newsweek--2020-12-29--Israeli Elections Will be Another Referendum on Netanyahu | Opinion

I find it hard to believe I am writing about Israel 's fourth Knesset election in two years .
As Israel copes with its third wave of the COVID-19 virus , and will likely enter its third lockdown , the Israeli parliament has officially disbanded , automatically triggering a new election .
The technical cause for the fall of the government was its failure to pass a state budget—in this case , the budget for 2020 .
This is the first time in Israel 's history that a government fell for this reason .
Following the most recent election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gantz was tasked with forming the next government .
However , after two members of his faction ( Tzvi Hauser and Yoaz Hendel ) refused to back a government supported from outside the coalition by the Arab Joint List , Gantz had no means of forming a governing coalition .
It was then , a mere eight months ago , that Gantz agreed to enter into a coalition with Prime Minister Benjamin `` Bibi '' Netanyahu , branded as an `` emergency coronavirus government . ''
Blue & White voters had relied on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ join a government headed by Netanyahu .
By doing so , Gantz shocked and disillusioned his supporters , who had overwhelmingly voted for him in hopes of replacing Netanyahu .
The agreement Blue & White reached with Netanyahu 's Likud supposedly guaranteed Gantz would become prime minister for the second half of the government 's three-year term ; until that time , Gantz would control half the government ministries .
Israel 's Basic Laws were modified to reflect this new arrangement .
When the agreement was signed , an eager Netanyahu promised `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , it soon became clear he had a significant tactical maneuver up his sleeve .
Under Israeli law , a national budget must be passed by a specific date , and if no budget passes by that date , the parliament is automatically dissolved .
Gantz did not believe passing the budget would pose a problem , since part of his agreement with Netanyahu stipulated that a two-year budget would be passed by August—and the Likud had demanded authorization of a two-year budget .
But August came , and Netanyahu 's confidant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not present a budget .
So , a compromise was reached to change another Basic Law to extend the date of the budget presentation for the current year until December 20th , with the additional promise to pass both the 2020 and 2021 budgets .
It became apparent that the reason Netanyahu refused to pass a budget was to give himself maximum flexibility regarding when new elections would be held—in such a way that would prevent Gantz from serving as prime minister in the interim .
( The Netanyahu-Gantz agreement mandated that if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a no-confidence vote , Gantz would become prime minister for the time leading up to the election .
There was no provision for that to happen if the Knesset disbanded because a budget was not passed . )
As December neared , Blue & White explicitly stated it was unwilling to allow a one-year budget for 2020 to be passed without a budget for 2021 , which would ensure that Gantz would replace Netanyahu as prime minister when it was his turn , and also provide Israel with additional economic stability .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep open his escape route from his agreement with Gantz , which he could only accomplish by not passing a 2021 budget .
Netanyahu seemed unconcerned about a government that has been operating without an updated , approved budget for the last two years .
Moreover , the prime minister believed holding elections in late spring or early summer would be better timing for him than heading to the polls in late March .
As such , it was in his interest to pass the 2020 budget without approving a budget for 2021 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spring , most of Israel 's population would be vaccinated against the coronavirus , allowing society and the economy to be on their way to recovery , and Israelis would be more likely to forget his government 's failures .
Despite his continued denials , Netanyahu seemed more than willing to hold new elections , if he could avoid turning over the prime ministership to Gantz .
However , Netanyahu 's willingness to precipitate elections changed on December 8th , when MK Gideon Sa'ar , ( a lifelong Likud loyalist ) announced he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new party to oppose Netanyahu .
Initial polls show that Sa'ar 's new party could do quite well in the next election .
That has only been strengthened by others from the Likud who have joined Sa'ar in the last week .
Sa'ar , whose views are on the right wing of the Israeli political spectrum , makes a difficult target for Netanyahu , whose standard attack is calling opponents `` radical leftists . ''
Having Sa'ar ( who has pledged not to enter into a government with Netanyahu ) in the picture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less likely .
Realizing the significance of this shift in political alliances , Netanyahu reopened serious negotiations with Blue & White .
While the talks did make progress , Netanyahu was unwilling to give in and accept the initial agreement without added concessions from Gantz relating to the Ministry of Justice , which is indirectly overseeing Netanyahu 's trial .
While Gantz appeared willing to go along with some of the prime minister 's demands , several Blue & White members were less inclined .
During the evening of December 21st , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midnight , a last-minute attempt was made to extend the deadline by amending the law requiring a budget pass by the 22nd .
Some members of Blue & White had COVID-19 and others were in quarantine .
Several refused to support another extension , and a couple of Likud members aligned with Sa'ar suddenly voted against the government .
Thus , despite Netanyahu 's efforts , the vote failed and on March 23rd , Israel , which has no means of remote , or mail-in voting , will hold its fourth Knesset election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks ago , a former Likud leader told me privately that Netanyahu had better agree to the rotation with Gantz , because if elections are held , Netanyahu would lose .
Over the years , election pollsters have compared the strength of the right wing and the left wing .
This time , that seems to be less of a factor .
Instead , pollsters have been presenting the strength of the `` pro '' and `` anti '' -Bibi parties .
If elections were held today , and if the pollsters are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form a new government .
Still , no one should underestimate Netanyahu 's raw abilities as a politician .
The prime minister has significant successes to which he can point , including arranging for Israel to receive a massive number of coronavirus vaccines exceedingly early , and peace agreements with four Muslim states signed during the last few months .
That being said , three months is a long time in Israeli politics , and the upcoming election will be conducted in the shadow of Netanyahu 's corruption trial .
It should also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a governing coalition in any of the past three elections .
Much can happen in the next three months—creation of new parties , mergers of old parties , entrance of new and veteran leaders joining the political scene .
Yet , to most Israelis , this upcoming election will feel very much like groundhog day .
Once more , the only real issue on the ballot will be , should Netanyahu continue as prime minister ?
Stay tuned .
The views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

I find it hard to believe I am writing about Israel's fourth Knesset election in two years. As Israel copes with its third wave of the COVID-19 virus, and will likely enter its third lockdown, the Israeli parliament has officially disbanded, automatically triggering a new election. The technical cause for the fall of the government was its failure to pass a state budget—in this case, the budget for 2020. This is the first time in Israel's history that a government fell for this reason.
Following the most recent election, Blue & White Party head MK Benny Gantz was tasked with forming the next government. However, after two members of his faction (Tzvi Hauser and Yoaz Hendel) refused to back a government supported from outside the coalition by the Arab Joint List, Gantz had no means of forming a governing coalition.
It was then, a mere eight months ago, that Gantz agreed to enter into a coalition with Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu, branded as an "emergency coronavirus government." Blue & White voters had relied on Gantz's word that he would never join a government headed by Netanyahu. By doing so, Gantz shocked and disillusioned his supporters, who had overwhelmingly voted for him in hopes of replacing Netanyahu. The agreement Blue & White reached with Netanyahu's Likud supposedly guaranteed Gantz would become prime minister for the second half of the government's three-year term; until that time, Gantz would control half the government ministries. Israel's Basic Laws were modified to reflect this new arrangement.
When the agreement was signed, an eager Netanyahu promised "no tricks, no shticks." However, it soon became clear he had a significant tactical maneuver up his sleeve. Under Israeli law, a national budget must be passed by a specific date, and if no budget passes by that date, the parliament is automatically dissolved. Gantz did not believe passing the budget would pose a problem, since part of his agreement with Netanyahu stipulated that a two-year budget would be passed by August—and the Likud had demanded authorization of a two-year budget.
But August came, and Netanyahu's confidant, Finance Minister Yisrael Katz, did not present a budget. So, a compromise was reached to change another Basic Law to extend the date of the budget presentation for the current year until December 20th, with the additional promise to pass both the 2020 and 2021 budgets. It became apparent that the reason Netanyahu refused to pass a budget was to give himself maximum flexibility regarding when new elections would be held—in such a way that would prevent Gantz from serving as prime minister in the interim. (The Netanyahu-Gantz agreement mandated that if the government fell as a result of a no-confidence vote, Gantz would become prime minister for the time leading up to the election. There was no provision for that to happen if the Knesset disbanded because a budget was not passed.)
As December neared, Blue & White explicitly stated it was unwilling to allow a one-year budget for 2020 to be passed without a budget for 2021, which would ensure that Gantz would replace Netanyahu as prime minister when it was his turn, and also provide Israel with additional economic stability. At the same time, Netanyahu wanted to keep open his escape route from his agreement with Gantz, which he could only accomplish by not passing a 2021 budget.
Netanyahu seemed unconcerned about a government that has been operating without an updated, approved budget for the last two years. Moreover, the prime minister believed holding elections in late spring or early summer would be better timing for him than heading to the polls in late March. As such, it was in his interest to pass the 2020 budget without approving a budget for 2021. Netanyahu hoped that, by late spring, most of Israel's population would be vaccinated against the coronavirus, allowing society and the economy to be on their way to recovery, and Israelis would be more likely to forget his government's failures.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C), wearing a protective face maks, speaks with his lawyer inside a courtroom at the district court of Jerusalem on May 24, 2020, during the first day of his corruption trial. RONEN ZVULUN / POOL / AFP/Getty
Despite his continued denials, Netanyahu seemed more than willing to hold new elections, if he could avoid turning over the prime ministership to Gantz. However, Netanyahu's willingness to precipitate elections changed on December 8th, when MK Gideon Sa'ar, (a lifelong Likud loyalist) announced he would leave the Likud and form a new party to oppose Netanyahu. Initial polls show that Sa'ar's new party could do quite well in the next election. That has only been strengthened by others from the Likud who have joined Sa'ar in the last week.
Sa'ar, whose views are on the right wing of the Israeli political spectrum, makes a difficult target for Netanyahu, whose standard attack is calling opponents "radical leftists." Having Sa'ar (who has pledged not to enter into a government with Netanyahu) in the picture makes Netanyahu's prospects of reelection seem less likely.
Realizing the significance of this shift in political alliances, Netanyahu reopened serious negotiations with Blue & White. While the talks did make progress, Netanyahu was unwilling to give in and accept the initial agreement without added concessions from Gantz relating to the Ministry of Justice, which is indirectly overseeing Netanyahu's trial. While Gantz appeared willing to go along with some of the prime minister's demands, several Blue & White members were less inclined.
During the evening of December 21st, with the Knesset set to automatically dissolve at midnight, a last-minute attempt was made to extend the deadline by amending the law requiring a budget pass by the 22nd. Some members of Blue & White had COVID-19 and others were in quarantine. Several refused to support another extension, and a couple of Likud members aligned with Sa'ar suddenly voted against the government. Thus, despite Netanyahu's efforts, the vote failed and on March 23rd, Israel, which has no means of remote, or mail-in voting, will hold its fourth Knesset election in two years—amidst a pandemic.
Six weeks ago, a former Likud leader told me privately that Netanyahu had better agree to the rotation with Gantz, because if elections are held, Netanyahu would lose. Over the years, election pollsters have compared the strength of the right wing and the left wing. This time, that seems to be less of a factor. Instead, pollsters have been presenting the strength of the "pro" and "anti"-Bibi parties. If elections were held today, and if the pollsters are correct, Netanyahu has no path to form a new government.
Still, no one should underestimate Netanyahu's raw abilities as a politician. The prime minister has significant successes to which he can point, including arranging for Israel to receive a massive number of coronavirus vaccines exceedingly early, and peace agreements with four Muslim states signed during the last few months. That being said, three months is a long time in Israeli politics, and the upcoming election will be conducted in the shadow of Netanyahu's corruption trial. It should also be noted that Netanyahu failed to win a governing coalition in any of the past three elections.
Much can happen in the next three months—creation of new parties, mergers of old parties, entrance of new and veteran leaders joining the political scene. Yet, to most Israelis, this upcoming election will feel very much like groundhog day. Once more, the only real issue on the ballot will be, should Netanyahu continue as prime minister? Stay tuned.
Marc Schulman is a multimedia historian.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-12-29--Soldier And Juvenile Charged With Kidnapping, Murdering Fellow Serviceman

