CoalitionLiberman: replace the Knesset speaker first, then pass the Defendant Law
Avigdor Liberman said on Saturday that Benjamin Netanyahu must be removed. Ynet reports he wants the new Knesset to replace Speaker Amir Ohana at once and then pass, in three readings, the bill barring a criminal defendant from leading the government. Ynet notes it is unclear whether the High Court would uphold such a law. Liberman again rejected any minority government and any coalition that relies on Ra'am or Hadash-Ta'al. He said a Likud without Netanyahu could be a partner. Separately, he urged anti-Netanyahu voters on X to back one of the four parties in the change bloc and not waste votes on small lists, and called for turnout above 76%.
CoalitionBloc leaders press Eisenkot over his "big party" campaign
According to Ynet, leaders of the other change-bloc parties, including Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, are pressing Gadi Eisenkot not to run a campaign that takes votes from inside the bloc. Yair Golan wrote that "the bloc decides, not the big party." Lapid argued that earlier "big party" campaigns by the opposition ended with Netanyahu winning. Eisenkot did not answer Liberman directly. He posted a statement urging calm and asking voters to ignore spin.
CampaignChannel 14 host Yinon Magal calls Eisenkot a "monkey"; Eisenkot and Yashar respond
On the Channel 14 show HaPatriotim, Magal said Eisenkot is a "monkey" run by elitist Ashkenazim, and claimed Ronen Manelis tells him what to say. Eisenkot said he saw no reason to answer someone at that level and blamed "the man standing behind" Magal. He promised to end what he called "Magalism and Bardugism" in public life. Yashar called the remark contempt for Mizrahim and described Magal as a Netanyahu mouthpiece. Ynet reports no response from Likud.
CampaignGunfire in Lod during Smotrich's campaign event
Gunfire was heard in at least four neighborhoods of Lod while Bezalel Smotrich was speaking at a campaign meeting on Saturday night. Police confirmed the shooting and said there were no injuries. Smotrich said there are more than a million illegal firearms in Arab society. He promised a broad plan that includes temporary emergency legislation and Shin Bet involvement. Residents criticized the lack of security and called on Itamar Ben-Gvir, the public security minister, to explain why it continues.
CampaignTreasury officials plan a post-election economic package, tied to who forms the government
Ynet reports that senior Finance Ministry officials plan to draft an emergency economic plan right after the vote. The plan is not final. It would likely cut some National Insurance benefits, penalize men who evade military service for non-medical reasons, and raise taxes, including VAT from 18% to 22%. Officials say approval depends on the next government. Liberman, Bennett and Golan used the report in their campaigns against the current coalition.