EDMONTON – Leon Draisaitl had two goals and an assist and Connor McDavid added three assists as the Edmonton Oilers came away with a 4-2 victory over the struggling Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

Mattias Ekholm and Jason Dickinson also scored for the Oilers (12-3-3) who snapped a two-game losing skid. The Oilers are 10-0-2 when they score first this season.

Devon Levi returned from injury to record 20 saves and improve to 7-1-0 in the Edmonton net.

Max Sasson and Brock Boeser replied for the Canucks (3-15-1) who have lost five straight and 15 of their last 16.

Leevi Merilainen made 26 stops for Vancouver.

TAKEAWAYS

Canucks: Swedish forward Liam Öhgren was unable to extend his scoring streak to three games. The 22-year-old had scored four goals in his previous five games, including his first-ever power-play goal.

Oilers: McDavid extended his season-starting points and assists streak to 18 games. He now leads the league with 10 goals, 37 assists and 47 points. The Oilers captain matched Adam Oates for the second-longest assist streak in NHL history behind only Wayne Gretzky’s 23 games set in 1990-91. McDavid also became the sixth player in NHL history with a season-opening 18-game point streak.

KEY MOMENT

Edmonton took a 3-1 lead four minutes into the final frame as their potent power play struck when McDavid sent it across to Draisaitl and he unleashed his patented one-timer for his 15th of the season. Evan Bouchard extended his points streak to six games and both he and Draisaitl have points in 16 of 18 games.

KEY STAT

The Canucks came into the game sporting a dreadful minus-30 goal differential, a staggering 4.61 goals against per game. Meanwhile, the Oilers came in as the league’s highest-scoring team, averaging 4.12 goals per contest.

UP NEXT

Canucks: Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.

Oilers: Host the New York Rangers on Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

TORONTO – Gavin McKenna had the puck on his stick, looking to make a play in the offensive zone with the Maple Leafs already in a hole.

The No. 1 overall pick in June’s NHL draft spotted Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe in open ice on the opposite side of the rink.

Canadiens forward Chris Kreider read the rookie winger’s mind, intercepted the pass and raced the other way before burying a breakaway chance for a 3-0 lead.

McKenna found himself stapled to the bench for the rest of the second period before scoring in the third as part of Toronto’s failed comeback attempt, which ended in a 4-2 Montreal victory.

The 18-year-old’s performance Saturday was a lot like the Maple Leafs’ first 18 games — some good, some bad, and not enough overall.

Toronto, in short, needs to find some traction fast.

The club sits with the same record — an 8-8-2 mark — as it did at this stage of last season’s disastrous 78-point showing that ended with its first playoff-less campaign in a decade.

“There were some good things,” said veteran defenceman Chris Tanev. “We need to do it for 60 (minutes), and we’ve been saying that for a long time now.”

The Maple Leafs have lost four of their last five games in regulation and sit second-last in the high-flying Atlantic Division. Toronto opened a season-high six-game homestand with Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth and is in the middle of a difficult gauntlet that includes a Sunday date with the red-hot New Jersey Devils, followed by matchups against the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers.

“Urgency always has to be high,” said Maple Leafs forward John Tavares, back Saturday after a nine-game absence with a lower-body injury. “We can look at all that and who we’re playing against and the calibre and expectations of certain teams. But in this league, every game’s important — they all matter.

“Important for us to regroup and get back at it.”

That’s what McKenna said after his second-period turnover, which started the sequence leading to Montreal’s first goal.

“I knew I was gonna probably sit for that one,” he said. “My teammates, in the second intermission, came in and talked to me, and (head coach Jim Hiller) pulled me aside and talked to me.

“He said he was gonna get me out there again, which felt good. I appreciated that from him, and honestly, it fired me up. Just an unfortunate bounce.”

Maple Leafs winger William Nylander scored Toronto’s first goal in the third on a power play before McKenna made it 3-2 just 55 seconds later. He liked the youngster’s response.

“Obviously doesn’t want to make that turnover,” Nylander said. “He realizes it when he makes the play … it’s great for him to come back and get a huge goal. Sometimes that happens. You just gotta forget about it and move on.

“He answered the bell.”

