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Articles by Amir Ettinger
Liberman berates Eisenkot in tense meeting, accuses him of damaging anti-Netanyahu bloc
Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Liberman sharply criticized Yashar! leader Gadi Eisenkot during a tense meeting Saturday, accusing him of damaging the anti-Netanyahu bloc's electoral prospects through his campaign messaging and efforts to promote a minority government, sources familiar with the discussion told ynet. The confrontation came amid efforts by parties seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next government following elections to the 26th Knesset.
Election chief says results are valid despite foreign interference probe
Israel's top election official said Sunday that last week's parliamentary elections were conducted properly and reflected the will of voters, seeking to reassure the public amid an investigation into suspected foreign interference that has fueled political accusations and raised questions about the legitimacy of the results.
Eisenkot weighs minority government with outside backing from Arab and Haredi parties
Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar! party, has authorized an examination of a plan to form Israel's next government with outside backing from the Arab Ra'am party and the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, sources told ynet. Under the proposal, the parties would help Eisenkot replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by abstaining from a crucial parliamentary vote, allowing his government to take office without formally joining the coalition.
Eisenkot courts ultra-Orthodox parties as Likud hunts for opposition defectors
Israel's 26th Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10, and political tensions are mounting ahead of the new parliament's first session. Yashar! party chairman Gadi Eisenkot and leaders of the bloc seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are coordinating efforts to remove Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, a move intended to give them control of the parliamentary agenda even before a new government is formed.
Israel's election results are in: How a government is formed or new elections are triggered
Israel's Central Elections Committee completed the vote count Thursday, leaving the country facing a familiar political dilemma: Neither of the main blocs has secured the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. Despite the inconclusive results, political consultations are already underway, with parties on both sides seeking to assemble a governing coalition and avoid another election.
Up to 650,000 special ballots could still turn Israel's election on its head
Nearly 2.85 million votes have been counted in Israel's general election, but hundreds of thousands of ballots cast outside regular polling stations are still awaiting verification and counting, leaving the final distribution of parliamentary seats uncertain. Their inclusion could change the political balance that has emerged since polls closed Tuesday night.
Suspected stabbing attempt against Yair Golan foiled in Tel Aviv, party says
A man carrying a large knife was arrested Tuesday after approaching Israeli opposition politician Yair Golan during an election day campaign appearance in Tel Aviv, in what his party described as a suspected attempted stabbing. According to a statement from The Democrats, which Golan chairs, the incident occurred during a voter mobilization tour at Railway Park in Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu, Eisenkot or another election? Five scenarios for Israel's next government
A shift of just one or two parliamentary seats could determine whether Benjamin Netanyahu remains Israel's prime minister, opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot replaces him or the country finds itself heading toward yet another election. As Israelis vote Tuesday, the outcome remains deeply uncertain, with several possible paths to forming a government and no guarantee that either political camp will secure a majority.
Israel election enters final 24 hours: Netanyahu's digital blitz, Eisenkot's knockout bid
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing a massive social media blitz, Gadi Eisenkot is pushing for a decisive victory over Likud, and Naftali Bennett is racing between cities and WhatsApp conversations in a final effort to win over undecided voters. Across Israel, political parties are entering the final 24 hours of an election campaign that could determine the country's direction for years to come.
‘Why vote for me?’ Israel's party leaders make their final pitch to voters
Just two days before polls open for Israel's 26th Knesset election, party leaders are making their final efforts to win public support and explain why voters should choose them. Here are their appeals, in their own words. I returned to politics after October 7 because, on the day we needed the state most, it was not there. After such a profound breakdown, we need profound change. That is my life's mission.
Likud offers Haredi party chief big-budget government role to quit election race
Amid fears of losing votes within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political bloc, Likud campaign manager Zvika Brot met Monday with Moti Leitner, chairman of the independent Haredi Public party, and offered him a government position overseeing a budget of hundreds of millions of shekels in exchange for withdrawing from the October 27 election, sources told ynet.
Dozens of Chabad students detained at Ben Gurion Airport as suspected draft dodgers
More than 40 ultra-Orthodox Chabad students were detained at Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday morning after returning to Israel from a year of religious studies in the United States, when authorities identified them as suspected military draft dodgers. Some had their passports confiscated and were informed that they were suspected of failing to report for mandatory military service.
From malls to synagogues, Israel's parties battle for every vote with one week until election
With exactly one week remaining before Israelis head to the polls, political parties are intensifying their campaigns, taking to the streets, fighting for every vote and increasingly turning their attacks not only on political opponents but also on rivals within their own ideological camps. The final seven days before the October 27 election may be their last opportunity to sway undecided voters and boost turnout.
