2021 Israeli elections

Minister of Defense Benny Gantz speaks with Likud parliament member Miki Zohar during a vote at the Knesset, on August 24, 2020. (Oren Ben Hakoon/POOL vis Flash 90)

July 19, 2021, 7:45 pm

Likud seeks to convince Gantz to bolt government, replace Bennett as PM

MK Zohar says defense minister ‘can be prime minister right now’ if he agrees to form an alternate coalition with right-wing parties

By Raoul Wootliff

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu leads a meeting of right-wing parties in the Knesset on June 14, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 18, 2021, 6:51 pm

Netanyahu knows he’s no victim of election fraud. So why peddle the claim?

There’s more to the opposition leader’s rejection of the new government’s legitimacy than Trumpian denial. Victimhood, he well knows, has its uses

By Haviv Rettig Gur

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett arrives for a group photo of the new Israeli government at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on June 14, 2021 (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)

June 14, 2021, 6:38 am

New government starts process of taking power after 12 years of Netanyahu

Cabinet to convene at Rivlin’s residence for festive photo; outgoing PM will brief successor but skip traditional toast; Sa’ar concedes challenge in holding new coalition together

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (R) and Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid at the new government's first cabinet meeting, held at the Knesset on June 13, 2021. (Gil COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)

June 14, 2021, 12:31 am

At first cabinet meeting, Bennett, Lapid vow to work to make new government last

Incoming prime minister says ‘we are at the start of new days’; alternative PM: ‘Friendship and trust’ are foundation of coalition and only that will keep it in power

By Raoul Wootliff

Benjamin Netanyahu at the swearing in of the new Israeli government, in the Knesset in Jerusalem on June 13, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/FLASH90)

June 13, 2021, 9:23 pm

After 12 Netanyahu years, transfer of power crucially affirms Israeli democracy

He utilized a formidable array of legitimate political skills to retain the premiership from 2009. Now his opponents have mustered theirs to legitimately consign him to opposition

By David Horovitz

Newly elected Prime Minister Naftali Bennett waves, with Yair Lapid (left) and Gideon Sa'ar (right) alongside him, after their new coalition wins Knesset approval, June 13, 2021 (Haim Zach / GPO)

June 13, 2021, 9:22 pm

Bennett sworn in as prime minister, unseating Netanyahu after 12 years in power

Government approved 60-59; Yamina head heckled throughout his Knesset speech; Yesh Atid’s Yair Lapid becomes alternate PM; Netanyahu derides new PM and vows: ‘We’ll be back soon’

By Raoul Wootliff

Yair Lapid addresses the Knesset, June 13, 2021. (Noam Moskowitz/Knesset spokesperson)

June 13, 2021, 7:34 pm

Full text: The speech Lapid didn’t give at the government’s swearing-in ceremony

Alternate PM-designate opts not to deliver planned appeal for unity, instead says he’s ‘ashamed’ of soon-to-be opposition members for heckling Bennett during his speech

By TOI staff

Prime Minister-designate Naftali Bennett addresses the Knesset, June 13, 2021. (EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP)

June 13, 2021, 6:50 pm

Full text: PM-to-be Bennett presents gov’t ‘that will work for the sake of all’

Yamina head lays out priorities of new coalition that he says will work ‘for all the citizens of Israel’ and bring an end to a cycle of elections and divisiveness

By TOI staff

United Torah Judaism leader MK Moshe Gafni at a conference in Jerusalem on March 7, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 13, 2021, 4:16 pm

Perhaps Likud should have replaced Netanyahu, says senior Haredi MK

United Torah Judaism leader Moshe Gafni insists his party would have stuck with Likud no matter who was leading the party

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a ceremony honoring medical workers and hospitals for their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, in Jerusalem on June 6, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

June 13, 2021, 11:09 am

Netanyahu unseated by a new generation of leaders he tried, and failed, to crush

Incoming coalition marks changing of the guard, pushing younger media-savvy politicians, many of whom were the premier’s apprentices, into power

By Tal Schneider

Yisrael Beytenu MK Eli Avidar in the Knesset on April 29, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

June 13, 2021, 8:31 am

Unhappy Yisrael Beytenu MK quits faction, but will 1st vote to install coalition

Right-wing lawmaker Eli Avidar plans to vote independently after new government is confirmed, dissatisfied that he wasn’t given ministerial portfolio

By TOI staff

Knesset Members Osama Saadi and Ahmad Tibi attend a Knesset committee meeting on September 9, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 13, 2021, 12:19 am

2 Joint List MKs may abstain to ensure majority for new government — report

Ta’al faction said to be waiting until last minute to see whether or not it should vote against the incoming coalition

By TOI staff

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud MK Nir Barkat present the Likud economic plan, during a Likud party event in Tel Aviv on February 16, 2020. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

June 12, 2021, 11:46 pm

Barkat says Netanyahu should have stepped aside; Mossad’s Cohen soars in poll

If Netanyahu hadn’t got his considerations wrong, ‘Likud and the national camp would have been forming the government on Sunday,’ says would-be successor Barkat

By TOI staff

Israelis protest against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, outside the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem on June 12, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

June 12, 2021, 10:48 pm

Anti-Netanyahu protesters claim ‘victory’ on eve of new government vote

Hundreds gather in capital to celebrate anticipated end of PM’s 12-year rule; Bennett: Not the time for demonstrations, provocations, treat Netanyahu and family with respect

By Emanuel Fabian and AFP

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Benny Gantz at the weekly cabinet meeting, at the Jerusalem City Hall in Jerusalem on May 9, 2021. (Amit Shabi/POOL)

June 11, 2021, 10:02 pm

Netanyahu’s last ditch bid to Gantz: ‘I’ll resign now, you’ll be PM for 3 years’

TV report says Blue and White chief rejected many offers from PM’s aides to thwart incoming coalition; proposal for immediate resignation said issued in early hours of Friday

By TOI staff