Hiller, who benched McKenna for the second half of a game last month, kept the details of their intermission conversation private.

“You just can’t do it — you can’t continue to do it — you know what I mean?” he said of turning the puck over. “But he’s a great young player. Bounced back, good attitude, all that kind of stuff.

“(He’s) trying, learning, come a long way, so it’s all good. It’s just tough sometimes.”

The same could be said for the Maple Leafs right now.

“Sometimes we start the game well, and then we dip off,” Nylander said of Toronto’s uneven performances. “It’s been hard. Sometimes first period’s good, second period’s good, third period’s good. I couldn’t tell you why.”

The answers need to come soon.

“If there’s no urgency, then you’re in the wrong league,” Tanev said. “It’s just playing smarter hockey, supporting each other and understanding situations.”

EARLY DEPARTURE

Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly didn’t return after Saturday’s first period with a lower-body injury.

“He’s played really well,” said Hiller, who didn’t have an update post-game. “He’s had a really good, probably three weeks, as good as I’ve seen him in a long time. Really been helping us.

“His confidence is back. It’s a big blow, so hopefully it’s not too long.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

OTTAWA – Nick Cousins redirected a Thomas Chabot shot with 2:18 remaining in the third period to lift the Ottawa Senators to a 4-2 win over the Utah Mammoth on Saturday night.

Cousins had been frustrated after missing a couple chances earlier in the game but made no mistake on his second of the season that snapped a 2-2 tie. Shane Pinto added an empty-net goal with 16 seconds left.

Fabian Zetterlund and Michael Amadio also scored for the Senators (11-6-1). Samuel Ersson turned away 30 shots for his third win of the season.

Clayton Keller and Barrett Hayton scored for the Mammoth (10-7-1) with Karel Vejmelka making 17 saves.

Saturday’s contest was the Senators first home date following a five-game road trip where they went 2-2-1.

The Mammoth played the fifth and final game of a road trip where they went 2-2-1.

The Senators took a 2-1 lead at 6:29 of the third on a little give-and-go. Claude Giroux took a pass down low from Amadio and fed it right back for Amadio to score into the open net.

The Mammoth tied it just over three minutes later when Hayton tipped Keller’s shot from just inside the blue line.

Despite being tied 1-1 the Senators lost a number of battles in the first period. Travis Green shuffled all his lines for the second and the Senators responded with a higher energy output but couldn’t find a way to beat Vejmelka.

Ersson was solid, making a few key saves to keep the game tied.

The Senators opened the scoring with a power-play goal. Stephen Halliday found Zetterlund alone at the top of the faceoff circle and he wristed a shot past Vejmelka for his second of the season.

Utah tied the game midway through the period when Keller took advantage of a Tim Stutzle giveaway and broke in on Ersson and picked up his own rebound.

TAKEAWAYS

Senators: Ottawa looked sluggish in the first but got better as the game went on.

Mammoth: Utah played a solid road game, but just couldn’t capitalize on its chances.

KEY STAT

Ottawa’s Shane Pinto played his 300th NHL career game.

KEY MOMENT

Ersson made two key saves in the final 62 seconds to preserve an Ottawa victory.

UP NEXT

Mammoth: Visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.

Senators: Host the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

TORONTO – Alex Newhook scored twice in the first period and Jacob Fowler made 26 saves as the Montreal Canadiens topped the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Saturday.

Chris Kreider and Zachary Bolduc had the other goals for Montreal (11-3-3), which has won seven of its last eight games.

William Nylander and Gavin McKenna replied for Toronto (8-8-2). Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 24 shots for the Maple Leafs, who have lost two straight and four of five in regulation.

The Canadiens opened the scoring at 5:56 of the first when Newhook’s pass in front of Bobrovsky pinballed into Toronto’s net after a giveaway by McKenna — the No. 1 pick at the 2026 NHL draft — started the sequence.

Montreal doubled its lead at 13:06 when Newhook tipped home Kaiden Guhle’s point shot.

The Canadiens made it 3-0 on a breakaway at 12:57 when Kreider intercepted a McKenna pass at Montreal’s blue line and beat Bobrovsky past his blocker. Toronto’s rookie winger was benched for the rest of the period.