Authorities have charged a U.S. Army soldier and a 16-year-old boy with murdering a fellow soldier who was found shot dead in New Jersey .
The body of 20-year-old Corporal Hayden Harris was discovered by police in a wooded area of Byram Township , New Jersey , on December 19 .
Harris , of Guys , Tennessee , was last heard from as he headed from the Fort Drum base near the Canadian border to Watertown , New York , for a vehicle transaction , the U.S. Army 's Criminal Investigation Command said .
In a news release on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Specialist Jamaal Mellish and a 16-year-old boy , who was not identified , have been charged in connection with Harris 's death .
Investigators determined Harris and Mellish were going to meet for a vehicle transaction , the Byram Township Police Department said .
Mellish was supposed to exchange a Ford Mustang with Harris for a Chevy pickup truck , according to the police department .
Sussex County First Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller told the New Jersey Herald that a dispute may have led Mellish to abduct Harris .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his hometown of Brooklyn , New York before driving him to New Jersey .
Mueller said investigators believe Mellish shot Harris dead in Byram Township .
A juvenile was in the truck , he said .
Mellish , 23 , is chaired with first-degree murder , first-degree kidnapping , felony murder , possession of a firearm without a permit , possession of a firearm for unlawful purposes and suppressing evidence .
The juvenile is charged with first-degree kidnapping , felony murder , possession of a handgun without a permit and possession of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is currently being held in military custody under pretrial confinement in Oneida County , New York and the juvenile is in custody in a juvenile detention facility , Koch 's office said .
Harris joined the Army in March 2019 and was an infantryman with the 1st Squadron , 89th Cavalry Regiment , 2nd Brigade Combat Team .
He joined the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum in July 2019 after training at Fort Benning , Georgia .
In his short time with the Army , he earned the National Defense Service Medal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medal and the Army Service Ribbon .
Harris was posthumously promoted from specialist to corporal and awarded the Army Commendation Medal .
`` We are devastated , '' Brigadier Gen. Brett Funck , acting senior commander for Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division , said in a statement .
`` His death is a tremendous loss for his loved ones , this division and our nation . ''
In a statement on Christmas Eve , Byram Township police said officers met with Harris 's family on December 22 .
`` We will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event has caused them , '' the statement said .
`` Instead of planning for a joyful holiday season they are planning funeral services for their child .
A child who chose an honorable path and who from all accounts was a caring young man already labeled as an outstanding soldier in a short period of time . ''
It continued : `` As a department we will maintain an unwavering commitment to this investigation until the perpetrators of this horrendous crime are brought to justice . ''
Anyone with information is asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sussex County Prosecutor 's Office at 973-383-1570 or Det .
Robert Tierney at the Byram Township Police Department at 973-347-4008 .

Authorities have charged a U.S. Army soldier and a 16-year-old boy with murdering a fellow soldier who was found shot dead in New Jersey.
The body of 20-year-old Corporal Hayden Harris was discovered by police in a wooded area of Byram Township, New Jersey, on December 19.
Harris, of Guys, Tennessee, was last heard from as he headed from the Fort Drum base near the Canadian border to Watertown, New York, for a vehicle transaction, the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigation Command said.
In a news release on Monday, Sussex County Prosecutor Francis A. Koch said Specialist Jamaal Mellish and a 16-year-old boy, who was not identified, have been charged in connection with Harris's death.
As many of you are aware, our town has become the site of an unbelievable and senseless crime. On Saturday, December 19th, 2020 the body of U.S. Army soldier Corporal Hayden Harris was located in the...
Investigators determined Harris and Mellish were going to meet for a vehicle transaction, the Byram Township Police Department said.
Mellish was supposed to exchange a Ford Mustang with Harris for a Chevy pickup truck, according to the police department.
Sussex County First Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller told the New Jersey Herald that a dispute may have led Mellish to abduct Harris.
According to the newspaper, Mellish forced Harris to travel to his hometown of Brooklyn, New York before driving him to New Jersey. Mueller said investigators believe Mellish shot Harris dead in Byram Township. A juvenile was in the truck, he said.
Mellish, 23, is chaired with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, felony murder, possession of a firearm without a permit, possession of a firearm for unlawful purposes and suppressing evidence.
The juvenile is charged with first-degree kidnapping, felony murder, possession of a handgun without a permit and possession of a firearm for unlawful purposes.
Mellish is currently being held in military custody under pretrial confinement in Oneida County, New York and the juvenile is in custody in a juvenile detention facility, Koch's office said.
Harris joined the Army in March 2019 and was an infantryman with the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. He joined the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum in July 2019 after training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
In his short time with the Army, he earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Harris was posthumously promoted from specialist to corporal and awarded the Army Commendation Medal.
"We are devastated," Brigadier Gen. Brett Funck, acting senior commander for Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division, said in a statement. "His death is a tremendous loss for his loved ones, this division and our nation."
In a statement on Christmas Eve, Byram Township police said officers met with Harris's family on December 22.
"We will forever be touched by the devastation this event has caused them," the statement said. "Instead of planning for a joyful holiday season they are planning funeral services for their child. A child who chose an honorable path and who from all accounts was a caring young man already labeled as an outstanding soldier in a short period of time."
It continued: "As a department we will maintain an unwavering commitment to this investigation until the perpetrators of this horrendous crime are brought to justice."
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Lt. Nicholas Elmo at the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office at 973-383-1570 or Det. Robert Tierney at the Byram Township Police Department at 973-347-4008.


