2021 Israeli elections

Ra'am party leader Mansour Abbas speaks during a press conference in Nazareth, April 1, 2021. (David Cohen/Flash90)

Amid coalition talks, Mansour Abbas said weighing speech on commitment to Israel

Reports say Ra’am chief would also reject Hamas in bid to ease path to potential cooperation with the right; is said to prefer Netanyahu-led government

Reporter's notebookFirst week of Netanyahu corruption trial paints grim picture of Israeli media

By Judah Ari Gross

Reuven Rivlin announces his decision to name Benjamin Netanyahu to try to form a government on April 6, 2021. (Koby Gideon/GPO)

Rivlin reluctantly taps Netanyahu to form government: ‘Not an easy moral choice’

By TOI staff

AnalysisRoad to a coalition seems blocked, but Netanyahu is in the driver’s seat, again

By David Horovitz

April 10, 2021, 9:59 pm

Amid coalition talks, Mansour Abbas said weighing speech on commitment to Israel

Reports say Ra’am chief would also reject Hamas in bid to ease path to potential cooperation with the right; is said to prefer Netanyahu-led government

By TOI staff

Israelis protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a junction near Tlalim, southern Israel, on April 10, 2021 (Courtesy: The Black Flags)

April 10, 2021, 8:55 pm

‘No 5th election’: Anti-Netanyahu protests return amid ongoing deadlock

Demonstrators urge party leaders to form a ‘change’ government in wake of inconclusive election results

By TOI staff

Yamina leader Naftali Bennett speaks during a faction meeting at the Knesset on April 6, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

April 10, 2021, 6:42 pm

Netanyahu, Bennett said haggling over when Yamina chief would become PM

According to TV report, premier offering rotation after 2 years, while Bennett demanding to become Israel’s leader after 1

By TOI staff

Then-defense minister Naftali Bennett of Yamina, left, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting of right-wing parties, on March 4, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

April 9, 2021, 11:26 pm

Rotations and improbable alliances swirl as Netanyahu works to stay in power

TV reports of multiple offers made — and denied — as PM tries to garner support of his rival and somehow get the far-right and Islamists on the same page

By TOI staff

Former CEO of the Walla news website Ilan Yeshua arrives for his testimony at in the case against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the District Court in Jerusalem, April 7, 2021 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

April 9, 2021, 9:17 pm

First week of Netanyahu corruption trial paints grim picture of Israeli media

Key prosecution witness, ex-Walla CEO Ilan Yeshua, describes one of country’s leading news outlets as being almost completely controlled by the premier ahead of the 2015 election

By Judah Ari Gross

Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on April 4, 2021. (Olivier FItoussi/Flash90)

April 9, 2021, 6:57 pm

Far-right leader optimistic Netanyahu can form coalition without Ra’am’s support

Bezalel Smotrich says he believes the PM’s right-wing rivals will ultimately join a government ‘without haters of Israel and terror supporters’

By TOI staff

Head of Shin Bet security service Nadav Argaman visits at the 8th International UVID Conference at the Avenue Convention Center in Airport City, on November 7, 2019. (Flash90)

April 9, 2021, 2:28 pm

Netanyahu extends Shin Bet head’s tenure by 4 months amid clash with Gantz

Argaman will stay on at security agency past May 2021, as defense minister says he refuses to allow PM to appoint national security adviser as successor

By TOI staff

Joint List MK Ofer Cassif during the swearing-in ceremony of the 24th Knesset in Jerusalem, April 6, 2021. (Screenshot: Knesset Channel)

April 9, 2021, 10:52 am

Joint List MKs face sanctions over Knesset ceremony oath to fight ‘occupation’

Knesset’s legal adviser recommends revoking parliamentary activity financing, then salary cut, if lawmakers don’t take the required oath; report says MKs will redeclare on Monday

By TOI staff

Yamina party leader Naftali Bennett arrives for coalition talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the PM's official residence in Jerusalem, on April 8, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

April 8, 2021, 7:26 pm

Netanyahu, Bennett to meet again after ‘positive’ talks at PM’s residence

Meeting is first time Yamina leader allowed in premier’s home in a decade after reported ban by Sara Netanyahu; PM also meets Religious Zionism’s Smotrich

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center), Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (right) and then-health minister Yaakov Litzman (left) attend a conference in Lod on November 20, 2016. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

April 7, 2021, 10:11 pm

Ultra-Orthodox said to tell Netanyahu they won’t stick with him in 5th election

TV report says New Hope decided against recommending Lapid for PM after Yamina threatened to endorse the incumbent premier

By TOI staff

April 7, 2021, 1:49 pm

Daily Briefing Apr. 7 – Rivlin taps Netanyahu for another Catch-22 coalition

Tune in Sunday through Thursday to hear ToI editors and reporters quickly catch you up on what’s important today

By TOI staff

Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid at the Channel 12 'Influencers Conference' in Jerusalem on March 7, 2021. (Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP)

April 7, 2021, 1:19 pm

Lapid urges ‘leap of faith’ to build ‘national consensus government’

Yesh Atid leader details makeup of minority coalition of 58 he hopes to form in rotation with Yamina’s Bennett; Litzman discusses Ra’am stalemate ‘solutions’ with Smotrich

By TOI staff

Ilan Yeshua at the Jerusalem District Court for a court hearing in the corruption case against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, April 7, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)

April 7, 2021, 12:09 pm

PM’s aides had veto over top roles at Walla, Yeshua says in 3rd day of testimony

As graft trial continues in Jerusalem, news site’s ex-CEO says he was warned negative coverage of Netanyahu would hurt Bezeq, claiming implication of quid pro quo deal was ‘clear’

By Michael Bachner

Joint List MK Sami Abu Shehadeh during the swearing-in ceremony of the 24th Knesset in Jerusalem, April 6, 2021. (Alex Kolomoisky/POOL)

April 7, 2021, 1:28 am

Joint List MKs spark outcry in Knesset ceremony with oath to fight ‘occupation’

During swearing-in process, Arab lawmakers substitute traditional commitment to serve Israel and the Knesset with pledges to fight ‘apartheid,’ ‘racism’

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with fellow MKs during the swearing-in ceremony of the 24th Knesset, April 6, 2021. (Alex Kolomoisky/POOL)

April 6, 2021, 11:17 pm

Netanyahu to meet Bennett Thursday, vows to seek end to ‘cycle of elections’

Officially tasked with forming government, Likud leader reportedly trying to enlist ‘defectors;’ also said considering coalition backed from outside by both Smotrich, Ra’am’s Abbas

By Alexander Fulbright