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The Election in Israel
Sources: Eisenkot considering a government involving Arabs and ultra-Orthodox Jews

Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot is exploring the possibility of forming a minority government, sources have told Ynet. The plan involves securing indirect support from both the Arab party Ra’am and the ultra-Orthodox Jewish party UTJ. If these two parties—along with the Joint List—were to abstain, Eisenkot’s government would receive more votes in favor than against.

The idea is for Ra’am and UTJ to provide long-term support for an Eisenkot-led government, while the Joint List would not be part of such an arrangement. The latter party is expected merely to allow the government to take office, rather than actively supporting it once it is established. However, there are several hurdles to overcome if such a government is to become a reality. The biggest one is that Avigdor Liberman, who leads Eisenkot’s key coalition partner, has vowed not to join any government backed by ultra-Orthodox or Arab parties. 

The Political Situation in Bulgaria
Bulgaria to elect a new president today

Today marks the second and decisive round of the Bulgarian presidential election. Acting President Iliana Iotova, who advocates for closer ties with Russia, faces off against the more pro-Western Andrei Gyurov.

Iotova, who could become the country’s first popularly elected female president, won the first round by a narrow margin—just a few percentage points. The two political issues that have received the most attention during the campaign are the economy and the security situation in the Black Sea.

The election has been characterized by an extremely low turnout; only 23 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots in the first round.  

Migrants at the English Channel
Britons arrested in France – harassed migrants

Five far-right activists were arrested last Thursday near Dunkirk in northern France while harassing migrants, AFP reports. The five men, all of whom are British citizens, live-streamed the events using their mobile phones as they confronted potential asylum seekers.

According to French police, the men were equipped with tear gas canisters.

Tensions have been high around the English Channel over the past year. At least twelve Britons have been arrested or detained for crossing to the other side of the channel, with the stated aim of obstructing the flow of asylum seekers.