Two investigations into claims of election interference involving Arab parties are close to collapse, according to The Times of Israel. The same blog also covered a leadership change at the White House, a claimed missile strike in Iran, and a row over a closed military zone in the West Bank. Both inquiries, involving Arab parties, are reportedly failing. This comes as Israel’s Central Elections Committee, the Shin Bet and the attorney general continue to deal with the fallout from the October 28 vote.
Express InfoGenIE · Israel election
Who gets the mandate? What happens on Sunday, and after
President Isaac Herzog will name the lawmaker tasked with forming Israel’s next government on Sunday, November 8. Here is how the count stands and the clock that starts once he does.
Status as of November 7, 2026. Herzog has said the recommendation result is “clear” but is holding further talks before deciding. Deadlines below are counted from Sunday.
Step 1 · The recommendations
67 of 120 lawmakers named Eisenkot
Each dot is one of the Knesset’s 120 seats. A government needs the support of 61.
67MKs recommended Eisenkot
Yashar 21 B’Yachad 12 The Democrats 8 Yisrael Beytenu 7 Joint List 11 Ra’am 8
46MKs recommended Netanyahu
Likud 27 Otzma Yehudit 7 Shas 6 Religious Zionism–Zehut 6
7MKs recommended no one
United Torah Judaism 7
The 19 recommendations from Ra’am and the Joint List do not commit them to joining a coalition. The Joint List says it would back an Eisenkot government from outside.
Step 2 · The clock
From Sunday’s mandate to a new government
Tap a step
1Nov 42Nov 53Sun, Nov 84Tue, Nov 105By Dec 66Within 7 days7If it fails
Done
Results ratified
Nov 4
The Central Elections Committee ratified the results of the October 27 vote.
Next step →
Done
Consultations
Nov 5
Herzog met every party. Eisenkot was recommended by 67 MKs, Netanyahu by 46; United Torah Judaism recommended no one.
← BackNext step →
Next: this Sunday
Mandate assigned
Sun, Nov 8
Herzog names the lawmaker he believes has the best chance of forming a government. He is not bound by the recommendation totals.
← BackNext step →
Coming up
Knesset sworn in
Tue, Nov 10
The 120 newly elected lawmakers take their oath, whatever the state of coalition talks.
← BackNext step →
Coming up
28 days to build a coalition
By Dec 6
The nominee negotiates partners and policy. The president can extend the deadline by up to 14 days, to December 20.
← BackNext step →
Coming up
Confidence vote
Within 7 days
Once a coalition is ready, the Knesset votes. The government needs more votes for than against; a government can also take office with fewer than 61 supporters if others abstain.
← BackNext step →
Only if talks fail
Second chance, then new elections
If it fails
The president can give a second lawmaker 28 days. Failing that, 61 MKs can ask him to name a candidate, who gets 14 days. If all attempts fail, the Knesset dissolves and Israel votes again.
← Back
Days for the nominee
28 days · to Dec 6
+14 · to Dec 20
Step 3 · The math
Eisenkot’s core is 13 short of a majority
Dashed line: 61 seats needed for a majority
Core: Yashar, B’Yachad, Democrats, Yisrael Beytenu
48
+ United Torah Judaism (7)
55
+ Ra’am and the Joint List (19)
67
Liberman
Has opened the door to the ultra-Orthodox parties and “painful compromises” on enlistment, but rules out depending on Ra’am or the Joint List.
Eisenkot
Stands by mandatory military, national or civilian service for all as a condition for any partner, and says talks have made “significant progress”.
Golan
Has said he will not sit with the ultra-Orthodox parties, and has urged a partnership with Israel’s Arab citizens.
Sources: Times of Israel; The Jerusalem Post; Israel Policy Forum; Israel Democracy Institute; Basic Law: The Government. Seat totals from the ratified results. Deadlines are counted from November 8 and may shift if the mandate date changes.
Express InfoGenIECreated by Aniruddha Dhar
Trump changes his chief of staff: Days after his party’s heavy loss in the US midterms, President Donald Trump has replaced chief of staff Susie Wiles with her deputy, Stephen Miller, the live blog says.
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Iran and the West Bank: An Iranian news agency report said two missiles hit Qeshm Island. Separately, The Times of Israel cites a report that the prime minister and the Mossad chief planned an Iran operation on the eve of the Israeli election, and that it was stopped after the US was tipped off by accident. In the West Bank, the IDF used a closed military zone order to stop a former prime minister from visiting an area where Palestinians were targeted by settlers.
