Eisenkot tasked with forming a government in Israel
In Israel, Gadi Eisenkot has been tasked with forming a new government - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fiercest rival. President Isaac Herzog made a corresponding decision in the evening. Herzog's decision was actually not expected until Sunday. During consultations with the president, parties with a total of 67 of the 120 parliamentary seats recommended Eisenkot, while Netanyahu received the support of 46 MPs. Eisenkot now has 28 days. A one-time extension of 14 days is possible.
The recent elections were a stalemate, with neither Eisenkot nor Netanyahu having a clear path to forming a government. Netanyahu is fighting to stay in office after his religious nationalist coalition lost its majority in the Oct. 27 election but emerged as the strongest faction. An anti-Netanyahu bloc led by Eisenkot has refused to join forces with Arab parties that could give him a majority. But Arab politicians, angered by the policies of Netanyahu and his far-right allies, nominated Eisenkot anyway after talks with Herzog.
Israel's Arab parties support Netanyahu's rival Eisenkot
Former Israeli army chief Gadi Eisenkot is getting closer and closer to possibly forming a government. In addition to other parties, the two Arab factions in the newly elected parliament now also want to support him. At the official coalition talks led by President Isaac Herzog, they spoke out in favor of Eisenkot. The chairman of the center party Jashar has a good chance of replacing his rival and current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 61 votes in parliament are needed to form a government.
Observers expect that Eisenkot, together with the support of the Arab parties and the opposition group Bejachad, would achieve a majority of 67 seats. However, due to various reservations, it is unclear whether this can become a viable government. The incumbent Prime Minister Netanyahu, on the other hand, has so far had significantly fewer MPs who want to support him.
On Thursday evening, Herzog wants to continue consultations with the two strongest parties, Jashar and Likud. He then wants to entrust the member of parliament who, in his opinion, has the best chance of forming a government, with the task of forming a government. The appointee then has 28 days to get a majority of at least 61 MPs behind him. Herzog can extend this deadline by a further 14 days.
Israeli President Herzog continues consultations on forming a government
First talks with the small parties, then in the evening with the strongest in the new Knesset: Israeli President Isaac Herzog is exploring the possibilities for a new government.
While the ultra-Orthodox group United Torah Judaism did not recommend a head of government, the right-wing extremist Ozma Jehudit party recommended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government. The Democrats, on the other hand, spoke out in favor of ex-military chief Gadi Eisenkot, as did the Arab Raam Party.
In his first video appearance since the election late Wednesday evening, Netanyahu warned of a government "dependent on extremist Islam and Islamist parties." Those in the opposition who were counting on a majority with the help of the Arab parties to form a government were putting their own political interests above the national interest, he said in the video published on the X platform.
The Likud Party had previously accused the Arab parties of electoral fraud. Israeli police and the election authority denied these claims.
The strongest force in the parliamentary election at the end of October was Netanyahu's right-wing conservative Likud party with 27 of a total of 120 seats in the Knesset, followed by the centrist Jashar party of ex-military chief Gadi Eisenkot with 21 seats. Herzog wants to speak to the representatives of these two strongest parties in the evening. Traditionally, the president assigns the task of forming a government to the candidate who he believes has the best chance of winning a parliamentary majority. Israel's opposition parties had announced before the start of the deliberations that they would recommend Eisenkot. The Arab parties could play a key role in forming the majority.
Eisenkot calls for a renewed partnership between Israel and the USA after the elections
After the parliamentary elections in Israel and the midterms in the USA, former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot called for a renewal of the partnership between the two countries. "Israel will continue to be one of America's most reliable and powerful strategic partners in the Middle East - a partnership that is mutually beneficial for both peoples in every respect," Eisenkot wrote on Platform X on Wednesday evening. His Jashar party received 21 seats in the Knesset in the election.
“Under my leadership, we will renew and deepen this partnership,” Eisenkot added. They will strengthen the bipartisan foundations that have long supported them and work with allies toward a Middle East "characterized not just by the absence of conflict, but by opportunity and cooperation."
Israeli President Izchak Herzog is currently holding talks with representatives of all parties to form a government after the close election result with no clear winner last week. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing conservative Likud party won 27 of a total of 120 seats.
US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he would stop billions in aid to Israel at the end of the year. According to Trump, he and Netanyahu agreed that Israel would no longer be dependent on the grants amounting to four billion US dollars (almost 3.6 billion euros). Eisenkot had sharply criticized this.
