Welcome to today’s daily update for Sunday, November 8, 2026. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Breakdown
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has elected to give Gadi Eisenkot the opportunity to form a government – a major setback for incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is aiming to maintain his grip on political power.
Less than two weeks ago, Israeli citizens voted for their next prime minister, with far-right incumbent Netanyahu facing off against Eisenkot, the leader of a coalition of center-right opposition parties. Despite both candidates making claims for a clear win on their side, Eisenkot and Netanyahu were confirmed to be approximately equal in votes, and neither side garnered enough votes to secure a majority in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. The remaining seats were filled by a pair of Arab parties, who both sides vehemently objected to working with in any capacity.
Due to the stalemate, President Isaac Herzog has the ability to decide which party will have the ability to attempt to form a government. After speaking with both sides, Herzog confirmed yesterday that he will grant the opportunity to Eisenkot, who will have six weeks to form a coalition and secure a majority.
Nevertheless, Netanyahu remains the leader of Israel in the interim. Eisenkot will not formally take power until his coalition is set in stone, which could still fail to occur. Internal strife between the current members of Eisenkot’s coalition are preventing him from forming a coalition with the Arab parties, but the remaining groups in the Knesset are currently closely allied with Netanyahu’s bloc.
Eisenkot’s policies, though, are quite widely accepted by Israelis – he recognizes Israel as a Jewish state, opposes a two-state solution to the situation in Palestine, and views Hamas as a terrorist organization. However, a key difference lies in the West Bank – Netanyahu has empowered illegal Israeli settlements in the region that have also prompted a recent spike in settler violence and abuse, both of which Eisenkot has denounced.
Now, Eisenkot will work to negotiate budgets and policies in the Knesset before the end of his four-week window, though a two-week extension is available if necessary. If he can form a government within the timeframe, Eisenkot will become the new prime minister of Israel. Nevertheless, if he cannot do so, Netanyahu receives four weeks of his own to attempt to form a coalition with a majority.
The Global Snapshot
New Zealanders may have to wait several weeks before the results of the nation’s presidential elections are announced in one of their closest-ever elections. Neither the center-right National Party nor the center-left Labour Party were able to secure a majority amid a wave of votes for minority parties, forcing both sides to form a coalition in order to successfully establish a new government. Final reports on exactly how many seats each party won will not release until November 27, and it could take some time after that before a coalition is confirmed. At the center of the drama is Qiulae Wong, a business consultant leading Opportunity, a group that does not align itself with either party and could swing left or right depending on their policies. Opportunity claims to reject partisan ideologies and, instead, is driving a shift towards evidence-based policy that depends on what citizens need.
Six people were killed and at least 15 others were injured yesterday after an attack in Krakow, Poland. The incident took place in the city’s Old Town, where a gunman drove into Main Square, the area’s busy central hub. He went on to drive between several spots, opening fire with an automatic weapon at each location before being taken down by police. Initial investigations have found that the man was a far-right extremist, with officials further confirming that he held “ultranationalistic” views.
Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Crows can remember the faces of individual humans, and they can also hold a grudge. In fact, they can even pass this information onto other crows.
Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework. (Lily Tomlin)
Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Abandon (noun, uh-BAN-dun) - Abandon refers to a feeling or attitude of wild or complete freedom.
In a Sentence: The two friends spent the work week looking forward to hitting the clubs together on Friday night and dancing with total abandon.
Image: Rawpixel / US Department of State / Public Domain
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