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Republicans have poured an estimated $183 million into television advertisements targeting Democrats over transgender-related policies, launching an enormous advertising offensive in the closing days of the 2026 midterm elections as President Donald Trump and his party seek to maintain control of Congress.

The campaign has produced approximately 217,000 television ad airings nationwide through October 25, according to figures compiled by advertising research firm AdImpact. The spending exceeds the $151 million Republicans devoted to similar advertisements during the comparable period of the 2024 presidential election.

The unprecedented investment reflects a calculated Republican strategy to make transgender policies a defining issue in competitive congressional races, particularly in states where GOP candidates are attempting to overcome voter dissatisfaction over inflation and the cost of living.

Republican advertisements have focused heavily on biological males competing in women’s sports, gender-transition medical procedures for minors, and Democratic candidates’ positions on those issues.

The largest concentration of spending has occurred in Texas, where Republican organizations have invested approximately $58 million in transgender-related television advertising in the closely watched Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico.

Those advertisements have aired more than 50,000 times, accounting for roughly one-fifth of the television advertising in the state’s Senate contest.

A Republican super PAC called Texas PAC, which receives substantial financial backing from billionaire Elon Musk, has produced several advertisements portraying Talarico as holding extreme positions on transgender policies.

One advertisement borrows a message from Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign, contrasting Democratic support for transgender policies with the Republican argument that the party represents ordinary Americans.

Another advertisement accuses Talarico of supporting taxpayer-funded gender-transition surgery for minors, while a separate commercial alleges that he favors criminal penalties against parents who refuse to support their children’s gender transitions.

“If you care about your children, do not vote for James Talarico,” the narrator declares in one advertisement.

That particular commercial has aired nearly 17,000 times at a cost exceeding $23 million.

Talarico has publicly stated that he opposes gender-reassignment surgery for minors, raising questions about the accuracy of some of the accusations being circulated against him.

Ohio has emerged as another major battleground for the Republican advertising strategy.

Republican groups, including the Senate Leadership Fund, have spent nearly $26 million on transgender-related advertisements attacking Democratic Senate candidate Sherrod Brown.

Several of those commercials feature an individual who underwent gender-transition surgery as a minor and later reversed the transition, expressing regret over the medical procedures.

The advertisements accuse Brown of supporting such procedures for children and permitting biological males to participate in women’s athletic competitions.

Brown’s campaign has rejected the allegations, describing the advertisements as a “total lie” and accusing Republicans of attempting to divert attention from economic issues.

The independent fact-checking organization PolitiFact also rated one of the advertisements false.

The criticism stems partly from a 2023 interview in which Brown said medical decisions involving children should be made by families and doctors rather than politicians. Republican advertisements have used those remarks to portray him as supporting specific medical procedures for minors.

Beyond Texas and Ohio, Republicans have invested substantial sums in similar advertising campaigns in Kansas, South Carolina, Iowa, and Mississippi.

In Kansas, transgender-related Republican advertisements have aired approximately 7,000 times at an estimated cost of nearly $7 million.

South Carolina, which has become an unexpectedly competitive Senate battleground, has seen more than $5 million spent on such advertisements.

The Republican advertising campaign has been accompanied by repeated statements from Trump, who has made transgender policies a prominent theme of his final campaign appearances before Election Day.

During a rally Monday in Corinth, Mississippi, Trump accused Democrats of promoting what he called the “transgender mutilization of your children.”

At a rally in Florida on Sunday, the president repeatedly criticized the participation of biological males in women’s sports and gender-transition medical procedures.

The emphasis reflects the Republican Party’s belief that transgender issues can motivate conservative voters and persuade undecided Americans who are concerned about parental rights, education, and the direction of American culture.

Republican pollster Chris Wilson said the strategy is intended to communicate broader concerns about Democratic values rather than simply appeal to voters who consider transgender policy their most important issue.

“Republicans clearly believe these issues expose a cultural disconnect between Democratic candidates and a significant portion of the electorate,” Wilson said.

“It’s not necessarily that transgender policy is a top voting priority, it’s that voters can use a candidate’s position on it as a proxy for their broader values and judgment.”

The spending figures reveal a striking disparity between the two political parties.

While Republican organizations have devoted approximately $183 million to transgender-related television advertising, Democratic groups have spent roughly $11 million on the subject, much of it responding to Republican accusations.

Nevertheless, public opinion surveys suggest that transgender policies rank considerably below economic concerns for most Americans.

An October Associated Press-NORC poll found that approximately one in ten registered voters considered transgender issues among the most important questions facing the country in this election.

By comparison, roughly eight in ten identified the economy or cost of living as a major priority.

That disparity has raised questions about whether the Republican advertising campaign will succeed in persuading voters whose primary concerns involve household expenses, gasoline prices, and financial security.

Republican strategists argue that voters may regard a candidate’s position on transgender issues as an indication of broader political judgment, even if the issue does not directly affect their daily lives.

The strategy also builds on Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, when Republican advertisements attacking Democratic transgender policies became a prominent feature of the election.

This year’s campaign, however, has surpassed the previous presidential election’s spending levels despite being a midterm contest.

With Election Day scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, Republicans are betting that the advertising offensive will help protect vulnerable Senate seats and energize conservative voters in competitive races.

Whether the enormous expenditure changes the outcome remains uncertain.

“The interesting question isn’t why Republicans are running these ads, it’s whether they’re still persuading anyone or simply reinforcing attitudes voters already hold,” Wilson said.

“Those are two very different things, and $100 million in spending doesn’t tell us which is happening.”

“We’ll find that out on Election Day.”

[Video below.] Former President Barack Hussein Obama launched a blistering personal attack on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a campaign rally in Cleveland, Ohio, mocking the Pentagon chief for his emphasis on military personnel’s physical appearance, testosterone levels, and a controversial proposal to livestream the execution of the convicted Fort Hood terrorist.

Speaking at an event supporting Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton and Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, Obama accused Hegseth of concentrating on superficial displays of military toughness while the United States continues to confront serious challenges stemming from its war with Iran.

“The defense secretary is laser-focused on very important matters like the jawline and testosterone levels of our troops and live-streaming executions, because that’s how he thinks you cultivate that manly, warrior spirit,” Obama said sarcastically, drawing laughter from the audience.

The former president then turned his criticism toward Hegseth personally, suggesting that the defense secretary spends an excessive amount of time worrying about his own appearance.

“How much time do you think this defense secretary spends looking at himself in the mirror in the morning?” Obama asked. “You know he’s working his hair, because that’s how ‘warriors’ look.”

Obama went on to question the competence of the Trump administration, accusing senior officials of failing to approach their responsibilities seriously.

“These are not serious people, they’re not serious people. And the problem is you end up having to pay the price for their lack of seriousness,” he declared.

The remarks were part of a broader attack on President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran war, which Obama blamed for American military casualties, depleted weapons stockpiles, and higher energy prices.

Obama argued that the administration’s military campaign had failed to produce the results Trump initially promised, pointing to Iran’s continued ability to influence shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting impact on global oil markets.

His criticism of Hegseth drew on several Pentagon initiatives that have attracted considerable attention in recent months.

Hegseth has made physical fitness, grooming standards, and what he calls a renewed “warrior ethos” central priorities of his leadership. During a September 2025 address to senior military commanders at Quantico, Virginia, he announced stricter standards concerning physical appearance, weight, haircuts, and facial hair.

The defense secretary has argued that restoring discipline and maintaining demanding physical standards are essential to military readiness, rejecting suggestions that such requirements are merely cosmetic.

More recently, the Pentagon introduced testosterone screening for male service members aged 30 and older as part of their annual health assessments. The initiative is intended to identify hormone deficiencies that could affect physical performance and overall health.

Hegseth has defended the screening program as a medical readiness measure rather than an effort to artificially enhance troops’ physical capabilities.

Obama also referenced the controversy surrounding Hegseth’s proposal to publicly broadcast the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist convicted of murdering 13 people and wounding dozens more in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.

Hasan, who was sentenced to death in 2013, is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on December 3. Hegseth had indicated that the execution would be livestreamed, prompting criticism from lawmakers in both political parties.

Republican Congressman Austin Scott and Democratic Congressman Adam Smith were among those who objected to turning the execution into a public broadcast, despite differing political positions.

President Trump subsequently announced on October 15 that the execution would proceed as scheduled but would not be livestreamed, effectively reversing the controversial proposal.

Obama’s comments came as he returned to the campaign trail ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, seeking to rally Democratic voters and criticize the administration’s record on foreign policy and the economy.

The former president also campaigned in Michigan for Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, where he continued attacking Trump’s leadership and the administration’s approach to the Iran conflict.

Hegseth and the Pentagon have previously defended the administration’s military reforms, maintaining that stronger physical standards, improved readiness, and a renewed emphasis on combat effectiveness are necessary to strengthen the armed forces.

The defense secretary has also defended his handling of military operations against Iran, while administration officials have argued that the conflict’s economic effects will ease as the military situation stabilizes.

{Matzav.com}

Democrats party chairman Yair Golan is calling on Israel’s opposition leaders to reconsider their refusal to cooperate with Arab political parties, arguing that such an arrangement may be necessary to prevent Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu from remaining in power following Tuesday’s Knesset elections.

Golan’s appeal comes as the election results point toward a deeply divided Knesset, with neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the parties seeking to replace him holding the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority.

According to the partial results available Wednesday, after approximately 85.6 percent of the votes had been counted, Netanyahu’s political bloc held an estimated 53 seats, the opposition parties aligned against him controlled approximately 48, and the Arab parties accounted for another 19.

Those figures have placed the Arab factions at the center of discussions about the next government, despite campaign commitments by several opposition leaders that they would not rely on Arab parliamentary support.

Golan argued that the parties seeking to replace Netanyahu must consider cooperation across the political divide rather than allow their pre-election pledges to prevent the establishment of an alternative government.

The proposal presents a particular challenge for Gadi Eisenkot, whose Yashar party has emerged as a major force in the opposition, as well as Naftali Bennett, who has sought to position himself as a candidate capable of forming a government without Netanyahu.

Both leaders face the difficulty of assembling a majority from parties whose positions on security, religion and state, and relations with Arab political factions differ considerably.

One possibility being discussed involves establishing a minority government supported from outside the coalition by Arab Knesset members.

Under such an arrangement, Arab parties would not necessarily receive ministerial positions or formally join the government, but their parliamentary votes or abstentions could enable the government to take office and survive confidence votes.

The proposal faces substantial resistance, particularly from Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman, who has opposed forming a government dependent on Arab parties.

Lieberman’s position could prove decisive because the opposition cannot readily assemble a majority without either Arab parliamentary support or cooperation from parties traditionally aligned with Netanyahu.

The debate has also drawn attention to the possibility of negotiations with Shas and United Torah Judaism, which could provide an alternative route to a coalition that excludes the Arab parties.

However, any arrangement involving the chareidi factions would require agreements on the military draft status of yeshiva bochurim, educational funding, and other matters that have divided the parties.

Golan wrote on X that the opposition should not accept Netanyahu’s distinction between Jewish and Arab votes, saying that Arab citizens must be treated as legitimate participants in determining Israel’s political future.

“We have a majority. We have responsibility. And we have an opportunity to form a government of change in partnership with Israel’s Arab citizens. A government that will serve all Israeli citizens,” Golan wrote.

Joint List chairman Yousef Jabareen also indicated that his party was prepared to cooperate with efforts to replace Netanyahu.

“We are ready and prepared to pave the way for ousting the Netanyahu government,” Jabareen said.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, rejected the possibility of establishing a government dependent on the Arab factions.