US reaction and legal news: Incoming Jewish members of the US Congress urged Israel to free an Arab journalist held after he interviewed a fugitive former MK. In Washington, a senior official who worked on action against anti-Israel campus protests is among a group of Justice Department resignations. The US Treasury also put sanctions on Canadian money services firms over Iran-related deals.
Key updates
Both election interference probes involving Arab parties are reportedly falling apart.
Trump has replaced chief of staff Susie Wiles with her deputy, Stephen Miller, days after the midterm defeat.
The prime minister and Mossad chief reportedly planned an Iran operation before the Israeli election, but it was thwarted after the US was accidentally tipped off.
The IDF used a closed military zone order to block a former prime minister from visiting an area where Palestinians were targeted by settlers.
Iranian news agency reports said two missiles struck Qeshm Island.
Follow the latest updates on the Israel election here. This live blog tracks the key developments as voting day unfolds. The headline, introduction, and Top Developments section will be refreshed throughout the day to reflect the most important news from the vote.
Live Updates
Nov 7, 2026 11:28 AM IST
Why Herzog clashes with Netanyahu ally over election remarks
Herzog reportedly clashed with representatives of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, an ally of Netanyahu’s Likud party, and rebuked them over alleged election fraud, remarks on Arab voters, and attacks on the attorney general.
The parade of recommenders continued at the presidential office on Thursday in Tel Aviv as Netanyahu’s position in the post-electoral battle in Israel was growing more challenging by the day to stay on as the country’s prime minister after an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party, United Torah Judaism (UJT), announced that it will not recommend any candidate.
Notably, the UJT was part of the bloc led by Netanyahu in the 2026 elections.
Nov 7, 2026 11:07 AM IST
US election confirms erosion of support for Israel, with even Trump questioning military aid
In the space of about 24 hours, US President Donald Trump suggested cutting off aid to Israel, a staunch critic of Israel won a key Senate race, and the vice president partly blamed his own party's landslide defeat on US-Israel relations.
The rupture caused by Israel’s devastating military campaign in Gaza and the jointly launched war with Iran has shredded bipartisan US support for Israel that goes back decades. Democrats are fiercely divided over Israel, and Republicans are increasingly critical of its actions.
In Israel, critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuse him of having mismanaged relations with the country’s closest ally.
Nov 7, 2026 11:05 AM IST
Israel government formation: Eisenkot gets majority. Which parties backed Netanyahu’s rival
Israel’s Arab party, the Joint List, on Thursday announced that it will recommend Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog as the next prime minister, giving him the backing of 67 members of the incoming Knesset, The Times of Israel reported.
Eisenkot had already secured more recommendations than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Joint List’s endorsement widens that lead and gives Eisenkot support from a majority of the 120-member parliament. However, the recommendations do not necessarily mean the parties will join his coalition.
Read the full story here.
Nov 7, 2026 09:37 AM IST
Both election interference probes involving Arab parties reportedly falling apart
Two election interference investigations that involve Arab-led parties are reportedly falling apart, Israel’s Channel 12 news said on Friday, November 6. The cases had caused alarm for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials when they first came to light, according to The Times of Israel.
Voter bribery case: Three Bedouin activists were arrested on suspicion of trying to bribe voters to back the Ra’am party. Channel 12 said the case is likely to be closed unless new evidence emerges.
Foreign funding case: An alleged plan to fund support for the Joint List from abroad is turning out to be “very different” from how it was first described, the report said.
Shin Bet chief under pressure: The second case has led to a serious loss of trust in Shin Bet head David Zini, a Netanyahu loyalist, Channel 12 said.
Nov 7, 2026 07:23 AM IST
Eisenkot’s 4 conditions for coalition as Liberman opens doors for talks
Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot has reiterated four conditions for parties seeking to join the coalition government he is trying to form, including mandatory national service for all Israelis. His position comes after Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman signalled openness to forming a government with ultra-Orthodox parties.
In a lengthy social media post, Eisenkot described Israel as being in a “genuine, tangible and dangerous emergency”, accusing the current government of threatening the country’s democratic foundations.
“The current government poses a fundamental threat to the very existence of Israeli democracy — nothing less. This is occurring while war fronts remain active, yet are themselves subject to political and personal whims. Israel is already in the midst of a dangerous diplomatic tsunami,” he wrote.
Eisenkot said he had been working with political partners over the past few days to build a national emergency government and wanted a new administration to be sworn in as soon as possible.
He said the proposed coalition would be built around four Jewish-led opposition parties: Yashar, which has 21 seats; B’Yachad with 12; The Democrats with eight; and Yisrael Beytenu with seven.