Israeli diplomats and embassy staff vote in record numbers as election turnout abroad hits 86.7%
Voter turnout among Israeli diplomats, government personnel stationed overseas and eligible family members reached 86.7%, according to figures released Friday after voting concluded at 99 Israeli diplomatic missions worldwide ahead of the October 27 general election. Of 4,863 eligible voters, 4,218 cast ballots, compared with turnout of 69.6% in the November 2022 election, an increase of 17.1 percentage points.
Voting under fire? How Israel plans to hold its October 27 election if missiles strike
What would happen if Iran launched a missile attack against Israel on the night before the October 27 election? After three years of prolonged security emergencies, Israeli authorities are preparing for the possibility that the country's next national vote could take place under fire, with contingency plans designed to keep polling stations operating even during missile attacks and other security threats.
Netanyahu rules out giving Ben-Gvir Defense Ministry, sparking coalition clash
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that the Defense Ministry and National Security Ministry would remain under Likud control if he forms Israel's next government, drawing an angry response from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party, which accused Netanyahu of preparing to exclude it from the next coalition.
Ben-Gvir won't have a surplus-vote agreement after refusing to sign with Winter
Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir announced Tuesday afternoon that he would not sign a surplus-vote agreement with Ofer Winter, leaving his party as the only one in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc without such an agreement. The arrangement is valid only if both parties pass the electoral threshold. Yoaz Hendel, whose Reservists Party joined forces with Yaron Zelekha, has already announced that he will not sign an agreement with Ben-Gvir.
Bennett says Netanyahu could serve as minister in his cabinet, drawing fury from opposition leaders
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett triggered a public clash within the camp seeking to replace Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday after saying he would have no objection to the incumbent prime minister serving as a minister in a future Bennett-led government, provided he accepted a series of fundamental reforms. Within hours, three other opposition leaders rejected the prospect, insisting Netanyahu should have no place in the next cabinet.
Bennett vows to shift 30 billion shekels from draft dodgers; Winter proposes 25% Haredi exemption
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett unveiled what he called a "service revolution" on Sunday, promising extensive financial benefits for soldiers and reservists while cutting state support for those who evade military service. At the same time, Ofer Winter, leader of the Amcha Yisrael party, presented a competing conscription plan that would recognize up to 25% of each ultra-Orthodox draft-age cohort as full-time Torah scholars, effectively allowing them to avoid military service.
Flydubai attack: Israel's Transport Ministry sought crew data only after three years of requests
Despite repeated requests from the Israel Tax Authority over the past three years, the Transport Ministry's security division sought access to information on airline crews only after a closed-door Knesset hearing into the attempted flydubai cockpit attack, ynet has learned. The request came after a confidential meeting of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday, which examined the attempt by Omani pilot Hamam al-Hammami to crash a flydubai passenger aircraft.
Deal reached on flights bringing Israelis home for election as Likud drops complaint
Following a Likud petition to the Central Elections Committee, an agreement has been reached regarding Fly&Vote and AID Coalition, initiatives to bring Israelis home from abroad ahead of the elections. Under the agreement announced on Tuesday, prices for flights already offered through the initiative will remain as set by the airlines, but no additional flights will be sold under the program. Under the agreement, Likud’s petition was dismissed.
Deal reached on flights bringing Israelis home for election as Likud drops complaint
1 day ago To understand what the word means today, you have to go back to the beginning of the story. On October 7, 2023, Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. The attack was the worst disaster in the history of the …
1,240 aircrew members from countries with no ties to Israel entered over past year
A discussion Tuesday by the Subcommittee for Intelligence and Secret Services and Defense Committee on the attempted hijacking of a flydubai flight revealed that 1,240 aircrew members from countries that do not have relations with Israel entered the country over the past year. They included Syrian and Lebanese citizens. During the committee discussion, the National Security Council was asked to work with the Mossad and Shin Bet to draw up a list of countries considered high-security threats.
Shin Bet chief threatens return of detention without trial for Jewish extremists
Shin Bet chief David Zini told the Security Cabinet that he would seek to restore the use of administrative detention against Jewish extremists if other measures fail to curb violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, ynet has learned. Zini made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting Sunday that included a discussion of security in the West Bank and a heated exchange between him and Settlements and National Missions Minister Orit Strock.
State inquiry or ‘national’ panel? How Israel’s parties want Oct. 7 investigated
In the years since, however, the issue has become a politically charged question at the heart of Israel’s political divide. A survey by ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth, which approached the various parties to determine their positions, found that most coalition parties do not want to publicly answer what framework they believe should investigate the massacre that occurred while they were in power.
