Politics

Contacts between former Shas chairman Eli Yishai and Haredi Tzibur party leader Moti Leitner are intensifying with the involvement of senior rabbis. Polls indicate Yishai enjoys over 70% support among modern Haredim, posing a potential threat to Shas.

The Minister of Finance called on the Prime Minister to take advantage of Abu Mazen's visit to Turkey to ban his re-entry into the West Bank. In response, a senior official in the Authority claims that this is election propaganda by the right, but warns that a series of Israeli measures is intended to bring about the collapse of the Authority.

As in every election campaign, new parties are emerging to seek a platform in the Knesset. One such initiative is the 'Achi' party, which has transitioned from municipal success in Netivot to a national run.

The Prime Minister published a video of a visit he made to a mall in Jerusalem, where he received sympathy and support from all sides. However, his supporters who called out to him "we love you" - apparently underwent prior screening.

The Likud party turned to the Supreme Court today, Wednesday, warning that if an immediate decision is not reached regarding the appeal concerning the candidacy of Knesset members and ministers in the districts, it will not be possible to hold the primaries on the scheduled date of August 17. The party claims that the delay could postpone the primaries by at least two weeks and jeopardize the...

The Supreme Court ordered the parties to respond by 16:30 to Likud's request to rule on the appeal of MK Afif Abed. The party warns that the delay endangers the primaries and the submission of the list to the Knesset. At the same time, Abed intends to file a complaint with Lahav 433.

In the podcast "The Wizard and His Sons," Eyal Berkovic stated he would prefer the role of Prime Minister over coaching the national football team, citing a desire to address social injustices, particularly for soldiers suffering from PTSD.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi was asked why Israel does not allow voting from abroad. He replied: "Whoever lives in the country should influence its future, and whoever does not is invited to make Aliyah." He claimed the Left is attempting to bring masses from abroad.

According to a new poll, only about 20 of the current Likud ministers and MKs will remain on the next list. Data reveals a gap between party members, who prefer Amir Ohana and a right-wing government, and party voters, who support Nir Barkat and a unity government.

Following the public outcry over the failure to reserve a spot for Einav Zangauker, Yair Golan explains why he backtracked on his promise and how he reacted to her public criticism: 'I feel that to some extent I did her an injustice and I regret it.'

Ahead of the 2026 elections, MK Evgeny Soba (Yisrael Beiteinu) and MK Avichai Boaron (Likud) met in the ynet studio to discuss key issues. MK Boaron claimed an "almost total victory" in Gaza, while MK Soba argued that "without Netanyahu, the result would have been better."

The Likud party announced on Wednesday that ahead of the upcoming election cycle, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed Knesset member Avichai Boaron as the director of the movement's field headquarters. In his new role, Boaron will join the campaign management team and will be directly responsible for all field activities until election day.

The Likud court ruled that the Prime Minister is authorized to grant reserved spots to senior movement members before the primaries, approving the placement of ministers Gideon Sa'ar, Israel Katz, and Haim Katz. While this removes an obstacle for Netanyahu, he still faces potential backlash from MKs who will be displaced from the list.

Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen stated that up to 30% of Haredim could be exempted from service in the next government. Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman criticized the statement, insisting on universal conscription. The Yashar! party clarified that the remarks stemmed from confusion between the percentage of Haredim within their community and their share of the general population.

Behad party chairman Naftali Bennett toughened his stance today, Wednesday, regarding Haredi conscription, citing comments by Yoram Cohen of Gadi Eisenkot's party. Bennett clarified that he would not accept any frameworks that include broad exemptions from service.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi was interviewed on 103fm radio and argued that Benjamin Netanyahu had to remain as Prime Minister after October 7th because leaving would have been interpreted as abandonment. He claimed that Gadi Eisenkot was a bad Chief of Staff and that if he had been offered a reserved spot in the Likud, he would have been insulted.

Unprecedented tension in the leadership of the Haredi-Sephardic party following remarks made by the Rabbi in favor of an opposition Knesset member, which led to a harsh conversation and deep personal offense to the honor of the Torah.

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman arrived at the Kerem Shalom crossing and declared: "We are in a complete return to the same conception and containment." Accompanied by party members, the former defense minister claimed: "Israel currently cannot move a pin without coordinating it with the USA."

Minister David Amsalem met on Tuesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss pressing national issues. The meeting took an unexpected turn when the Prime Minister's staff surprised Amsalem with a birthday celebration.