“We must not endanger Israel by forming a government that relies on anti-Zionist Arab parties,” the prime minister said.

The election results have given the Arab parties an unusually influential position. The Joint List was projected to win 12 seats and Ra’am seven, bringing their combined representation to 19 seats, compared with 10 in the outgoing Knesset.

The opposition bloc’s projected 48 seats, combined with the Arab parties’ 19, would amount to 67 mandates. However, that numerical majority does not translate automatically into a governing coalition, given the objections expressed by several opposition leaders to cooperation with the Arab factions.

President Isaac Herzog urged political leaders Wednesday to remain open to compromise and avoid another election, as the Central Elections Committee continued processing outstanding ballots.

Approximately 430,000 to 480,000 special double-envelope ballots, including votes cast by soldiers and other eligible voters away from their regular polling stations, were still awaiting counting. The final official election results are expected on November 4.

Golan’s proposal has not been adopted by Eisenkot, Bennett, or Lieberman, and no agreement to establish a government with Arab-party support has been announced.

{Matzav.com}

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman could hold the key to determining whether Israel’s next government is a broad unity coalition, a minority government supported by Arab parties, or whether the country returns to the polls for another election, according to veteran political commentator Yaakov Rivlin. In a wide-ranging analysis of Tuesday’s election results, Rivlin suggested that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s weakened parliamentary position could create an opening for a unity government that might exclude the chareidi parties.

Speaking with journalist Avi Blum on Kol Chai’s main evening news broadcast Wednesday, Rivlin examined the complicated political situation emerging from the elections to the 26th Knesset. Although Netanyahu’s Likud performed considerably better than many pre-election polls had predicted, Rivlin argued that the prime minister had nevertheless suffered a substantial loss of coalition strength.

“Who holds the keys to all the governments? Avigdor Lieberman,” Rivlin declared, identifying the Yisrael Beiteinu leader as a potentially decisive figure in the negotiations over the next coalition.

Rivlin rejected the suggestion that Netanyahu’s electoral performance should be viewed as a victory simply because Likud exceeded expectations.

“We expected a defeat and got half a defeat,” he said, pointing to the decline in the prime minister’s parliamentary support.

The outgoing coalition controlled 68 seats in the Knesset, while the election results available at the time of the interview indicated that Netanyahu’s bloc had fallen to approximately 54 or 55 mandates. Rivlin maintained that the opposition’s failure to achieve a decisive majority did not erase the significance of that decline.

The loss of more than a dozen seats from the outgoing coalition’s strength means that Netanyahu can no longer rely on his traditional political partners to provide an automatic parliamentary majority.

Blum, however, suggested that the absence of a 61-seat majority could paradoxically give Netanyahu greater flexibility in coalition negotiations.

Under that scenario, the prime minister could argue that the election results require him to pursue a broad unity government rather than remain exclusively dependent on his longstanding right-wing and chareidi allies.

Such an arrangement might allow Netanyahu to negotiate with opposition leaders without being bound by all the demands of the parties that participated in his previous coalition.

Rivlin expressed reservations about that interpretation, pointing out that Netanyahu would still have to consider his relationship with Shas and United Torah Judaism.

Even if the prime minister succeeded in establishing a unity government without the chareidi parties, Rivlin argued, he would have an interest in preserving those relationships in case the new coalition eventually collapsed.

Abandoning his traditional allies could leave Netanyahu without a political safety net if a unity arrangement proved unsustainable.

The discussion then turned to the possibility that security developments, particularly a renewed confrontation with Iran, could dramatically alter the political calculations.

Rivlin raised the possibility that another major military escalation would intensify pressure on the political leadership to establish a national unity government.

“Everyone will demand a unity government. In that government, everyone will have to compromise. The chareidim will have to compromise on the draft law, if they are not left outside. Netanyahu will have to compromise, Eisenkot will have to compromise,” Rivlin said.

He emphasized that this was a hypothetical scenario dependent on future security developments, rather than information indicating that such a decision had already been reached.

A national emergency could potentially change the priorities of political leaders who currently oppose serving together, particularly if the country faced an extended military confrontation.

At the same time, Rivlin suggested that the military draft issue could become a decisive factor in determining whether Shas and United Torah Judaism would participate in such a coalition.

The parties have made the status of yeshiva bochurim a central political demand, while several potential unity partners have insisted on changes to existing military service arrangements.

If a compromise could not be reached, a unity government might be established without chareidi representation.

The alternative possibility of a minority government headed by Gadi Eisenkot also received considerable attention during the interview.

Eisenkot’s opposition bloc, together with the Arab parties, could potentially command enough parliamentary support to challenge Netanyahu’s continued leadership. However, Rivlin questioned whether such an arrangement could be translated into a functioning government.

He identified Lieberman as a major obstacle to a government dependent on Arab parliamentary support.

The Yisrael Beiteinu chairman has long opposed relying on Arab parties to establish a coalition, and his position could complicate efforts to form an Eisenkot-led minority government.

According to Rivlin’s analysis, if Lieberman refuses to support such an arrangement, the remaining political leaders may have to choose between negotiating a unity government and preparing for another election.

Lieberman’s position is particularly significant because the opposition contains parties with sharply different views on security, religion and state, and cooperation with Arab political factions.

Those differences could make it difficult to transform a shared desire to replace Netanyahu into a workable governing agreement.

The conversation also focused extensively on the disappointing election results for Shas, which appears to have suffered a considerable decline in voter support.

Rivlin estimated that the party had lost nearly 100,000 votes compared with the previous election, with the decline evident not only in development towns and peripheral communities but also in established chareidi population centers.

He attributed part of the decline to changes in the voting behavior of traditional Sephardic voters who had previously supported Shas.

In earlier elections, Rivlin explained, Shas had successfully appealed to voters who identified with Jewish tradition but were not necessarily part of the chareidi community.

The party presented itself as an alternative to Likud that combined a traditional Jewish identity with political representation for Sephardic communities.

This time, however, the military draft controversy and Likud’s aggressive campaign emphasizing the importance of voting for a large party appeared to influence some of those voters to return to Netanyahu’s party.

Rivlin suggested that Shas had struggled to communicate a message capable of satisfying both its chareidi base and its broader traditional electorate.

The ongoing controversy over the conscription of yeshiva students, together with the arrests of bochurim, created tensions within the Sephardic community and complicated the party’s electoral messaging.

Attempts to present Torah study and military service as compatible national priorities did not necessarily resonate with all segments of the party’s electorate, Rivlin argued.

He also pointed to shortcomings in the party’s local election operations.

Although Shas maintained an organized campaign infrastructure, some local representatives failed to produce the number of votes expected of them.

Rivlin suggested that the results could lead to an internal review of those representatives’ performance and potentially affect their positions within the party.

The contrast with United Torah Judaism was particularly striking.

While Shas experienced a substantial decline, United Torah Judaism maintained its projected parliamentary representation and increased its overall vote total.

Rivlin attributed the party’s performance partly to changes within Degel HaTorah that were carried out under the direction of its rabbinic leadership.

He also credited MK Yaakov Asher with helping to bring together competing elements within a party that had experienced significant internal disagreements.

“Yaakov Asher succeeded in creating a consensus,” Rivlin said, describing the efforts to preserve unity within United Torah Judaism.

The ability to maintain internal cooperation despite disagreements was an important factor in the party’s electoral performance, according to his assessment.

Blum suggested that the clarity of United Torah Judaism’s rabbinic leadership may also have contributed to its ability to mobilize voters.

He contrasted that situation with the challenges facing Shas, whose leadership had struggled to present a message that appealed equally to its different constituencies.

Rivlin cautioned, however, that a definitive assessment would require a detailed examination of the final results from individual cities and polling stations.

Such an analysis would help establish where Shas lost support, where United Torah Judaism gained votes, and whether the changes reflected broader political trends or specific local circumstances.

Rivlin also recalled the 2015 Knesset election, when Shas won seven seats while facing a challenge from Eli Yishai, who had broken away from the party to establish a competing political movement.

At the time, securing seven mandates was considered a significant achievement because Shas had been forced to contend with a rival party seeking support from the same electoral base.

The present election, Rivlin argued, presents a very different picture.

Rather than defending its position against a major internal challenger, Shas entered the election as an established coalition party with an extensive political organization.

Its decline to approximately seven seats therefore carries different implications than the same numerical result did in 2015.

Nevertheless, both Rivlin and Blum emphasized that the ultimate political significance of the election would depend not only on how many seats the chareidi parties received but also on whether they would participate in the next government.

A party with fewer mandates could still wield considerable influence if its support were essential to establishing a coalition.

Conversely, even a party that maintained its parliamentary representation could find itself excluded from power if other factions succeeded in forming a government without it.

That possibility has become increasingly relevant as political figures examine combinations that could include Netanyahu and opposition parties while leaving Shas and United Torah Judaism outside the coalition.

For the chareidi parties, the outcome of the coalition negotiations could have far-reaching consequences for the military draft issue, educational funding, religious institutions, and other matters central to their constituencies.

The election results have also placed Netanyahu in an unfamiliar position, requiring him to consider arrangements beyond the political bloc that has supported his government.

Although his parliamentary strength has declined, the divisions among his opponents have prevented the emergence of a straightforward alternative.

Rivlin’s assessment was that Lieberman’s decisions could become critical in determining which of the competing political scenarios ultimately takes shape.

If Lieberman refuses to support a minority government dependent on Arab parties, the opposition’s options could narrow considerably. At the same time, Netanyahu would still need to persuade political rivals to join a coalition under his leadership.

The result is a political deadlock in which both camps face significant obstacles, and negotiations over the next government could prove as consequential as the election itself.

The final allocation of Knesset seats remains subject to the counting of outstanding ballots, and the coalition possibilities discussed by Rivlin are political scenarios rather than confirmed agreements. His analysis nevertheless highlights a central question emerging from the election: whether Netanyahu’s loss of parliamentary strength will lead to a change in government, another election, or a broader coalition that could fundamentally alter the political position of the chareidi parties.

{Matzav.com}

A behind-the-scenes political initiative is reportedly underway to bring Naftali Bennett together with Shas and United Torah Judaism in a potentially dramatic realignment that could pave the way for a government without Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu or the Arab parties. The proposal, disclosed Wednesday evening by Kol Chai, would give Bennett a stronger negotiating position against Gadi Eisenkot and enable him to demand the first turn as prime minister under a proposed rotation agreement.

The reported initiative comes as Israel awaits the completion of vote counting in the 26th Knesset elections, with neither Netanyahu’s political bloc nor the opposition holding a clear majority. Political operatives are exploring various combinations that could break the deadlock, including arrangements that would have appeared highly unlikely before the election.

According to information reported by Meni Gira Schwartz of Emess and disclosed during Kol Chai’s main evening news broadcast, individuals involved in the initiative are attempting to establish discreet channels of communication with the leadership of the chareidi parties before formal coalition negotiations begin.

The central idea involves creating a coordinated political bloc consisting of Bennett’s Beyachad party, Shas, and United Torah Judaism. By combining their parliamentary strength, the three parties could form a grouping larger than Eisenkot’s Yashar party, potentially allowing Bennett to present himself as the leading figure capable of assembling an alternative government.

Such an arrangement would also give Bennett additional leverage in negotiations with Eisenkot, whose party has emerged as a major force in the opposition following Tuesday’s election.

Under the proposal, Bennett would demand that he serve as prime minister during the first half of the government’s term, with Eisenkot assuming the premiership during the second half.

The arrangement would effectively reverse the current political dynamic, in which Eisenkot is viewed as a leading candidate to receive the first mandate to form a government from President Isaac Herzog.

