Shas backs Netanyahu
Shas’s Council of Torah Sages decided to recommend Netanyahu to the president after he reaffirmed support for regulating Torah scholars’ status. Netanyahu pledged that yeshiva students could continue studying legally, while those not studying would enlist and retain their ultra-Orthodox identity.
He accused left-wing parties of reversing their campaign positions for power. Shas endorsed his commitment and accused those parties of vilifying the ultra-Orthodox community and Torah scholars.
Amit Segal assessed that Netanyahu’s intended audience was the ultra-Orthodox community. Netanyahu also spoke with United Torah Judaism chairman Yaakov Asher.
Israel RealTime reported that Religious Zionism would endorse Netanyahu and was expected to call for a broad Jewish government under his leadership. Israel RealTime also reported that the Democrats would endorse Eisenkot.
Religious Zionism–Zehut, the smallest faction, was due to begin presidential consultations, departing from previous practice. Feiglin and Smotrich would meet the president separately.
Netanyahu rejected dependence on Ra’am and the Joint List, accusing them of supporting terrorism and denying the Jewish state’s existence. He argued that a clear majority of Jewish voters chose Likud as the largest party and him to lead, and sought a broad government with his partners and other parties he said did not support terrorism.
Election-results dispute
Justice Solberg rejected Likud’s request, leaving publication of election results on schedule. Eisenkot accused Likud and Netanyahu of delegitimizing the results and the Central Elections Committee in what he described as a defeated leadership’s attack on democracy. Change Bloc leaders pledged to defend the results and democratic process.
Likud accused Eisenkot of obstructing scrutiny of serious suspicions of foreign election interference presented to Solberg. It said Lieberman’s allegations reinforced those suspicions and demanded information for the Central Elections Committee, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and Shin Bet chief.
Lieberman alleged that the Palestinian Authority was behind Ra’am and the Joint List and funded efforts to encourage voting, calling the alleged funding a scandal involving the Shin Bet.
Shas lawmakers attended Netanyahu’s November 2 evening meeting on alleged election fraud in the Arab sector.
Trump says U.S. aid to Israel will end
President Trump said he had agreed with Israel a few months earlier to halt $4 billion in annual aid by year’s end because Israel did not need it.
“By the end of this year, we won’t be paying Israel. They are fine with it. We will help Israel if they need it”.
Iran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran and Washington remained far from a deal, rejecting “excessive U.S. demands”. The official said Iran’s conditions must be met before the Strait of Hormuz reopened, with nuclear talks to follow, and warned of a forceful response to U.S. strikes in the region and beyond.
Reuters reported that mediators were working to narrow differences. Iranian state television issued instructions on surviving a nuclear strike, including sheltering for 24 hours.
Police commissioner rejects Ben Gvir’s allegations
In a High Court submission, Itamar Ben Gvir accused the police commissioner of directing severe violence against ultra-Orthodox Jews, including allegedly saying, “I Want to See Blood”.
The commissioner rejected the allegations as delusional and disgraceful, demanded an immediate retraction and accused Ben Gvir of smearing officers and undermining public trust. He rejected political use of police and pledged impartial, professional and lawful policing.