Annexation, settlements or separation: where Israel’s parties stand on the West Bank
The October 7 massacre and the debate over Haredi military enlistment have pushed one of Israel’s traditional political fault lines somewhat into the background: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the future of the West Bank. Less than a month before the election, ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth asked the parties where they stand on settlement construction, Israeli sovereignty, a future Palestinian state, illegal outposts and Palestinian construction in Area C.
With electoral deadlock possible, anti-Netanyahu bloc targets control of Knesset after election
Less than a month before the general election, with most polls showing no clear majority for either political bloc, parties are already preparing for the first battle after the vote: control of the Knesset. The anti-Netanyahu bloc is working to coordinate a parliamentary move to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana immediately after the election.
Ben-Gvir’s secret online army? Watchdog flags bots boosting far right
The far-right Otzma Yehudit party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has been running an online influence campaign using more than 100 social media bots posing as Israelis, according to an investigation by the FakeReporter watchdog group. The report says the accounts amplify the party’s messaging while systematically attacking leaders of coalition parties and other political allies within Otzma Yehudit’s broader bloc.
Election panel disqualifies Arab party head over calling Oct. 7 'important historical event'
Israel’s Central Elections Committee on Wednesday disqualified Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh from running for the Knesset, hours after it also voted to bar Joint List candidate Ofer Cassif. The decisions are expected to face Supreme Court review. Responding to the decision, Abu Shehadeh said: “I will continue to work for human rights, freedom and equality.
Election panel weighs bid to bar Arab party leader who called Oct. 7 an 'important historic event'
Israel’s Central Elections Committee begins two days of hearings Wednesday on a series of requests to bar parties and individual candidates from competing in the October 27 Knesset election, with a closely watched case against Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh at the center of the proceedings.
Israel election 2026: where every party stands on the judicial overhaul and Supreme Court
The battle over the future of Israel’s judiciary, which fueled some of the country’s fiercest political divisions in recent years, is again emerging as a major issue in the 2026 election campaign. Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth asked the parties competing in the election to spell out what they would do about the judicial overhaul, the system for appointing judges and the limits of the Supreme Court’s power to review government decisions and legislation.
‘Hamas has been defeated’: IDF chief Zamir delivers stark assessment in closed Gaza briefing
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz during a closed security briefing this month that Hamas has been “defeated” and is now a “defeated organization,” even as Military Intelligence warned that the terror group is still trying to rebuild its strength in Gaza.
From crowns to pirates: Israel’s fringe parties turn election filing day into a spectacle
Every Israeli election brings them back: the tiny parties with little expectation of entering parliament but every intention of making their appearance at the Central Elections Committee memorable. They were back Monday as candidate slates were formally submitted for the upcoming Knesset election, alongside the larger parties fighting to cross the electoral threshold and, in some cases, lead the next government.
Clock ticks down as parties still scrambling over final slates
The first day of filing has ended, and by 10 p.m. Tuesday — or midnight if the chairman of the Central Elections Committee extends the deadline — the final makeup of the party slates competing in the 2026 election should become clear. Six major parties have yet to submit their candidate lists. Some are waiting for additional candidates, others are still settling internal disputes, and at least one was forced only Monday to announce the replacement of a senior candidate.
Knesset race takes shape as Eisenkot, Bennett, Winter and Ben Gvir confirm independent runs
Israel’s political map began taking clearer shape Monday as parties formally submitted their candidate lists for the next Knesset, with Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Ofer Winter and Itamar Ben Gvir all confirming separate runs. Representatives of the parties are filing their slates with the Central Elections Committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, along with the party names and Hebrew letters they want printed on their ballot slips.
Israel election filing begins as parties submit slates | Live from Knesset
Israel’s Central Elections Committee began accepting party lists Monday for the next Knesset, formally opening one of the final stages before the election campaign moves into full gear. Party representatives are required to submit their candidate slates to committee chairman Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, along with the party name and the letters they want displayed on their ballot slips. The committee said each submission will then undergo the legally required review process.
New Israeli parties face unusual problem: not enough letters in the alphabet
Israel’s election campaign is already a battle over ideology, voters, candidates, alliances and leadership. But as the deadline for submitting party lists approaches, another contest is unfolding almost entirely out of public view: the race for the letters that will appear on ballot slips. In Israel, those letters are more than a technical detail. They are one of the most recognizable parts of a party’s identity on Election Day.
Tropper splits with Hendel as former minister edges closer to Eisenkot alliance
With two days remaining before Israel’s election lists close, Chili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel announced Sunday that they will not run together, as Tropper moves closer to a possible alliance with Gadi Eisenkot. Ynet has learned that talks between Tropper and Eisenkot have advanced, and the prevailing assessment in the anti-Netanyahu opposition camp is that if Tropper ultimately joins another party, it is likely to be Eisenkot’s Yashar.
