Israel's top stories
Good news for Gush Etzion: huge industrial zone to be established near Tarqumiya crossing
Central Command chief Avi Bluth signed the jurisdiction of the "Mevo'ot Lachish" industrial zone, which will span 3,039 dunams in Gush Etzion near the Tarqumiya crossing. The move is being advanced by the Settlement Administration and the Civil Administration.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the establishment of a national unity government including the Zionist parties and the national camp, and warned against swearing in a new government in the coming week. According to him, a government dependent on factors that support terrorism will not be able to confront the Iranian threat.
MK Moshe Abutbul announces he is leaving the Shas list for the Knesset
MK Moshe Abutbul announced that he is leaving the Shas list for the Knesset in order to make room for young community activists, with the blessing of the Council of Torah Sages. After some 35 years of public activity, including a decade as mayor of Beit Shemesh and more than seven years in the Knesset, he will focus on Torah work.
Samaria Council head meets senior Czech officials against EU sanctions on Judea and Samaria
Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan held a marathon of meetings with ministers, members of parliament and the deputy speaker of the Czech Senate, seeking to build support against European sanctions on Judea and Samaria. The senior officials expressed support for the settlements and the residents of Samaria.
Herzog Gives Gadi Eisenkot the Mandate to Form a Government
President Isaac Herzog announced that he will task Gadi Eisenkot with forming the government. Eisenkot was invited to the President's residence for the mandate handover, which will take place the next day at 17:00.
High Court rejects Lavi Organization petition against Attorney General
The Supreme Court rejected a petition by the Lavi Organization against the Attorney General, which dealt with claims regarding the legality of political investigations and immunity. The justices ruled that the petition was based on media reports alone, without sufficient factual basis.
Yinon Magal claims he is being denied entry to Rabbi Landau's home
Presenter Yinon Magal said that for about a week and a half he has been unable to obtain permission to enter the home of Lithuanian Haredi public leader Rabbi Landau. According to him, he was told that some people fear the meeting would be interpreted in a certain way.
The judges in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial are considering summoning Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to a hearing on the case, following a request from the lawyers for Netanyahu and Shaul Elovitch and claims of irregularities that arose during the evidentiary proceedings. The prosecution opposed the move and noted its unusual nature.
Deri attacks senior prosecutors over recordings published by Amit Segal
Shas chairman Rabbi Aryeh Deri attacked senior prosecutors after Amit Segal published recordings, claiming they used criminal cases to blackmail and eliminate political rivals. According to him, the same conduct is continuing today at the Attorney General's office and with the State Attorney.
Shas Denies Joining Eisenkot Government; Talks With United Torah Judaism Reported Behind Scenes
Shas denies reports that it will join a government led by Gadi Eisenkot, calling them "absolute fake news." The party said it is part of the right-wing bloc, in line with the instruction of the Council of Torah Sages.
Futna Jaber wished death on Sarah Orit Strock after her visit to Jericho
Futna Jaber, a former "Big Brother" contestant, published a post in which she wished death on Sarah Orit Strock. The post was published following Strock's visit to the outskirts of Jericho and her remarks on renewing settlement in Gaza. Jaber wrote: "With God's help, God will take you".
Senior religious education officials demand hundreds of millions of shekels and autonomy in coalition negotiations
Senior officials in state-religious education submitted a list of demands to party leaders ahead of coalition negotiations. The demands include budget increases of hundreds of millions of shekels, representation for the religious sector in each of the central divisions of the Education Ministry, and autonomy in managing the religious education system.
Far-left French candidate warns of warships escorting aid boats to Gaza
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the far-left candidate for the French presidency, promised that if elected he would send French navy ships to escort aid boats to Gaza. He also attacked Israel over the West Bank, southern Lebanon and the Golan Heights.
Smotrich and Levin Call for Overhaul of Justice System Following Recordings by Head of Investigations Department
Religious Zionism leader and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Justice Minister Yariv Levin called for reforming the justice system following recordings by the head of the Investigations Department. Smotrich said the lack of a public storm around the recordings points to rot in the relationship between the law enforcement system and the media.
