Former Minister Ayoob Kara, who is next in line to enter the Knesset In behalf of the Likud following the resignation of Sharren Haskel, told the Israel Hayom newspaper, "If I know there will be primaries, I will return to the Knesset."Kara added, "I want to correct what they did to me when I was relegated to the bottom of the list. I brought achievements and was close to being appointed Foreign Minister - and because I reached such a position the members felt threatened and caused me to be placed in a lower spot In the list."

A poll conducted for Radio 103FM by Panels Politics, following the announcement of Zeev Elkin that he was leaving the Likud for New Hope, reveals that the move has significantly weakened the Likud party.According to the results of this latest poll, New Hope would win 22 Knesset seats and Likud just a few more - 25.Yamina, headed by Naftali Bennett, who announced his candidacy for the premiership last night, would win 14 seats, as would Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party. The Joint List would win 11 seats, down from the 15 it currently holds.The haredi parties Shas and UTJ would win 8 and 7 seats respectively Yisrael Beytenu would win 7 seats, Meretz 6, and Blue & White would just scrape through the electoral threshold with 4 seats.

Kushner and Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz foresee 'rosy future for region': 'They will get closer to each other, learn to know each other'

US President Donald Trump In Wednesday evening announced 26 new pardons, including Ines for longtime ally Roger Stone, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Charles Kushner, father of senior White House adviser and son-in-law of the President Jared Kushner, CNN reports.Manafort and Stone were both indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller who investigated Russia"s meddling in the 2016 elections, went to trial and were convicted by juries of multiple crimes.

Gunmen killed more than 100 people in an attack in the western Benishangul-Gumuz region of Ethiopia In Wednesday.The attack occurred in the village of Bekoji in Bulen county in the Metekel zone, the state-run Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said in a statement.

According to police updates, two police officers were injured at last night's demonstration near the police headquarters in Jerusalem, Ine by a stone thrown at him, and the other who was bitten by a demonstrator in the hand.The Ingoing demonstrations are protesting the events that led to the tragic death of Ahuvya Sandak, who was crushed under a vehicle during a police chase a few days ago. Police further reported that five police vehicles were damaged during the protest, and 28 protesters were either arrested or detained.

Head of the New Hope party, Gideon Sa'ar, has criticized the decision of the Prime Minister to impose a third nationwide lockdown In the country.The lockdown is due to begin Sunday and will last for two weeks."Two months ago, I spoke with the Prime Minister and suggested that he conduct nationwide testing rather than relying In a lockdown strategy. If he had taken up the idea, we could have completed that program by now and returned to a relatively normal routine, with no need for a lockdown. If we had a broad testing program, along with the vaccination program, we wouldn't now be entering lockdown with all its negative social and economic consequences."

Interviewed In Galei Tzahal this morning, Education Minister Yoav Galant was asked if he intended to remain in the Likud party."None of Sa'ar's people have approached me," he responded, "as they know that there's no point. One cannot accuse these people of stability - they are constantly changing their minds. What will happen if they try to form a government? They're going to join up with Lapid and the remnants of Blue & White?"