Aryeh Deri

January 17, 2022, 1:13 pm

Supreme Court rejects petition calling on it to insist on harsher plea deal for Deri

Justices dismiss demand that the state include clause in plea bargain that would bar the former minister and ex-con from returning to public office for seven years

By Amy Spiro

December 26, 2021, 6:18 pm

Shas party leader Aryeh Deri indicted for tax offenses after plea deal

Agreement expected to see opposition lawmaker, who has previously been jailed for bribery, resign from Knesset but possibly return as soon as next elections

By Raoul Wootliff and TOI staff

Shas party leader Aryeh Deri leads a faction meeting at the Knesset on July 26, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

December 23, 2021, 4:08 pm

Aryeh Deri admits to tax offenses as part of plea deal, will resign from Knesset

Attorney-general confirms agreement won’t see Shas party leader charged with moral turpitude, allowing him to run again for office; good-governance group vows High Court appeal

By Raoul Wootliff

Shas party chairman and Minsiter of Interior Affairs Aryeh Deri leads a party meeting at the Knesset on September 22, 2019, (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

December 22, 2021, 7:50 pm

Plea deal reached for Shas chief Deri to admit tax offenses, resign from Knesset

Ex-con MK Aryeh Deri to pay a fine of some NIS 180,000 and admit to two tax offense charges that won’t bar him from running for office in next election

By Raoul Wootliff

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks as he meets with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House, on Friday, August 27, 2021, in Washington, DC. (GPO)

December 22, 2021, 1:39 pm

Daily Briefing Dec. 22 – Is the US listening to Israeli warnings on Iran?

US correspondent Jacob Magid on Israel’s influence over Iranian nuclear talks in Vienna; and political reporter Tal Schneider on Aryeh Deri’s get-out-of-jail-free card

By TOI staff

Shas party leader Aryeh Deri speaks during a meeting of the right-wing and religious opposition parties at the Knesset, June 14, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

December 20, 2021, 10:51 pm

Deri said set to sign plea, quitting Knesset for second time over corruption charges

Shas head, an ex-con, expected to admit to tax offenses that won’t bar him from running for office in next election; party says he’ll remain at helm; decision awaits AG signature

By Raoul Wootliff

Naftali Bennett places a note in the stones of the Western Wall in Jerusalem's old city, January 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

November 12, 2021, 3:05 pm

Bennett accuses rivals of cooking up political fight over Western Wall

PM says ‘a lot of money’ being raised for campaign; statement comes a week after ultra-Orthodox protest against pluralistic prayer was egged on by Deri, Netanyahu

By AP and TOI staff

Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman speaks during a Yisrael Beytenu faction meeting at the Knesset on November 8, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

November 8, 2021, 6:47 pm

Coalition chiefs vow to advance religion and state reforms, enraging opposition

Liberman, Lapid, Michaeli say they’ll soon work to pass conversion reform, Western Wall compromise deal; ultra-Orthodox party leader calls it a ‘declaration of war’

By TOI staff

Ultra-Orthodox men clash with police as members of the Women of the Wall movement hold prayers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, November 5, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

November 5, 2021, 4:43 pm

Scuffles at Western Wall as hundreds of Haredim try to block progressive prayer

Heavy police presence keeps situation from escalating, Reform Labor MK and ultra-Orthodox lawmakers also stay away in bid to calm tensions

By AP and TOI staff

Members of the Women of the Wall prayer group hold prayers as thousands of ultra-Orthodox women protest against them at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem on March 8, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

November 4, 2021, 5:36 pm

Netanyahu shares call to block progressive women’s prayer group at Western Wall

Ex-premier retweets post from ultra-Orthodox ally Deri urging supporters to prevent Jerusalem holy site from being ‘desecrated’ during monthly prayer service by Women of the Wall

By TOI staff

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

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