Israel’s unicameral parliament
On April 16, 2026, the US Senate has rejected two resolutions led by Senator Bernie Sanders to block $295 million in bulldozer sales and $152 million in bomb sales to Israel. Forty Democrats supported blocking bulldozer sales, and 36 backed blocking bomb sales, but Republicans opposed both measures, defeating them 40-59 and 36-63 respectively. The votes have reflected growing Democratic unease over US military aid amid Israeli actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.
Chile has moved to restore ties with Israel after recalling its ambassador amid criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza. The talks with President Herzog highlight a new drive for cooperation across agriculture, health, AI, and security, signaling a reorientation of bilateral relations under Chile’s new administration. The Times of Israel notes Kast’s government is pursuing closer engagement despite domestic scrutiny.
Israel has enacted a law to establish a special military tribunal to try Palestinians accused of taking part in the Hamas-led October 7 attacks. The court could hand down the death penalty and will conduct public trials, with processes that rights groups warn may undermine due process. Trials are expected to cover hundreds of suspects and cost billions.
Israel has approved new legislation to try Oct. 7 attackers in a special military court, with a livestreamed tribunal, three-judge panels, and possible death sentences for genocide or related crimes. The law expands to include others charged with crimes against the Jewish people, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and bars prisoner exchanges for those convicted. Trials will be public, with remotely participating defendants and an appeals process.
The governing coalition has passed a preliminary Knesset vote to dissolve parliament and has sent the bill to committee; if the law clears final readings it will force elections at least 90 days later. Ultra‑Orthodox parties are pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a draft‑exemption for yeshiva students while the coalition is rushing controversial judicial and media reforms through committees.
Israel has moved toward dissolving the Knesset after an ultra-Orthodox faction declared it no longer considers Prime Minister Netanyahu a partner. A bill to disband the Knesset has cleared a preliminary reading, setting the stage for possible elections in September or by the late October deadline, depending on how the process unfolds.
Lawmakers have given an initial nod to dissolving the Knesset, triggering a process that could lead to an election within weeks. Ultra-Orthodox coalition partners have pressed for a draft exemption from military service, shaping the timing and fate of the government.
The Times of Israel and other outlets report that Israel’s coalition is facing a volatile rift over ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions as the Knesset dissolution looms. Analysts say the move is a bargaining tactic tied to pushing for exemptions, with elections potentially moving up from October to September. Supporters and opponents weigh the political stakes and the stability of the government.
Israel’s coalition has advanced a bill to dissolve the Knesset in a first reading, paving the way for early elections. Lawmakers expect votes on a dissolution date between September 8 and October 20, with final readings required. The move comes amid coalition tensions and debates over other judiciary-related reforms.
Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation into National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir on suspicion of torture and kidnapping after he posted a video mocking bound flotilla activists detained by Israeli forces on May 18. France and other European states have opened or signalled probes, banned Ben‑Gvir and are weighing EU sanctions.
Multiple reports confirm that Israeli officials have advanced plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, including thousands of new homes and infrastructure. The push is led by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and could reshape settlement footprint, raising tensions with Palestinians and drawing international condemnation.
Thousands have been protesting nightly in Tirana and along Albania’s southern coast for more than a month against a multi‑billion‑euro resort project linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. Demonstrators have adopted flamingo symbols to oppose work inside the Vjosa‑Narta wetlands and on Sazan island and are demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation amid clashes with police.
Parliament’s impeachment committee has resolved to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent interdict to halt its work on the Phala Phala report. Ramaphosa seeks to revive the report’s legal status after a Constitutional Court ruling, while the committee and key parties push forward. The High Court will consider orders to pause parliamentary proceedings as the process resumes.
Israel's prime minister appears set to run in the upcoming election, despite escalating tensions with Washington and renewed regional conflicts. President Trump’s expletive-laden criticisms have strained the alliance, while domestic polls show mixed support for Netanyahu’s candidacy as the war widens across Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran-adjacent fronts.
Amid rising settlement expansion in the West Bank, Israeli policy advances 69 new settlements with a total plan value of $388m, while a parallel UN-backed and Amnesty reports allege state-backed displacement of Palestinians. Western powers impose coordinated sanctions targeting settler networks; human rights groups call for broader accountability as violence intensifies.
Following Viktor Orbán’s defeat, Budapest Pride is going ahead with a largely peaceful march under heavy security. Organisers say the event signals hope for LGBTQ+ rights, while rights groups urge continued vigilance against lingering stigma and policy barriers.
The US Supreme Court has rejected President Trump’s executive order that would have denied automatic citizenship to nearly all children born on US soil. In a 6-3 ruling written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court has affirmed that the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to those born in the United States, while three justices dissented.
The Board of Peace has convened with international figures to map a Gaza plan aimed at isolating Hamas and kicking off a “temporary reconstruction” in Hamas-free zones. Donors have balked at funding, Israeli political gridlock persists, and legal immunity concerns shadow the mission as talks race to preserve momentum.
Israel has moved to recognise the Armenian genocide in a cabinet-backed proposal, a measure that still requires Knesset ratification. The move comes as Israel-Turkey ties deteriorate over Israel’s Gaza war, with commentators calling it a cynical bid to pressure Ankara. Several European and regional voices have weighed in on the implications for regional diplomacy.
The Palestinian technocratic committee administering post-war Gaza has concluded two days of talks in Cyprus on easing humanitarian suffering and planning reconstruction. The NCAG says discussions focused on immediate relief projects, governance, and transparency for donors, with further steps to be announced when conditions are met.
Khaled al-Halabi and Musab Abu Rukbah have been found guilty in Vienna of torture and related crimes from 2011-2013 in Raqqa, under universal jurisdiction; both receive eight-year sentences and orders to pay compensation to victims. The trial marks a rare European prosecution of Syrian state agents; prosecutors allege systemic torture.
Hamas has dissolved its emergency committee and says it will hand Gaza’s administration to a US-backed technocratic National Committee, aiming to demonstrate readiness to implement the ceasefire and advance reconstruction, while disarmament remains unresolved. Negotiations with mediators continue as the board assesses all actions.
Israel's Knesset has passed the first reading of a bill to establish a six-member investigative commission. The vote is part of a broader push amid ongoing protests marking 1,000 days since the October 7 attacks. Opposition lawmakers have boycotted the measure, calling for an independent state commission of inquiry.
Mitch McConnell has publicly confirmed that a fall led to his hospitalization and outlines ongoing tests as doctors assess the cause; he is in rehabilitation and will not yet return to the Senate.