ISRAEL VOTES 2019

Labor chief Avi Gabbay drops out of primary race

Day after key ally Tal Russo announces retirement from politics, Labor party chairman Avi Gabbay drops out of leadership race.

'I'm not optimistic about change to Netanyahu indictment'

MK Zohar says public should be final arbiter, but justice system has already made its decision on PM Netanyahu's pending indictments.

MK Tal Russo, second on Labor list, quits politics

IDF General (Res) and MK Tal Russo, a close ally of Labor chief Avi Gabbay, announces retirement from politics.

Ya'alon: We'll all run together till the end

Blue and White leader says party will keep previous Knesset slate for upcoming elections, calls Trump peace plan is 'realistic.'

'Sara wants Netanyahu to win'

Likud's David Bitan denies reports Sara Netanyahu blocked bid to recruit Ayelet Shaked. 'It's possible Shaked won't run at all this time.'

Blue and White targeting right-wing voters ahead of new election

Hoping to defeat Netanyahu, Blue and White launches campaign focusing on former generals, security bona fides to win over right-wing voters.

MK Shafir announces she will run for Labor leader

MK Stav Shafir officially announces she will be running for the leadership of the Labor Party ahead of September elections.

Ayelet Shaked: A future Prime Minister?

Will the politician who was not elected in the last elections make her way back to the top of the political system?

Are you tired of Israeli politics?

Jay Shapiro thinks the next election will be between tired politicians who do not really know how to speak to the public.

Right-wing government doesn't need Liberman, poll shows

New poll shows PM Netanyahu may be able to form a government - with several seats to spare.

Poll: 40% of Religious Zionists want Shaked to lead

Support for former Justice Minister Shaked to lead United Right grows to 40%, leaving current leaders in the dust.

Netanyahu won't allow Shaked to run with Likud

Likud ministers veto former Justice Minister joining the party, promise to torpedo the move if it comes up.

'Netanyahu is at the mercy of the small parties'

Analyst Gil Hoffman says collapse of coalition talks a foretaste of what PM's dependence on small parties could mean for next government.

Poll: Ayelet Shaked top candidate to lead United Right

New survey finds ex-Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked top candidate to lead United Right - beating out incumbent Rafi Peretz by double digits.

Report: Barak won't form new party

Former PM has decided not to establish a new party ahead of the September elections.

Blue and White: Don't appoint ambassadors before elections

Blue and White party appeals to A-G, demands that Netanyahu be prohibited from appointing new ambassadors during the election period.

Likud MK: It's no longer possible to vote for smaller parties

MK May Golan believes she will be in the next Knesset, despite being placed in the 34th spot on the Likud list.

The impact of hatred on politics

Gil Hoffman examines why Israel is going to a repeat election on September 17.

Gafni: Liberman was practically a part of United Torah Judaism

Slamming Liberman and Dep. A-G Zilber, UTJ's MK Gafni says party doesn't aim to bring messiah, doesn't want 'state of Jewish law.'

A-G to Erdan: You may be appointed an ambassador

Public Security Minister met Attorney Mandelblit to inquire whether a temporary government can appoint him as UN ambassador.

Bennett not ruling out running in technical bloc

Former Education Minister is in contact with other parties, but stresses: "A technical bloc also has limits."

Smotrich: I won't stammer and I won't apologize

'Complete lack of understanding' regarding Torah law, MK Smotrich says.

Likud 'open' to Shaked joining party

Likud MK Miki Zohar lists possible candidates for Israel's next Justice Minister, says PM Netanyahu 'does not intend' to appoint himself.

Stav Shafir to run for Labor leadership if open primaries held

MK Stav Shafir says she would run for the leadership of the Labor Party if open primaries are held.

How many Israeli Arabs voted Likud - or for the United Right?

35,000 Israeli Arabs voted for right-wing parties - study of election results shows - but nearly twice as many backed left-wing parties.

'We won't allow Israel to return to how it was under King David'

MK Liberman, head of Yisrael Beytenu, slams MK Smotrich, promises to support coalition's choice for State Comptroller.

Labor MK: 'A enormous threat to human freedom'

'Wave of conservatism washing over us from some parts of the right,' Labor's Shelly Yachimovich says.

'Rafi Peretz should lead United Right in next election'

Jewish Home MK backs party chairman Rafi Peretz's bid to lead United Right for second 2019 election.

Rabbi Druckman: Right-wing parties need to run together

Israel isn't an 'occupation,' right-wing parties need to unite to guard to land, Religious Zionist rabbi says.