Those promoting the initiative believe Bennett could strengthen his position by demonstrating that he has the support of the chareidi parties and can offer a governing alternative that does not depend on the Arab factions.

The proposed coalition would be presented as a Jewish government incorporating religious and secular parties, with Bennett’s religious background and right-wing political identity potentially making him more acceptable to the chareidi leadership than other opposition figures.

The initiative is reportedly being advanced against a backdrop of growing frustration within Shas over the conduct of Netanyahu and Likud during the election campaign.

According to the report, individuals close to Shas chairman Aryeh Deri believe Likud’s aggressive campaign to consolidate right-wing voters came at the expense of Shas, contributing to the party’s disappointing electoral performance.

Deri is also reportedly upset that Netanyahu failed to defend him against criticism concerning his grandchildren who do not serve in the IDF, despite Deri’s own participation in Israel’s security cabinet.

The criticism became a point of contention during the campaign, and sources close to Deri reportedly believe Netanyahu should have intervened more forcefully on his behalf.

Those seeking to advance the Bennett-chareidi alliance are said to view these tensions as an opportunity to open discussions with Shas and United Torah Judaism about an alternative political partnership.

The proposed understandings would focus heavily on the issues most important to the chareidi parties, particularly the status of yeshiva bochurim and the funding of chareidi educational institutions.

One of the principal components would involve reaching an agreement on legislation regulating the military service obligations of yeshiva students, a matter that has repeatedly generated coalition crises and remains among the most contentious issues in Israeli politics.

The parties would also seek commitments concerning government funding for chareidi schools and yeshivos, alongside broader understandings on religious affairs and the relationship between religion and state.

According to the report, those promoting the initiative believe Bennett’s personal religious background could make him a candidate whom the rabbinic leadership might be willing to consider, provided that acceptable agreements are reached on the relevant issues.

Any decision by Shas or United Torah Judaism to support such an arrangement would ultimately depend on the approval of the respective Gedolei Yisroel and rabbinic authorities guiding the parties.

Despite the potentially significant political implications, the proposed alliance faces substantial obstacles.

Even if Bennett succeeds in obtaining the support of Shas and United Torah Judaism, he would still need to assemble a broader coalition capable of securing sufficient parliamentary backing.

That would likely require cooperation between the chareidi parties and two political forces that have frequently opposed their positions on religious affairs: Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu and the Democrats party.

Lieberman has been one of the most outspoken critics of chareidi exemptions from military service and has repeatedly demanded far-reaching changes to Israel’s policies concerning yeshiva students and religious institutions.

The Democrats have likewise supported positions on military service and religion-and-state issues that differ sharply from those of the chareidi parties.

Bringing these factions into a single coalition would therefore require substantial compromises on some of the most politically sensitive issues facing the country.

Nevertheless, individuals involved in promoting the initiative reportedly believe that a shared determination to replace Netanyahu and prevent further judicial reform measures could persuade the potential partners to reach an accommodation.

One possibility under discussion would involve adopting a softened version of a draft-law framework previously negotiated between the chareidi parties and Likud.

Such an arrangement could potentially provide the chareidi parties with assurances concerning the continued status of yeshiva students while allowing the other coalition partners to claim that progress had been made toward resolving the military service dispute.

Whether Lieberman or the Democrats would accept such a compromise remains uncertain, and there has been no indication that either party has agreed to the proposed formula.

The report also raises questions about the willingness of the chareidi parties to abandon their longstanding political partnership with Netanyahu in favor of a coalition containing several of his most determined opponents.

Although tensions between Likud and its chareidi allies have surfaced repeatedly, Shas and United Torah Judaism have generally remained closely aligned with Netanyahu on coalition matters.

A decision to join Bennett in an alternative government would therefore represent a significant change in the political relationships that have shaped Israel’s governing coalitions for years.

For Bennett, however, the potential advantages are substantial.

A preliminary agreement with the chareidi parties could enable him to challenge Eisenkot’s position as the leading opposition candidate for prime minister while simultaneously presenting a possible route to a government that excludes both Netanyahu and the Arab parties.

It could also complicate Eisenkot’s coalition negotiations by forcing him to consider whether he would be willing to accept the second position in a premiership rotation agreement.

Yet the reported plan remains preliminary, and the parties involved have not confirmed that negotiations are taking place.

Bennett’s associates denied the report and did not confirm the details of the alleged initiative.

United Torah Judaism also issued a statement distancing itself from suggestions that it had received approaches from other political leaders.

The office of MK Yaakov Asher, chairman of United Torah Judaism, released the following clarification:

“In response to inquiries from journalists, we wish to clarify that there have been no approaches from party leaders, apart from a message conveyed by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s associates indicating his intention to preserve the coalition parties.”

The statement indicated that Netanyahu’s camp had already communicated its desire to maintain the existing political partnership with the chareidi factions.

At the same time, it did not establish whether intermediaries unaffiliated with the formal party leadership had attempted to initiate indirect discussions.

The distinction is significant because the reported initiative centers on efforts by political figures to open unofficial channels before the parties themselves enter formal negotiations.

No agreement has been reached, and there is no confirmation that the proposal has progressed beyond preliminary political contacts.

The reported maneuvering comes amid a broader struggle between Bennett and Eisenkot over leadership of the political camp seeking to replace Netanyahu.

Eisenkot’s Yashar party is positioned to receive support from several opposition factions, while Bennett is exploring potential political arrangements that could strengthen his own claim to the premiership.

The final election results, expected to be submitted to President Herzog on November 4, will determine the precise parliamentary balance before formal coalition consultations begin.

Until then, the reported Bennett-chareidi initiative adds another possible scenario to an already complicated political landscape, with the future of the chareidi parties potentially becoming a decisive factor in determining who leads Israel’s next government.

{Matzav.com}

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing criticism from Democratic lawmakers, Arab American organizations, and members of the scientific community after claiming during a campaign appearance in Michigan that Arabs have failed to make significant contributions to science or win some of the world’s most prestigious academic awards.

“There’s 500 million Arabs in the world, and yet they don’t produce science, they don’t win the Nobel Prize, they don’t win the Fields prize, they don’t win the Wolf Prize,” Kennedy said.

The remarks, delivered in a state with one of the country’s largest Arab American populations, quickly drew objections from critics who pointed to numerous Arab scientists and scholars whose achievements directly contradict Kennedy’s assertions.

Among those responding was Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of Baylor University’s National School of Tropical Medicine, who cited the accomplishments of his late colleague Ahmed Zewail, an Egyptian American chemist who received the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering research into chemical reactions.

“God rest his soul he didn’t have to endure this,” Hotez wrote on X.

Zewail had also received the prestigious Wolf Prize in Chemistry in 1993, six years before earning his Nobel Prize, contradicting another portion of Kennedy’s statement.

Another example is mathematician Michael Atiyah, born in England to a Lebanese father and Scottish mother, who received the Fields Medal in 1966. The award is widely regarded as one of the highest honors in mathematics.

The controversy also prompted renewed attention to the broader history of Arab contributions to mathematics, medicine, chemistry, and other scientific disciplines. Al Jazeera published an extensive examination of those accomplishments in response to Kennedy’s comments.

The Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately provide a response to The Hill’s request for comment.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a particularly forceful condemnation of Kennedy’s remarks, accusing the cabinet secretary of promoting offensive stereotypes about Arabs.

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vile anti-Arab rant is a textbook display of unvarnished racism and bigotry,” the U.S.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wrote in a post on X.

“To stand on a public stage as a sitting U.S. cabinet official and dehumanize half a billion people – and millions of Muslim and Christian Arab Americans – with fabricated, white supremacist talking points is utterly disqualifying for public office,” CAIR wrote.

Kennedy’s comments also became an issue in Michigan’s closely watched U.S. Senate contest between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, a physician of Arab descent who has made public health a central part of his professional career.

Cole Wozniak, a spokesperson for El-Sayed’s campaign, criticized Kennedy for making the remarks while campaigning in Michigan.

“It’s rich to have an anti-scientist come to Michigan to lecture a doctor with two doctoral degrees who has spent his entire career working on public health,” El-Sayed spokesperson Cole Wozniak said in a statement.

The controversy comes as Rogers and Republican allies have intensified their criticism of El-Sayed in the closing days of the Senate race, accusing the Democratic nominee of connections to the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Muslim Brotherhood is an international Islamist political movement, and the United States has designated certain branches as foreign terrorist organizations. El-Sayed has repeatedly denied having any association with the organization and has publicly disavowed it.

President Trump has also sharply attacked El-Sayed, describing him as a jihadist and drawing comparisons to the September 11 terrorists during a campaign rally over the weekend.

Other Michigan Democrats joined the criticism of Kennedy, including Reps. Hillary Scholten and Rashida Tlaib.

“The last I checked, Secretary Kennedy has neither a medical degree nor a Nobel Peace Prize, and his rhetoric has undermined public confidence in health science,” Scholten said in a statement on X. “Maybe he should sit this one out.”

Tlaib, who is Arab American, issued an even harsher response, accusing Kennedy of racism and urging the public to condemn his statements.

“RFK Jr.’s a disgusting racist. We all know that,” Tlaib wrote on X. “We must all speak out louder than the hate. We will not let these fascists win.”

Kennedy’s comments were made Monday at a campaign event in Grand Rapids supporting Rogers. During the speech, he also blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for what he described as a decline in scientific and cultural achievements across the Arab world.

An Associated Press fact-check published Tuesday identified several additional Arab and Arab-descended award recipients, including Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz, who won the 1988 Nobel Prize in Literature, and Jordanian-born chemist Omar Yaghi, who received the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry after previously winning the Wolf Prize.

{Matzav.com}

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has fired back at President Donald Trump over his repeated references to the candidate’s Muslim name and religion, accusing the president of hypocrisy for criticizing him while maintaining close relationships with wealthy Arab governments, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, El-Sayed pointed to Saudi investments connected to Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Qatar’s offer of a luxury aircraft valued at approximately $400 million, arguing that the president appears comfortable dealing with prominent Muslim figures overseas while taking issue with the name of a Muslim American seeking public office.

“I get that the president of the United States takes personal offense to my first name,” El-Sayed told supporters. “He doesn’t mind as much when it’s a shared name from the Saudis who are funding his son-in-law’s private equity. Doesn’t seem to mind as much when it’s the Qataris who are giving him a $400 million private jet. He just seems to have trouble pronouncing it when it’s my name.”

The Democratic candidate, who is competing against Republican former Congressman Mike Rogers in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate contests, went on to suggest that Trump might soon have to address him by a different title.

“But y’all, I don’t care how he pronounces my name,” El-Sayed continued. “I don’t even care that he remembers my whole name. Because he can just go on and call me ‘senator’ after November. I will be Senator Mohamed to you, bro.”

The remarks came amid an increasingly heated campaign in Michigan, where Trump has made El-Sayed’s Muslim identity and political record central themes of his efforts to help Rogers win the open Senate seat in the November 3 midterm elections.

During a rally in Port Huron on Sunday, Trump accused El-Sayed of having connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and warned voters against electing him to the Senate.

“I’m here to keep a jihadist, Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator,” Trump declared.

The president also invoked the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, drawing a comparison between the struggle against the hijackers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 and the effort to defeat El-Sayed at the ballot box.

“Twenty-five years later, Michigan needs to stand up and fight, just like Todd did, to stop a jihadist from walking into the Capitol,” Trump said, referring to Todd Beamer, the Michigan native who helped lead the passenger resistance aboard Flight 93.

Trump further claimed that El-Sayed would present a security threat if elected, saying he would be the only senator required to pass through a metal detector before entering the chamber.

