Israeli politics

Israelis attend a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government, at Habima Square in Tel Aviv, on January 7, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

January 11, 2023, 11:03 am

Anti-government protesters claim discrimination at café, train station

One protester says she was refused service at a Tel Aviv eatery; another is told she can’t board train wearing shirt with phrase ‘Rise up’

By TOI staff

File: President Isaac Herzog at the Federation of Local Authorities conference in Tel Aviv, December 6, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

January 11, 2023, 12:08 am

Herzog urges lawmakers to simmer down as rhetoric around judicial reforms boils over

President reportedly asks justice minister to ‘soften’ judicial overhaul plan, vows to protect values laid out in Declaration of Independence, which he says should guide nation

By TOI staff

Former Mossad intelligence director Zohar Palti speaks with Times of Israel political correspondent Tal Schneider at an event in Ramat Hasharon, December 24, 2022. (Zman Israel)

December 25, 2022, 7:55 pm

Iran closer than ever to weapons-grade uranium, ex-top defense official says

Zohar Palti tells ToI Israel must make ‘serious decisions’ on whether it is willing to attack Iran’s nuclear plants without US backing, notes issue tangled up with other challenges

By Tal Schneider

Supporters of the liberal Labor party react as the results of the Israeli elections are announced, in Tel Aviv, November 1, 2022. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90/ via JTA)

November 5, 2022, 11:21 am

For some Americans living in Israel, this week’s elections conjure 2016 deja vu

Left-leaning immigrants who moved during Trump era are surprised to encounter the radical politics they thought they left behind, while other new arrivals are happy with outcome

By Deborah Danan and PHILISSA CRAMER

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu delivers an election campaign speech from inside a modified delivery truck with a side wall replaced with bulletproof glass, in Beersheba, southern Israel, September 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

September 15, 2022, 12:29 pm

Wooing voters, Netanyahu campaigns aboard a bulletproof ‘Bibibus’

The former prime minister, famed for his flair for the dramatic, drums up support ahead of November elections with a new shtick

By Ilan Ben Zion and Sam McNeil

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (left) with opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu at a Knesset session in memory of Israel's first prime minister David Ben-Gurion, on November 8, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

September 15, 2022, 12:16 pm

Political deadlock unchanged in new poll, with Netanyahu bloc at 59 seats

Far-right Religious Zionism seen as third-largest party, on 13 seats; Ayelet Shaked still failing to clear electoral threshold after partnering with Jewish Home, Channel 13 survey shows

By TOI staff

Rocker Aviv Geffen is going public with his political about-face in August 2022, performing in settlements that he previously criticized (Courtesy YouTube screengrab)

August 30, 2022, 11:32 am

Rocker Aviv Geffen changes his tune with West Bank concerts for ‘brother’ settlers

Once known as a voice of the political left linked to Rabin’s legacy, singer reveals political shift with recent performances, for which he thanks right-wing minister Ayelet Shaked

By Jessica Steinberg

Opposition and Likud party leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu casts his vote in Likud primaries, at a polling station in Tel Aviv on August 10, 2022,. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

August 29, 2022, 5:47 pm

Jewish Israeli voters have moved significantly rightward in recent years, data shows

Percentage of those who identify as right-wing has grown from 46% in 2019 to 62% now, with both center and left shrinking

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Officials prepare a polling station for COVID-19 patents at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa for the March 2021 election (courtesy of Rambam Medical Center)

August 12, 2022, 3:21 pm

Poll: Chaos aside, majority of Israelis think political system handled pandemic well

Pew survey also shows many Israelis think COVID crisis left the country more divided — though results lower than in many other nations

By Nathan Jeffay

Zehava Galon speaks at a launch event of the 'Mehazkim' movement in Tel Aviv on August 24, 2018. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

July 16, 2022, 12:25 am

Former Meretz chief Zehava Galon to launch fresh bid to lead party — report

According to Kan, the ex-chairwoman has been convinced by officials that her return to leadership could be key to the party’s survival

By TOI staff

Outgoing Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg attends a discussion regarding violence in Arab society on May 23, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 15, 2022, 2:20 pm

MK Zandberg to take political time out, in latest resignation from left-wing Meretz

Former party chair commits to serving out term as environmental protection minister, but says she’s ready to depart political ‘wheel of fame’

By Michael Horovitz

Deputy Religious Affairs Minister MK Matan Kahana attends a discussion at the Knesset, in Jerusalem on June 15, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

July 13, 2022, 3:28 pm

Yamina’s Kahana calls on Ayelet Shaked to rule out ‘narrow’ Netanyahu government

Deputy religious services minister advocates for wide coalition, says it would be ‘a grave mistake’ if his party leader awarded Netanyahu the premiership

By Michael Horovitz

Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich, left, and Itamar Ben Gvir of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party at an election campaign tour at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem on March 19, 2021(Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 12, 2022, 1:02 pm

Smotrich rejects Ben Gvir criticism, urges him to run in Religious Zionism primary

‘We are shaping up to be the third-largest slate. Let us unite into one party,’ far-right party leader says, while noting ‘ideological difference’ with his rival/partner

By Tobias Siegal and TOI staff

Gideon Sa'ar (left) and Benny Gantz at a Justice Minister ceremony on June 14, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90/File)

July 12, 2022, 1:02 am

Polls see Gantz-Sa’ar party as Israel’s 3rd largest, but election deadlock unbroken

Netanyahu promises ‘full peace agreement’ with Saudi Arabia if elected; Druze Likud MK fumes at low slot for ‘minorities’ representative; Hendel in talks with Shaked

By TOI staff

Otzma Yehudit party leader Itamar Ben Gvir speaks during a press conference ahead of the upcoming elections, in Jerusalem, July 11, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 11, 2022, 7:17 pm

Ben Gvir urges far-right allies to merge, but seeks bigger slice of nationalist pie

Otzma Yehudit leader issues plea to Bezalel Smotrich to again run on joint slate, says positions in combined list should be selected by research into public support

By Tobias Siegal