Aryeh Deri

MK Moshe Gafni (left) alongside Yaakov Litzman in the Knesset, on July 26, 2021.(Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Bennett calls to limit ultra-Orthodox political influence, drawing Haredi ire

PM says he wouldn’t want an Israel without a right, left, or ultra-Orthodox camp, but adds that ‘we must limit their political sway’

October 12, 2021, 7:35 pm

Bennett calls to limit ultra-Orthodox political influence, drawing Haredi ire

PM says he wouldn’t want an Israel without a right, left, or ultra-Orthodox camp, but adds that ‘we must limit their political sway’

By TOI staff

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu (R) apologizes to ultra-Orthodox MKs after releasing a statement on the Sabbath, August 8, 2021. (Video screenshot)

August 8, 2021, 10:12 pm

Netanyahu apologizes to Haredi MKs after phoning Olympic medalist on Shabbat

Opposition leader says he is ‘very careful to keep the Sabbath’ and his staff will learn to do better; Likud blames ‘technical error’ that led to publishing post before nightfall

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) with then-health minister Yaakov Litzman, in Jerusalem, on March 11, 2020. (Flash90)

August 8, 2021, 1:55 am

Opposition MKs scold leader Netanyahu for phoning Olympic medalist on Shabbat

After leaders of all 3 religious slates in bloc slam ‘desecration’ of Jewish day of rest, Likud apologizes for ‘technical error’ that led to statement’s publishing before nightfall

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks in the Knesset on August 2, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

August 3, 2021, 1:50 am

PM to opposition: We okayed budget in 36 hours, you couldn’t do it in 36 months

Finance minister confident spending plan will win Knesset approval by November, says coalition will recruit Joint List MKs if needed; Arab party retorts: We can’t be bought

By Raoul Wootliff and TOI staff

Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a Likud faction meeting at the Knesset on July 26, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

August 2, 2021, 7:23 pm

Netanyahu assails ‘atrocious’ state budget; Lapid predicts it’ll pass in Knesset

Opposition leader claims budget ‘full of economic cuts, tax and price increases,’ vows to block it; Yesh Atid chief says government may seek support of parties outside coalition

By Raoul Wootliff

Representatives of the chief rabbinate deliver a kashrut certificate to a local restaurant in central Jerusalem, on December 31, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

August 2, 2021, 12:39 pm

Facing religious reforms, some Haredim now call for synagogue-state separation

The new government, Haredi politicians warn, is ‘destroying’ and ‘corrupting’ Israel’s Jewish character. Separation, some say, may be inevitable

By Haviv Rettig Gur

Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman attends the Eli Horowitz Conference for Economy and Society, organized by Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem on June 29, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 7, 2021, 5:50 pm

Liberman cancels daycare subsidies for kids of full-time yeshiva students

New finance minister announces only families in which both parents work part-time are eligible for NIS 1,000 monthly benefit; Haredi MKs slam ‘destructive and wicked’ move

By TOI staff

Settlers seen at the illegal outpost of Evyatar, in the West Bank, on June 27, 2021. (Sraya Diamant/Flash90)

June 27, 2021, 11:20 pm

Reports: Compromise in the works to prevent razing of Evyatar outpost

Plan would supposedly see residents leave illegal West Bank community, with army post or educational institute set up instead; community could later be made legal

By TOI staff

The illegal settlement outpost of Evyatar, in the West Bank, on June 27, 2021. (Sraya Diamant/Flash90)

June 27, 2021, 2:39 pm

‘Bring tents’: Evyatar activists try to stop razing of illegal West Bank outpost

Opposition MKs visit illegal settlement site set to be demolished within days, call on government to intervene and prevent evacuation order

By TOI staff

Rescue worker walk among the rubble where a wing of a 12-story beachfront condo building collapsed, Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami. (AP/Lynne Sladky)

June 25, 2021, 12:52 am

Many members of Jewish community feared among 99 missing in Miami condo collapse

Israeli nationals reportedly among those unaccounted for after tower collapses in heavily Orthodox area north of Miami; dozens pulled from rubble as rescuers search for more

By AP and TOI staff

UTJ leader Moshe Gafni (left) and Shas leader Aryeh Deri at a press conference at the Knesset, June 8, 2021, denouncing Prime Minister-designate Naftali Bennett and his "change government" colleagues. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 23, 2021, 10:42 pm

Can the Haredi parties afford a long stay in the opposition?

The ultra-Orthodox community depends on government largesse; the narrow coalition needs Shas and United Torah Judaism to assure its hold on power. So why won’t they work together?

By Haviv Rettig Gur

Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a meeting of the right-wing and religious opposition parties at the Knesset, June 14, 2021. At left is Likud MK Yariv Levin; at right is Likud former coalition chief MK MIki Zohar (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 15, 2021, 2:09 pm

No longer PM, Netanyahu quips to ally: Call me ‘Your highness’

Ousted premier makes royal riposte after Shas party leader mistakenly refers to him as ‘prime minister’ during Knesset meeting

By TOI staff

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu leads a meeting of opposition MKs in the Knesset on June 14, 2021, a day after losing power (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)

June 14, 2021, 5:36 pm

After very brief handover to Bennett, Netanyahu vows to ‘rescue Israel’ from him

Outgoing PM skips traditional photo of handover with successor, tells opposition bloc he’ll topple new government based on ‘fraud, hate and power-seeking’

By TOI staff

Ministers in the newly sworn-in Israeli government pose for the traditional group photo at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on June 14, 2021. (Emmanuel Dunand / AFP)

June 14, 2021, 2:48 pm

New government poses with Rivlin before getting down to brass tacks

Incoming leaders take reins at a flurry of ceremonies and meetings, setting policy goals and taking fire from former ministers now in opposition

By TOI staff

Passengers walk in the arrivals hall at the Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on March 8, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/ Flash90)

June 10, 2021, 11:22 pm

Israel plans to allow individual tourists back into the country starting July 1

With okay already given to groups, interior minister recommends speedy entry process for those inoculated against coronavirus — from certain countries

By Stuart Winer and TOI staff