El-Sayed has rejected allegations that he belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood or supports violent extremism. The accusations have become a recurring issue in the Senate campaign, with Republicans highlighting his past statements and political associations while the Democrat accuses his opponents of attempting to exploit religious fears.

The controversy has also drawn attention to Trump’s repeated references to El-Sayed as “Mohamed,” which is the candidate’s middle name. At earlier campaign appearances, Trump mocked the pronunciation of his opponent’s name and used variations of it while criticizing his political views.

El-Sayed, whose full name is Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, has responded by arguing that the president is deliberately focusing on his Muslim background to distract from economic issues facing Michigan voters.

His latest response introduced Trump’s financial and diplomatic relationships with Saudi Arabia and Qatar into the dispute.

Kushner’s private equity firm, Affinity Partners, has received substantial investment from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, a relationship that has drawn scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest because of Kushner’s previous role as a senior White House adviser and his close ties to Saudi officials.

El-Sayed suggested that Trump has shown considerably less concern about Arabic names when dealing with Saudi figures whose financial relationships benefit businesses associated with the president’s family.

The candidate also cited Qatar’s offer of a Boeing 747-8 aircraft for use by the United States government, an arrangement that generated controversy because of the aircraft’s enormous value and questions about whether accepting it would raise constitutional, ethical, or national security concerns.

The Trump administration has defended the proposed aircraft arrangement, maintaining that the plane would be transferred through appropriate government channels rather than accepted as a personal gift to the president.

El-Sayed nevertheless used the episode to argue that Trump’s criticism of his name reflects a political double standard.

The exchange comes as both parties pour attention and resources into Michigan’s Senate contest, which could help determine control of the chamber. Rogers, a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, has emphasized national security and criticized El-Sayed’s progressive positions, while El-Sayed has campaigned on economic affordability, health care, and opposition to Trump’s policies.

El-Sayed, a former Detroit health director and public health physician, would become the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate if he wins.

Former President Barack Obama has also entered the campaign on El-Sayed’s behalf, appearing at a Democratic rally in Detroit on Saturday and criticizing attempts to portray the candidate’s name or faith as evidence that he is unfit for office.

Obama drew parallels to the attacks he faced during his own presidential campaigns, when opponents questioned his birthplace and religious background.

At a separate appearance Monday, El-Sayed again accused Trump and Republicans of attempting to divert voters’ attention from everyday economic concerns.

“They have nothing to say about solving the problems in your life. They’re not talking about you,” El-Sayed said, arguing that the campaign should focus on issues such as grocery prices, gasoline costs, housing, and health care.

Trump, meanwhile, has continued to campaign aggressively for Rogers, portraying the Republican as the candidate better suited to represent Michigan and warning that an El-Sayed victory would advance a radical political agenda.

The increasingly personal confrontation illustrates the intensity of the Senate race as Election Day approaches, with religious identity, national security, foreign financial relationships, and economic policy all becoming part of the closing arguments to Michigan voters.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered an unusually brief speech at President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Corpus Christi, Texas, speaking for just 11 seconds after Trump unexpectedly called him onto the stage.

“It’s an honor to work for the greatest country in the world, for the greatest president in the history of the United States of America. We love you, Texas. Thank you,” Rubio told the crowd before promptly concluding his remarks.

Rubio had accompanied Trump to two campaign events in Texas earlier that day. A State Department official explained to The Hill that Rubio was traveling in his capacity as national security adviser, allowing him to discuss important government matters with the president while they were on the road.

“He needs time with the president on all kinds of issues. The president will be on the go, so being on the plane with him gives him a chance to talk to him about these items,” the official told The Hill.

Rubio was not the only Republican official to make a remarkably short appearance at a Trump rally this week. During a campaign event in Mississippi on Monday, Trump invited Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith onto the stage to address the audience.

“Is this not the best president in our lifetime?” Hyde-Smith exclaimed before quickly stepping away from the microphone.

Trump welcomed the senator’s brief appearance, explaining that he appreciates speakers who keep their comments short rather than delivering lengthy addresses during his campaign events.

“I love that. Sometimes they get up, and they talk for 10 minutes,” the president said.

Rubio’s appearance the following day was similarly concise, with the secretary of state offering a quick endorsement of Trump before handing the stage back to the president.

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{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Conservative investigative journalists James O’Keefe and Cam Higby are facing reported felony charges in Minnesota stemming from an undercover operation at a Minneapolis polling location, where they sought to expose what they described as serious weaknesses in the state’s voter identification and election verification procedures.

According to accounts of the case, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has pursued charges involving unlawful voting and identity theft following an investigation conducted during Minnesota’s August primary election. The case centers on whether the journalists crossed the line from documenting potential election security vulnerabilities into illegally impersonating registered voters.

O’Keefe and Higby maintain that their operation was an exercise in investigative journalism designed to demonstrate how Minnesota’s voting procedures could potentially be exploited. They say neither of them actually cast a ballot, arguing that their actions were intended to test the system rather than influence an election outcome.

The investigation involved both men entering a polling location in disguises intended to make them appear to be members of Minneapolis’s Muslim community. Higby wore a black abaya and face covering, presenting himself as a Muslim woman, while O’Keefe wore a white thobe and head covering. Both reportedly used imitated foreign accents during their interactions with election personnel.

The operation was designed to examine two aspects of Minnesota election law: the circumstances under which registered voters may obtain ballots without presenting photo identification, and the state’s vouching procedures, which allow eligible registered voters to help establish the residence of certain individuals seeking to register on Election Day.

During the encounter, Higby allegedly presented himself as a female registered voter using another person’s name. The objective, according to the journalists, was to determine whether election workers would proceed with the ballot application without demanding photographic identification or otherwise verifying that the person standing before them was the registered voter whose name had been provided.

O’Keefe, meanwhile, participated in a separate portion of the operation intended to test whether a purported registered voter could vouch for another individual seeking to register. The journalists sought to demonstrate that a person falsely claiming to be an established voter might be able to exploit the system’s reliance on voter attestations.

Minnesota does not generally require registered voters to present photo identification at the polls simply to receive a ballot. Election officials instead use registration records and other procedures to administer voting, while state law establishes penalties for individuals who knowingly provide false information or impersonate another voter.

The journalists contend that the undercover encounters demonstrated vulnerabilities that could be exploited by individuals seeking to commit election fraud. Election authorities, however, distinguish between the absence of a universal photo identification requirement and the absence of safeguards, pointing to criminal penalties and other verification measures intended to protect the voting process.

A central issue in the reported prosecution is the journalists’ assertion that they deliberately stopped short of casting ballots.

They have maintained that no votes were submitted during the operation, a distinction they consider critical to their defense. Prosecutors’ reported theory, however, concerns alleged misrepresentations made during the ballot application process, raising the question of whether a violation can occur even when an individual does not ultimately deposit a ballot.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has taken the position that intentionally impersonating voters threatens the integrity of the election process. The state’s position reflects a broader concern that deliberately providing false information to election workers can itself undermine election administration, regardless of whether the conduct results in a fraudulent vote being counted.

The case has generated criticism among conservative commentators and supporters of undercover investigative journalism, who argue that the prosecution could discourage journalists from testing government systems and exposing possible security deficiencies.

Critics contend that the purpose of the operation was to reveal vulnerabilities in a public process, and that criminally prosecuting the journalists for their investigative methods risks treating an attempt to expose wrongdoing as wrongdoing itself.

The dispute also raises questions about the legal boundaries of undercover reporting. Journalists have long used disguises, assumed identities, and concealed recording equipment to investigate matters of public interest. Such methods, however, do not automatically exempt reporters from generally applicable criminal laws, and the legal significance of the Minnesota operation will depend on the specific conduct alleged and the statutes cited.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty formally announced the charges Wednesday, October 28, identifying O’Keefe, 42, and Higby, 26, as the defendants. Each faces one felony count of unlawful voting and one felony count of identity theft in connection with their activities during the August 11 primary election.

According to prosecutors, the two visited four polling locations in Hennepin County and used the names and addresses of registered voters without those individuals’ knowledge or permission. Some of the identities allegedly belonged to deceased residents, while at least one belonged to a living voter who had participated in the primary.

Moriarty acknowledged that neither journalist received or cast a ballot and that neither signed the required oath. She nevertheless argued that Minnesota law prohibits intentionally misrepresenting one’s identity during the ballot application process, even if the individual stops before actually voting.

At a Wednesday news conference, Moriarty rejected suggestions that the prosecution was based on the men’s political views or the controversial nature of their disguises.

“It is not against the law to be performative, it is not against the law to be offensive, it is not against the law to say the things they said standing outside the polling place,” Moriarty said.

She maintained that the alleged criminal conduct occurred when the men entered polling places and presented themselves to election workers using identities belonging to other people.

Prosecutors also said election workers had identified suspicious behavior during the encounters, challenging the journalists’ contention that the operation demonstrated an absence of meaningful safeguards.

Higby responded to the charges Wednesday by accusing Minnesota authorities of pursuing a politically motivated prosecution.

“This investigation was conducted to expose vulnerabilities in the Minnesota voting system, which affects all Americans. I never voted, I never signed an affidavit, and I never violated a law. For showing how Minnesota abuses votes, they seek to take mine away from me permanently,” Higby said.

In an earlier explanation of the operation, Higby argued that election workers appeared willing to proceed without verifying his identity through photographic identification.

“I didn’t actually vote,” Higby said during an August livestream. “I just showed up and tested the system.”

He claimed that at one polling location, election personnel did not request identification from him or the individuals for whom he purportedly intended to vouch, despite his face being concealed.

Under Minnesota law, a registered voter may vouch for the residence of up to eight individuals seeking to register in the same precinct. The individual providing the voucher must sign an oath attesting to the information. State election officials say the procedure is subject to verification and accounted for fewer than 0.6% of votes cast in 2024.

Secretary of State Simon defended the state’s election system and criticized the conduct of the two journalists.

“Any attempt to disrupt or deceive our election workers will not be tolerated. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for holding these individuals to account,” Simon said.

The prosecution places O’Keefe, the founder of Project Veritas and current leader of Citizen Justice League, at the center of another dispute over undercover journalism and the limits of investigative reporting.

Supporters of the operation argue that journalists must be able to expose potential government vulnerabilities, particularly in election systems where public confidence depends on effective safeguards against fraud. Prosecutors maintain that investigative motives do not authorize the use of other people’s identities in a regulated voting process.

Each felony count carries a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, although Moriarty indicated that probation would be the presumptive outcome under Minnesota sentencing guidelines if the defendants were convicted.

Both men were charged by summons rather than arrested and are scheduled to make their initial court appearances on November 16.

The case is expected to draw continued attention from election security advocates and press freedom supporters as the defendants challenge the allegations. At issue will be whether their undercover actions constituted prohibited ballot applications under Minnesota law, despite the undisputed fact that neither man actually cast a vote.

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{Matzav.com}

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Israel’s Central Elections Committee announced Wednesday evening that between 430,000 and 480,000 special ballots remain to be counted in the country’s 26th Knesset elections, with the process expected to begin early Thursday morning and conclude by Thursday evening, October 29. The outstanding votes could alter the final distribution of Knesset seats, with particular attention focused on Shas, which is facing the possibility of losing its seventh mandate.

The committee said preparations are underway to process the ballots, which are submitted through a special double-envelope system designed to allow eligible voters to cast their ballots outside their registered polling locations. Officials emphasized that the estimated number of outstanding envelopes remains preliminary, as the collection, verification, and processing procedures have not yet been completed.