Nylander blasted a one-timer on a power play at 6:19 of the third to get the Maple Leafs on the board before McKenna popped a loose puck home 55 seconds later, but Bolduc responded on a man advantage to make it 4-2 at 12:15.

Toronto got a late chance when Canadiens Juraj Slafkovsky was assessed a double-minor for high-sticking with 3:33 left in regulation, but Fowler and Montreal’s penalty killers held the fort.

TAKEAWAYS

Canadiens: Despite plenty of firepower, the club entered with the NHL’s 30th-ranked power play at a paltry 14 per cent success rate before connecting when Bolduc fired past Bobrovsky in the third.

Maple Leafs: Veteran defenceman Morgan Rielly didn’t return after the first period with a lower-body injury. John Tavares returned to the lineup after missing the last nine games with a lower-body injury.

KEY MOMENT

Toronto started its initial push in the second down 2-0, including a long shift in the offensive zone, but Montreal survived before Kreider stretched his team’s advantage to three.

KEY STAT

Signed to a big-money deal in free agency, Bobrovsky has allowed three goals or more in 10 of 11 starts.

UP NEXT

Canadiens: Host the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

Maple Leafs: Host the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

EDMONTON – The Edmonton Elks took one more massive step towards completing the revitalization of the franchise Saturday, beating the B.C. Lions 28-16 in the CFL West Final to advance to the Grey Cup game for the first time since 2015.

The Elks will play the Montreal Alouettes next Sunday in Calgary.

That one, said head coach Mark Kilam and quarterback Cody Fajardo, was for Edmonton, the city and the 40,182 fans in Commonwealth Stadium.

“I want to give a shout-out to Edmonton because I got emotional when we first took the field; that place was unbelievable,” Kilam said before answering any post-game questions. “Edmonton was unbelievable, and I want to shout them out for showing up.”

“Hats off to the city, 40,000 is incredible,” said Fajardo, who will be seeking a third Grey Cup win. “From where it was to where it is now, for us, that drove us to wanting to win that game more than anything else. 40,000 in the stands, you could hear them; they were the difference tonight.”

The Elks had suffered through six seasons of not making the playoffs, at one point losing 22 straight home games, and attendance fell dramatically. The turnaround began when the team was sold to Larry and Deb Thompson, Chris Morris took over as president, Ed Hervey was hired as general manager, and Kilam was hired as head coach.

Fajardo will lead the Elks into the championship game against the Montreal team that let him go a year after he led them to the 2023 Grey Cup title.

“What a hell of a story, eh? That’s the CFL,” Fajardo said of meeting his former team. “To tell you the truth, when I saw them win the game (East Final over Winnipeg Blue Bombers), that’s when I knew we were going to win. God has this funny thing about giving second chances, and he gave me a second chance.”

“This is going to be a great week. An organization I have a lot of respect for. Clearly, they made a great decision because they’ve got the MOP there in Davis Alexander. He’s a tremendous player. I’ve got a lot of respect for them; we’re very close. It’s going to be awesome to compete against one another; we’re 1-1 against each other.”

It took both teams until the third quarter Saturday before the offences could find many cracks in the respective defences. The Lions led 9-6 at the half, but Edmonton outscored B.C. 22-7 in the second half.

“We’re a second-half team, this is what we do, we want to take over the game,” said Kilam. “We got the stop coming out of the half, and then we went down and got points … that’s what this team is. We’re comfortable when things get tough late in the game, we can hang.”

B.C. head coach Buck Pierce said his team just couldn’t put together enough consistent offence against a tough Edmonton defence.

“There are certain instances in games where you have opportunities to capture momentum, and we just weren’t able to get over that hump,” he said. “We had some big plays offensively, we were able to get a couple of things going but not finishing consistently.”

“Defensively, they were lights out on the first half. They played their tails off.”

Fajardo was largely instrumental in the Elks’ second-half success. Two key runs that ended with B.C. taking rough-play penalties contributed to 10 Edmonton points.

“Whatever it takes, that’s the mentality of this team,” said Fajardo, who completed 25 of 30 passes for 274 yards and one touchdown. He ran 10 times for a game-high 84 yards and a touchdown.

