2021 Elections

Smotrich: Gafni is one of the most hated politicians

UTJ head blames Smotrich for thwarting right-wing government, and Smotrich hits back.

'So long as Lapid barks too much, G-d's wrath is in the world'

Rabbi Meir Mazuz says Yesh Atid's chief MK Lapid brings G-d's wrath on the people, 'proves' it by using numerical value of Hebrew letters.

'Agreements with Yesh Atid intended to pressure Bennett'

'We want to pressure Bennett so he decides if he wants to be part of a government of change - or fifth elections,' Meretz's MK Frej says.

'We'll join any agreement Yesh Atid makes'

'No government can be formed without representatives of the Arab population,' Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg says.

Yesh Atid finalizes agreement with Meretz

Yesh Atid, Meretz, finalize coalition agreements ahead of deadline.

Poll: Likud 29, Yesh Atid 22, Religious Zionism 8

Netanyahu's lead over Yair Lapid falls to just 4 points in latest poll, with Israelis evenly divided between 'change' gov't, new elections.

Yesh Atid to resume coalition talks

Lapid has 10 days left before his mandate expires.

Gaza operation influenced by failure to form government?

Likud source claims PM Netanyahu is using Gaza operation to keep MK Lapid from forming government.

Report: Lapid looking to block Netanyahu from running for PM

Opposition Leader reportedly planning series of laws to prevent Netanyahu from being tapped for premiership if Israel goes to fifth election

Israel headed for direct elections?

If fifth elections are held, MK Bennett has promised that they will be only for the position of PM, report says.

Bennett to Al-Jazeera: 'We'll hunt down every Hamas commander'

MK Naftali Bennett, Yamina chairman, speaks to Al Jazeera about the rocket fire and retaliatory strikes on Gaza, and about Israeli politics.

'It all depends on Abbas' says 'bloc for change'

Despite the violence, Lapid and his supporters continue efforts to build 'unity government' - even with the United Arab List.

New Hope chief meets Israel's President

MK Sa'ar, New Hope chief, requests meeting with Pres. Rivlin to discuss recent developments.

Progress in coalition talks by the 'bloc for change'

Parties in anti-Netanyahu bloc made significant progress in coalition negotiations, report says.

Arab MK: 'No choice but to return to coalition negotiations'

MK Abbas, chair of United Arab List, calls to resume negotiations after Gaza war ends.

'Replacing Bibi more important than anything'- Gov't likely soon

The 'change bloc' prefers replacing Netanyahu now and giving up on ideological issues than waiting for the next election.

Haredi MK presents new bill to prevent dissolution of Knesset

MK Yisrael Eichler proposes bill to allow Knesset to remain functioning, including passing legislation, even if new government isn't formed.

Breakthrough in negotiations with left-wing party

Compromise reached on issue of Education Ministry, agreement may be signed within a day, report says.

Likud MKs: 'We didn't try to form a government with Arab party'

'Netanyahu never thought, planned, or wanted to form a gov't based on abstention of Mansour Abbas,' Likud's MK Shlomo Karhi claims.

'Bennett is a mega-defector; he stole 250,000 right-wing votes'

"They're trashing all their policy positions in order to get the premiership and senior positions."

Bennett agrees to construction freeze? Or fake news?

Report alleges: "We won't build & won't evacuate either." Religious Zionism: "In other words, a freeze."

Attorney-General Shai Nitzan? 'Bibi is lying, as usual'

Likud MK Zohar accuses Naftali Bennett of "embarking on a clearance sale in order to become PM."

Unity Government:

Change bloc renews coalition talks: 'New gov't by next week'

Gantz expected to remain Defense Minister in new government, with Avidgor Liberman becoming Finance Minister, Lapid to be Foreign Minister.

These are the United Arab List's coalition demands

United Arab List's demands for aiding creation of government include no harm to family, religious, values; solution for illegal settlements.

Right-wing party leaders meet with PM, Smotrich absent

Joint statement issued calls on Yamina to keep its promise to voters not to join government with left-wing bloc.

Rogue Yamina MK responds to his detractors

Chikli is unapologetic for his refusal to join fellow party members in a coalition that includes Meretz or the Joint List.

Watch: 'Every coalition is based on compromises'

Rabbi David Stav, Tzohar chairman, speaks with Arutz Sheva about the election stalemate and the job of rabbis.

Joint List head Ahmad Tibi refuses to condemn terror attack

Tibi dodges question, replies that 'the occupation is the source of all evil.' Is this your coalition partner, Yair Lapid?

Right-wing party leaders to meet with PM today - without Bennett

Netanyahu reportedly wants right-wing leaders to promise not to negotiate with 'bloc of change.'

Netanyahu: Bennett seeks a dangerous left-wing government

PM accuses Yamina party of betraying the right and their promises in seeking government with Yair Lapid.