The double-envelope ballots include votes cast by soldiers, members of the security forces, and residents displaced from their homes who voted at locations other than their regular polling stations. These ballots require additional verification to ensure that each individual voted only once before the votes can be included in the official tally.

In the previous Knesset election, held in 2022, more than 460,000 Israelis voted through the double-envelope system. Ahead of this year’s election, officials had initially anticipated a substantially larger number, estimating that between 600,000 and 650,000 ballots might be submitted through the special procedure.

Those higher projections reflected the continuing effects of the war, the extensive mobilization of military reservists, and the large number of displaced residents who were expected to vote away from their registered addresses.

However, the latest estimates place the actual number of double envelopes considerably below those earlier projections.

Election officials are currently completing the scanning and verification of the outer envelopes, which contain identifying information used to confirm each voter’s eligibility and prevent duplicate voting.

Once the verification process has been completed, the inner ballot envelopes are removed from their outer coverings and mixed together. This procedure separates voters’ identifying details from their ballots, preserving the secrecy of the vote.

The verified envelopes are then transferred to the counting facility located in the Knesset parking complex, where election workers will begin tabulating the remaining votes.

According to the Central Elections Committee’s announced schedule, counting is expected to begin at approximately 1 a.m. Thursday, October 29, after the scanning process has been completed.

Officials anticipate that the counting will continue throughout Thursday, with the process expected to be completed during the evening hours.

Updated results will be published on the Central Elections Committee’s website as the count progresses, allowing the public and political parties to monitor changes in the distribution of votes.

The committee also plans to hold a press briefing after the counting process has concluded and the updated results become available.

Although most ballots have already been counted, the remaining votes could have a meaningful effect on the final allocation of the Knesset’s 120 seats.

Because seats are distributed according to the parties’ respective vote totals, even relatively modest changes in the count can determine which party receives a final mandate, particularly when competing parties are separated by narrow margins.

The outstanding ballots are therefore being watched closely by political parties whose final seat totals remain uncertain.

Among the most closely watched developments is the competition between the two established chareidi parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism.

According to the count completed thus far, both parties are projected to receive seven Knesset seats, although United Torah Judaism holds a lead of approximately 18,600 votes over Shas in the overall popular vote.

That difference has generated concern within Shas, where party officials fear that the remaining double-envelope ballots could change the allocation and leave the party with only six seats.

Such an outcome would represent a significant setback for Shas, which has traditionally been the larger of the two chareidi parties and has played a central role in coalition negotiations.

United Torah Judaism, meanwhile, is closely monitoring the outstanding votes as it seeks to preserve its projected seven seats and determine its final position relative to Shas.

The results could also influence the broader political negotiations over the formation of Israel’s next government, particularly given the narrow margins separating the competing blocs.

With neither Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s political allies nor the opposition holding a clear governing majority, even a single seat shifting between parties could affect the calculations of those attempting to assemble a coalition.

The special ballots have played an important role in previous Israeli elections, occasionally changing the final seat distribution after the initial count appeared to establish a particular result.

For that reason, party officials are cautioning against treating the current projections as final until all eligible ballots have been processed and the remaining votes incorporated into the official totals.

The Central Elections Committee has stressed that its priority is to complete the verification and counting procedures accurately while maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of the voting process.

The updated figures expected Thursday evening should provide a clearer picture of the final balance between the parties, although the formal election certification process will continue afterward.

The official results are scheduled to be presented to President Isaac Herzog on November 4, after which he will begin consultations with the parliamentary factions to determine which lawmaker should receive the first opportunity to form a government.

For Shas, United Torah Judaism, and several other parties awaiting the final allocation of mandates, Thursday’s count could determine whether their current seat totals remain intact or change in the closing stage of the election.

In addition to soldiers and displaced residents, the double-envelope system is used by diplomats serving overseas, prisoners, hospital patients, certain medical personnel, and voters with disabilities who use specially designated accessible polling stations. These categories account for hundreds of thousands of ballots that must undergo individual verification before being added to the nationwide count.

The size of the remaining vote is substantial. With approximately 40,000 votes representing the equivalent of one Knesset seat under the current electoral calculations, the outstanding ballots amount to roughly 11 to 12 seats’ worth of votes. Those seats are not allocated separately, but the additional ballots can change the nationwide proportions used to distribute mandates among the parties.

Historically, votes cast through the double-envelope system have tended to favor parties with greater support among soldiers and other voters who use special polling arrangements. Chareidi and Arab parties have generally received a smaller proportion of these votes than they receive from the electorate as a whole, making the final count especially consequential for their seat allocations.

The 2022 election demonstrated the potential impact. United Torah Judaism initially appeared positioned to secure eight mandates, but the inclusion of the double-envelope ballots reduced its final representation to seven. At the same time, Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu gained a seat, increasing its representation from five to six.

The Central Elections Committee has also arranged for the counting process to be broadcast through news feeds and its official YouTube channel, providing public access to the proceedings as the remaining ballots are processed.

The results of Thursday’s count will be particularly significant given the exceptionally high turnout in Tuesday’s election, which reached approximately 77.7%, the highest participation rate in more than two decades.

With the final composition of the Knesset still unsettled, the outstanding votes represent the last major stage of the election count before Israel’s political leaders turn their attention fully to the negotiations over the next government.

{Matzav.com}

The Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to leave interest rates unchanged, keeping its benchmark borrowing rate between 3.75% and 4% as policymakers grapple with stubborn inflation, rising energy prices, and uncertainty surrounding the American economy just days before the midterm elections.

The decision, approved by a 10-2 vote, came after the central bank raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point in September, its first increase in more than three years. Wednesday’s announcement means borrowers will not receive any immediate relief from the elevated financing costs affecting mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, and business lending.

Two members of the Federal Open Market Committee, Governor Lisa Cook and Cleveland Federal Reserve President Beth Hammack, opposed the decision, arguing that interest rates should be increased by another quarter of a percentage point to combat inflation.

In its announcement, the Fed acknowledged that consumer prices remain a serious concern, even as the broader economy continues to expand.

“Economic activity is expanding at a strong pace,” the committee said, pointing to resilient consumer spending, strong productivity growth, and continued business investment.

The central bank also noted that employment conditions have remained relatively stable, with job gains keeping pace with workforce growth and little change in the unemployment rate.

Nevertheless, policymakers cautioned that inflation remains above the Fed’s target and that additional economic information will be needed before deciding whether to adjust borrowing costs.

“The accumulation of more information will help the Committee determine the policy stance appropriate to ensure a timely return of inflation to the Committee’s 2 percent goal,” the Fed said. “The Committee will deliver price stability.”

The decision comes as inflation has accelerated in recent months, driven partly by rising fuel costs and broader increases in consumer prices.

The Consumer Price Index rose 3.7% in September compared with a year earlier, while gasoline prices jumped 9.1% during the month. The national average price of regular gasoline stood at approximately $4.25 per gallon Wednesday, according to AAA.

Price increases have also spread to used vehicles, airline tickets, housing, and other expenses, adding to the financial pressure on American households.

The continuing conflict involving Iran has contributed to higher global energy prices, complicating the Fed’s efforts to bring inflation back toward its 2% annual target.

Although the economy has continued growing, recent employment figures have shown signs of slowing. Employers added approximately 29,000 jobs in September, while the unemployment rate edged up to 4.2%.

Average hourly earnings increased 3% over the preceding year, below the 3.7% inflation rate, indicating that rising prices have outpaced wage growth for many workers.

Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh, who assumed leadership of the central bank in May, has emphasized the importance of restoring price stability while avoiding unnecessary disruption to economic growth.

Warsh has also faced pressure from President Trump, who has repeatedly called for lower interest rates to stimulate borrowing, investment, and economic activity.

The central bank operates independently of the White House, and its officials have maintained that monetary policy decisions must be based on economic conditions rather than political considerations.

Wednesday’s announcement came less than a week before the November 3 midterm elections, with inflation and household affordability among the major issues confronting voters.

For consumers, the decision means that interest rates on many forms of borrowing are expected to remain elevated for now.

Credit card rates and certain variable-rate loans are closely influenced by the Fed’s benchmark rate, while mortgage rates depend more heavily on longer-term bond yields and expectations about inflation.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was approximately 7.32% last week, according to Freddie Mac, continuing to create difficulties for prospective homebuyers and homeowners considering refinancing.

Economists also cautioned that the Fed’s decision to hold rates steady does not necessarily mean that borrowing costs have reached their peak.

Michael Pearce, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, said the two dissenting votes and the language of the Fed’s statement suggest that another rate increase could come at the central bank’s December meeting.

Financial markets are also considering the possibility of additional increases during 2027 if inflation fails to moderate.

The Federal Reserve’s next scheduled policy meeting will take place December 8-9, when officials will reassess inflation, employment, and economic growth before deciding whether another interest rate adjustment is warranted.

President Donald Trump may become directly involved in efforts to form Israel’s next government, potentially pushing for a national unity coalition headed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, as the country’s inconclusive election results leave both major political blocs scrambling to assemble a governing majority. At the same time, Netanyahu’s advisers are reportedly considering recommending that he decline the first opportunity to form a government, while Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot could emerge as the first candidate selected by President Isaac Herzog.

The political maneuvering follows an election that has left Netanyahu’s bloc with a projected 53 Knesset seats, the opposition bloc with 48, and the Arab parties holding a combined 19 seats. Although neither side currently possesses a straightforward path to a majority, Eisenkot could receive recommendations from as many as 67 lawmakers, potentially placing him ahead of Netanyahu in the competition for the first mandate.

According to a report by Kan 11, Trump, who offered Netanyahu unusually strong public support during the election campaign, is considering whether to intervene in the coalition negotiations and help secure another Netanyahu-led government. An individual familiar with internal White House discussions said the election results have generated uncertainty in Washington because neither political camp emerged with a decisive victory.

The possibility of American involvement is particularly significant because officials close to Trump are reportedly opposed to allowing Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir to occupy a senior position in Israel’s next government. The administration is concerned that Ben Gvir’s participation could complicate American diplomatic initiatives involving Gaza and other regional issues.

Even before Israelis went to the polls, reports indicated that individuals associated with Netanyahu had been communicating with figures close to Trump about the possibility of establishing a broad coalition that would exclude Ben Gvir. Those discussions have reportedly continued to influence political calculations following the election.

Trump has not committed himself publicly to intervening in the government formation process. When questioned about the possibility, he indicated that he had not yet given the matter serious consideration but would examine it. The White House has not announced any formal initiative to influence the composition of Israel’s next coalition.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s own advisers are reportedly debating whether it would be strategically advantageous for him to avoid seeking the first mandate from Herzog.

According to i24NEWS, individuals close to the prime minister believe that accepting the initial mandate and subsequently failing to assemble a coalition could strengthen the opposition’s argument that every realistic opportunity for a right-wing government had been exhausted.

Such a development could provide Eisenkot and other opposition leaders with political justification for attempting to establish a government supported by Arab parties, despite their earlier reservations about such an arrangement.

By allowing Eisenkot to make the first attempt, Netanyahu could instead force the opposition to confront its own internal disagreements before the Likud begins serious negotiations with potential coalition partners.

The decision ultimately rests with Herzog, who is expected to consult representatives of the newly elected Knesset factions after receiving the official election results. Although the president traditionally considers the number of lawmakers recommending each candidate, Israeli law does not require him to select the individual with the most recommendations. His responsibility is to identify the Knesset member he believes has the strongest prospect of successfully forming a government.

Under the current projections, Eisenkot could receive recommendations from the opposition parties as well as the Arab factions, bringing his potential total to 67. Netanyahu, by comparison, would begin with the backing of his 53-seat bloc.