“I thought that was one of our best three-phase football games we’ve put together …and we had to,” he said. B.C.’s a great team, they were making it really hard on us. We made some great halftime adjustments.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

The Curator independently decides what topics and products we feature. When you purchase an item through our links, we may earn a commission. Promotions and products are subject to availability and retailer terms.

Forget squeaky springs and stiff mattresses – today’s best sleeper sofas are designed for real life, from condos and small spaces to year-round use and overnight guests. Whether you’re searching for a compact sleeper sofa, sectional sleeper sofa or stylish pull-out couch, these sofa beds combine comfort, durability and easy conversions without sacrificing looks, no matter your need. From Canadian favourites Article, Simons and Cozey to Walmart, Amazon and more, there is something to suit every budget, style and need.

 

Quick Pick Summary

Best Sectional Sleeper Sofa: Vati 114 Inch Right Storage Sleeper Sectional

Best Modular Sleeper Sofa: Neptune Collection

Best Reclining Sofa: Jonas 87.5 Inch Power Recliner Sofa

Best for Everyday Use: Sundays Sleep Over Sofa Bed

Best for Small Spaces: Cozey Orian 1 Seater Single Sofa Bed

 

What to look for in a sleeper sofa

To find the best sleeper sofa for you, consider how often it will be used for sleeping, the size of your space, mattress or cushion construction, ease and type of conversion, as well as what storage features you’d want and the overall style that best suits your home. The good news is, with so many options today, you’re sure to find what you need.

 

Best Sectional Sleeper Sofa 

With its low-profile, curvaceous silhouette and ultra-cushy cushions, the Vati makes a strong case for a sleeper sectional that looks as good as it functions. Its hidden chaise storage offers a convenient spot to stash throw pillows and blankets, while the pull-out memory foam mattress transforms it into a comfortable sleep space for overnight guests—making it a stylish, practical pick for those who want extra functionality without sacrificing their living room aesthetic.[/product_listing]

 

Best Modular Sleeper Sofa

The Cozey Neptune Collection transforms from a modular sofa into a bed, making it a practical choice for hosting overnight guests without sacrificing everyday comfort. Removable, washable covers, hidden storage and tool-free customisable configurations make it easy to adapt to your space and keep looking fresh.[/product_listing]

Best Reclining Sofa

Designed for laid-back evenings, the Jonas Power Recliner Sofa lets you kick back with reclining seats and adjustable headrests on both sides. Its stain-resistant Clover performance fabric stands up to everyday spills, while the rich espresso finish brings a polished look to your living room.[/product_listing]

 

For a more traditional take on a sleeper sofa, the compact BIGSYY Linen 3-in-1 sleeper sofa also wins. It transforms from sofa to recliner to twin-size bed in seconds. At 95 lbs, it’s lightweight and made for small spaces and for anyone who requires multifunctional furniture (that may need to be moved around, occasionally). A stepless adjustable backrest lets you find your preferred lounging angle, while supportive high-density foam, breathable linen upholstery and handy side-pocket storage make it a practical choice for everyday life.[/product_listing]

 

Best for Everyday Use 

The Sleep Over Sofa Bed is designed with comfort at the forefront. Its generously cushioned seat creates a cozy spot for reading, relaxing, or accommodating overnight guests, while the low-profile silhouette and soft upholstery lend it a relaxed, designer-approved look. It’s an excellent choice for a home office that may serve double duty, or multipurpose spaces where you want the feel of a bed but still want your space to look good.[/product_listing]

 

You may also like:

Silk & Snow Egyptian Cotton Bed Sheets – $162

Google Fitbit Charge 6 Advanced Health and Fitness Tracker – $139.95

Blackout Curtains for Bedroom – $18.82

 

Best for Small Spaces 

A modern modular sleeper made for small-space living, the Orian shifts from everyday lounge seating to a flat, supportive sleep surface in moments. Ideal for condo dwellers and frequent hosts, it features washable covers, flexible configurations and hidden storage options – delivering a clean, elevated alternative to traditional pull-out sofa beds.[/product_listing]

 

