Esawi Frej

Supreme Court Chief of Justice Esther Hayut speaks at an Israel Bar Association conference in Tel Aviv, September 02, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

May 23, 2022, 3:12 pm

Supreme Court chief accuses politicians of seeking to ‘destroy’ justice system

Amid harsh criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, Esther Hayut warns that discourse about court is ‘deteriorating’ to ‘dangerous places’

By TOI staff

Screen capture from video of man Jewish man detained by police for bowing down on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, May 23, 2022. (Twitter)

May 23, 2022, 12:26 pm

Two Jews prevented from praying on Temple Mount, a day after court ruling

Men arrive at flashpoint holy site wearing prayer shawls and tefillin, are barred at entrance; one later gains entry and is detained for bowing down

By TOI staff

Meretz MK Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi seen after a meeting with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid outside the Foreign Ministry offices in Jerusalem, May 22, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 22, 2022, 6:24 pm

In reversal, Meretz MK to stay in coalition, removing immediate election threat

After meeting with FM Lapid and mayors, Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi says she understands that the alternative to the current government is worse

By TOI staff

Regional Cooperation Minister Esawi Frej attends a Meretz faction meeting at the Knesset on February 28, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 21, 2022, 5:52 pm

Meretz minister: Rebel MK who quit coalition should resign from the Knesset

Esawi Frej says he’s ‘angry, disappointed and embarrassed’ by party colleague Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi’s move, predicts she won’t oppose minority gov’t in vote on new elections

By Tal Schneider and TOI staff

Meretz MK Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi addresses a Knesset committee. (Danny Shem Tov/Knesset Spokesperson)

May 19, 2022, 11:59 pm

In first comments, rebel Meretz MK ambiguous on support for new elections

Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi says ‘there’s no way back’ after resignation, but suggests she could support government ‘from the outside’ if it shifts policies

By TOI staff

Meretz MK Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi addresses the Knesset plenum. (Danny Shem Tov/Knesset Spokesperson)

May 19, 2022, 8:09 pm

Despite resignation, Meretz MK reportedly unlikely to vote for new elections

Meretz leadership struggles to get in touch with Rinawie Zoabi after bombshell announcement; move comes against backdrop of delayed confirmation as envoy in China

By TOI staff

Palestinian workers wait at the Erez crossing in Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, as they wait to enter Israel for work, on March 13, 2022. (Attia Muhammed/Flash90)

May 15, 2022, 10:46 am

Erez Crossing reopens after two weeks, allowing 12,000 Gazans back to work

Decision draws mixed responses, with some politicians saying it will help ease tensions with the Palestinians and others arguing it’s an unnecessary concession

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (L) attend a departure ceremony for an Israeli delegation flying out to set up a field hospital in Ukraine at Ben Gurion Airport, on March 21, 2022. (Marc Israel Sellem/Pool/Flash90)

May 8, 2022, 3:57 am

Bennett, Lapid to meet coalition chiefs amid ongoing political crisis

Abbas says Ra’am’s stance on Al-Aqsa will reflect that of Jordan’s king, who he calls site’s rightful custodian; Abbas said opposed to anti-gov’t steps by party’s ruling council

By TOI staff

Regional Cooperation Minister Esawi Frej at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on July 14, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

April 10, 2022, 7:02 pm

Government mulls benefit cuts for families of terrorists; Meretz minister objects

Right-wing politicians slam Esawi Frej for comments, accuse him of being a ‘terror supporter’

By TOI staff

Regional Cooperation Minister Esawi Frej speaks to Jewish community representatives in New York, March 29, 2022. (Gili Getz)

March 30, 2022, 5:46 am

‘We want to live together’: Arab minister calls for unity in face of terror attacks

Meretz’s Esawi Frej, minister for regional cooperation, tells New York Jewish community members after deadly Bnei Brak attack that extremists want to derail progress in Israel

By Luke Tress

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations CEO William Daroff (left) and executive vice president Malcolm Hoenlein at The Times of Israel offices in Jerusalem, on February 14, 2022. (Times of Israel)

February 16, 2022, 2:57 am

US Jewish leaders warn of growing antisemitism, say they helped fight Amnesty report

The heads of the Conference of Presidents, William Daroff and Malcolm Hoenlein, speak with ToI about Whoopi Goldberg, Ben & Jerry’s, and the centrality of Israel in US Jewish life

By Judah Ari Gross

Regional Cooperation Minister Esawi Frej attends a Meretz faction meeting at the Knesset Jerusalem, on February 7, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

February 8, 2022, 6:51 pm

Meretz minister hospitalized in ICU after suffering stroke

Spokesperson says Esawi Frej is fully conscious and speaking after ‘light cerebral incident,’ will remain at hospital for monitoring

By TOI staff

Slogan painted on a wall in Kfar Qasim reads "Wake up Jews and fight the enemy," February 7, 2022. (Screenshot/Twitter)

February 7, 2022, 3:02 pm

‘Wake up Jews, fight the enemy’: Arab Israeli town Kafr Qasim targeted in hate crime

Tires slashed on 20 vehicles and a number of walls graffitied in central town; Regional Cooperation Minister Esawi Frej condemns ‘hooligans’

By TOI staff

Defense Minister Benny Gantz (left) attends a conference in the Eshkol region, southern Israel. on July 13, 2021; Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech regarding COVID-19, at the Palestinian Authority headquarters, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on May 5, 2020. (Flash90)

December 9, 2021, 10:21 pm

Gantz could meet PA chief Abbas soon to ‘calm tensions,’ minister says

Issawi Frej indicates defense minister may travel to Ramallah to discuss strengthening PA and curbing wave of Palestinian terror attacks

By TOI staff

The abandoned Atarot Airport, north of Jerusalem, on November 25, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

December 6, 2021, 6:20 pm

Panel delays East Jerusalem Atarot airport housing project that sparked US ire

District Committee orders survey on environmental impact of new Haredi neighborhood near industrial zone, which could be lengthy process; Lapid promises non-controversial solution

By Jacob Magid and Aaron Boxerman