A reported CIA assessment says Israel is one spark away from serious internal conflict — bad news for Israeli stability and for Washington's main ally in the region.

• The core finding: Israel's internal divisions are strained enough that a single trigger could tip into open conflict at home.
• Rising inflation inside Israel is the pressure point, as the cost of food and basics squeezes families.
• Hunger and household money problems are the classic drivers of unrest anywhere, and they can outrank war aims fast.
• Years of war in Gaza, Lebanon, and against Iran have carried a heavy economic cost, part of which has been borne by the US.
• The warning is drawing harsh commentary in the US, where some argue Israel should absorb the price of its own wars rather than pass it to American taxpayers.

Outlook: Watch Israeli prices and protest activity — if the cost of living keeps climbing, political pressure on the government builds before anything breaks.