Israel National News

The Central Elections Committee has announced the completion of the double-envelope vote count in Israel's 26th Knesset elections, with neither political bloc securing a majority. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats, the opposition bloc 48, and the Arab parties 19. Likud remains the largest party with 27 seats, followed by Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar with 21. Naftali Bennett's Together receives 12 seats, while the Joint List has 11. Ra'am and the Democrats each receive eight seats. Shas has fallen to just six seats, its lowest result since 1988, down from 11 in the previous election. The Reservists-Economic Party and Ofer Winter's Amcha Yisrael remain below the electoral threshold. Meanwhile, police said they had no investigative or intelligence evidence supporting allegations of election theft raised by Likud. Full results and ongoing election coverage at the link in the comments.

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The Shin Bet issued a clarification Thursday regarding its investigation into suspected foreign interference in Israel's elections, stressing that the intelligence was gathered independently and did not originate from any political party. The agency emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and that reports concerning the nature of the suspicions should not be attributed to it. It also clarified that the investigation is limited in scope and must not be used to cast suspicion on the entire Arab sector. Shin Bet Director David Zini personally briefed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot, and opposition leader Yair Lapid over the past 24 hours, with the approval of Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg. The findings will be submitted to Sohlberg once the investigation is completed. Full story at the link in the comments.

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Former Shas MK and party co-founder Nissim Ze'ev sharply criticized chairman Aryeh Deri following the party's historic electoral defeat, accusing him of poor leadership, mishandling the haredi draft controversy, and turning Shas into a one-man operation. In an interview with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News, Ze'ev said Deri's statements on military service had alienated both haredi and traditional voters, driving support toward United Torah Judaism, Likud, and Otzma Yehudit. He estimated that approximately 20% of Shas voters had switched to United Torah Judaism. "Shas is not Deri, and Deri is not Shas," Ze'ev declared, arguing that the party must return to its broader religious and Zionist roots. He stopped short of demanding Deri's resignation but called for an end to centralized leadership. "One person cannot make every decision. That is not how a movement should be run." Full interview at the link in the comments.

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Shas is facing a major electoral setback, with the party projected to fall to just six Knesset seats after losing more than 100,000 voters compared to the previous election. A senior Shas official admitted to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News that the party had suffered a "devastating blow" in its traditional strongholds, particularly in Israel's peripheral communities, where voters shifted toward Likud and Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit. "Our grassroots campaign was lifeless," the official acknowledged. The disappointing results have also triggered internal tensions, with reports that senior rabbi Moshe Maya sought explanations from party chairman Aryeh Deri, who reportedly avoided speaking with him. Full story at the link in the comments.

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The Shin Bet is investigating suspicions that foreign entities, including sources in Qatar and Turkey, transferred funds to organizations working to increase voter turnout among Israeli Arabs during the elections for the 26th Knesset. Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg instructed Shin Bet Director David Zini to investigate allegations of foreign funding and suspected election bribery. Some of the financial channels under examination allegedly resemble networks previously used to finance terrorist activities. "Serious suspicions have been brought before me concerning improper influence on the elections through foreign funding," Sohlberg wrote, while emphasizing that the allegations have not been verified. He requested findings, if any, within a week. Full story at the link in the comments.

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The Likud Party is alleging widespread election fraud at polling stations in Arab communities, claiming that criminal offenses affected the results of Israel's 26th Knesset elections. In a statement, Likud accused Arab parties of stealing the elections and announced plans to submit hundreds of testimonies and pieces of alleged evidence to the police, Shin Bet, and Central Elections Committee. The party cited reports of cash-filled envelopes containing Ra'am ballot slips, voter intimidation, duplicate identities, and discrepancies in ballot counts. "We demand that the police and Shin Bet conduct a thorough investigation into the theft of the elections by the Arab parties and bring the perpetrators to justice," Likud stated. The allegations have not been independently verified. Full story at the link in the comments.

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Political strategist Roni Rimon told Arutz Sheva that Israel's election results have left the political blocs facing difficult choices, with a national unity government, cooperation with Arab or haredi parties, and another round of elections among the possible scenarios. Rimon assessed that the chances of haredi parties joining Gadi Eisenkot's bloc are extremely low, while Arab parties could support moves to replace the Knesset Speaker or recommend a candidate for Prime Minister without joining a government. Despite previous pledges by Eisenkot, Bennett, and Liberman not to serve under Netanyahu, Rimon believes a unity government could still emerge as negotiations progress. "Things that might happen won't happen on the first day, but perhaps on the last day," he said. Full interview at the link in the comments.

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The Central Elections Committee has completed the count of regular ballots in Israel's 26th Knesset elections, with neither political bloc securing enough seats to form a government independently. According to the updated results, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats, eight short of a majority, while the opposition bloc has 48 and the Arab parties hold 19. Likud remains the largest party with 26 seats, followed by Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar with 21. Naftali Bennett's Together and the Joint List each receive 12 seats. Ofer Winter's Amcha Yisrael and the Reservists-Economic Party remain below the electoral threshold. The results are not yet final, with double-envelope ballots, including votes cast by soldiers, still awaiting counting. Full results and ongoing election coverage at the link in the comments.

