Israel, Eisenkot: anyone who sabotages the formation of a government will not be forgiven. Herzog is to confer the mandate on Sunday

“In the West Bank, near Kafr Ni’ma, 23 kilometres from Ramallah, 14 international volunteers were arrested by the Israeli authorities whilst helping Palestinians with the olive harvest. Among them are Giorgia Lombardi, a city councillor in La Spezia and a member of the National Council of Europa Verde, and other Italian citizens. I personally informed the Foreign Office after receiving a voice message from Giorgia Lombardi, in which she told me what was happening. The Palestinians were brutally beaten by Israeli settlers and the international volunteers were attacked. The Israeli army and police then intervened; instead of arresting the settlers responsible for the violence, they arrested the volunteers involved in the olive harvest and confiscated their passports.” This was announced by AVS leader Angelo Bonelli, coordinator of the European Greens.

“We are facing,” Bonelli denounces, “yet another unacceptable episode of violence attributable to the policies of Netanyahu’s criminal government, which the Italian government continues to tolerate.We call for the immediate intervention of the Foreign Office and our diplomatic mission to ensure the safety and release of the Italian citizens involved and the other volunteers. It is unacceptable that those who peacefully help the Palestinians should be arrested whilst those who commit acts of violence go unpunished.”

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded for the first time to US President Donald Trump’s announcement regarding the suspension of annual military aid to Israel, amounting to 4 billion dollars. “Today, Israel has a strong and stable economy,” the Office commented in a post on social media platform X, “the decision by Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump to move from aid to partnership demonstrates the strength and depth of our relationship.”

The death sentence handed down to Najmeh Amini in Iran is not final and may be subject to review by the judicial authorities. This was stated by the Iranian Embassy in Rome in a statement regarding the case, which has attracted international attention, in which it clarifies that the legal proceedings have not yet been concluded. The diplomatic mission emphasised that the sentence was “handed down on the basis of the offences and the corresponding penalties provided for under Iranian national law”. It added, however, that the decision is “currently at first instance”, meaning the legal proceedings have not yet concluded, and therefore “there remains the possibility of a review by higher judicial authorities” and of the case being referred to the Commission for Amnesty and Pardon. Should the legal conditions be met, the statement continues, the verdict could be overturned. The embassy also pointed out that the investigation of criminal charges, the determination of liability and the adoption of judicial decisions fall within the remit of each country’s authorities. Whilst recognising “the legitimacy of dialogue and the exchange of views on human rights within the framework of international obligations”, the Iranian mission described the dissemination of inaccurate statements that do not correspond to the facts as “unacceptable”. In the statement, the embassy finally expressed the hope that the Italian media, “out of respect for national sovereignty and the independence of the judicial bodies of all countries, would refrain from making pre-conceived judgements and from disseminating inaccurate information”, leaving it to the “competent judicial authorities” to reach a final decision on the case.

In a lengthy post on X ahead of President Herzog’s mandate to form a government, scheduled for Sunday, the leader of Israel Beiteinu, Avigdor Liberman, confirms his refusal to form a government with Arab parties and opens the door to the possibility of a coalition with the ultra-Orthodox. “The election results require us to recalibrate our course. My criteria are clear: we must bring the Netanyahu era to an end; we must not allow ourselves to be dragged into another general election; we must not form a government based on the abstention of the United Arab List or Ra’am. On every other issue, however, it is legitimate – indeed, desirable – to show flexibility and a willingness to compromise, including on the issue of the conscription bill.” Liberman argues that once a non-minority government has been formed, “it is highly likely that a further three or four MPs from Likud could also join”. Liberman strongly opposes what appears to be the position of Change Bloc leader Gadi Eisenkot, who favours forming a minority government. “The Government of Change (of 2021, ed.) lasted just over a year, after which a stronger Netanyahu emerged, with 64 seats, remaining in power for four years. A minority government would last even less, and we would ultimately see Netanyahu’s return with 70 seats.”

Iranian Brigadier General Ali Fadavi, head of the advisory group to the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that, during recent conflicts, US warships and naval assets were forced to retreat to a distance of over 1,000 kilometres from Iran’s borders, following swift responses from the Iranian armed forces to their movements. This was reported by Fars. Fadavi stated that US forces had faced Iranian military reactions every time they attempted to approach the region. He added that, in recent conflicts, Washington had entered into a direct confrontation with Iran alongside Israel, convinced it could defeat the Islamic Republic in a short space of time, but had failed to achieve its objectives.

The leader of the Israeli Democratic Party, Yair Golan, has stated that “concrete progress” is being made towards forming a government of change. “Israel is at a crucial juncture. We are determined to form a national emergency government, and to do so swiftly. This is what we promised you: to form a government. I am more optimistic than I was on Wednesday morning, following the publication of the election results,” Golan explained on X. “Progress is being made. There is a willingness to engage in dialogue. And every day, serious work is being done to turn the election results into a government of change,” Golan continued, whilst pointing out, however, that “there are difficulties” and he does not intend to hide them. “But there is also concrete progress,” the Israeli leader maintained.

“This is what we promised you: to form a government. To send Netanyahu home. And to safeguard Israel’s democracy and security. We are working on it. We have a majority. We have an opportunity. And we have a historic responsibility: let us not let it slip through our fingers,” concluded Golan.

“Netanyahu is finished. He will never be prime minister again.” Ehud Olmert knows Bibi Netanyahu well – the longest-serving prime minister in Israel’s history. “I am the politician who inflicted his worst defeat on him, back in 2006. Against me, his Likud party slumped to 12 seats.” In his flat in Tel Aviv, the former Israeli prime minister (2006–2009) does not hold back in his criticism of his long-standing rival. But he also points the finger at Trump, accusing him of helping to provoke war with Iran. And he warns Netanyahu’s likely successor, Gadi Eisenkot: “Unless it puts a stop to settler terrorism in the West Bank, Israel will find itself even more isolated.”

Trump suffered a crushing defeat in the mid-term elections. What will be the consequences for Israel, which is already becoming increasingly isolated?

The Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, at the end of the second and final day of consultations following the 27 October elections, announced that he would confer the mandate to form a government on Sunday. “I intend to confer the mandate to form a government next Sunday,” said Herzog.

Ships linked to Iran have sailed over undersea communication cables in the Middle East, after the Islamic Republic threatened to attack cables and data centres should the United States and Israel launch further raids against Tehran. This is according to the Financial Times. At least four vessels were spotted by the Israeli maritime intelligence firm Windward whilst sailing along unusual routes in the Gulf of Oman, including three oil tankers subject to US sanctions and a small Iranian fishing boat.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a high-level envoy for the Board of Peace, is due to meet the leader of the Yashar party, Gadi Eisenkot, today. According to reports in the newspaper *Haaretz*, Blair met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem yesterday, as well as holding talks with President Isaac Herzog. According to Israeli media reports, the meetings were aimed at promoting US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, following the recent Israeli elections. The planned meeting with Eisenkot is intended to establish a collaborative relationship, Haaretz added.