Ze’ev Elkin speaks on May 18 2020. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
At the end of December, Likud minister and longtime confidant to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Ze’ev Elkin stunned the Israeli political community by announcing that he was leaving the party. Elkin decided to join forces with the newly formed New Hope party led by Netanyahu’s top rival, Gideon Sa’ar, who also bolted Likud in order to challenge the incumbent premier for his job.
Israel on Sunday entered a third national lockdown with coronavirus cases spiking. Will this be the final lockdown at hundreds of thousands of Israelis have already received their inoculations? Prime Minister Netanyahu hopes that at least 2 million Israelis will receive their shots by the end of January. Plus, Israel is headed towards its fourth election in the past two years. Will Netanyhau hold on as the country’s leader, or will a coalition be formed led by either former Likud member Gideon Sa’ar and his “New Hope” party or Naftali Bennett’s Yamina? All of this plus the other latest news from Israel, on this week’s Israel Uncensored, with Josh Hasten.