newsweek--2020-12-29--It's Time for Bibi to Step Aside | Opinion

From the moment I met Benjamin Netanyahu , I liked him .
On a personal level , I have had sporadic but good relations over nearly forty years .
We first met in 1983 , when he was deputy chief of mission at the Israeli embassy in Washington and I worked at the State Department .
Over the decades since , I came to admire him for his many accomplishments .
But it 's time for him to go .
Netanyahu became Israel 's youngest-ever prime minister in 1996 .
His tenure had its ups and downs .
Visiting him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wrote appreciatively that he `` glowed and looked to the future . ''
That glow dimmed during his weak and amoral first prime ministry , to the point that in 1999 I wrote an exposé of his failed Golan Heights policy and reluctantly rooted for his opponent to win the election .
Things improved in 2003-05 , when Netanyahu served as Israel 's minister of finance .
His economics training gave him the skills and confidence to make unpopular but much-needed changes , which to this day benefit Israel .
By his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Netanyahu had matured .
He governed with a moral compass , provided real leadership and impressed the Israelis sufficiently to win reelection a remarkable five times between 2013 and 2020 .
Will March 2021 make it six ?
We stayed in touch over the years .
He even took the time to send me a generous condolence note and to call me after my father died in 2018 .
So , I emphasize , my issue with him is neither political nor personal .
Rather , it comes down to two problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the alienation of allies .
Netanyahu 's opponents , unable to bring him down electorally , have resorted to multiple lawsuits to end his political career .
Granting that Netanyahu skated near the legal limits , Alan Dershowitz convincingly argues that his `` fate belongs in the hands of voters , not investigators or the courts . ''
However , even presuming the prime minister 's innocence , Netanyahu 's desperate efforts to avoid or at least minimize the impact of the court cases harms the country .
Netanyahu 's personal priorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country 's , now drive Israeli domestic politics , with baleful implications for the economy , public health and civic trust .
For example , during frenzied attempts to form a government in June 2019 , the prime minister made underhanded offers to members of opposition parties and considered a coalition with the anti-Zionist Joint List .
Also , to ensure the loyalty of the Haredi ( Ultra-Orthodox ) parties , he grants them undue influence over Israeli society , at the expense of the country 's cohesion .
If Netanyahu does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of allies is undoubtedly of his own making .
The political class mistrusts him and resents the government being subordinated to his personal interests .
The `` Anyone But Bibi '' slogan represents this sentiment .
Former colleagues in the Likud Party—Naftali Bennett , Moshe Kahlon , Avigdor Liberman and Gideon Sa'ar—have become his avowed political enemies and abandoned Likud in anger to found their own rival parties .
Most devastating , however , was Ze'ev Elkin 's very recent denunciation of Netanyahu , delivered as Elkin announced he was departing Likud to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a decade , Elkin had served as Netanyahu 's confidant , filling myriad key roles for him from coalition chairman to Russian translator with Vladimir Putin .
In a stunning revelation , Elkin accused Netanyahu of `` destroying Likud '' by turning it into a `` Byzantine court '' and a personality cult .
He indicted Netanyahu for making false promises to `` friends , allies , activists and ordinary citizens . ''
Reluctantly , this analyst concludes that it 's time for Netanyahu to move on .
He 's already Israel 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and vision serve as his legacy , as do his economic savvy and his resolve versus enemies of the Jewish state .
His vote of thanks should be election as the next president of Israel in half a year .
As one 71-year-old to another , I note the great talent of Israel 's younger generation and urge my friend Bibi to give it the chance it deserves .
Daniel Pipes ( DanielPipes.org , @ DanielPipes ) is president of the Middle East Forum .
The views expressed in this article are the @ @ @ @

From the moment I met Benjamin Netanyahu, I liked him. On a personal level, I have had sporadic but good relations over nearly forty years. We first met in 1983, when he was deputy chief of mission at the Israeli embassy in Washington and I worked at the State Department. Over the decades since, I came to admire him for his many accomplishments.
But it's time for him to go.
Netanyahu became Israel's youngest-ever prime minister in 1996. His tenure had its ups and downs. Visiting him a month into his first premiership, I wrote appreciatively that he "glowed and looked to the future." That glow dimmed during his weak and amoral first prime ministry, to the point that in 1999 I wrote an exposé of his failed Golan Heights policy and reluctantly rooted for his opponent to win the election.
Things improved in 2003-05, when Netanyahu served as Israel's minister of finance. His economics training gave him the skills and confidence to make unpopular but much-needed changes, which to this day benefit Israel. By his second time as prime minister, happily, Netanyahu had matured. He governed with a moral compass, provided real leadership and impressed the Israelis sufficiently to win reelection a remarkable five times between 2013 and 2020. Will March 2021 make it six?
We stayed in touch over the years. He even took the time to send me a generous condolence note and to call me after my father died in 2018. So, I emphasize, my issue with him is neither political nor personal. Rather, it comes down to two problems: a frantic avoidance of criminal lawsuits and the alienation of allies.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement before entering a courtroom at the district court of Jerusalem on May 24, 2020, during the first day of his corruption trial. Yonathan SINDEL / POOL / AFP/Getty
Netanyahu's opponents, unable to bring him down electorally, have resorted to multiple lawsuits to end his political career. Granting that Netanyahu skated near the legal limits, Alan Dershowitz convincingly argues that his "fate belongs in the hands of voters, not investigators or the courts." However, even presuming the prime minister's innocence, Netanyahu's desperate efforts to avoid or at least minimize the impact of the court cases harms the country.
Netanyahu's personal priorities, not the party's nor the country's, now drive Israeli domestic politics, with baleful implications for the economy, public health and civic trust. For example, during frenzied attempts to form a government in June 2019, the prime minister made underhanded offers to members of opposition parties and considered a coalition with the anti-Zionist Joint List. Also, to ensure the loyalty of the Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) parties, he grants them undue influence over Israeli society, at the expense of the country's cohesion.
If Netanyahu does not deserve his legal woes, the alienation of allies is undoubtedly of his own making. The political class mistrusts him and resents the government being subordinated to his personal interests. The "Anyone But Bibi" slogan represents this sentiment. Former colleagues in the Likud Party—Naftali Bennett, Moshe Kahlon, Avigdor Liberman and Gideon Sa'ar—have become his avowed political enemies and abandoned Likud in anger to found their own rival parties.
Most devastating, however, was Ze'ev Elkin's very recent denunciation of Netanyahu, delivered as Elkin announced he was departing Likud to join Sa'ar's fledgling party. For a decade, Elkin had served as Netanyahu's confidant, filling myriad key roles for him from coalition chairman to Russian translator with Vladimir Putin. In a stunning revelation, Elkin accused Netanyahu of "destroying Likud" by turning it into a "Byzantine court" and a personality cult. He indicted Netanyahu for making false promises to "friends, allies, activists and ordinary citizens."
Reluctantly, this analyst concludes that it's time for Netanyahu to move on. He's already Israel's longest-ever serving prime minister. His optimism and vision serve as his legacy, as do his economic savvy and his resolve versus enemies of the Jewish state. His vote of thanks should be election as the next president of Israel in half a year.
As one 71-year-old to another, I note the great talent of Israel's younger generation and urge my friend Bibi to give it the chance it deserves.
Daniel Pipes (DanielPipes.org, @DanielPipes) is president of the Middle East Forum.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-12-29--Celebrity Data Auctioned for As Little As $15c in COVID Tracking App Leak

Beijing authorities are investigating a data leak in the city 's mandatory COVID-19 tracking app after the personal information of several dozen high-profile celebrities was auctioned online .
At least 50 actors and singers have seen their photographs auctioned online for as little as 1 renminbi ( $ 15c ) , Chengdu-based Red Star News reported on Monday .
Bundles of 1,000 ID numbers have also been offered to willing buyers .
Beijing 's Health Kit software is embedded in smartphone apps WeChat and Alipay .
Known as `` jiangkangbao , '' it was rolled out across the Chinese capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationals .
The self-reporting app requires users to enter their identification or passport number , as well as a photograph if they are above the age of 16 .
They then are assigned a color of red , yellow or green depending on their COVID-19 , quarantine or contact status .
`` Green '' health status is required to enter restaurants , shopping malls , schools or public transport .
Users classified as either `` red '' or `` orange '' are denied entry and required to quarantine .
Similar apps have become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and have been touted as key to allowing life to return to relative normality as other nations , including the United States , struggle to contain the pandemic .
The Beijing Public Security Bureau told Red Star News on Tuesday it was investigating the source of the leak , which reveals screenshots of if and when a user has tested positive for the coronavirus , and where their test took place .
The data leak is also concerning because of an apparent loophole in the Health Kit app which lets users check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their full name and ID number .
It had yet to be addressed at the time of writing , the report said .
Beyond the celebrities whose personal information and pictures have been put online , it was still unclear how many of Beijing 's 21.5 million residents had been affected by the breach .
For the year until the end of October , 1.7 billion status checks had been requested in the Health Kit app , the Beijing municipal government revealed on its website last month .
In a press release about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city said user data was used for epidemic prevention and tracking purposes only , and that all information was stored on the city 's cloud service .
According to the Red Star News report , KZBRAIN , the company behind the application , said it was looking into the data leak , which has become a trending topic on China 's Twitter-like service Weibo with 450 million views .
The privacy breach comes as China experiences a resurgence of locally transmitted COVID-19 cases concentrated in the northeast , including Beijing .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including seven cases of local transmission in the capital , the National Health Commission said on Tuesday .
China 's total number of cases now stands at 87,003 , with 4,634 reported deaths .