New Hope to Rivlin: Lapid should form next government

In a letter to Pres. Rivlin, New Hope party recommends Yesh Atid chief be tapped to form next government.

Smotrich to Shaked: 'Now it's your turn'

MK Smotrich, chair of Religious Zionism, urges Yamina's number two to oppose government with center-left parties. 'Prove you have ethics.'

Netanyahu demands responsibility for relations with world powers

PM Netanyahu demanding that he remain responsible for Israel's relations with US, Russia, report says.

MK Abbas: 'I agreed to meet with Rabbi Druckman - I did not ask'

MK Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List, says he agreed to meet with leading rabbi. 'We're not terror supporters.'

Poll: Yamina strengthens, Likud weakens

New polls shows if elections were held today Likud would lose 2 seats while Yesh Atid and Yamina would gain 4 each.

Yamina to support direct elections for PM

Yamina party to support fast-tracking bill to hold direct election for PM as alternative to fifth elections.

'Netanyahu should resign his position'

Rabbi Levanon 'won't rule out any options, but the best and most correct is for PM Netanyahu to resign his position and become Foreign Min.'

Meretz head: We can have government in days

Meretz party head Nitzan Horowitz said coalition impasse could be solved in days and called for Lapid to be handed mandate to form gov't.

Sa'ar rules out sitting on Netanyahu-led government

New Hope chairman chastized the government's handling of Meron disaster, calling for indepenent investigation into tragedy.

Report: Rivlin won't hold further consultations

Israeli Pres. Rivlin will not hold consultations regarding who to ask to form a government, source says.

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu: Give a minority government a chance

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, rabbi of Tzfat, urges minority government with support of United Arab List. 'We need to give it a chance.'

Bennett and Lapid disagree: Who will get the mandate?

With 2 days before Netanyahu's mandate to form government expires, Yesh Atid fears Bennett could use mandate to work with Likud.

Ayelet Shaked: In a few days, things will be more clear

MK Ayelet Shaked urges prayers for injured in Meron disaster, says party is working to form 'good and stable government.'

Mike Huckabee: Praying Bennett and Sa'ar join Netanyahu

Former Gov. of Arkansas tweets support for right-wing government, urges Yamina, New Hope, to join Likud-led coalition.

'Shaked trying to prevent Bennett-Lapid coalition'

Yamina's MK Ayelet Shaked making it difficult for 'bloc for change' to form coalition, source within bloc says.

Report: New Hope and Yamina to merge

MKs Gideon Sa'ar, Naftali Bennett, in talks to merge their parties, report says.

Distribution of ministerial portfolios - by Saturday night

Yesh Atid chairman and Yamina chairman meet with members of "bloc of change" and formulate up-to-date list of demands.

Report: Is this the unity government?

Proposal would divide government into 3 blocs, right, center, and left, with 8 ministries per bloc.

Survey: Over 25% of Chabad voters regret supporting Smotrich

Survey on Chabad website shows over a quarter of those who voted for Religious Zionism regret their choice.

'Obvious that Bennett reached agreement with the Left'

'We won't sit in a government with partners who want to throw us into the garbage dump,' UTJ's MK Uri Maklev says.

Arab MK slams Bennett: 'He doesn't have the guts to be PM'

Meretz party's MK Frej says MK Bennett 'doesn't have the courage' to be PM, government of change will bring 'painful compromises.'

Rivlin likely to give mandate to Bennett or Lapid

President reportedly leaning towards giving mandate to Bennett or Lapid if PM fails to build gov't, rather than sending mandate to Knesset.

Haredi MK claims religious colleague 'destroying Torah world'

MK Yisrael Eichler slams MK Bezalel Smotrich for refusing to sit with United Arab List, says Smotrich 'wants to destroy Torah world.'

'Merav Michaeli will play central and influential role in gov't'

Labor party holding negotiations with Yesh Atid, will demand at least one important ministry, communications adviser said.

New poll: Likud - 30, Yesh Atid - 19

New poll shows Likud, Yesh Atid, as only parties with two-digit numbers of seats.

Poll: Who would benefit from new elections?

Majority of Likud voters say Netanyahu should step aside, let other Likud member form government if his mandate runs out with no coalition.

Haredi MK: 'I have no complaints against Religious Zionism'

Dep. Ed. Min. Porush says Religious Zionism made 'a commitment to voters' not to join Arab-supported gov't. 'I have no complaints.'

Yamina won't support anti-Netanyahu bill

Yamina officials clarify: Party won't support anti-Netanyahu legislation, because it is 'personal.'

Likud coalition talks with Yamina reach impasse

'Bennett is heading towards a left-wing government,' Likud accuses, as negotiations with Yamina break down.

President Rivlin expected to hand mandate directly to Knesset

With 2 weeks left for Netanyahu to form government, expectations grow that President won't nominate second candidate if PM fails.