Poll: Right only has 59 seats without Liberman

Israel Hayom poll finds that Likud and the other right-wing parties would achieve only 59 seats without Yisrael Beytenu.

Amir Peretz to run for Labor chairman

Amir Peretz to run for post of chairman of the Labor party whether primaries or elections using another method are held.

Report: PM's wife vetoes Shaked joining Likud

TV report claims Sara Netanyahu forbade her husband to secure spot for Ayelet Shaked on Likud list. Likud: This never happened.

Shaked on new elections:

'God decided to intervene'

Outgoing Justice Minister says she 'needs a few days' to make plans ahead of repeat elections, after being dismissed by Netanyahu.

Netanyahu fires ministers Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked

New Right party's Justice Minister and Education Minister fired as Netanyahu moves to strengthen Likud in transitional government.

Oren Hazan: Clock is 'ticking,' Israel's right must unite

Dr. Joe Frager speaks with former MK Oren Hazan at Ateret Cohanim's gala event in New York.

'Gabbay buried the Labor party'

Former Labor MK Eitan Cabel blasts Labor chairman.

Labor to join Blue and White - or Meretz?

Labor chief announces plans to run with either Meretz, or Blue and White party, as poll shows Labor failing to cross electoral threshold.

Poll: Right-wing bloc gains seats, Labor disappears from Knesset

Likud gains 2 seats after merger with Kulanu, Blue & White sinks. Labor wiped off of political map. Broad right-wing alliance nets 7 seats.

Report:

Bennett and Feiglin considering running in 'technical bloc'

New Right chairman and Zehut chairman reportedly held a "long and good" meeting this week.

What kind of government do Israelis really want?

Yochanan Plesner estimates that most voters in Israel are interested in a secular right-wing government.

Poll: Likud - 36, Blue and White - 33

Right-wing bloc receives 66 Knesset seats in Channel 13 News poll, while the left-wing bloc wins 54.

Former Chief of Staff to Arutz Sheva: I will not enter politics

"Nonsense," responds Gadi Eizenkot when asked about reports that he's planning to run for the Knesset.

The most unnecessary elections in Israel's history

Jay Shapiro wonders why Israeli politicians should drag a whole country into a whirlwind of additional elections.

Bennett and Shaked likely to run on separate lists

Shaked intends to become a Likud member. Bennett intends to run as head of New Right but will try to join other parties.

Benny Gantz: Three months of madness

Blue and White chairman: "Hundreds of millions of shekels will be invested in elections that will bring us back to the same place."

Deri: I was wrong, I apologize to Netanyahu

Shas chairman tells Arutz Sheva about a far-reaching proposal rejected by Liberman. "Turns out I did not know Liberman well enough."

Smotrich blasts Liberman: A cynical and irresponsible man

National Union chairman blasts Yisrael Beytenu chairman: His only significant move is undermining establishment of a right-wing government.

Why would Israel be forced to hold elections again?

Guide to the Perplexed: Why is it necessary to repeat elections and who is to blame for this? How will this affect the Deal of the Century?

Liberman: The Likud surrendered to the haredim

Yisrael Beytenu chairman: The Likud alone is responsible for the fact that the State of Israel is going to new elections.

Netanyahu: Liberman is part of the leftist bloc

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu blasts Yisrael Beytenu chairman: He misled his voters.

Political drama:

Knesset dissolved, Israel going to elections

Law to dissolve the Knesset approved in second and third readings. Elections expected to take place on September 17.

Likud MK: Don't vote for the smaller parties

MK Zohar says he's 'disappointed and frustrated,' says Knesset dissolution prevents minority from attempting to rule majority.

Hotovely: Liberman needs to come to his senses

Likud's Tzipi Hotovely says Israel needs two large parties instead of small 'blackmailing' parties, best is if Liberman compromises.

Finance Ministry: No budget for new elections

New elections may be held on any one of five dates - but how much will it cost the country?

'Bennett was a kind of insulation, I miss him'

Political analyst: Shaked is joining Likud, she's got support. United Right's Religious Zionism is more religious and less liberal.

Oh no, not new elections...

Tamar Yonah wonders why Prime Minister Netanyahu is trying to drag the State of Israel into another election.

Elections to be held on September 17

Date is not final and could still change. Netanyahu continuing efforts to prevent elections.

Haredi parties won't support September elections

September elections will disrupt yeshiva learning period, haredi parties claim.

Date set for new elections - if coalition talks fail

Likud submits bill to dissolve Knesset, hold early elections on September 3rd, less than five months after last election.

New Right officials: We'll run if new elections held

Sources in New Right say party will run if new elections are held - even if Ayelet Shaked leaves.