Our top pick with kids in mind, this modular foam play couch doubles as seating, creative play space and a soft sleeping surface for the children in your life. Lightweight pieces stack, fold and rearrange into forts, lounges, or an impromptu bed for naps and sleepovers. With washable covers and durable foam, it’s ideal for families seeking flexible, an easy-clean sleep option that adapts to daily life. And hint: Adults can sleep on it too, if needed.[/product_listing]

 

You may also like:

Kitsch Satin Pillowcase – $25.99

Utopia Bedding Bed Pillows – $33.99

Deep Sleep Pillow Spray 75 ml – $48.19

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

 

It’s round two this weekend of a trio of back- to- back storms that are expected to blast through B.C. until Monday. A government MP in Surrey Saturday, to push the federal budget and its funding for housing, was also pressed on the lack of BC Ferries funding. A witness to the aftermath of a harrowing bus crash in Northern B.C. this past week is recounting the ordeal.

Click here for more Global BC videos

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

As Remembrance Day approaches, Margot Rockett is working hard to keep up with the demand after her craftsmanship went viral on TikTok.

Rockett makes what she calls “door poppies”, large wreath-like poppies that can be hung on doors, walls and windows.

“It’s a bigger, bolder way to say I remember,” she told Global News.

Rockett’s father served in the Air Force in the Second World War. In the last few years of his life, Rockett said he lived at the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre.

“They took such good care of him and I really wanted to give back to the Poppy Fund and to the Legion,” she said.

During the pandemic, the “door poppy” was born.

“I just sort of tweaked a flower I made before and I made the door poppy,” Rockett said.

The $10 “door poppy” is officially licensed by the Legion.

“It’s a very rigid, strict policy because it is a trademarked image, and I respect that because they have to protect the poppy,” Rockett said.

All of the proceeds from the poppies go to Rockett’s Legion branch at Coxwell and Gerrard. She said all of the money stays in the community to support local veterans and their families.

That support is appreciated by those at the Legion.

“When Margot approached us a couple years ago, I thought it was pretty amazing and that all her proceeds were going to come to this branch specifically for our poppy campaign, it’s a huge income for us,” Shelley Lyons, vice-president at the Coxwell and Gerrard Legion, told Global News.

She said it’s been “disheartening” to see fewer people wearing poppies around Remembrance Day and hopes that Rockett’s initiative will encourage people to pay their respects.

She said as the First and Second World Wars fade further into history, a “lack of education and just memory knowledge” could be driving factors.

“It always makes me smile when I see someone wearing it,” she added.

For now, Rockett is working all hours to keep up with the demand, but she said she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I think if my dad were here, he’d be really proud,” she said.

– With files from Global News’ Sean O’Shea

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

TORONTO – Carey Price spent a lot of his youth on the road and in the air.

Growing up in a remote part of British Columbia, that’s what chasing his hockey dream required.

When the phone rang in June to announce he would be joining the game’s greats, Price was fittingly in a familiar situation — driving.

“I was on my way to go visit my grandmother at the hospital,” recalled the former Montreal Canadiens goaltender. “Hockey Hall of Fame came up with my caller ID in my truck, so pretty excited about that. Got to spend the rest of the day with my grandmother, who made a recovery.

“It was a blessed day.”

Price had plenty of those in the NHL and with Canada on the international stage. Now he will share another one Monday with the rest of the hall’s 2026 class.

The netminder headlines this year’s inductees alongside Patrice Bergeron, Pekka Rinne, Keith Tkachuk and Cindy Curley in the player category set to be enshrined Monday. Brian Burke will go in as a builder.

“A long road to get to this point,” Price, who starred in Montreal for all 15 of his NHL seasons and will enter the hall in his second year of eligibility, said Saturday. “I’m just extremely thankful for that journey and everything that I learned along the way — not only in hockey but in life.”

The No. 5 pick at the 2005 draft, Price won the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Vezina Trophy as its top goaltender in 2015.

The 39-year-old from Anahim Lake, B.C., finished with a 361-261-79 record, .917 save percentage, 2.51 goals-against average and 49 shutouts across 712 regular-season games in a career that was, at times, hampered by injury.

Price had even better big-moment numbers before a knee issue forced him to stop playing beyond the 2021-22 campaign.