However, a decision by Netanyahu to forgo the first mandate would also carry substantial risks for the Likud.

The opposition could attempt to capitalize on its numerical advantage in the Knesset by gaining control of the Arrangements Committee, which oversees important parliamentary procedures during the period before a new government is established. Such control could enable opposition parties to advance legislation and other parliamentary initiatives even while coalition negotiations remain unresolved.

Political commentator Amit Segal has suggested that Netanyahu’s immediate priority must be rebuilding unity within the right-wing bloc, which experienced significant internal divisions during the election campaign.

Those tensions were particularly pronounced within United Torah Judaism, where disagreements and political fragmentation complicated the traditional alignment of the chareidi parties with Netanyahu.

Segal’s assessment is that Netanyahu will first need to consolidate his existing political allies before attempting to persuade Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, or Eisenkot to join a government under his leadership.

All three opposition leaders pledged during the election campaign that they would not serve in a Netanyahu-led coalition. There has been no public indication that any of them has reversed that commitment.

Nevertheless, the parliamentary arithmetic has prompted speculation that at least one opposition leader could eventually reconsider if the alternative is prolonged political paralysis or another election.

Eisenkot, despite his potentially larger number of presidential recommendations, faces serious obstacles of his own.

According to political reporting concerning a Yashar faction meeting held Wednesday, at least four members of Eisenkot’s party oppose forming a minority government that depends on support from Arab political parties, even as a temporary arrangement.

The proposed formula would require active parliamentary backing from Ra’am, while the Joint List, which includes Balad, would abstain rather than vote against the government.

The reported objections of the four Yashar lawmakers could make that arrangement impossible, since the opposition’s path to power depends on maintaining support from nearly every member of its already fragmented political camp.

The identities of the dissenting lawmakers have not been disclosed, and Yashar has not issued an official statement confirming the reported internal disagreement.

The resistance is particularly consequential because the opposition’s ability to recommend Eisenkot for the premiership does not necessarily mean those same parties can agree on the composition, policies, or parliamentary support arrangements of an actual government.

Even if Eisenkot receives the first mandate, he would still need to bridge substantial differences between parties with conflicting positions on security, religion and state, and cooperation with Arab factions.

The Democrats party, led by Yair Golan, is reportedly preparing to increase pressure on opposition politicians who refuse to support a government dependent on Arab parliamentary backing.

Among the possibilities under consideration are large public demonstrations and protests outside the homes of lawmakers who oppose such an arrangement.

The party’s objective would be to persuade reluctant opposition members that replacing Netanyahu should take precedence over their objections to cooperation with Arab parties.

A source within the Democrats also indicated that the party would consider supporting a rotation agreement between Bennett and Lieberman for the premiership if such an arrangement made it possible to remove Netanyahu from office.

Neither Bennett nor Lieberman has publicly agreed to such a proposal, and there is currently no indication that formal negotiations over a rotation arrangement have produced an understanding.

The opposition is also examining ways to exercise parliamentary power without immediately establishing a government.

One possibility involves assembling a majority to replace the current Knesset speaker, thereby gaining greater influence over the parliamentary agenda.

Opposition lawmakers could also attempt to advance legislation on issues where they can secure sufficient support, including a proposal to establish a state commission of inquiry.

Such a strategy could allow Netanyahu’s opponents to exert political pressure even if their efforts to assemble a governing coalition fail.

For Netanyahu, the coming days will involve balancing several competing priorities: preserving the loyalty of his existing political partners, exploring potential agreements with opposition figures, and determining whether American diplomatic involvement could help produce a coalition capable of surviving a confidence vote.

For Eisenkot, the challenge is different but equally formidable. He must demonstrate that the potentially broad coalition of parties willing to recommend him to Herzog can also agree on a viable government, particularly given the opposition within his own faction to relying on Arab parliamentary support.

The official election results are scheduled to be presented to President Herzog on November 4. Following their submission, Herzog will begin consultations with the Knesset factions before deciding which lawmaker should receive the first mandate to form Israel’s next government.

Until then, the possibility of Trump intervening on Netanyahu’s behalf, the opposition’s disagreement over Arab party support, and the unresolved divisions within the right-wing bloc are expected to dominate Israel’s post-election negotiations.

Trump offered his own assessment of Netanyahu’s electoral performance in an interview with Axios on Wednesday, saying he had initially received “horror reports” about the prime minister’s prospects before the vote count improved his position.

“He’s in pretty good shape now,” Trump said, adding, “I heard my endorsement made a big difference for Bibi.”

When asked specifically whether he would help bring about a Netanyahu-led unity government, Trump responded, “I will take a look.”

The president’s comments suggest that American involvement remains a possibility, although no decision has been made. Reports ahead of the election indicated that some Trump advisers viewed a broader Israeli coalition without Ben Gvir as potentially more compatible with Washington’s regional diplomatic objectives.

Herzog, meanwhile, has publicly urged Israel’s political leaders to approach the coalition negotiations with flexibility rather than allow the country to descend into another election campaign.

“We must do everything possible, especially after yesterday, to avoid another round of elections. So I expect everyone who comes here to arrive with an open mind,” Herzog said Wednesday.

Approximately 500,000 ballots, including votes cast by soldiers, diplomats, and other special voting categories, remained to be counted in the latest reporting. While those ballots could alter the distribution of individual Knesset seats, they were not expected to fundamentally change the political deadlock.

Once the official results are certified, Herzog will have seven days to designate a candidate to form a government. The first candidate generally receives 28 days to assemble a coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension.

If that effort fails, the president may assign the task to another lawmaker. Additional parliamentary procedures provide further opportunities to form a government before another election becomes necessary.

Netanyahu will remain caretaker prime minister throughout the process unless and until a new government receives the Knesset’s confidence.

The political stalemate could therefore extend for weeks or months, with the possibility of another national election in 2027 if neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot can assemble a workable majority.

{Matzav.com}

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Federal immigration authorities are searching for an illegal immigrant from Guinea who allegedly assaulted a New York City police officer with a deadly weapon and was subsequently released from custody despite repeated requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold him for federal agents. The Department of Homeland Security is blaming New York City’s sanctuary policies for allowing the suspect to remain at large.

Alpha Bah, who entered the United States illegally in 2023, has been arrested multiple times in New York, including on charges involving violence against law enforcement. According to DHS, city authorities disregarded two separate ICE detainers, releasing Bah without giving immigration officials an opportunity to take him into federal custody.

The latest incident occurred following Bah’s arrest on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, and attempting to use public transportation without paying the required fare. ICE submitted a detainer to Queens Central Booking on October 7, 2026, seeking to assume custody of Bah. However, the New York Police Department released him without alerting federal immigration authorities, DHS said.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin sharply criticized the decision, arguing that the case illustrates the consequences of immigration enforcement restrictions adopted by Democratic officials in New York.

“This is the vision of sanctuary politicians in a nutshell: the open-border policies of the Biden Administration let this criminal into our country, and then sanctuary politicians in New York released him after arresting him without notifying ICE,” Mullin told Fox News Digital.

The administration has repeatedly clashed with sanctuary jurisdictions that limit communication and cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities. The Trump administration maintains that such restrictions interfere with efforts to identify, detain, and deport illegal immigrants who have been arrested on criminal charges.

Mullin pointed specifically to the seriousness of the allegations against Bah, warning that his release could expose the public to further danger.

“This illegal alien from Guinea was arrested for assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon. Despite these violent charges, New York City sanctuary politicians refused to honor ICE’s detainer and RELEASED him back onto the streets, and he remains at large,” Mullin said in a statement.

The secretary also directed his criticism at New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, urging both officials to abandon policies that restrict cooperation with ICE.

He added, “DHS is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani to knock it off with these evil sanctuary policies before another American gets hurt, or worse.”

Federal officials say the October incident was not the first time local authorities released Bah despite an immigration detainer. In June 2026, he was arrested in Manhattan on a charge of attempting to obtain transportation without paying. ICE issued a request to Manhattan Central Booking asking that he be held for federal custody, but the NYPD released him following that arrest as well.

DHS records indicate that Bah first crossed into the United States unlawfully in November 2023. He subsequently spent time in Arizona, where he was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents. The department also reported that Bah was arrested on criminal trespassing charges in January 2025 but was released before ICE could submit a detainer. Federal officials attributed that earlier release to immigration practices in effect during the Biden administration.

The repeated releases have renewed the Trump administration’s criticism of sanctuary jurisdictions, particularly those that refuse to honor federal immigration detainers. Such detainers request that local authorities notify ICE before releasing a person and, when legally permitted, briefly maintain custody to allow federal agents to assume responsibility. New York City’s sanctuary rules generally restrict compliance with these requests except in circumstances specified by law.

The controversy also comes amid heightened scrutiny of New York City’s handling of criminal cases involving illegal immigrants. A recent House Republican report accused city prosecutors of structuring certain plea agreements in ways that reduced the likelihood of deportation. Those allegations have added to the broader dispute between federal officials and New York authorities over immigration enforcement and the role of local criminal justice agencies.

New York’s sanctuary policies have expanded under Hochul, who has supported measures limiting the involvement of state and local law enforcement in federal immigration operations. In May, the governor signed legislation restricting law enforcement agencies from entering into formal immigration enforcement partnerships with ICE.

Hochul’s approach has also generated opposition from law enforcement officials, including sheriffs who have challenged restrictions on their ability to cooperate with federal authorities. Supporters of the restrictions argue that local police resources should be directed toward public safety rather than federal civil immigration enforcement, while critics contend that the policies obstruct the removal of individuals accused of serious crimes.

Mayor Mamdani has likewise taken steps to strengthen New York City’s sanctuary protections. After taking office, he signed an executive order intended to “reaffirm the city’s commitment to being a sanctuary for all New Yorkers.”

The mayor’s directive placed additional limitations on federal immigration enforcement activities on city-owned property, strengthened safeguards governing access to information about immigrants, and established a review process to determine whether municipal agencies were complying with existing sanctuary requirements.

Mamdani has also publicly advised New Yorkers about their rights during encounters with ICE officers, including the circumstances under which federal agents may enter private property and conduct searches. His position has drawn criticism from opponents who argue that city leadership is encouraging resistance to federal immigration enforcement, while supporters describe the guidance as an explanation of constitutional protections.

DHS has argued that cooperation between federal immigration officers and local police departments is essential to removing dangerous offenders from American communities. The department maintains that restrictions on information sharing and custody transfers can allow individuals wanted by immigration authorities to be released before federal agents can intervene.

“The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) partnerships with local law enforcement are key to removing criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists from American communities,” DHS said in a statement responding to the introduced policies. “7 of the 10 safest cities in the U.S. cooperate with ICE.”

The Bah case has become another flashpoint in the escalating confrontation between the Trump administration and New York’s Democratic leadership. Federal officials are demanding greater cooperation from city authorities, while the state’s sanctuary framework continues to limit the circumstances under which local agencies may assist immigration enforcement operations.

The dispute extends beyond New York City’s existing sanctuary rules. On July 24, Attorney General Letitia James and Hochul announced that 12 local law enforcement agencies with federal immigration cooperation agreements had been formally instructed to terminate those arrangements by August 25. The notices were issued under the state’s Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, which prohibits agreements authorizing local officers to perform federal civil immigration enforcement functions.

The Trump administration challenged the state restrictions in federal court, but on August 3, a federal judge declined to issue a preliminary injunction blocking New York’s prohibition on ICE cooperation agreements. The ruling represented a legal victory for Hochul and James, although the broader litigation over the state’s immigration policies continued.

