Rojan Seth Ⓥ - @trelayne.bsky.social

Twelve former US officials who resigned over Gaza are calling on 2028 presidential candidates to pledge not to hire Biden administration officials who were "architects" of its support for Israel's genocide in Gaza. The pledge asks candidates to: ➤ Acknowledge US "complicity" in the genocide through arms, funding and diplomatic support ➤ Bar any past or present political appointee who was "an architect, leader, defender, or key enabler" of that policy Signatories, including former State Department officials Josh Paul and Annelle Sheline, say those officials are "white-washing their own roles" and seeking "a path back into the halls of power."

⭕️ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc is on track for 53 of the Knesset's 120 seats, with 85.6% of votes counted, according to Haaretz. That's eight short of a majority. Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot's bloc is projected to win 48 seats. With 19 seats estimated won by Arab parties, the opposition would hold 67. Without the Palestinian (“Arab”) parties, neither side can reach the 61 needed to govern. Leading opposition figures, including former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, have said they won't join a government that depends on Palestinian-party support. Two small right-wing parties, the Reservists (2.6%) and Amcha Yisrael (1.6%) are currently below the 3.25% threshold needed to enter the Knesset. If they end up below the threshold, their votes are wasted. They would have likely favored the opposition bloc.

New York Daily News sources confirmed the reversal was finalized following a direct meeting between Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

⭕️ BREAKING: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition is projected to fall from 68 seats in the outgoing Knesset to 52, according to the latest updated Channel 12 exit polls and voting results cited by CNN. ➤ Netanyahu bloc (still in the lead): 52 seats ➤ Gadi Eisenkot-led opposition (early projections had him higher than Netanyahu’s bloc): 49 seats ➤ Palestinian parties: 19 seats, potentially record representation Neither major bloc has secured the 61 seats needed for a majority, following Israel’s highest voter turnout since 1999. Palestinian-led parties could prove decisive in determining the next government. A minority government, unity coalition, or another election are all possible. Final results are pending, with coalition negotiations potentially lasting weeks. Chart: CNN