He owned a .919 save percentage, 2.39 GAA and eight shutouts in 92 playoff contests, with his final post-season act perhaps the most impressive — willing the underdog Canadiens on an improbable push to the 2021 Stanley Cup final.

Those gaudy numbers and achievements are a long way from the lonely roads and empty skies of his hockey-playing youth.

“A very large part of my childhood, spending time in planes and trucks and cars with my dad,” Price said. “He’d tell you that he wouldn’t have it any other way. But I’m grateful to him and the rest of my family for their support in getting here.”

A six-time Selke Trophy winner as the NHL’s top defensive forward after being selected 45th overall in 2003, Bergeron hoisted hockey’s holy grail with the Boston Bruins in 2011.

The 41-year-old former centre from L’Ancienne-Lorette, Que., registered 427 goals and 613 assists for 1,040 points in 1,294 regular-season games. He added 128 points (50 goals, 78 assists) in 170 playoff contests, including Boston’s run to the 2019 final, before retiring in 2023.

“A huge honour,” said Bergeron, who spent all 19 of his NHL campaigns with the Bruins and was in his first year of eligibility. “You look back at all the memories and the people that have helped you along the way.”

Price, who added the Ted Lindsay Award as the league’s most outstanding player voted on by the NHLPA membership to his trophy case in 2015, and Bergeron also enjoyed success side-by-side sporting the red Maple Leaf.

The duo was on Canada’s juggernaut 2014 Olympic team that topped the field before capturing the World Cup of Hockey two years later.

“It was a lot more fun to be on his side with Team Canada,” Bergeron, who also claimed gold at the 2010 Games to go along with victories at the 2005 world junior hockey championship and the 2004 men’s worlds, said of Price. “A legendary career.”

Rinne, 43, owned a 369-213-75 record playing parts of 15 NHL seasons with the Nashville Predators. The 2018 Vezina-winning goaltender had a .917 save percentage and a 2.43 GAA in 683 regular-season games. He added a 45-44 playoff mark with a .914 save percentage, 2.49 GAA and five shutouts.

Tkachuk, whose NHL-playing sons Matthew and Brady will be in attendance Monday, registered 1,065 points (538 goals, 527 assists) in 1,201 contests in 18 NHL campaigns.

“They’ll probably be critiquing me when I’m up there speaking and making faces,” the 52-year-old Tkachuk joked of his sons before turning serious: “They’re great kids, they’re supportive, and I’m just glad they have the opportunity, with the schedule, to be here.”

A trailblazer in women’s hockey, Curley captained the U.S. to three silvers at the worlds in the 1990s.

“There’s just so many people that wouldn’t give up,” the 62-year-old said of her sport. “I just benefitted from their hard work. I’m truly grateful.”

Burke, 71, had a long career in NHL management that included stops with the Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins following a stint at the league office.

“Still pinching myself,” said the Cup-winning GM with Anaheim in 2007. “Like a dream come true.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Saturday night that he was giving opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot the first opportunity to form a governing coalition following elections on Oct. 27.

Eisenkot, a former military chief, ran as the main challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leading a bloc of parties seeking to oust Israel’s longest-serving premier.

Neither Eisenkot nor Netanyahu won a clear majority in the vote. But in marathon discussions with the president this week, representatives from most of Israel’s main parties recommended Eisenkot be tasked with assembling a new government.

The announcement, which had been expected on Sunday, came shortly after Netanyahu called for a “national unity government” in a video statement and warned against “hastily swearing in a government with terrorist supporters” – an apparent reference to the Arab-led parties.

Netanyahu and his allies have repeatedly portrayed the Arab-led parties as a threat to national security, while Eisenkot has indicated a willingness to partner with them under certain conditions, including calling Hamas a terrorist group that needs to be destroyed.

Eisenkot’s party, Yashar, slammed the prime minister’s video with a statement posted on X and urged members of his party, Likud, to disavow their alliance with “radical parties,” in an apparent reference to the more extreme parties in his religious-nationalist base.

The statement argued that Eisenkot would only include parties and parliament members who support its principles, including recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization.
___
Associated Press writer Julia Frankel contributed from Jerusalem.

© 2026 The Canadian Press