Mamdani’s administration also released findings from its citywide sanctuary compliance audit in May. The recommendations included new procedures for NYPD responses to immigration enforcement incidents, revised guidelines governing federal agents’ access to city property, and additional training for municipal employees. Those measures reflect the city’s continuing effort to strengthen its immigration protections even as federal officials demand greater cooperation.

As of Wednesday, October 28, DHS said Bah remained at large. The department has not announced his apprehension, and the allegations arising from his arrests remain criminal charges rather than convictions.

Global oil prices climbed sharply Wednesday after Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group claimed to have struck Saudi Arabia’s largest oil refinery with a ballistic missile, raising fears of further disruptions to energy supplies as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate.

Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, rose above $115 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed past $102. The increases followed a nearly $2 decline in oil prices Tuesday, when hopes for diplomatic progress in the region had temporarily eased concerns about supply disruptions.

The Houthis announced Tuesday that they had targeted the Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, one of the kingdom’s most important energy installations. The facility, operated by Saudi Aramco, has the capacity to process approximately 550,000 barrels of oil per day and is located near a major crude oil export terminal on the Persian Gulf.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that the ballistic missile struck its intended target and caused large fires at the complex.

Saudi authorities had not confirmed that the refinery was struck or that it sustained damage, leaving the extent of the reported attack unclear.

The Saudi-led military coalition separately announced Tuesday that its air defenses had intercepted three ballistic missiles directed toward the kingdom’s Eastern Province and four drones targeting southern Saudi Arabia.

The reported attack comes amid an intensifying confrontation between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen, with the Iranian-aligned group expanding its missile and drone operations against Saudi territory.

On Wednesday, the Houthis also warned civilians to evacuate the international airport in Aden, where Yemen’s internationally recognized government is based. Yemeni government forces subsequently reported an attack on the airport.

The latest developments have heightened concerns that continued fighting in Yemen could threaten Saudi energy infrastructure and shipping routes vital to international commerce.

Ras Tanura is particularly significant because of its role in Saudi Arabia’s petroleum industry. The complex includes refining facilities and an important export hub through which Saudi crude reaches international markets.

Even the possibility of damage to such a facility can influence global oil prices, as traders weigh the risk of reduced production, interrupted shipments, or further attacks.

By early Wednesday afternoon, Brent crude futures were trading at approximately $115.43 a barrel, an increase of 1.4 percent, while West Texas Intermediate had risen to about $102.82, a gain of 2.9 percent.

The price increases also reflected uncertainty over whether President Donald Trump might authorize renewed military action against Iran following next week’s U.S. midterm elections.

Reports that Washington has warned Gulf allies about the possibility of additional American strikes have added to concerns that the regional conflict could expand and further disrupt oil production and transportation.

Market analysts at ING said investors remain concerned about the possibility of renewed fighting involving Iran, with the uncertainty contributing to elevated crude prices.

The renewed rise in energy prices comes as consumers and businesses continue to contend with higher fuel costs resulting from months of instability in the Middle East.

In the United States, sustained increases in crude prices can eventually translate into higher gasoline, diesel, and heating oil costs, although retail prices also depend on refining expenses, inventories, and local market conditions.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known as OPEC+, are scheduled to meet Sunday to review production plans. According to reports, the group is expected to maintain its existing December output targets.

Meanwhile, preliminary industry data indicated that U.S. crude inventories fell by approximately 2.03 million barrels during the week ending October 23, adding another factor to the market’s assessment of available supplies.

Saudi Arabia has been engaged in military operations against the Houthis since 2015, when it began leading a coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government against the Iranian-backed movement.

The Houthis, who control Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and large portions of the country’s territory, have intensified their attacks against Saudi Arabia in recent months, targeting airports, military installations, and energy infrastructure.

As of Wednesday, the reported damage at Ras Tanura remained unverified, but the Houthi claim and the continuing escalation in Yemen were already having a measurable effect on international energy markets.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s political bloc remains eight seats short of a Knesset majority as Israel’s election count continues, with the latest official figures showing his allies holding 53 seats, the opposition controlling 48, and the Arab parties emerging with a combined 19 seats, potentially placing them in a decisive position in the battle to form the next government.

According to figures released by the Central Elections Committee on Wednesday evening, October 28, approximately 88.6% of the ballots in the election for Israel’s 26th Knesset had been counted as of 8:48 p.m. The updated totals indicate that neither Netanyahu nor the parties opposed to his continued leadership currently command the 61 seats necessary to secure a parliamentary majority.

The results also reflect significant changes in the balance of power among Israel’s political parties, with Likud maintaining its position as the largest faction but losing ground compared with earlier counting updates.

Netanyahu’s Likud stands at 26 seats, down one from the previous projection, while the Yashar party headed by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot is in second place with 21 seats, also one fewer than in the preceding update.

The Joint List, representing several Arab political factions, has gained another seat and now holds 12 mandates, placing it alongside Naftali Bennett’s Beyachad party, which is likewise projected to secure 12 seats.

The increase in the Joint List’s representation, combined with the strengthening of Ra’am, has brought the two Arab parties to a total of 19 seats, giving them an unusually substantial presence in the next Knesset.

Ra’am, headed by Mansour Abbas, has risen to seven seats, an increase of one from the earlier figures.

The updated distribution highlights the political importance of the Arab electorate, which participated in the election at a particularly high rate and helped deliver a strong showing for the Arab parties.

Among the other opposition factions, the Democrats, led by Yair Golan, are projected to win eight seats, while Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu holds seven.

The Chareidi parties have also experienced a difficult election, with United Torah Judaism projected to receive seven seats and Shas falling to six, according to the latest figures.

For Shas, the result represents a substantial decline from its previous electoral performance and reflects the party’s difficulties retaining support among both Chareidi and traditional Sephardic voters.

Otzma Yehudit, headed by Itamar Ben-Gvir, is projected to secure seven seats, while the joint Religious Zionism-Zehut list, led by Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin, is credited with six.

The combined results leave Netanyahu’s existing political camp with 53 mandates, far below the threshold needed to establish a government without obtaining support from parties outside his current alliance.

The opposition bloc, meanwhile, has 48 seats, meaning that it, too, would need additional parliamentary partners to assemble a governing majority.

The unusually large representation of the Arab factions complicates the coalition calculations for both sides, particularly given the political disagreements that have historically made cooperation between some of the parties difficult.

Although the 19 seats held by the Joint List and Ra’am could prove consequential in determining whether a government can be formed, their electoral success does not automatically translate into participation in a coalition.

The ultimate outcome will depend on negotiations among party leaders, their willingness to cooperate across political divisions, and the recommendations they submit to the president during the government-formation process.

The continuing count has also left several smaller parties outside the Knesset, with their votes potentially playing an important role in determining the final allocation of seats.

The Reservists and Economic Party, headed by Yoaz Hendel and economist Yaron Zelekha, has received approximately 2.63% of the vote, below the 3.25% electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset.

The Amcha Yisrael party, led by retired Brigadier General Ofer Winter, has attracted approximately 1.61% of the vote, also falling short of the threshold.

Under Israel’s electoral system, votes cast for parties that fail to qualify for Knesset representation do not translate into parliamentary seats. The remaining seats are distributed among qualifying parties according to the election rules, including applicable surplus-vote agreements.

As a result, relatively small changes in vote totals can affect the final seat distribution, particularly when parties are competing for the last available mandates.

Election officials are now concentrating on the remaining ballots, including votes cast through the special double-envelope system.

These ballots include those submitted by IDF soldiers, prisoners, diplomats serving overseas, hospital patients and other eligible voters unable to cast ballots at their regular polling stations.

Unlike ordinary ballots, double-envelope votes require additional verification to ensure that each individual has voted only once. The process involves checking voter information before the ballots can be added to the national totals.

The Central Elections Committee indicated that hundreds of thousands of these ballots remained to be processed, along with a smaller number of regular ballots requiring additional scrutiny.

The outstanding votes could still alter the projected distribution of seats, particularly among parties whose current totals place them close to gaining or losing an additional mandate.

Election officials have indicated that a more complete count is expected Thursday, while the final certified results are scheduled for publication on November 4.

The election was also marked by exceptionally high voter participation, with nationwide turnout reaching approximately 77.7%, the highest level recorded since 1999.

Participation among Arab voters was estimated at approximately 80%, helping explain the dramatic increase in representation for the Joint List and Ra’am.

The IDF separately reported that 79.9% of eligible military personnel voted, an increase of 6.2 percentage points compared with the previous election in 2022.

Military officials operated more than 890 polling stations at bases and military positions, including locations beyond Israel’s borders, to enable soldiers and reservists to participate.

The unusually strong turnout has increased the total number of ballots that election officials must process, contributing to the extended counting period.

The political implications are already becoming apparent, with both Netanyahu and Eisenkot facing difficult coalition calculations.

Netanyahu’s bloc would need at least eight additional seats to reach the required majority, while Eisenkot’s 48-seat opposition grouping would need 13 more.

Together, the opposition parties and the Arab factions currently hold 67 seats, although that numerical total does not represent an agreed-upon governing coalition.

Several opposition leaders have expressed reservations about relying on Arab parties, and Netanyahu has ruled out forming a government dependent on their support.

The possibility of cooperation between rival Jewish parties also remains uncertain, given the political differences and longstanding disputes separating the major factions.

Once the official results are finalized, President Isaac Herzog will consult representatives of the elected parties before assigning a Knesset member the task of forming a government.

The president is not required to select the leader of the largest party. Rather, the decision is based on which candidate appears most capable of assembling a coalition that can command the confidence of the Knesset.

The candidate selected will ordinarily receive 28 days to form a government, with the possibility of an extension of up to 14 additional days.

If coalition negotiations fail, the process can move to another candidate or eventually lead to another election.

For now, Netanyahu remains prime minister while the counting and subsequent coalition negotiations proceed.

The latest results leave Israel facing a potentially prolonged period of political uncertainty, with the final ballots still capable of shifting individual mandates but neither major bloc presently possessing a clear path to a 61-seat majority.

{Matzav.com}

A knife-wielding attacker was shot and killed outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, early Wednesday after assaulting a security guard, in an incident that Serbian authorities are investigating as a possible act of terrorism.

The confrontation occurred shortly after midnight near the Israeli diplomatic compound in the Serbian capital. According to initial reports, the assailant approached the embassy’s security perimeter armed with knives and attacked a guard stationed outside the facility.

The guard sustained minor injuries during the confrontation. The attacker was subsequently shot and killed.

Israeli officials confirmed that no members of the embassy’s diplomatic staff were injured in the incident.

Serbian authorities launched an investigation into the attack, focusing on the assailant’s identity, possible motives, and whether the incident involved additional individuals.

The authorities described the incident as a terrorist attack, although the precise circumstances surrounding the confrontation and any organizational affiliation of the attacker had not been established in the initial reports.

The attack prompted renewed attention to security arrangements at Israeli diplomatic missions, which have faced threats and attempted attacks in various countries.

Serbia and Israel maintain diplomatic relations, and the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade operates under security precautions intended to protect diplomatic personnel and visitors.

The incident also recalls a June 2024 attack outside the same embassy, when a man armed with a crossbow wounded a Serbian police officer guarding the compound. The officer returned fire and killed the attacker. Serbian officials subsequently characterized that incident as terrorism.

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic later disclosed that the attacker was a minor believed to be from the western Serbian city of Sabac and had already been monitored by the country’s security agencies. According to Dacic, the suspect was known as a supporter of ISIS and had displayed the terrorist organization’s black flag on his Instagram account.

Dacic said the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he approached the security post carrying two knives.