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Nine-year-old Baruch Neria of Pardes Hana died Thursday at Rambam Hospital after contracting the rare “brain-eating” Naegleria fowleri amoeba. An epidemiological investigation found that Baruch had swum at Kursi Beach in the Sea of Galilee six days before his hospitalization. The Health Ministry said the extremely rare infection occurs when contaminated water enters through the nose and reaches the brain. It cannot be contracted by drinking water and does not spread from person to person. Full story in the comments.

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Could the question of partnership with Arab parties shift votes within the Change Bloc? A Maagar Mochot-Revavim Institute poll conducted for Arutz Sheva’s Election Barometer found major differences between the bloc’s voters. Opposition to partnership is particularly high among supporters of Liberman and the Hendel-Zelekha party, while most Democrats supporters favor partnership with Ra’am. If forming a Change Bloc government without Arab parties proves impossible, voters equivalent to approximately five Knesset seats could reconsider their choice, including switching blocs, not voting, or remaining undecided. Full poll results in the comments.

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Israel’s Ambassador to the US Dr. Yechiel Leiter arrived in Israel and rushed to the bedside of his son Neria, who remains in life-threatening condition after being critically wounded in the Route 443 terrorist attack. “The night was very complicated,” Leiter said, adding that doctors succeeded in stabilizing Neria’s condition. He contrasted the vigil with the death of his son Moshe in Gaza nearly three years ago: “There was no opportunity for us to gather around his bedside, say Psalms and mobilize the people of Israel to pray.” Leiter said Jews and Christians around the world are praying for his son: “Continue the prayers. We need a miracle.” Full story in the comments.

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IDF reservist Neria Leiter, son of Israel’s Ambassador to the US Dr. Yechiel Leiter and his wife Chana, was wounded in Wednesday’s terrorist attack near Route 443. Ambassador Leiter is returning to Israel from New York as medical teams fight to save his son’s life. “I believe in the power of prayer, and I believe that when the people of Israel unite, miracles happen. Neria needs a miracle,” Ambassador Leiter said. Neria continued serving in the reserves after his older brother, Maj. (res.) Moshe Yedidya Leiter, fell in battle in Gaza, and has served hundreds of reserve-duty days since October 7. The family is asking the public to pray for Neria Dov ben Chana.

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The Board of Peace unveiled a six-month recovery program for Gaza consisting of 66 programs with an estimated cost of approximately $2.45 billion. The plan covers infrastructure, human development, economic recovery, digital transformation, legal recovery, and peace and security, including shelters, hospitals, schools, roads, water and power infrastructure, and jobs. Nickolay E. Mladenov said the programs are ready to begin once funding and access allow: “Not a wish list, a plan.” Full story in the comments.

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“You have a heart as big as this etrog.” US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee received a giant etrog ahead of Sukkot from Duvi Honig, founder and CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, and Rabbi Chaim Michoel Gutterman of the Shuvu educational network. The gift was presented as an expression of appreciation for Huckabee’s support and solidarity with the Jewish people. Huckabee responded: “I've never seen anything like this.” Full story in the comments.

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Trump's first hint of support for Netanyahu? The US President shared a report highlighting a poll showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc taking the lead ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections. Trump posted the Newsmax article on Truth Social under the headline, “Netanyahu Bloc Takes Lead in Latest Israeli Election Poll.” Trump did not explicitly endorse Netanyahu. However, his decision to share a report specifically highlighting the Prime Minister’s improved polling drew attention after he repeatedly declined to explicitly endorse Netanyahu when asked about the Israeli elections. Full story in the comments.

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“I know what it’s like to be collateral damage. For 505 days, that’s what I was.” Former hostage Omer Shem Tov, who spent 505 days in Hamas captivity after being abducted from the Nova music festival, criticized the film “NAZA” in a column published by The Wall Street Journal. Shem Tov described fearing not only his Hamas captors, hunger and the possibility that he would never see his family again, but also being accidentally killed in an Israeli strike. “Hamas knew where I was and left me to die,” he wrote, contrasting his captors’ actions with Israeli efforts to warn civilians and minimize casualties. Full story in the comments.

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The Central Elections Committee has voted to disqualify Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh from running in the elections for the 26th Knesset, accepting a request submitted by Otzma Yehudit. Thirty-one committee members voted in favor of the disqualification and four opposed it. In an unusual move, committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg departed from the customary neutrality of the position and voted in favor. Earlier Wednesday, the committee also voted to disqualify MK Ofer Cassif from running in the elections. Full story in the comments.

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Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a series of warnings to Hamas and its supporters during a memorial ceremony for the fallen of the Yom Kippur War at Mount Herzl. Katz said Israel would maintain security zones beyond its borders in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria until its war objectives are achieved, and would not withdraw from the Yellow Line in Gaza as long as Hamas remains and the territory has not been demilitarized. He also issued a direct warning over any future abduction of an Israeli soldier or civilian, saying such an incident would lead Israel to evacuate Gaza City’s population southward and treat the city as it did Rafah and Beit Hanoun, which lay in ruin. Full story in the comments.

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16-year-old Yoav, the eldest son of Netanel Shakron, recites 'Kaddish' at his father's funeral, a day after Netanel's murder in a terror attack hours before Yom Kippur. Video: Chaim Snow

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