Coalition deadlock and US-Israel crisis dominate a fractured week

Anti-Netanyahu bloc holds 67 recommendations but faces Haredi and Arab party dilemmas

Coalition deadlock deepens as Eisenkot gains ground — The week opened with no clear path to government after the October 27 election, as Naftali Bennett endorsed Gadi Eisenkot for prime minister. By midweek, Eisenkot received 67 recommendations to form a government versus Netanyahu's 46, with Ra'am providing a potential parliamentary safety net. However, the anti-Netanyahu bloc struggled to secure a majority without Haredi or Arab support, as UTJ withheld endorsement and Shas chairman Aryeh Deri resigned after his party collapsed to six seats. Netanyahu's bloc consolidated at 53 seats, but internal divisions emerged as Likud prepared contingency plans for the speaker vote. The Central Elections Committee found no irregularities despite Netanyahu's fraud claims, while Shin Bet chief David Zini compared a foreign interference investigation to the October 7 failure. By week's end, Eisenkot warned against sabotage of government formation as Haredi parties delayed recommendations. The political crisis also saw Ben Gvir petition the High Court against the police commissioner, and the High Court rebuked Knesset Speaker Ohana for violating a ruling on the comptroller vote. These developments underscored the deep institutional tensions accompanying the coalition deadlock. US-Israel alliance fractures over aid suspension and midterm shift — The most dramatic development was President Trump's announcement that the US will stop $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel by year's end, with some outlets framing it as a joint agreement with Netanyahu and others as a unilateral decision. President Herzog expressed surprise at the move, while Vice President Vance declined to endorse Netanyahu, signaling a split in Washington. The Democratic sweep of both House and Senate in the US midterms reshaped the landscape for Israel policy. American Jews voted 67% Democratic, and new Jewish lawmakers like Jared Moskowitz and Jeremy Moss were elected, while progressive Abdul El-Sayed's win raised concerns. Polls showed Americans now favor Palestinians, and the Michigan Jewish community split over the Senate race. A Saudi source said normalization cannot happen while Netanyahu remain