Beijing authorities are investigating a data leak in the city's mandatory COVID-19 tracking app after the personal information of several dozen high-profile celebrities was auctioned online.
At least 50 actors and singers have seen their photographs auctioned online for as little as 1 renminbi ($15c), Chengdu-based Red Star News reported on Monday. Bundles of 1,000 ID numbers have also been offered to willing buyers.
Beijing's Health Kit software is embedded in smartphone apps WeChat and Alipay. Known as "jiangkangbao," it was rolled out across the Chinese capital starting in February, including for foreign nationals.
The self-reporting app requires users to enter their identification or passport number, as well as a photograph if they are above the age of 16. They then are assigned a color of red, yellow or green depending on their COVID-19, quarantine or contact status.
"Green" health status is required to enter restaurants, shopping malls, schools or public transport. Users classified as either "red" or "orange" are denied entry and required to quarantine.
Similar apps have become mandatory in major cities across the country, and have been touted as key to allowing life to return to relative normality as other nations, including the United States, struggle to contain the pandemic.
The Beijing Public Security Bureau told Red Star News on Tuesday it was investigating the source of the leak, which reveals screenshots of if and when a user has tested positive for the coronavirus, and where their test took place.
The data leak is also concerning because of an apparent loophole in the Health Kit app which lets users check the COVID-19 status of others by entering their full name and ID number. It had yet to be addressed at the time of writing, the report said.
Beyond the celebrities whose personal information and pictures have been put online, it was still unclear how many of Beijing's 21.5 million residents had been affected by the breach.
File photo: A Beijing resident uses the Health Kit app to scan a code required to prove her health and travel status before being allowed to enter a shopping mall. GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images
For the year until the end of October, 1.7 billion status checks had been requested in the Health Kit app, the Beijing municipal government revealed on its website last month.
In a press release about the success of Health Kit 3.0, the city said user data was used for epidemic prevention and tracking purposes only, and that all information was stored on the city's cloud service.
According to the Red Star News report, KZBRAIN, the company behind the application, said it was looking into the data leak, which has become a trending topic on China's Twitter-like service Weibo with 450 million views.
The privacy breach comes as China experiences a resurgence of locally transmitted COVID-19 cases concentrated in the northeast, including Beijing.
The country reported 21 new cases on Monday, including seven cases of local transmission in the capital, the National Health Commission said on Tuesday.
China's total number of cases now stands at 87,003, with 4,634 reported deaths.


newsweek--2020-12-29--Top 20 Sports Moments of 2020: Nos. 16-20

The 2020 sports world has been perhaps the zaniest in the last 100 years , with a worldwide pandemic and social justice leading the way in the United States .
The year began with an LSU college football championship , a helicopter crash that led to the the perish of an NBA icon and then the Kansas City Chiefs winning their first world championship in 50 years .
Despite early events in 2020 , there were lots of events that led Newsweek to creating a Top 20 sports moments of 2020 .
Do n't think there were enough ?
Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 to 16 !
No .
20 U.S. Women 's Soccer demands equal pay , but judge dismisses the case The U.S. Women 's National Team soared to victory in the 2019 Women 's World Cup , just one year after the men 's team had failed to make a World Cup appearance .
The women 's team then lost a court battle where they sought equal compensation to their male counterparts .
A judge found that the women had `` opted '' for a fixed income rather than performance bonuses , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favorability when it came to travel expenses , like costs of flights .
Still , it was the only loss for the talented U.S. women 's team .
No .
19 NFL 's Raiders move from Oakland to Las Vegas The Raiders organization of the NFL moved from Oakland to Las Vegas after years of haggling for a new stadium in the Bay Area .
The move was approved by a 31-1 vote in 2017 ( the Dolphins cast the lone dissenting vote ) , and the team officially made its move in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won their first game ( on the road ) , 34-30 , at the Carolina Panthers .
The Raiders then christened the new Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas with a 34-24 win over the New Orleans Saints .
No .
18 NFL injuries The NFL had no preseason in 2020 because of COVID-19 , and it left teams with less time in training camps .
Ultimately , there were lots of key injuries in the season .
Here are some of the key injuries that impacted the season .
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Giants running back Saquon Barkeley ( torn ACL ) , L.A. Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor ( punctured lung ) , Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller ( ankle surgery ) , Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey ( high ankle sprain ) , New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas ( ankle and hamstring ) and a slew of San Francisco 49ers players all got sidelined with injuries in 2020 .
There were many more injuries , but these were the highest-profile .
No .
17 Dustin Johnson wins the November Masters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played in April , but COVID-19 pushed the tournament back six months to November .
American Dustin Johnson won the tournament in record fashion during the fall weekend at Augusta National .
Johnson set an array of records during his performance .
He was the first golfer to reach 20-under par in Masters history , his 16-under par score after three rounds was the lowest in tournament history , he was the first player to score a 65 in two different rounds of one Masters tournament and he became only the second wire-to-wire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Immelman ( 2008 ) .
No .
16 LeBron James makes his 10th NBA Finals , wins fourth career title The NBA season got put on hold during March , and then resumed in the Orlando `` bubble '' during the summer .
LeBron James led his Los Angeles Lakers to the eventual NBA title over the Miami Heat at the COVID bubble .
It was the the 10th NBA Finals of James ' career , and it was his fourth NBA title ( having two with the Heat and one with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this in 17 years of playing in the NBA .
Newsweek will unveil the the top 20 throughout this week .

The 2020 sports world has been perhaps the zaniest in the last 100 years, with a worldwide pandemic and social justice leading the way in the United States.
The year began with an LSU college football championship, a helicopter crash that led to the the perish of an NBA icon and then the Kansas City Chiefs winning their first world championship in 50 years.
Despite early events in 2020, there were lots of events that led Newsweek to creating a Top 20 sports moments of 2020. Don't think there were enough? Well, here's the starting countdown from 20 to 16!
No. 20
U.S. Women's Soccer demands equal pay, but judge dismisses the case
The U.S. Women's National Team soared to victory in the 2019 Women's World Cup, just one year after the men's team had failed to make a World Cup appearance. The women's team then lost a court battle where they sought equal compensation to their male counterparts.
A judge found that the women had "opted" for a fixed income rather than performance bonuses, but declared the men's team got considerable favorability when it came to travel expenses, like costs of flights. Still, it was the only loss for the talented U.S. women's team.
No. 19
NFL's Raiders move from Oakland to Las Vegas
The Raiders organization of the NFL moved from Oakland to Las Vegas after years of haggling for a new stadium in the Bay Area. The move was approved by a 31-1 vote in 2017 (the Dolphins cast the lone dissenting vote), and the team officially made its move in early 2020.
The Las Vegas Raiders won their first game (on the road), 34-30, at the Carolina Panthers. The Raiders then christened the new Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas with a 34-24 win over the New Orleans Saints.
No. 18
NFL injuries
The NFL had no preseason in 2020 because of COVID-19, and it left teams with less time in training camps. Ultimately, there were lots of key injuries in the season. Here are some of the key injuries that impacted the season.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (broken ankle), New York Giants running back Saquon Barkeley (torn ACL), L.A. Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor (punctured lung), Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (ankle surgery), Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (high ankle sprain), New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (ankle and hamstring) and a slew of San Francisco 49ers players all got sidelined with injuries in 2020. There were many more injuries, but these were the highest-profile.
No. 17
Dustin Johnson wins the November Masters Tournament
The annual Masters tournament is typically played in April, but COVID-19 pushed the tournament back six months to November. American Dustin Johnson won the tournament in record fashion during the fall weekend at Augusta National.
Johnson set an array of records during his performance. He was the first golfer to reach 20-under par in Masters history, his 16-under par score after three rounds was the lowest in tournament history, he was the first player to score a 65 in two different rounds of one Masters tournament and he became only the second wire-to-wire Masters winner this century, joining Trevor Immelman (2008).
No. 16
LeBron James makes his 10th NBA Finals, wins fourth career title
The NBA season got put on hold during March, and then resumed in the Orlando "bubble" during the summer. LeBron James led his Los Angeles Lakers to the eventual NBA title over the Miami Heat at the COVID bubble.
It was the the 10th NBA Finals of James' career, and it was his fourth NBA title (having two with the Heat and one with the Cleveland Cavaliers). He has done this in 17 years of playing in the NBA.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts with his MVP trophy and Finals trophy after winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Newsweek will unveil the the top 20 throughout this week.


newsweek--2020-12-29--Republicans Motivated to Swing Georgia Back to Red in Senate Runoffs, Pollster Says