The four conditions
Recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.
Acceptance of the principles enshrined in Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
Mandatory military, national or civilian service for all citizens to strengthen and expand the ranks of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organisation and a commitment to dismantling its military and governing capabilities.
Nov 7, 2026 06:26 AM IST
US Central Command announces $20M reward for info on Iranian nuclear program
The United States is offering a $20 million reward “and possible relocation” for information about Iran’s nuclear program, the military says, despite President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that it has been obliterated.
A State Department program, Rewards for Justice, “is offering a reward of up to $20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran’s nuclear program, including its facilities, equipment, and associated personnel, such as those in the scientific community,” US Central Command says in a statement posted on X.
Nov 7, 2026 06:17 AM IST
US Treasury cuts off money exchanger MEXC over Iran, North Korea, Russia transactions
The US Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network division issues an order effectively cutting off virtual currency exchanger MEXC Global from the US financial system over transactions that it says are linked to sanctions evasion by Iran, North Korea and Russia.
FinCEN, the Treasury’s anti-money laundering unit, says that the order prevents US financial institutions from processing fund transfers involving Seychelles-incorporated MEXC Global, which it says has facilitated at least $16 billion in illicit transactions linked to Iran, North Korea and Russia, as well as transactions with other sanctioned actors.
Nov 7, 2026 06:07 AM IST
Trump vows new US air show will be biggest in the world
US President Donald Trump on Friday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center touted a planned US air show as the "biggest air show anywhere in the world" that will rival major aviation conferences held in Paris and London.
Nov 7, 2026 05:25 AM IST
Israel government formation: Eisenkot gets majority. Which parties backed Netanyahu’s rival
Israel’s Arab party, the Joint List, on Thursday announced that it will recommend Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog as the next prime minister, giving him the backing of 67 members of the incoming Knesset, The Times of Israel reported.
Eisenkot had already secured more recommendations than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Joint List’s endorsement widens that lead and gives Eisenkot support from a majority of the 120-member parliament. However, the recommendations do not necessarily mean the parties will join his coalition.
The Joint List said its three factions unanimously agreed to back Eisenkot “in response to the public demand to prevent Netanyahu and his government from returning to power.” Read more
Nov 7, 2026 05:09 AM IST
IDF Central Command chief reportedly told settlers not to tip off other commanders before Jericho entry
IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth was notified in advance of a plan by Israeli settlers to illegally enter eight homes on the outskirts of the Palestinian city of Jericho, Haaretz reveals, after the army claimed that the action by settlers was not coordinated.
Citing security sources familiar with the matter, Haaretz says Bluth even met with the settlers in advance of their illicit entry into Jericho on Wednesday and instructed them not to tip off top officers under his command until they had moved into the Palestinian homes.
Bluth also spoke to organizers of the settler action in Jericho and wished them luck on the eve of their illegal entry.
Nov 7, 2026 05:05 AM IST
Trump again claims Israel wouldn’t exist if he ‘did not stop Iran from having a nuclear weapon’
US President Donald Trump again claims that “Israel and, in fact, the entire Middle East, WOULD NOT EXIST TODAY if I did not stop Iran from having a nuclear weapon.”
“Nobody wants to say that, but everybody knows it’s true!” Trump writes on Truth Social.
Nov 7, 2026 05:05 AM IST
Both election interference probes involving Arab parties reportedly falling apart
After significant alarm from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials, two election interference investigations involving the pair of Arab-led parties are falling apart, Channel 12 reports.
The first case in which three Bedouin activists were arrested for allegedly trying to bribe voters to back the Ra’am party is expected to be closed unless new evidence is uncovered, Channel 12 says.
The second case involving an alleged foreign funding effort to back the Joint List is also turning out to be very different from what was initially described and has led to a major crisis of confidence in Netanyahu loyalist and Shin Bet chief David Zini, the network says.
A senior police official tells Channel 12, “We have lost confidence in the head of the Shin Bet.”
Nov 7, 2026 05:04 AM IST
Iran news agency reports 2 missiles struck Qeshm Island
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency says early Saturday initial reports indicate that two missiles struck Qeshm Island, adding there is no official information on possible damage.
Tasnim says further details will be released once the incident is confirmed by relevant authorities.
The state news agency IRNA earlier reported that local witnesses said two projectiles had attacked the Suza area of Qeshm Island in southern Iran after the sound of an aircraft was heard over the island.
Nov 7, 2026 05:03 AM IST
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