ANNA BARSKY

Anna Barsky is the politics reporter for The Jerusalem Post's sister publication, Maariv.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana cups his ear as MKs react during the State Comptroller elections at the plenum of the Knesset, in Jerusalem, June 3, 2026

Opposition pushes to replace Knesset speaker amid fears of Likud 'January 6' plot to block vote

United Torah Judaism party head MK Yaakov Asher alongside members of his party at the party’s election headquarters in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, October 28, 2026

UTJ demands draft law from Netanyahu, but will it make Eisenkot pay upfront? - analysis

(illustrative) The flags of Israel and Kazakhstan

Israel, Kazakhstan sign agreement to prevent double taxation following lengthy negotiations


Eisenkot may get the mandate, but haredi parties hold key to Israel's next government - analysis

Israel's haredi parties could determine the next government as Eisenkot seeks a coalition, Liberman rules out support from an Arab party, and Netanyahu weighs his options.

Shas leader MK Arye Deri (L) and United Torah Judaism leader MK Ya’akov Asher.

'You murdered your son': Right-wing protesters target Eisenkot outside his home

Right-wing protesters shouted accusations outside Gadi Eisenkot's home on Sunday, prompting his party and political allies to blame Netanyahu for incitement.

Protest outside of Yashar's chairman Gadi Eisenkot's house on Sunday night, November 2, 2026.

Netanyahu survives the election, but Eisenkot holds key to replacing him - analysis

Netanyahu remains in office without a majority, while Eisenkot must overcome opposition divisions to form a government or face another election.

A road sign stands in front of a large billboard featuring Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) of the Likud party and former military chief and leader of the centrist Yashar party, Gadi Eisenkot, in Ramat Gan on October 20, 2026.

Netanyahu meets Ben-Gvir, Smotrich as opposition leaders hold coalition talks

Netanyahu met Ben-Gvir and Smotrich as opposition leaders held separate talks. Eisenkot accused Likud of undermining the vote, while Lapid urged patience.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attending the Knesset, February 7, 2024; illustrative.

Shas's Deri rules out joining opposition bloc government without Likud as UTJ weighs talks

"We are not in anyone's bloc," Maran Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Dov Landau said, calling on MKs from Degel Hatorah to join the opposition coalition. "We are in the bloc of the Torah world."

Arye Deri places his ballot on Election Day on October 27, 2026.

Trump pledges to push for IDF withdrawal from Lebanon if Beirut joins Abraham Accords - report

Israel has not ruled out the possibility of reaching a peace agreement with Lebanon once the security threat posed by Hezbollah has been removed.

IDF soldiers patrol along the Israeli-Lebanese border, on October 21, 2026.

Could reports of foreign funding, voter fraud lead to new elections? - explainer

The prevailing assessment is that even if the investigation yields significant evidence of election bribery, the chances of annulling the election results nationwide are slim.

People vote for the 26th Knesset in Jerusalem on October 27, 2026.

Netanyahu eyes unity government with Eisenkot as Likud considers alternative coalition arrangements

Sources close to Netanyahu are promoting a plan to bring Eisenkot into a unity government, potentially offering him a rotation as prime minister while excluding the ultra-Orthodox parties.

Illustrative image of Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot

Likud officials sound alarm over voter apathy as Israel sees record-high election turnout

The party is concerned about the mobilization of the camp opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the difficulty of generating enthusiasm among some right-wing voters.

Election campaign posters are seen outside a polling station in Ashdod during Election Day, October 27, 2026.

Likud files police complaint against Eisenkot campaign manager over Polymarket post

Likud claims Eisenkot’s campaign manager broke election law by sharing a Polymarket forecast giving Eisenkot a 52% chance of becoming prime minister, versus 28% for Netanyahu.

An election campaign poster featuring Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot is displayed on a bus in Jerusalem, October 26, 2026