Belgrade prosecutors provided further details, saying the assailant, dressed in black, opened the door of the guard booth and rushed toward the officer. He then threw one of the knives, striking the guard on his left cheek. The officer drew his service weapon and fired several shots, killing the attacker at the scene.

Prosecutors said the officer acted in self-defense.

Following the attack, Serbia raised its national terrorism alert to the highest level, ordering additional police patrols and security checks at sensitive locations, including infrastructure facilities and areas where large crowds gather.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the embassy was closed at the time and that none of its personnel had been harmed.

Israeli Ambassador Avivit Bar-Ilan condemned the attack and expressed appreciation for the Serbian officer’s actions, saying his response had prevented potentially more serious consequences.

The injured officer was reported to be in good condition and was expected to be released from the hospital later Wednesday.

The incident marked the second attack against security personnel at Israel’s embassy in Belgrade in just over two years. In June 2024, an assailant armed with a crossbow wounded a Serbian police officer in the neck before being shot and killed.

Serbian authorities are continuing to investigate the latest attack, including the suspect’s suspected extremist connections and his activities before approaching the embassy.

Israel’s Shas party has suffered one of the most devastating electoral defeats in its history, losing an estimated 100,000 votes or more compared with the previous Knesset election, as dramatic declines in both traditional Sephardic strongholds and Chareidi communities have raised serious questions about the party’s political future.

An analysis of the results from Tuesday’s election for the 26th Knesset reveals that Shas, led by Aryeh Deri, received just 257,898 votes in the regular ballot count, compared with 392,964 votes in the previous election. The difference amounts to 135,066 votes, representing an extraordinary erosion of the party’s electoral base.

Even after the remaining special ballots, known in Israel as double envelopes, are counted, the party is expected to finish with a loss of at least 100,000 votes. Analysts estimate that those ballots could add as many as 35,000 votes to Shas’s total, but even that would leave the party substantially below its previous performance.

The scale of the defeat is particularly striking because Shas has traditionally drawn support from two distinct constituencies: Sephardic Chareidi voters who identify closely with the party’s rabbinic leadership and traditional Sephardic Jews who may not lead strictly Chareidi lifestyles but have historically maintained strong political and cultural ties to the movement.

Both groups appear to have abandoned the party in significant numbers.

According to preliminary estimates, approximately 30,000 of the missing votes came from the Chareidi population, while another 70,000 were lost among traditional voters. Those figures suggest that the setback cannot be attributed solely to dissatisfaction within the yeshiva world or to changes in the broader Israeli political environment.

Rather, the results indicate a substantial weakening of Shas’s appeal across the two populations that have sustained its political influence for decades.

Dr. Gilad Malach of the Israel Democracy Institute described the results as the party’s poorest electoral performance in approximately 35 years, with support falling back to levels associated with the 1992 Knesset election.

The comparison is particularly significant given the party’s subsequent rise into one of Israel’s most influential political forces, regularly holding enough Knesset seats to play a decisive role in coalition negotiations.

For decades, Shas has served as a major representative of Sephardic Chareidi interests while also attracting substantial backing from traditional Jewish communities in development towns and other areas outside Israel’s major metropolitan centers.

The latest election results suggest that the party has lost considerable ground in precisely those communities where its political organization and longstanding relationships once provided a dependable electoral advantage.

The most severe declines were recorded in Israel’s peripheral cities, where Shas experienced an average drop of approximately 42 percent in voter support.

These communities have historically been central to the party’s electoral identity, making the magnitude of the losses especially consequential.

In Dimona, Shas suffered a 48.5 percent decline, meaning that nearly half of its previous support disappeared.

Netivot, another city with longstanding ties to Sephardic religious institutions and Shas’s political network, recorded a 46.3 percent drop.

In Ofakim, support fell by 45 percent, while Sderot registered a decline of 42.1 percent.

The results in these cities demonstrate that the party’s losses were not concentrated in a single locality or confined to one geographic region. Instead, substantial numbers of voters moved away from Shas across a broad swath of southern Israel.

The pattern continued in Ashkelon, where the party’s vote total declined by 39.9 percent, and in Netanya, where it fell by 39 percent.

Ashdod, home to a large and politically active Chareidi population, recorded a 37.2 percent decrease.

The declines in these cities are particularly notable because Shas has traditionally benefited from established local institutions, communal networks and strong voter identification with its religious leadership.

Even in areas with substantial Chareidi populations, the party was unable to preserve the level of support it enjoyed in the previous election.

Across Chareidi population centers, Shas’s vote totals fell by an estimated 25 percent, indicating that the party’s difficulties extended well beyond its traditional but less religiously observant electorate.

The decline was also evident in central Israel. In Holon, Shas lost 29.6 percent of its previous vote, while Tzefas recorded a decrease of 21.5 percent.

Yerushalayim, one of the party’s most important electoral centers, saw a comparatively smaller but still substantial decline of 15.34 percent.

In Teveria, Shas’s vote fell by 9.1 percent, making it one of the less severe declines among the cities examined.

The figures point to a nationwide contraction in the party’s support, although the severity of the losses varied considerably from one community to another.

Additional election data from three major Chareidi cities further illustrates the changing political landscape.

In Elad, Shas received 8,920 votes, compared with 9,743 in 2022, a decline of 823 votes, or 8.4 percent. United Torah Judaism, meanwhile, increased its support in the city from 6,862 to 8,456 votes.

A similar pattern emerged in Beitar Illit, where Shas fell from 7,303 votes in the previous election to 6,027 this year, losing 1,276 votes, or 17.5 percent. United Torah Judaism increased its total from 14,081 to 18,033 votes.

In Modiin Illit, Shas declined from 5,277 votes to 4,746, a decrease of 531 votes, while United Torah Judaism added 4,580 votes to its previous total.

Across those three cities combined, Shas lost 2,630 votes, while United Torah Judaism gained 10,126, illustrating the different electoral trajectories of the two major Chareidi parties in those communities.

The figures do not establish precisely where former Shas voters went. Some may have supported other parties, while others may have stayed home. Determining the reasons for the decline will require more detailed analysis of turnout, voting patterns and the political issues that influenced voters.

The results nevertheless represent a substantial setback for Deri and the Shas leadership, particularly after a campaign conducted amid intense debate over the military draft, the position of yeshiva students and the relationship between Chareidi parties and the broader political establishment.

The losses among traditional voters may be especially troubling for Shas because that constituency has historically allowed the party to extend its influence beyond the boundaries of the strictly Chareidi population.

The party’s political strength has long depended on its ability to combine religious identification, Sephardic communal loyalty and broader appeals to voters who feel connected to its institutions and traditions.

A reduction of approximately 70,000 votes among traditional supporters, if the preliminary estimate is borne out, would represent a major change in that longstanding electoral coalition.

The disappointing results have already affected the party’s immediate post-election plans.

On Tuesday, Shas canceled a gathering scheduled to take place in Yerushalayim following the election, an indication of the subdued atmosphere surrounding the party’s performance.

The cancellation came as party officials and activists began assessing the extent of the losses and the implications for Shas’s position in the next Knesset.

The final picture will become clearer once the Central Elections Committee completes the count of special ballots and confirms the official results.

Those additional votes could modestly improve the party’s overall total, but the preliminary figures already indicate that Shas has suffered a significant reversal compared with its showing in 2022.

For a movement that has played a central role in Israeli politics for more than four decades, the election has raised fundamental questions about the durability of its traditional voting base and its ability to rebuild support in the communities that once formed the foundation of its electoral strength.

Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that a 32-year-old woman accused of stabbing two visibly Jewish men with a needle-like object in Manhattan’s Diamond District has been charged with federal hate crimes, escalating a case that has alarmed New York’s Jewish community.

Anna Mochalova, a Russian national, faces two federal hate crime counts stemming from the October 21 attacks, which authorities say occurred within minutes of each other in Midtown Manhattan. Each charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, meaning she could face up to 20 years if convicted on both counts.

The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald of the Southern District of New York, FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr., and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

Mochalova, who had previously been arrested and charged in state court, was transferred to federal custody Wednesday and was expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger in Manhattan.

According to the federal criminal complaint, the first attack occurred at approximately 5:50 p.m. on October 21, when an Orthodox Jewish man was walking along West 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

The victim, who had a beard and was wearing a black hat, black suit, white shirt, and tzitzis, noticed a woman following him while speaking Russian. Moments later, prosecutors allege, Mochalova stabbed him in the lower back with a sharp object that produced a sensation resembling a needle prick.

The woman then continued toward Sixth Avenue, leaving the injured man behind.

Shortly afterward, prosecutors say, Mochalova approached two Jewish men standing at the northeast corner of Sixth Avenue and West 45th Street, approximately two blocks from the first attack.

Both men were wearing yarmulkes.

According to investigators, Mochalova repeatedly bumped into one of the men. When he confronted her about her behavior, she allegedly stabbed him in the right forearm with a sharp object.

The victim, who understood Russian, told investigators that the woman threatened him by saying, “run away, I have a gun.”

Prosecutors say the woman then turned to the second man and asked whether he was Jewish.

The man responded, “I don’t know, I’m Muslim?”

According to the complaint, Mochalova replied that she “was so sorry” before fleeing north along Sixth Avenue.

Authorities cited the exchange as part of the evidence supporting their allegation that the victims were deliberately targeted because of their Jewish identity.

Investigators have not yet identified the precise weapon used in the attacks or determined whether it contained any substance. That uncertainty has heightened concern because the injuries were reportedly inflicted with an object resembling a needle or syringe.

In announcing the federal charges, McDonald condemned the alleged attacks and pledged that his office would pursue those responsible for religiously motivated violence.

“This Office will continue to seek justice for victims of hate-based crimes and will aggressively prosecute those who seek to spread bigotry through violence,” McDonald said.

“As alleged, Anna Mochalova deliberately and viciously targeted Jewish victims with violence. Mochalova allegedly stabbed two men specifically because they were Jewish, an attack made all the more terrifying because the specific weapon used—and its potential contents—remain unknown pending further investigation. Mochalova’s alleged actions were an attack on the fundamental right to freely and safely express one’s religious identity in public.”

FBI Assistant Director Barnacle said federal authorities would continue working to protect Jewish New Yorkers from violence and intimidation.

“Acts of hate and harassment have no place in our city,” Barnacle said. “The alleged hate-motivated crimes committed against Jewish members of our community are unacceptable and have no place in New York. We will continue to use the full force of the law to protect the safety, security, and rights of every New Yorker, including members of our Jewish community.”

NYPD Commissioner Tisch also denounced the attacks, describing them as an assault on the security of an entire community.

“A hate crime is a message written in violence, and this defendant’s message was loud and clear,” Tisch said. “As alleged in the complaint, Anna Mochalova attacked two visibly Jewish New Yorkers, striking fear in an entire community. Every New Yorker has the right to walk our streets safe from hatred and violence, and the NYPD will always hold those who threaten that right accountable. I thank the NYPD investigators and our federal partners for responding swiftly to this unacceptable act of hate.”

The case initially drew widespread attention after surveillance footage emerged showing a woman apparently following a visibly Jewish man through the Diamond District before the attack.

The first victim, identified in earlier reports as a 26-year-old rabbi, was taken to Bellevue Hospital for evaluation. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Manhattan Shomrim Safety Patrol assisted the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force in the investigation, appealing to witnesses and requesting surveillance recordings, dashcam footage, and cellphone videos from the surrounding area.

The suspect was arrested on Shabbos following the investigation. She subsequently appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court, where she faced state charges including assault as a hate crime, menacing, weapons possession, and aggravated harassment.

{Matzav.com}