The pollster who accurately predicted President Donald Trump 's win in the 2016 election is keeping a close eye on the Georgia Senate runoff elections next week , where a handful of variables are keeping the races tough to predict .
Trafalgar Group founder Robert Cahaly told Newsweek during an interview last week that Democrats are excited to participate following President-elect Joe Biden 's win in November .
In addition to denying Trump a second term in office , Biden also flipped Georgia to the Democrats for the first time since 1992 .
Meanwhile , Cahaly said Republicans are concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and executive branch if both Republican incumbents lose in the January 5 runoffs .
`` In this runoff , I think you have the Democrats feeling very confident , and I think they 're excited , '' he said .
`` I think that will lead to significant voter participation .
`` I also think the Republicans in many ways feel a little bit backed into a corner , and are therefore also motivated , '' Cahaly continued .
`` One of the things that you can count on to increase voter participation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much attention they pay to it . ''
The stakes are high for next week 's election .
Georgia 's two incumbent Republican senators , Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue , failed to receive 50 percent or more of the vote during the November 3 election .
Both are facing tough campaigns from their Democratic challengers , who could change the balance of the power in the U.S. Senate if they are victorious .
It would take wins from Raphael Warnock , the Democrat challenging Loeffler , and Jon Ossoff , the Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim 50 seats in the Senate .
If that happens , Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would break any ties .
However , if either or both incumbents win , Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will remain majority leader and Biden 's incoming administration will likely face more difficulty in moving his legislative agenda forward .
Most polls conducted since the general election found the two Georgia Senate races close as fundraising skyrocketed for the final quarter of 2020 .
Trafalgar Group 's polling also found the races close through December but said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competitors by December 18 , with Loeffler maintaining a stronger edge over Warnock than Perdue held over Ossoff .
According to Cahaly , fear and fundraising are both significant factors heading into the special election .
While Democrats are energized by Biden 's win last month , Cahaly told Newsweek many conservatives in Georgia are realizing what Trump 's loss could mean if Democrats win both of Georgia 's Senate seats , a factor he calls the `` fear of one-party government . ''
While Cahaly said some Republican voters initially told Trafalgar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the runoffs following the presidential election , those individuals are coming back into the fold as the surprise of the election wears off .
`` Part of how these Republicans come back into the process is the realization that what they fear most is more likely if there is a Democrat-controlled Senate , '' Cahaly said .
`` I hear two reasons for Republicans to vote .
One , they say , ' I do n't want to see a Democrat-controlled Senate . '
And two , they still believe the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them turn out and more attention is paid , that they can prove it by showing how red Georgia is . ''
Another factor Cahaly said will likely keep voter turnout high is the amount of money pouring into the state in support of the candidates .
According to campaign finance reports obtained by Bloomberg last week , the Ossoff and Warnock campaigns each raised more than $ 100 million between mid-October and mid-December , while the Perdue and Loeffler campaigns raised more than $ 60 million each .
`` The more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more people do n't forget there 's an election going on , '' Cahaly said .
`` I anticipate that this turnout will be significant for that reason . ''
When it comes to the candidates , Cahaly said the likely voters polled appreciated Loeffler 's participation in the debate earlier this month with Warnock , but were frustrated by Perdue 's refusal to participate in a similar debate with Ossoff .
`` To be honest , most people did n't watch it .
They just like hearing she went , '' Cahaly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Perdue that he did n't go . ''
Likely voters told pollsters they also had questions about the incumbents ' stock trades , but they respected Perdue 's consistency as a principled conservative and Loeffler 's energy , Cahaly said .
In contrast , some likely voters cited Ossoff 's `` openness to ideas '' and Warnock 's passion as positive traits , while others said the debunked allegations of Ossoff 's business dealings with a Chinese company and Warnock 's policy positions on policing were points of concern .
A significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling results is tied to the anonymous poll respondent strategy Trafalgar Group uses .
While many other polling organizations use live telephone polls , Cahaly said Trafalgar Group allows respondents to answer prompts without identifying them first .
`` The more anonymous people are , the more honest they are , '' he said .
`` We live in a day and age where people do n't want to be judged for their opinions . ''
Though Cahaly inaccurately predicted Trump would win re-election , he told Newsweek he was happy with Trafalgar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battleground states .
`` We were very pleased with how close we were across the board , '' Cahaly said , pointing to the presidential election in Wisconsin and the Senate race in North Carolina as examples of where Trafalgar Group 's predictions were especially close .
Even so , he said there are areas in which he wants his company to improve .
One point of concern for Trafalgar Group heading into the Georgia runoffs is a small voting bloc that Cahaly said his team has trouble reaching .
The voters within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both the 2018 and 2020 elections , he said .
`` We have a very hard time talking to them ; getting reliable phone numbers for them , getting reliable email addresses for them .
And yes , they voted twice .
This group is very solidly Democratic , '' Cahaly said , adding that the group is likely to participate in the runoffs , as well .
`` I 'm looking at the participation levels of where they are and how they voted , and I 've got to factor that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somebody does n't mean they 're not going to vote . ''
More than 2.1 million Georgians have voted early with one week remaining until the runoff elections , according to the nonpartisan website Georgia Votes .
That number is nearly 700,000 early votes shy of the number reported one week prior to the general election , the website 's analysis said .
Early voting aside , Cahaly said Perdue and Loeffler will still need voters to turn out on January 5 to keep the edge that his polling suggests .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bloc and the determination driving both parties to urge high voter turnout , Cahaly said he will also keep an eye on a less emotional factor next week : the weather .
`` I think it 's going to continue to be close .
The one thing to be wary of is an ice storm in Atlanta , '' Cahaly said .
`` Watch the weather .
If there 's an ice storm on Election Day , it 's going to be bad news for Republicans who are counting on Election Day turnout @ @

The pollster who accurately predicted President Donald Trump's win in the 2016 election is keeping a close eye on the Georgia Senate runoff elections next week, where a handful of variables are keeping the races tough to predict.
Trafalgar Group founder Robert Cahaly told Newsweek during an interview last week that Democrats are excited to participate following President-elect Joe Biden's win in November. In addition to denying Trump a second term in office, Biden also flipped Georgia to the Democrats for the first time since 1992.
Meanwhile, Cahaly said Republicans are concerned about the possibility of a Democrat-controlled Congress and executive branch if both Republican incumbents lose in the January 5 runoffs.
"In this runoff, I think you have the Democrats feeling very confident, and I think they're excited," he said. "I think that will lead to significant voter participation.
"I also think the Republicans in many ways feel a little bit backed into a corner, and are therefore also motivated," Cahaly continued. "One of the things that you can count on to increase voter participation anywhere there's an election is how much attention they pay to it."
Trafalgar Group founder Robert Cahaly told Newsweek Republicans and Democrats alike are motivated to participate in the Georgia Senate runoffs next week. In the photo above, voters stand in line to cast their ballots during the first day of early voting in the Georgia Senate runoffs at Lenora Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 14, 2020. TAMI CHAPPELL/AFP via Getty Images
The stakes are high for next week's election. Georgia's two incumbent Republican senators, Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, failed to receive 50 percent or more of the vote during the November 3 election. Both are facing tough campaigns from their Democratic challengers, who could change the balance of the power in the U.S. Senate if they are victorious.
It would take wins from Raphael Warnock, the Democrat challenging Loeffler, and Jon Ossoff, the Democrat challenging Perdue, for the party to claim 50 seats in the Senate. If that happens, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would break any ties. However, if either or both incumbents win, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will remain majority leader and Biden's incoming administration will likely face more difficulty in moving his legislative agenda forward.
Most polls conducted since the general election found the two Georgia Senate races close as fundraising skyrocketed for the final quarter of 2020. Trafalgar Group's polling also found the races close through December but said Perdue and Loeffler were both leading their competitors by December 18, with Loeffler maintaining a stronger edge over Warnock than Perdue held over Ossoff.
According to Cahaly, fear and fundraising are both significant factors heading into the special election. While Democrats are energized by Biden's win last month, Cahaly told Newsweek many conservatives in Georgia are realizing what Trump's loss could mean if Democrats win both of Georgia's Senate seats, a factor he calls the "fear of one-party government."
While Cahaly said some Republican voters initially told Trafalgar Group pollsters they were unmotivated to participate in the runoffs following the presidential election, those individuals are coming back into the fold as the surprise of the election wears off.
"Part of how these Republicans come back into the process is the realization that what they fear most is more likely if there is a Democrat-controlled Senate," Cahaly said. "I hear two reasons for Republicans to vote. One, they say, 'I don't want to see a Democrat-controlled Senate.' And two, they still believe the first election was fraudulent and, if enough of them turn out and more attention is paid, that they can prove it by showing how red Georgia is."
Another factor Cahaly said will likely keep voter turnout high is the amount of money pouring into the state in support of the candidates. According to campaign finance reports obtained by Bloomberg last week, the Ossoff and Warnock campaigns each raised more than $100 million between mid-October and mid-December, while the Perdue and Loeffler campaigns raised more than $60 million each.
"The more money that's being spent, the more people don't forget there's an election going on," Cahaly said. "I anticipate that this turnout will be significant for that reason."
When it comes to the candidates, Cahaly said the likely voters polled appreciated Loeffler's participation in the debate earlier this month with Warnock, but were frustrated by Perdue's refusal to participate in a similar debate with Ossoff.
"To be honest, most people didn't watch it. They just like hearing she went," Cahaly said. "It was a knock on Perdue that he didn't go."
Likely voters told pollsters they also had questions about the incumbents' stock trades, but they respected Perdue's consistency as a principled conservative and Loeffler's energy, Cahaly said. In contrast, some likely voters cited Ossoff's "openness to ideas" and Warnock's passion as positive traits, while others said the debunked allegations of Ossoff's business dealings with a Chinese company and Warnock's policy positions on policing were points of concern.
A significant part of Cahaly's belief in his polling results is tied to the anonymous poll respondent strategy Trafalgar Group uses. While many other polling organizations use live telephone polls, Cahaly said Trafalgar Group allows respondents to answer prompts without identifying them first. "The more anonymous people are, the more honest they are," he said. "We live in a day and age where people don't want to be judged for their opinions."
Though Cahaly inaccurately predicted Trump would win re-election, he told Newsweek he was happy with Trafalgar Group's polling margins in several key battleground states. "We were very pleased with how close we were across the board," Cahaly said, pointing to the presidential election in Wisconsin and the Senate race in North Carolina as examples of where Trafalgar Group's predictions were especially close.
Even so, he said there are areas in which he wants his company to improve. One point of concern for Trafalgar Group heading into the Georgia runoffs is a small voting bloc that Cahaly said his team has trouble reaching. The voters within that group lean Democratic and participated in both the 2018 and 2020 elections, he said.
"We have a very hard time talking to them; getting reliable phone numbers for them, getting reliable email addresses for them. And yes, they voted twice. This group is very solidly Democratic," Cahaly said, adding that the group is likely to participate in the runoffs, as well. "I'm looking at the participation levels of where they are and how they voted, and I've got to factor that in. Just because I can't find somebody doesn't mean they're not going to vote."
More than 2.1 million Georgians have voted early with one week remaining until the runoff elections, according to the nonpartisan website Georgia Votes. That number is nearly 700,000 early votes shy of the number reported one week prior to the general election, the website's analysis said.
Early voting aside, Cahaly said Perdue and Loeffler will still need voters to turn out on January 5 to keep the edge that his polling suggests. In addition to his questions surrounding the Democratic-leaning voting bloc and the determination driving both parties to urge high voter turnout, Cahaly said he will also keep an eye on a less emotional factor next week: the weather.
"I think it's going to continue to be close. The one thing to be wary of is an ice storm in Atlanta," Cahaly said. "Watch the weather. If there's an ice storm on Election Day, it's going to be bad news for Republicans who are counting on Election Day turnout."