In apparent jab at Netanyahu, Winter says October 7 failures demand new leadership
Amcha Yisrael chairman Ofer Winter delivered an apparent broadside against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the current leadership Wednesday, arguing that the failures exposed since the October 7 attack require political change and that those who have failed to deliver over the past three years should not be expected to do so in the next government.
Ben-Gvir tells party to play down crocodile prison plan
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has instructed his far-right Otzma Yehudit party to stop highlighting his controversial plan to use crocodiles to help secure Israeli prisons, amid concerns that voters see the proposal as a gimmick that is hurting the party’s election campaign, ynet and its parent newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth have learned.
Ex-IDF general Ofer Winter launches right-wing party: 'There is one solution in Gaza: migration'
After months of speculation, retired Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter formally launched his new political party, Amcha Israel, on Tuesday, unveiling a slate that includes Arab-Israeli advocacy activist Yoseph Haddad, television journalist Netali Shem Tov and several prominent military, civic and bereaved family figures. Haddad, a Christian Arab Israeli and wounded IDF veteran, will hold the No. 2 position on the list.
Likud primaries: Eli Cohen leads as several ministers risk losing Knesset seats
Partial results from the Likud primaries pointed to a potential shake-up in the party’s next Knesset slate Tuesday morning, with Energy Minister Eli Cohen leading the vote and several serving ministers currently outside positions considered likely to win seats. As of 5:30 a.m., about 60% of the ballots from 302 polling stations had been counted.
Yoseph Haddad launches ‘Brave Israel’ party ahead of election
Yoseph Haddad is behind a recently submitted request to register a new political party called “Brave Israel,” ynet has learned. Haddad’s name does not appear in the party documents, but sources familiar with the process said the list is being formed on his behalf. Ahead of the October election, Haddad has been examining several possible routes into politics. His name was recently mentioned in reports as a possible candidate for a reserved slot on the Likud list.
No 200,000 votes? Drop out: Israel’s small parties face a much higher election threshold
With 77 days remaining until Israel’s election, the political blocs are still taking shape and the final party lineup remains far from settled. One factor, however, is becoming increasingly important: small parties hovering around the electoral threshold could ultimately determine who forms the next government.
Ex-Shin Bet chief backs law that could bar Netanyahu from forming government
Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, considered one of the most senior figures alongside Gadi Eisenkot in his political party, said he hopes a future government will pass legislation barring an indicted lawmaker from being tasked with forming a government, a measure that could prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from returning to office while his criminal trial continues.
Shin Bet chief warns Hamas sees US-backed Gaza roadmap as 'political Oct. 7'
Shin Bet chief David Zini warned the Security Cabinet that Hamas is using the proposed Gaza peace roadmap to buy time and claim a political victory comparable to the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, according to Israeli officials familiar with Thursday night's discussions. Speaking during a meeting of the decision-making ministerial panel, Zini reportedly told ministers that Hamas views the signing of the roadmap proposed by the U.S.-backed Board of Peace as "a political Oct.
Possibility of drone attack worries top defense officials, ministers told at classified meeting
In a classified discussion held by the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, representatives of the National Security Council told lawmakers that the Cabinet had received a warning about a drone threat. The lawmakers who attended the discussion were not told the precise target of the threat or from which front it was expected to come.
The small-party showdown that could decide Israel’s next government
Jerusalem's Boiler Club, typically packed with late-night revelers, drew a different crowd Tuesday evening as young activists gathered for the launch of a new political party founded by former communications minister Yoaz Hendel and former education minister Chili Tropper. The party, Zionist Home – The Reservists, aims to appeal to liberal religious Zionists, military reservists and right-leaning voters disillusioned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition.
At funeral for reburial of Herzl’s grandparents, PM says Israel will ‘do whatever is necessary’ for security
In the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, a state funeral was held Wednesday evening at Mount Herzl for Shimon Leib and Rivka Herzl, whose remains were brought to Israel from Serbia. The ceremony took place 77 years after the remains of their grandson, Zionist visionary Theodor Herzl, were reinterred in Israel. Netanyahu said during the ceremony that a statue of Herzl stands at the entrance to his office. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ex-UN envoy Gilad Erdan expected to launch new right-wing party this week
Former minister and UN ambassador Gilad Erdan is expected to announce the formation of a new political party in the coming days, marking his return to politics and a planned run in the election for the 26th Knesset. The announcement has been delayed for about two weeks, but Erdan’s office has approached several venues to arrange a location for the launch, indicating that preparations are in their final stages.
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