Knesset member Gilad Kariv of the Democrats party harshly criticized social activist Shefi Paz today (Wednesday) following an AI-generated video she published against illegal migrants in south Tel Aviv. Kariv suggested the video might be linked to her desire to join the Otzma Yehudit party, though he provided no evidence of political negotiations.

Communications Minister Karhi clarified that he opposes reservations for himself in the Likud primaries, calling the requests of senior officials "ridiculous." In an interview, he attacked Bennett, Eisenkot, and Edelstein, and accused the legal counsel of sabotaging the draft law.

MK Yuli Edelstein sharply criticized the struggle for 'reservations' in the Likud list. Regarding the possible reservation for Yair Netanyahu, he quipped: 'I wish the Prime Minister would invest energy in the country and not in nonsense.' He further added that the 'Unity' party will work only to establish a broad government.

Former judoka Oren Smadja, an Olympic bronze medalist and former head coach of the Israeli men's judo team, announced on Wednesday that he is joining the "Ha-Achdut" ("Unity") party, led by Gilad Erdan.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, a member of the Shas Council of Torah Sages and former Chief Rabbi, accused the Prime Minister of animosity toward the Haredi community and called for cooperation with the left, according to a report in Haaretz.

Likud MK Tally Gotliv was interviewed on 103fm radio and addressed the controversy over reserved spots in the party. She claimed that senior figures within the party are trying to weaken her, even though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports her and she represents Likud's values.

Knesset member Dan Illouz, who left Likud for Yisrael Beiteinu, stated that a significant portion of the Likud faction sought to replace Prime Minister Netanyahu after October 7, but failed to agree on a successor.

Former Knesset member from the Otzma Yehudit party, Almog Cohen, announced he will run in the Likud primaries. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed him, highlighting Cohen's role as a deciding vote during the budget approval process.

The Knesset member announced his intention to run in the Likud party primaries. This is not the first time he has declared such intentions, but now he is doing so officially and announcing his next political move.

According to one of his students, the former Chief Rabbi urged them not to vote for the Shas party, explaining that the left respects religion more than the Prime Minister's bloc. The spiritual leader of Shas denied the report, calling it an attempt to sow division.

Likud MK Tally Gotliv criticized a recruitment video aimed at Haredim during an interview with 103FM. She stated she would not be a partner in turning the Haredi public into a "plague" and compared the video's production to the era of Nazi Germany.

In recordings published by Kan News, the Minister of Justice is heard telling Likud activists about a conversation with one of the Supreme Court judges, who allegedly said that his candidates are "not up to our standard." In the next term, ten positions are expected to become vacant, and according to him, the new appointments "will change the court from the ground up."

Naftali Bennett declared that ultra-Orthodox party leaders cannot join his future government due to their opposition to military conscription. He also labeled settler violence as "terror," proposed a plan to combat market monopolies, and warned of the dire situation in northern Israel.

After stating that she does not rule out sitting with Arab representatives and subsequently ruling out a partnership with Ra'am, Aliza Bloch explains her red lines, addresses the polls, and defends the new alliance of Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein.

Businessman and Benjamin Netanyahu's first 'armored' candidate, Oren Dubronsky, responded to criticism following his entry into politics. He thanked his supporters and challenged his critics: 'If this is how you treat newcomers, why exactly should good people make this sacrifice for the future of your children?'

According to the Knesset Research and Information Center, the average tenure of a city rabbi is expected to be 35.2 years. The Shas party is actively pushing for appointments, effectively restoring a 'job for life' model.

After facing harsh criticism from an Ashdod resident regarding his government with 6 mandates, Naftali Bennett decided to reveal behind-the-scenes details regarding his past decisions.

Channel 14 host Yinon Magal harshly attacked Einav Zangauker following the decision by "The Democrats" chairman Yair Golan not to reserve a spot for her on his Knesset list. Magal labeled her a "crude and vulgar woman" and stated that her status within the left-wing camp is a "badge of shame."

In a survey conducted by Dr. Nimrod Nir of the Agam Institute, party members and voters were asked to rank candidates for reserved spots on the Likud list. The results highlight significant differences between the preferences of party members and the broader electorate.

Netanyahu has marked the Likud list as a central target: eight reserved spots, a search for 'reinforcement players', and the weakening of the Bitan-Katz axis — on the way to reshaping the party ahead of the elections.

Political commentator Amit Segal has revealed details of an alleged attempt by Economy Minister Nir Barkat to oust Benjamin Netanyahu from the premiership following October 7. According to Segal, Barkat spent months lobbying ministers and MKs until Haim Katz alerted the Prime Minister to the plot.