newsweek--2020-12-29--After Another Seattle Autonomous Zone, Tactic Won't End in 2021 | Opinion

Seattle activists once again forcibly occupied the park inside the former Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone ( CHAZ ) .
Both there and at Portland 's Red House on Mississippi Ave. , Antifa and other agitators held an abandoned home hostage , making a series of demands that could n't be met .
This dangerous strategy wo n't just continue in 2021 .
It will likely spread beyond the Pacific Northwest because cities have shown there are no meaningful consequences to this behavior—one that 's driven by adherence to a dangerous ideology .
Like their Portland comrades , Seattle activists are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They 're mostly in their 20s .
Many come from the very privilege they claim to loathe .
They drive to the city from affluent Kirkland , Mercer Island or Woodinville to fight imaginary fascists between the shifts at Starbucks their parents , who probably work in upper management at local tech firms , force them to take .
The agitators are looking for a cause and they have their sights set on capitalists .
Officials let them use the city as their playground and it 's already gotten people killed .
Cal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been closed since the infamous `` summer of love '' thanks to a homeless encampment .
As the city ignored the encampment , it grew larger .
There were at least 40 people living in the park , rendering half of it unusable .
The putrid stench of human waste was so powerful around the tents , it made your eyes water .
Trash and used needles were everywhere .
When Seattle Parks staff came by to clean , they were physically threatened .
Imagine what it felt like for nearby residents looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became increasingly dangerous .
There were assaults , fires , gunshots , vandalism and more .
Finally , in September , the situation became deadly .
A prolific offender and resident of the encampment , Travis Berge , allegedly murdered his girlfriend .
A drug addict with dozens of arrests and convictions to his name , Berge barricaded himself inside the pumping station at the park 's fountain .
He ended up falling or jumping into a water tank filled with bleach .
He died at the scene .
Finally , three months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the park , but faced resistance from Seattle 's young activist class , itching for another showdown .
A core group of Antifa black-bloc agitators descended on the park to construct a barricade around the encampment .
Staying up through the night , activists used everything from trash bins and fencing to wooden slats and old furniture to fortify its borders .
Ultimately , it did n't hold .
How could it ?
It was exactly as stable as a border created by privileged 20-somethings playing dress-up could be .
I was there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , December 18 , to control the unruly crowd of about 150 and move out the homeless .
City social workers were on site , but the agitators threw bricks and eggs until they retreated .
All the homeless residents were offered shelter beds , but the activists were not satisfied .
Therein lies the conflict : activists will only accept literal homes for the homeless .
It 's not about what 's best for the homeless , or even what the homeless want .
It 's about what the activists want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists took over an abandoned yellow house across the street from the park .
They said they would n't leave until their demands were met .
`` If the city does n't choose to give people housing first and housing now before providing other services , this type of occupation , this type of demonstration is going to continue to happen , '' one activist told a local TV station .
`` Ultimately , we demand permanent housing for all , '' a pink-haired activist added .
`` Housing is a human right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human beings that our capitalist society deems undesirable .
These systemic injustices must be dealt with by top-down reform or they will be met with bottom-up dismantlement . ''
In other words , do what they say or they will tear down our institutions to build something new .
What they build will be no better than the barricade around Cal Anderson Park .
These belligerent activists , convinced they have all the answers , have no real-world experience in creating meaningful change .
They do n't even have examples showing their ideas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points they read on a blog somewhere , using the homeless as props to tear down the capitalist system .
Meanwhile , while activists decry a capitalist system they say dismisses the homeless , the city is trying to bring people indoors , offering them access to running water , heat , food and a bed .
Activists would rather human beings sleep amongst their own waste and live with untreated addiction while struggling to find food and stay warm , until they have a home .
Remarkably , the homeless living in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yellow house to sleep in .
Housing activists took it over ( they abandoned it the next day ; the occupation was merely a publicity stunt ) .
This is n't about the homeless .
It 's about subsidized housing , which is seen as a way to chip away at the power of private developers .
Perhaps activists view it as the only way they can afford to live on their own .
It 's on a long list of items to which they believe they are entitled , paid for by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think mere housing addresses the problem .
The homeless were n't born homeless .
Something happened—whether addiction and mental illness or bad luck and lack of job skills—that landed them on the streets .
Giving someone a house does n't address why he or she is homeless to begin with .
A house wo n't help most of these people .
They need to be brought into the system and given intensive treatment .
But ideologues do n't act rationally .
And they 've been empowered to continue their occupations because in Seattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no real punishment for their behavior .
Criminal activists may be arrested , but they rarely see jail time .
On the rare occasions they are charged , prosecutors often plead down and offer light sentences , if any at all .
Consequently , the very same activists inspired by the very same misguided ideas engaged in the very same dangerous tactics over and over again .
And it 's inspired similar activism in Nashville , Denver and New York .
Your town is next and we know what will come of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were shot to death .
More recently at the occupation , a woman was murdered .
And not once do these activists realize how deadly their actions have become .
And when cities like Seattle finally intervene , it 's often too late .
Hopefully your hometown does n't give an inch because these activists will quite literally take—and occupy—a mile .
Jason Rantz is a frequent guest on Fox News and is the host of the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH Seattle , heard weekday afternoons .
You can subscribe to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : @ jasonrantz .
The views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

Seattle activists once again forcibly occupied the park inside the former Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ). Both there and at Portland's Red House on Mississippi Ave., Antifa and other agitators held an abandoned home hostage, making a series of demands that couldn't be met.
This dangerous strategy won't just continue in 2021. It will likely spread beyond the Pacific Northwest because cities have shown there are no meaningful consequences to this behavior—one that's driven by adherence to a dangerous ideology.
Like their Portland comrades, Seattle activists are rabidly, if ironically, anti-capitalist. They're mostly in their 20s. Many come from the very privilege they claim to loathe. They drive to the city from affluent Kirkland, Mercer Island or Woodinville to fight imaginary fascists between the shifts at Starbucks their parents, who probably work in upper management at local tech firms, force them to take.
The agitators are looking for a cause and they have their sights set on capitalists. Officials let them use the city as their playground and it's already gotten people killed.
Cal Anderson Park, inside CHAZ, had been closed since the infamous "summer of love" thanks to a homeless encampment. As the city ignored the encampment, it grew larger. There were at least 40 people living in the park, rendering half of it unusable.
The putrid stench of human waste was so powerful around the tents, it made your eyes water. Trash and used needles were everywhere. When Seattle Parks staff came by to clean, they were physically threatened. Imagine what it felt like for nearby residents looking to enjoy the park.
The encampment became increasingly dangerous. There were assaults, fires, gunshots, vandalism and more. Finally, in September, the situation became deadly.
A prolific offender and resident of the encampment, Travis Berge, allegedly murdered his girlfriend. A drug addict with dozens of arrests and convictions to his name, Berge barricaded himself inside the pumping station at the park's fountain. He ended up falling or jumping into a water tank filled with bleach. He died at the scene.
Finally, three months later, the city decided to sweep the park, but faced resistance from Seattle's young activist class, itching for another showdown.
A core group of Antifa black-bloc agitators descended on the park to construct a barricade around the encampment. Staying up through the night, activists used everything from trash bins and fencing to wooden slats and old furniture to fortify its borders. Ultimately, it didn't hold. How could it? It was exactly as stable as a border created by privileged 20-somethings playing dress-up could be.
I was there as Seattle police entered the encampment on Friday, December 18, to control the unruly crowd of about 150 and move out the homeless. City social workers were on site, but the agitators threw bricks and eggs until they retreated.
Here’s the moment they started to move into CHAZ Part 2 at Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park. pic.twitter.com/86QbCvAiJu — (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) December 18, 2020
They’ve moved into Seattle’s second CHAZ. pic.twitter.com/hdcGxroSkP — (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) December 18, 2020
People gather at Copley Square at the Boston Public Library calling for a new political party and system, not happy with either political candidate, in Boston, Massachusetts on November 4, 2020. Joseph Prezioso / AFP/Getty
All the homeless residents were offered shelter beds, but the activists were not satisfied. Therein lies the conflict: activists will only accept literal homes for the homeless. It's not about what's best for the homeless, or even what the homeless want. It's about what the activists want.
The night before the sweep, activists took over an abandoned yellow house across the street from the park. They said they wouldn't leave until their demands were met.
"If the city doesn't choose to give people housing first and housing now before providing other services, this type of occupation, this type of demonstration is going to continue to happen," one activist told a local TV station.
"Ultimately, we demand permanent housing for all," a pink-haired activist added. "Housing is a human right. You cannot sweep away the human beings that our capitalist society deems undesirable. These systemic injustices must be dealt with by top-down reform or they will be met with bottom-up dismantlement."
In other words, do what they say or they will tear down our institutions to build something new. What they build will be no better than the barricade around Cal Anderson Park.
These belligerent activists, convinced they have all the answers, have no real-world experience in creating meaningful change. They don't even have examples showing their ideas work. They speak in bumper-sticker talking points they read on a blog somewhere, using the homeless as props to tear down the capitalist system.
Meanwhile, while activists decry a capitalist system they say dismisses the homeless, the city is trying to bring people indoors, offering them access to running water, heat, food and a bed. Activists would rather human beings sleep amongst their own waste and live with untreated addiction while struggling to find food and stay warm, until they have a home. Remarkably, the homeless living in the encampment weren't even offered the yellow house to sleep in. Housing activists took it over (they abandoned it the next day; the occupation was merely a publicity stunt).
This isn't about the homeless. It's about subsidized housing, which is seen as a way to chip away at the power of private developers. Perhaps activists view it as the only way they can afford to live on their own. It's on a long list of items to which they believe they are entitled, paid for by the wealthy.
It's naive to think mere housing addresses the problem. The homeless weren't born homeless. Something happened—whether addiction and mental illness or bad luck and lack of job skills—that landed them on the streets. Giving someone a house doesn't address why he or she is homeless to begin with. A house won't help most of these people. They need to be brought into the system and given intensive treatment.
But ideologues don't act rationally. And they've been empowered to continue their occupations because in Seattle, like in Portland, there's no real punishment for their behavior. Criminal activists may be arrested, but they rarely see jail time. On the rare occasions they are charged, prosecutors often plead down and offer light sentences, if any at all.
Consequently, the very same activists inspired by the very same misguided ideas engaged in the very same dangerous tactics over and over again. And it's inspired similar activism in Nashville, Denver and New York. Your town is next and we know what will come of it.
At CHAZ, two black teenagers were shot to death. More recently at the occupation, a woman was murdered. And not once do these activists realize how deadly their actions have become. And when cities like Seattle finally intervene, it's often too late. Hopefully your hometown doesn't give an inch because these activists will quite literally take—and occupy—a mile.
Jason Rantz is a frequent guest on Fox News and is the host of the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH Seattle, heard weekday afternoons. You can subscribe to his podcast here and follow him on Twitter: @jasonrantz.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-12-29--Mitch McConnell Cornered Over Stimulus Checks As Lawmakers Mount Pressure

