Israeli politics remained in flux on Monday as parties continued jockeying for position following last week's election, with Avigdor Liberman formally backing Gadi Eisenkot for prime minister. Meanwhile, the IDF wound down its contentious 11-day Hebron operation, and the country paid tribute to a Czech diplomat killed in a tragic accident in Jerusalem. Internationally, attention turned to the implications of the US midterm elections for the region.

Politics

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman announced on Monday that his party would recommend Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government, confirming he had made this clear to Eisenkot in a one-on-one meeting over the weekend. Liberman also pledged to back Yair Lapid for Knesset speaker, stating that fairness and responsibility outweigh personal grievances with his opposition partners. Analysts are now weighing what concessions Benjamin Netanyahu might be prepared to make to bring Eisenkot into a unity government, potentially requiring him to abandon policies that have long underpinned his political alliances. Adding to the political tension, right-wing protesters gathered outside Eisenkot's home on Sunday, shouting accusations including that he had 'murdered' his son, prompting his party and allies to accuse Netanyahu of fostering incitement. Separately, journalist Mohammad Magadli claimed senior Likud figures have maintained informal contact with Mansour Abbas's Ra'am party despite the prime minister's public opposition to such cooperation, a claim that has already drawn warnings from prominent public figures that any coalition reliant on Arab party support would cross a red line for many voters.

Security

The IDF has ended its 11-day operation in Hebron, which followed a deadly shooting attack that killed two soldiers. The raid, approved for conclusion by Defence Minister Israel Katz after the election, displaced some 3,300 Palestinians and resulted in the seizure of just four firearms, drawing criticism over its proportionality and effectiveness.

International

Czech deputy ambassador's office confirmed the death of 30-year-old diplomat Klára Schneiderová, who was struck and killed alongside her dog in a minibus accident in Jerusalem. Colleagues described her deep affection for the city and its diverse communities. In the United States, analysts are debating whether Republicans will retain control of Congress after the midterms, with historical patterns, polling and early voting data suggesting Donald Trump's party may lose the House and possibly the Senate — though commentators caution that Trump has repeatedly defied conventional political forecasts. The outcome is being watched closely in Israel for its potential impact on US policy towards Iran. In Britain, a man was arrested after antisemitic election posters depicting a bestial image of an IDF soldier with the caption 'Labour's Monsters' appeared in Tower Hamlets ahead of next year's local elections. The Green Party is also facing internal turmoil after a 'Zionism is Racism' motion prompted former leader Adrian Ramsay to warn against the growing influence of the far left, while Sheffield's Labour council ended its power-sharing arrangement with local Greens over their failure to distance themselves from the motion.

Other Developments

A report by Israeli researchers into the exclusion of women and extremist content in Syrian school textbooks has caused a major stir across the Arab world, after a Syria-born journalist based in France shared the findings widely online, reportedly embarrassing the Damascus government. In domestic affairs, women's organisations are warning of a severe shortage of support services following the murders of five women since early October, with advocacy groups saying civil society is shouldering responsibilities that should fall to the state. Separately, a severe indictment has been filed against an 18-year-old from Eilat accused of sexually abusing 13 child victims, including seven-year-olds, in some cases forcing children to assault one another. The Transport Ministry has announced a series of measures to improve public transport, including an extended Jerusalem–Tel Aviv rail line reaching Haifa and additional seating, alongside a significant new agreement in the bus sector involving Dan and Egged.

Sources: Ynet, Walla, www.israelhayom.co.il, Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post