-expanding sandwich-in-a-box business has a luxury end.

But the lobster rolls available at the international chain Pretta Manger

are a window into a wider truth.

Americans just don't mind shelling out more for lunch.

First up, though.

Today, Israel holds elections for the second time this year.

Biniamen Netanyahu, who's led the country for the past ten years,

has been campaigning to hold on to his job as Prime Minister.

On Friday, he sang the national anthem with his family and supporters of his Lakud party.

Yesterday, he visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem to see, as he said, the ancient sources from the Jewish nation that give us the strength to continue. In May, Mr. Netanyahu dissolved the last parliament after failing to form a coalition.

He'd been dogged by scandals and faced insurrection from his political allies.

Now, in a fresh election, he's trying to persuade Israelis to give him yet more years in power.

That could also protect him from being prosecuted for corruption.

In his campaign, he's pulled a number of surprising tricks out of the box.

Well, Netanyahu's strategy has always been to try and maximize the turnout of his base,

which is the right wing and religious voters in Israel.

Anshel Pfeffer reports from Israel for the economist.

He's basically been offering them almost anything that he can,

and at the same time trying to suppress and intimidate the left wing and

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