Why Yair Lapid did so well in yesterday's Israeli election. [Tablet] A breakdown of how Israel voted, city by city. [Times of Israel] How to pick up a Jewish girl: a PSA. [Heeb] The 2000th Bnei Menashe immigrant arrives in Israel. [Ynet] The Simon Wiesenthal Center says French Jews are in danger. [JC] The Vienna Philharmonic asks historians to look into its alleged Nazi past. [Arutz Sheva] A Jewish camp counselor and Yeshiva teacher pleaded guilty to child porn. [Forward] Russia says its ties with the …More

An Indian court grants bail for a bomber who wounded an Israeli diplomat's wife. [Times of Israel] Masked robbers penetrated an IDF base, stole weapons, and tied up one soldier. [Times of Israel] Israel's center left is mulling its options for the Knesset elections. [Jerusalem Post] French Jews plan to sue Twitter over anti-Semitic tweets. [AFP] Germany is considering a revamped Holocaust education schedule. [Forward] Are Scottish Jews a dying breed? [Haaretz] "Driving Miss Daisy" playwright has a new …More

Israel’s 18th Knesset voted unanimously for its own dissolution early this morning, just days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for early elections on January 22. The vote followed hours of discussion within parliament, as several leaders stood to address the assembly. The issue of debate was not dissolution—the matter was supported early on as rumors of the move first surfaced. Instead, the talks offered a chance for the MKs to air grievances and set up party platforms heading into the …More

The opposition welcomes Benjamin Netanyahu's early elections. [Times of Israel] Mahmoud Abbas may back down from his call to freeze settlement construction. [Times of Israel] Swastikas emerged as a trending symbol on Twitter over the weekend. [Times of Israel] An Israeli judge has ruled all court documents must include the Hebrew date. [Jerusalem Post] Israeli women are working to make their voices heard going into the next Knesset election. [Haaretz] Azerbaijan jails 22 Iranian spies who targeted the US …More

As the dust settled on yesterday’s stunning 94-seat coalition deal, the largest in Israel’s history, politicians and laymen fell into one of two camps: Those who saw the partnering as a move for the national good, and those who saw it as a desperate act of self-serving politics. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the center of the announcement, escaped much of the reproach. His pull in the Knesset was in no danger of losing power, as was that of Leader of the Opposition, Shaul Mofaz. As a result, …More

The hawk met the dove last night and, like an old Hebrew parable, the two decided to become friends. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a deal with Knesset Member Shaul Mofaz in the twilight of Tuesday morning, forming a coalition between the pair’s parties, Likud and Kadima. The move shocked even those closest to the Knesset, as the unprecedented act came just hours after the PM called for an early election. The idea of an expedited vote was positively received by most in parliament, which decided …More

Israel's Cabinet agreed to hold early elections for the 19th Knesset on Sept. 4. The Cabinet on Sunday authorized the Ministerial Committee on Legislation to submit a law for Knesset approval to hold the vote on that day. New elections did not need to occur before October 2013, the official end of the current Knesset's term. "I would have been very happy if we could have completed the term, which was also my goal, but it is no secret that with the start of the government's fourth year, the coalition is fraying …More

An Israeli news channel says Benjamin Netanyahu has called for early elections so he can deal with Iran come autumn. [Times of Israel] Meanwhile, an Israel Hayom op-ed holds little optimism for French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s chances in this weekend’s runoff vote. [Israel Hayom] Elsewhere, thousands of people in Jordan are calling for an end to a peace deal with the Jewish state. [Haaretz] And Israeli and Iranian demonstrators meet in Berlin to protest proposed military strikes between their …More

A new government party has registered with the Knesset, prompting immediate speculation about its political goals. A document was filed Thursday listing 10 founding members of the Yesh Atid party, with television personality Yair Lapid among the names. Lapid, arguably the most recognizable member of the founders, has led a campaign largely through social media to drum up support for the party. The move has generated a storm of curiosity about what Yesh Atid aims at, but Lapid has consistently refused interviews …More

The Likud Party, which leads the ruling coalition, has submitted a bill to dissolve the current Knesset and is pushing for new elections on Sept. 4. The bill joins motions by the opposition Meretz and Labor parties. Kadima said in a statement that it will support any bill to move up the elections. The bills reportedly will be put to a vote on Monday. Meanwhile, the Knesset's legal adviser said Wednesday in a legal opinion that the expected dissolution of the Knesset next week would automatically extend the Tal …More

An Israel Hayom writer breaks down the political back and forth that may take place rolling into the Knesset’s September 4 elections. [Israel Hayom] Likewise, Jewish lobbyists are laying out the main issues for the Jewish community ahead of the November US election. [Cleveland Jewish News] Elsewhere, an unidentified odor persists over Tel Aviv, though officials are “almost certain” it poses no danger to citizens. [Times of Israel] An Israeli-American filmmaker has been nominated for a student …More

A Haaretz writer lays out the pros and cons of Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu simultaneously running reelection campaigns. [Haaretz] Meanwhile, the vice president of Iran visits Israel’s border. [Ynet] An Israeli official says the Jewish state should cut back on its use of administrative detentions for Palestinians. [Haaretz] And an IDF soldier was found dead today, reportedly from suicide. Nevertheless, the Defense Forces says it has lowered suicide rates in its ranks. [Times of Israel] Farther …More