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) faces mounting pressure to facilitate stimulus checks being boosted to $ 2,000 after the House of Representatives passed a measure to increase the payments .
The House voted on the move on Monday , with it passing 275-134 , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) has said he intends to move it forward in the Senate on Tuesday .
In outlining this action , Schumer pinned its fate squarely on McConnell .
`` There 's strong support for these $ 2,000 emergency checks from every corner of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell ought to make sure Senate Republicans do not stand in the way of helping to meet the needs of American workers and families who are crying out for help . ''
Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) also upped pressure on McConnell , by threatening to block a move to override the president 's veto of the defense funding bill unless a vote on the $ 2,000 checks is held .
`` The House passed a $ 2,000 direct payment for working people .
Now it 's the Senate 's turn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't agree to an up or down vote to provide the working people of our country a $ 2,000 direct payment , Congress will not be going home for New Year 's Eve .
Let 's do our job . ''
On top of this , further pressure has come from President Donald Trump to up the stimulus check spending .
`` Give the people $ 2000 , not $ 600 , '' he tweeted , in response to details of Sanders ' potential filibuster move .
`` They have suffered enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D-CA ) referenced the president 's support of the move as she pressed for the Senate to pass the measure .
`` The House and the President are in agreement : we must deliver $ 2,000 checks to American families struggling this Holiday Season , '' she tweeted .
`` The House just passed the # CASHAct—it 's time for the Senate to do the same . ''
Despite this pressure , it remains unclear whether the CASH Act will pass in the Senate .
Republican opposition to higher spending was a key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bipartisan legislation and this may prove a hurdle once again .
McConnell has previously shown his willingness to hold up stimulus action , with the Democrats ' HEROES Act and an updated version of that legislation both languishing in the Senate after passing the House .
He has also been willing to break rank with Trump of late , drawing the ire of the president for congratulating Joe Biden for his presidential election success .
Newsweek has contacted McConnell 's office for comment on his stance on the move to boost the stimulus @ @ @ @ @

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) faces mounting pressure to facilitate stimulus checks being boosted to $2,000 after the House of Representatives passed a measure to increase the payments.
The House voted on the move on Monday, with it passing 275-134, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has said he intends to move it forward in the Senate on Tuesday. In outlining this action, Schumer pinned its fate squarely on McConnell.
"There's strong support for these $2,000 emergency checks from every corner of the country," he said.
"Leader McConnell ought to make sure Senate Republicans do not stand in the way of helping to meet the needs of American workers and families who are crying out for help."
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also upped pressure on McConnell, by threatening to block a move to override the president's veto of the defense funding bill unless a vote on the $2,000 checks is held.
"The House passed a $2,000 direct payment for working people. Now it's the Senate's turn," Sanders tweeted.
"If McConnell doesn't agree to an up or down vote to provide the working people of our country a $2,000 direct payment, Congress will not be going home for New Year's Eve. Let's do our job."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) listens to a question during a press conference after the weekly policy luncheon on December 8, 2020 in Washington, DC. Greg Nash/Pool/Getty
On top of this, further pressure has come from President Donald Trump to up the stimulus check spending.
"Give the people $2000, not $600," he tweeted, in response to details of Sanders' potential filibuster move. "They have suffered enough!"
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) referenced the president's support of the move as she pressed for the Senate to pass the measure.
Read more $2,000 Stimulus Check Latest Update as Senate to Vote on Higher Payments $2,000 Stimulus Check Latest Update as Senate to Vote on Higher Payments
"The House and the President are in agreement: we must deliver $2,000 checks to American families struggling this Holiday Season," she tweeted.
"The House just passed the #CASHAct—it's time for the Senate to do the same."
Despite this pressure, it remains unclear whether the CASH Act will pass in the Senate.
Republican opposition to higher spending was a key reason for the previous stalemate in agreeing bipartisan legislation and this may prove a hurdle once again.
McConnell has previously shown his willingness to hold up stimulus action, with the Democrats' HEROES Act and an updated version of that legislation both languishing in the Senate after passing the House.
He has also been willing to break rank with Trump of late, drawing the ire of the president for congratulating Joe Biden for his presidential election success.
Newsweek has contacted McConnell's office for comment on his stance on the move to boost the stimulus checks to $2,000.


newsweek--2020-12-29--'Twisted Tea' Video Viewed Over 1 Million Times, Inspires Wave of Memes

Viral video of a racist white man being smacked in the head with a can of tea at an Ohio convenience store has spawned an array of online jokes and memes .
Footage of the incident , which is said to have taken place at a Circle K store on Broad Street in Elyria , has been viewed nearly two million times since it emerged on Christmas Eve .
The altercation , first shared to Reddit alongside the title `` Drunk guy yells N Word and gets SMACKED with Twisted Tea Can , '' shows two men embroiled in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clip begins with a white man hurling obscenities at a Black man , threatening to perform a sex act on his mother as both men wait in line .
`` Fuck my momma ?
Fuck your momma , [ n-word ] , '' the seemingly inebriated white man says with beers in hand .
Slurring his words , the man continues to say he lives about `` two blocks away , '' adding `` And you know what 's crazy ?
Imma walk to you .
Right to my house for you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ man gathers his shopping bag to leave the store , the white man once again addresses him , saying : `` I 'm not trying to disrespect you bro , I 'm not . ''
`` Then stop saying it , '' the Black man responds , seemingly in reference to the racial slurs .
`` I 'm gon na say [ n-word ] all day , everyday .
Are you kidding me ?
Where you from [ n-word ] ?
Where you from ?
Where you from ? ''
the white man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's from the area , the white man does n't believe it .
`` You from here ? ''
he questions .
`` Get the fuck outta here , you a clown , [ n-word ] . ''
At this point , the Black man picks up a can of Twisted Tea .
`` What ?
You gon na smack me with that ? ''
the white man asks .
`` Smack me .
Smack me , [ n-word ] ! ''
After momentarily dropping the can on the floor , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white man 's face and sends him reeling to the ground .
`` Yeah , you got yours buddy , '' a woman 's voice can be heard behind the camera .
The two men brawl on the floor before the Black man sends several punches to the other man 's head .
`` Call me another fucking [ n-word ] , '' he yells .
`` I asked you not to call me [ n-word ] . ''
The video , which is just under two minutes long , appears to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting in line .
On Twitter , a clip of the same altercation has been viewed more than 1.8 million times .
Many praised the actions of the unidentified Black man , while others condemned the use of violence .
`` I hope twisted tea guy in Elyria runs for Ohio governor in 2022 , '' one viewer joked as another added , `` I hope this guy does Twisted Tea commercials for life . ''
`` My fav part is how nobody tried to intervene bc they knew the idiot was getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observed .
`` What 's crazy is the black dude gave him a lot of chances , had a lot of patience , and even let him off really easy .
Much respect for his self-control , '' one man said .
Other more creative responses included video mash-ups to music and pop culture references .
`` When the cop asks me if I have any weapons in my car , '' one man joked alongside a snap of a Twisted Tea can in his car glove box .
`` I 'm ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote alongside a vintage film snap .
Others praised the camerawork and the person behind the lens of the encounter .
`` That girl with that camerawork is the real MVP , '' one said .
`` Caught everything without even shaking the camera a little bit . ''
The two men in the video have yet to be identified and no charges are believed to have been made .
`` It has obviously gone viral on the internet , but to my knowledge it was never called in or reported , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elyria Chronicle-Telegram .
Newsweek has contacted the Elyria Police Department for comment .