Burning ships in the Strait of Hormuz
According to Iranian sources, ships caught fire again in the Strait of Hormuz. Two tankers and a tugboat were affected by the incidents that night, the Fars news agency reported, citing the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. A tanker hit a mine; There was no information in the report about the cause of the fire on the second tanker. The tug originally approached to fight the fire and then caught fire itself. The Iranian information could not be independently verified.
There have been repeated attacks on ships in the strait, which is important for global trade in oil and gas. The US blames Iran.
Iran appears combative after US elections
The day after the bitter defeat for US President Donald Trump's Republicans, Foreign Office spokesman Ismail Baghai is combative. “Attacking Iran does not bring victory,” he wrote in English on the X platform. The country cannot be intimidated by threats, it said.
But the Democrats' victory by no means means relaxation for Iran. In a speech attributed to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Moschtaba Khamenei, it was said that Washington's goal was the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people - even a "change of party" would not change that. Any concessions and steps towards surrender could jeopardize the country's successes. Iranian media consistently conveyed the text of the speech, which was published on the occasion of the celebrations.
In addition to threats from US President Donald Trump to attack Iran again after the midterms, mediators have recently been to Tehran for talks on several occasions. Trump had also spoken of possible negotiation successes.
Election audit in Israel completed – dispute continues
More than a week after the parliamentary elections in Israel, a heated dispute over the election results continues. The Central Election Committee said the audit of the election had been completed and there was "no evidence of irregularities affecting the integrity or result." The committee investigated all complaints. “The official election results will be presented to the Israeli President today and will then be published in accordance with legal requirements,” the statement said.
Amit Halevi, a member of the right-wing conservative Likud party, then announced his resignation from the Central Election Committee, as the news portal ynet reported. As long as serious allegations of interference by foreign states are not resolved, the committee is not authorized to confirm the election results.
Prosecutor General Gali Baharav-Miara on Tuesday rejected a request from the head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service, David Zini, to interrogate four Arab MPs. She explained that there was currently no evidence to justify such a questioning. The Likud then accused the attorney general of “tying the hands” of the secret service and preventing investigations into alleged election manipulation. The right-wing extremist Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also accused the Attorney General of trying to thwart the investigation into election fraud. The elections were “stolen,” he wrote on X.
The opposition reacted indignantly. Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who wants to replace Benjamin Netanyahu as head of government, wrote on Opposition leader Jair Lapid spoke of a “direct threat to democracy from people who are not prepared to admit defeat.” He called on the opposition to quickly form an alternative government.
The parliamentary election on October 27th did not bring a clear majority to either Netanyahu's camp or his opponents. The formation of a new government therefore remains uncertain.
Reports: Trump leaves open the question of new Iran attacks
US President Donald Trump has countered speculation that he is planning new attacks against Iran after the US midterm elections. In an interview with the British Financial Times a few hours before the polls closed in the USA, Trump said, according to the newspaper, that the USA had no immediate plans for an attack. “We seem to be getting everything we want,” said the president about the current status of the conflict with the Islamic Republic.
Several media outlets had recently reported on Washington's plans to carry out renewed attacks against Iran together with Israel after the US congressional elections. Trump now told the Financial Times: "I'm ready, we're ready. We're ready to fire if we have to strike, but maybe there's no reason to." The day before, he had already told the US news portal “Axios” on the phone that he was “in no hurry” to make a decision.
In view of concerns about a return to open war, the Gulf state of Qatar is continuing to mediate. “We remain hopeful that there is still a chance for an agreement and to create conditions for future negotiations,” said Foreign Office spokesman Majid al-Ansari.
Authority: Tanker hit by bullets off Oman
According to British reports, a tanker was hit by two "unknown projectiles" off the coast of Oman. The British shipping authority UKMTO said a company safety officer reported impacts in the engine room. The incident occurred 14 nautical miles (around 26 kilometers) northeast of Lima in Oman. There were initially no reports of personal injuries or environmental damage.
Trump: US will stop military aid to Israel at the end of the year
According to President Donald Trump, the United States will no longer pay military aid to Israel after this year. Trump said on Fox News that he agreed months ago with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end payments of $4 billion a year. Israel is no longer dependent on this. In addition, some Democrats and left-wing politicians used US financial aid as an argument to criticize Republicans. “We will stand by Israel when it needs help,” Trump continued.
The Israeli news portal ynet reported that the Ministry of Finance in Israel was aware of the announcement