Eisenkot Appoints Roy Folkman as Chair of Knesset Organizing Committee
Yashar! chairman Roy Folkman has been appointed chair of the Knesset's organizing committee, after Eisenkot initiated the appointment from his faction. The committee will hold significant powers until a new government is formed, and the appointment was made after the president tasked Eisenkot with forming the government.
Trump comments on Eisenkot's mandate and compares him to Netanyahu
US President Donald Trump commented for the first time on the assignment of the mandate to form a government to Gadi Eisenkot, saying that Eisenkot and Benjamin Netanyahu are very similar in policy and outlook. According to him, both support what he is doing, and Eisenkot said nice things about him.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Attacks The New York Times
Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, attacked The New York Times at a Chabad gathering in New Jersey, accusing the paper of promoting blood libels against Israel. According to him, the paper is preparing the ground for "the next genocide against us."
Is the Party Over? Congress to Probe Trump Family's Crypto Profits
Following the Democrats' victory in the midterm elections, a wave of investigations and subpoenas in Congress is expected against President Trump and his family over their cryptocurrency business. At the center are profits of $1.16 billion, political donations and financial ties with companies in the industry.
U.S. Criticism of Trump and Senator El-Sayed's Remarks
Abdul El-Sayed, who was elected to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate, attacked President Donald Trump and his deputy JD Vance in his victory speech. In an interview with ABC, he called the war in Iran and the tariff war with Canada "stupid ideas."
The Republican defeat in the US midterm elections has raised uncertainty in the camp of Vice President JD Vance about his prospects of running for president in 2028. Vance has not yet announced whether he will run, and reports say donors and associates are doubting his ability to win the next election.
Trump: Attitude toward Israel and the war contributed to electoral defeat
Former US President Donald Trump addressed the Republicans' electoral defeat on the program "60 Minutes". According to him, the outcome is related, among other things, to a great lack of sympathy for Israel and to the war in Iran.
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri is resigning from the party's list for the 26th Knesset and will not serve as a Knesset member. Moshe Abutbul and Dror Amos are also resigning, and Uriel Buso and Yossi Taib will enter in their places.
Democrats leader Yair Golan expressed willingness to partner with the Haredi public in a change government, on condition that it commit to drafting Haredim, integration into employment, and equality in the economic and security burden. "We are not looking to punish the Haredim, but real partnership requires mutual responsibility," he said.
Ben-Gvir attacks the State Attorney's Office and the Police Investigations Department after recordings are exposed
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attacked the State Attorney's Office and the Police Investigations Department after recordings of the head of the investigations division were revealed. Ben-Gvir said the State Attorney's Office had become a criminal organization and called the Police Investigations Department a criminal militia.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said she is not aware of any evidentiary basis that could affect the outcome of the elections or justify their annulment. According to her, the preliminary evidence presented to her concerns only isolated and limited incidents.
Itamar Ben-Gvir Appointed Chairman of the Religious Zionism Faction in the Knesset
Religious Zionism party leader and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the appointment of MK Itamar Ben-Gvir as chairman of the faction in the Knesset. The appointment was announced at the beginning of the week and signifies a change at the top of the faction.
Liberman denies talks with United Torah Judaism and reports of softening on conscription law
Israel Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman denied talks with United Torah Judaism and discussions on freezing the arrest law, saying no such discussion took place, directly or indirectly. He said a precondition for any law is that it pass the High Court of Justice test.
Liberman: Conscription bill he proposed in 2018 could serve as basis for discussion
Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman said willingness to compromise does not mean giving up on principles. He said the bill he presented in 2018 could serve as a good basis for discussion on the conscription issue.
Liberman: Passing the High Court Test Is the Precondition for Any Draft Law
Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman wrote that the precondition for any draft law is that it pass the High Court of Justice test. According to him, there is no point in wasting even a minute on legislation that would not be legally admissible.
The Deal Taking Shape Between Liberman and the Haredim: Halting Deserter Arrests and Splitting Portfolios
Yisrael Beytenu and United Torah Judaism have reached preliminary understandings on halting arrests of Haredi deserters, fast-track legislation on the matter, handing the Interior and Housing portfolios to United Torah Judaism, and setting up a committee to examine a service model for all populations. Talks are ongoing, but at the end of the week a rift emerged between the parties within the change bloc. Netanyahu wants to speak urgently with the rabbis.