Viral video of a racist white man being smacked in the head with a can of tea at an Ohio convenience store has spawned an array of online jokes and memes.
Footage of the incident, which is said to have taken place at a Circle K store on Broad Street in Elyria, has been viewed nearly two million times since it emerged on Christmas Eve.
The altercation, first shared to Reddit alongside the title "Drunk guy yells N Word and gets SMACKED with Twisted Tea Can," shows two men embroiled in an exchange at the register.
The two-minute clip begins with a white man hurling obscenities at a Black man, threatening to perform a sex act on his mother as both men wait in line.
"Fuck my momma? Fuck your momma, [n-word]," the seemingly inebriated white man says with beers in hand.
Slurring his words, the man continues to say he lives about "two blocks away," adding "And you know what's crazy? Imma walk to you. Right to my house for you. On God."
As the Black man gathers his shopping bag to leave the store, the white man once again addresses him, saying: "I'm not trying to disrespect you bro, I'm not."
"Then stop saying it," the Black man responds, seemingly in reference to the racial slurs.
"I'm gonna say [n-word] all day, everyday. Are you kidding me? Where you from [n-word]? Where you from? Where you from?" the white man persists.
When the Black man says he's from the area, the white man doesn't believe it. "You from here?" he questions. "Get the fuck outta here, you a clown, [n-word]."
At this point, the Black man picks up a can of Twisted Tea.
"What? You gonna smack me with that?" the white man asks. "Smack me. Smack me, [n-word]!"
Dave Matthews Band- Twisted Tea Marching pic.twitter.com/66YYIdjJKT — @FremontPike shitposter (@FPSpr33zy) December 28, 2020
What is even going on right now with this Twisted Tea lmao 😂 pic.twitter.com/UmawgmyqVP — Chad (From the Republic of Chad) (@from_republic) December 28, 2020
After momentarily dropping the can on the floor, the Black man hurls the beverage across the white man's face and sends him reeling to the ground.
"Yeah, you got yours buddy," a woman's voice can be heard behind the camera.
The two men brawl on the floor before the Black man sends several punches to the other man's head.
"Call me another fucking [n-word]," he yells. "I asked you not to call me [n-word]."
The video, which is just under two minutes long, appears to have been filmed by a third customer also waiting in line.
On Twitter, a clip of the same altercation has been viewed more than 1.8 million times.
HERES THE SLOWMO JDJAJSJABC CBC ZBZNZBZNXNZNV pic.twitter.com/eIHesNPhFi — ELFO.MAKKINA徒弟404 (@wa_sebi) December 24, 2020
Many praised the actions of the unidentified Black man, while others condemned the use of violence.
"I hope twisted tea guy in Elyria runs for Ohio governor in 2022," one viewer joked as another added, "I hope this guy does Twisted Tea commercials for life."
"My fav part is how nobody tried to intervene bc they knew the idiot was getting what he deserved," one person observed.
"What's crazy is the black dude gave him a lot of chances, had a lot of patience, and even let him off really easy. Much respect for his self-control," one man said.
"Incredible restraint. Massive respect," another agreed.
Other more creative responses included video mash-ups to music and pop culture references.
"When the cop asks me if I have any weapons in my car," one man joked alongside a snap of a Twisted Tea can in his car glove box.
"I'm ready for the purge," one woman wrote alongside a vintage film snap.
When the cop ask me if I have any weapons in my car #TwistedTea pic.twitter.com/BjEzh04yuu — Dangpapicito (@JonyBeats) December 27, 2020
Others praised the camerawork and the person behind the lens of the encounter.
"That girl with that camerawork is the real MVP," one said. "Caught everything without even shaking the camera a little bit."
The two men in the video have yet to be identified and no charges are believed to have been made.
"It has obviously gone viral on the internet, but to my knowledge it was never called in or reported," Elyria Police Lieutenant Jame Welsh told the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.
Newsweek has contacted the Elyria Police Department for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-29--PS5 Restock Updates for Target, Walmart, Best Buy and More

Sony 's PlayStation 5 gaming console has been selling out at retailers across the country since its release on November 12 .
`` PS5 launch supply has been front-loaded significantly more than the PS4 generation , '' Piers Harding-Rolls , a games industry expert who heads Ampere Analysis , noted earlier this month .
`` Things have been exacerbated by the higher demand due to the larger install base of active PlayStation users before launch and the general increase in interest in gaming over 2020 , '' Harding-Rolls added .
Pre-order demand had been `` big , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelmed by traffic after teasing PS5 and Xbox Series X restocks without specifying exact times .
But Target may be the most promising place to potentially bag a PS5 .
The retailer was tipped to have a restock available from December 28 but it did n't materialize .
However , it may still drop on Tuesday , with multiple restocks reported for the Midwest region , while some Target stores in the West Coast and southern regions were reported to have units on hand , according to Spiel Times .
Here we look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Target , Best Buy , Walmart and other websites .
Target has been restocking PS5 in recent weeks and monitoring their website is your best bet .
The restock at Target typically drops between around 3 a.m and 7 a.m .
ET .
Availability differs by location , so check your nearest branch for the latest information .
It is only available via `` contactless Drive Up or Order Pickup '' services and purchases are limited to one unit per customer .
PS5 is currently out of stock at Walmart , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website , and customers can not place any back orders .
The company notes : `` We are working hard to give as many customers as possible a chance to secure this year 's hottest gaming consoles , including the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S .
`` To ensure consoles reach as many households as possible , we have quantity limits in place .
Our agents can not advise on what the limitations are or how they work as this is proprietary information .
`` We will make any inventory available for purchase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The item page will be available when inventory is back in stock .
`` Keep an eye on Walmart.com or the Walmart App for updates , '' the website advises .
PS5 , which can only be purchased via the Best Buy website for curbside pick-up only , is currently sold out .
PS5 package deals , which come with PS5 games or controllers and a higher price , may see a faster restock than console only deals .
PS5 offers at Newegg are all bundles and they are currently out of stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 p.m. PT , 8 p.m .
ET .
It 's also worth checking the Newegg Twitter account as occasionally the company tweets restock information when the next restock is about to take place .
Costco 's PS5 package ( which includes an additional controller , the Spider-Man : Miles Morales Ultimate Launch Edition game and a one-month PlayStation Now membership ) is also out of stock .
There is no updated restock information .
Inventory tracking websites like PopFindr , BrickSeek and NowinStock help alert customers when a PS5 is back in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services .

Sony's PlayStation 5 gaming console has been selling out at retailers across the country since its release on November 12.
"PS5 launch supply has been front-loaded significantly more than the PS4 generation," Piers Harding-Rolls, a games industry expert who heads Ampere Analysis, noted earlier this month.
"Things have been exacerbated by the higher demand due to the larger install base of active PlayStation users before launch and the general increase in interest in gaming over 2020," Harding-Rolls added. Pre-order demand had been "big," he said.
Previously the Best Buy website was overwhelmed by traffic after teasing PS5 and Xbox Series X restocks without specifying exact times.
But Target may be the most promising place to potentially bag a PS5. The retailer was tipped to have a restock available from December 28 but it didn't materialize. However, it may still drop on Tuesday, with multiple restocks reported for the Midwest region, while some Target stores in the West Coast and southern regions were reported to have units on hand, according to Spiel Times.
Here we look at the latest PS5 restock information from Target, Best Buy, Walmart and other websites.
Target PS5 Restock
Target has been restocking PS5 in recent weeks and monitoring their website is your best bet. The restock at Target typically drops between around 3 a.m and 7 a.m. ET. Availability differs by location, so check your nearest branch for the latest information. It is only available via "contactless Drive Up or Order Pickup" services and purchases are limited to one unit per customer.
Walmart PS5 Restock
PS5 is currently out of stock at Walmart, with the item page no longer available on the website, and customers cannot place any back orders.
The company notes: "We are working hard to give as many customers as possible a chance to secure this year's hottest gaming consoles, including the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
"To ensure consoles reach as many households as possible, we have quantity limits in place. Our agents cannot advise on what the limitations are or how they work as this is proprietary information.
"We will make any inventory available for purchase once it is back in stock. The item page will be available when inventory is back in stock.
"Keep an eye on Walmart.com or the Walmart App for updates," the website advises.
Best Buy PS5 Restock
PS5, which can only be purchased via the Best Buy website for curbside pick-up only, is currently sold out. PS5 package deals, which come with PS5 games or controllers and a higher price, may see a faster restock than console only deals.
Newegg PS5 Restock
PS5 offers at Newegg are all bundles and they are currently out of stock. PS5 restocks usually take place at 5 p.m. PT, 8 p.m. ET. It's also worth checking the Newegg Twitter account as occasionally the company tweets restock information when the next restock is about to take place.
Costco PS5 Restock
Costco's PS5 package (which includes an additional controller, the Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Launch Edition game and a one-month PlayStation Now membership) is also out of stock. There is no updated restock information.
PopFinder, BrickSeek and NowinStock PS5 Restock
Inventory tracking websites like PopFindr, BrickSeek and NowinStock help alert customers when a PS5 is back in stock but some retailers are blocking the services.