2019 Election

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz: I want Gabi Ashkenazi, who rehabilitated the country after the Second Lebanon War, as defense minister, and Moshe Ya'alon as education minister, so he can heal the rifts in Israeli society.

Last poll of this election cycle predicts 33 seats for the Likud and 31 for Blue and White, but shows that a left-wing coalition that includes the Arab parties would win 62 seats – ensuring that the Right would be shut out.

Speaking to Israel Hayom in a special pre-election interview that will run in full over the weekend, PM Netanyahu says Joint Arab List Chairman Ayman Odeh is in an alliance with Blue and White and Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman. On his declaration of intent to annex the Jordan Valley – and the cool response from the Americans, Netanyahu asserts: "What I said was done with the knowledge of the US administration."

Politicians from across the political spectrum blast PM for momentarily evacuating Likud campaign rally when sirens sound in Ashdod. Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz: Hamas trying to harm Netanyahu's chances of being re-elected.

Central Bureau of Statistics reports 5.8 million eligible voters ahead of do-over election, 14% of whom are youngsters ages 18-24. Voters age 60 and over comprise 25% of eligible voters.

Urgent piece of legislation, hailed by Netanyahu as a key measure to prevent electoral fraud, fails to pass committee. Bill would empower various party officials to place cameras at polling stations to prevent irregularities.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells cabinet that bill, if passed, will allow monitors to use cellphone cameras to record outside the voting booths themselves.