Meir Kahane

From left to right: Otzma Yehudit members Baruch Marzel, Michael Ben Ari, Rabbi Dov Lior and Itamar Ben Gvir at the extremist party's campaign launch in Jerusalem on July 4, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 5, 2019, 10:22 am

At campaign launch, extremist Jewish party calls ‘to resettle our enemies’

Otzma Yehudit takes aim at URWP chief Rafi Peretz for reportedly conditioning its inclusion in electoral alliance on sidelining two of its members

By TOI staff

Union of Right Wing Parties candidates (from L-R) Rafi Peretz, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotich pose for a photo on April 9, 2019. (Courtesy)

June 20, 2019, 2:56 am

Far-right Otzma Yehudit accuses Jewish Home of not honoring election pact

Faction wants URWP leader Rafi Peretz, now appointed a minister, to give up his Knesset seat so that Itamar Ben Gvir can take his spot and become an MK

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomes far-right Likud supporter Giora Ezra to the podium at a press conference, at the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem, on April 1, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

April 1, 2019, 9:12 pm

Not a bot: Netanyahu trots out homophobic Kahanist who called journalists ‘dogs’

Giora Ezra’s Twitter account reveals long history of insulting PM’s rivals, reporters, and public officials; disparaged former police chief as a ‘pillow-biter’

By Tamar Pileggi

Otzma Yehudit party members Michael Ben Ari (C), Itamar Ben Gvir (R) and Baruch Marzel (L) speak during a press conference held in response to the Supreme Court decision to disqualify Michael Ben Ari's candidacy for the upcoming Knesset elections, due to his racist incitement, in Jerusalem on March 17, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 18, 2019, 5:26 am

Extremist Otzma Yehudit demands top posts after leader banned from Knesset run

After court bars Michael Ben Ari, party demands ministerial spot for Baruch Marzel in next coalition, and that Itamar Ben Gvir head key Knesset committee

By TOI staff

Otzma Yehudit party members Michael Ben Ari (R), and Baruch Marzel (L) speak during a press conference held in response to the High Court decision to disqualify Ben Ari's candidacy for the upcoming Knesset elections, in Jerusalem on March 17, 2019 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 17, 2019, 9:04 pm

High Court bars far-right party leader Ben Ari from running in elections

Marking first time individual candidate has been banned, justices prevent Otzma Yehudit chief from Knesset run; approve Arab slate, Jewish far-left candidate, and Otzma’s Ben Gvir

By TOI staff

Otzma Yehudit party members Michael Ben Ari (R) and Itamar Ben Gvir speak to the media after a Supreme Court hearing on whether to disqualify them from running in the upcoming elections on March 14, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

March 15, 2019, 4:47 pm

Religious group calls on voters not to support Union of Right Wing Parties

Pamphlets from Lekhatchila to be distributed in synagogues, warning that votes for list that includes the extremist Otzma Yehudit will result in ’embarrassment’

By TOI staff

Otzma Yehudit party's Michael Ben Ari attends a hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on March 14, 2019, to be allowed to run for a Knesset seat. ( GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)

March 14, 2019, 5:50 pm

At Supreme Court hearing, judge says Otzma Yehudit head’s racism ‘crystal clear’

At session on whether to bar extremist slate’s candidates, lawyer for Michael Ben Ari denies accusation, then says 99% of Arabs may be enemies; MK Smotrich spars with chief justice

By Michael Bachner and Jacob Magid

Otzma Yehudit leader Michael Ben Ari attends a Central Elections Committee meeting at the Knesset on March 6, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

March 13, 2019, 10:06 pm

AG urges High Court to disqualify Ben Ari from elections over ‘extreme’ racism

Otzma Yehudit leader’s incitement isn’t ‘marginal,’ but rather ‘a defining expression of his identity as a candidate,’ Mandelblit tells court

By TOI staff

New Right party leader Naftali Bennett (right) and Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party (composite image: Flash90)

March 13, 2019, 2:11 pm

‘Kahanist,’ ‘Hamas wet dream’: Gantz and Bennett trade insults

Blue and White party head slams New Right leader, saying he likened Supreme Court to terror group

By TOI staff

An Israeli votes at the settlement of Efrat on March 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)

March 7, 2019, 3:42 pm

What Netanyahu’s election strategy says about how settlers vote

Premier is targeting residents across the Green Line generally drawn to national religious parties, while placing less focus on sizable secular and Haredi populations

By Jacob Magid

Meir Kahane in 1985 (Bettmann/Getty Images)

March 1, 2019, 12:51 pm

Rabbi Meir Kahane and Israel’s far right, explained

Understanding the predecessor to today’s Otzma Yehudit party — and his ideology — requires a look at his past

By Emily Burack

In this Nov. 6, 2018, file photo, Sen. Amy Klobuchar waves to supporters after winning re-election during the Democratic election night party in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien

February 27, 2019, 5:17 am

Klobuchar first presidential candidate to criticize extreme-right Israeli party

Minnesota senator, who is considered closely aligned with AIPAC, says deal to bring Kahanist Otzma Yehudit into Knesset is ‘wrong and has been rightly condemned’

By JTA

JCPA President and CEO David Bernstein speaks at the group’s conference in Manhattan in April, 2018. (Shulamit Seidler-Feller/via JTA)

February 26, 2019, 11:55 pm

US Jewish umbrella group urges Netanyahu to denounce Otzma Yehudit

Jewish Council for Public Affairs joins AIPAC in rare move to weigh in on Israeli politics

By JTA

Right wing activists Michael Ben Ari, left, and Bentzi Gopstein, right at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, March 12, 2018. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

February 25, 2019, 7:36 pm

Report: Otzma Yehudit has financial ties to body considered a terror group by US

Yedioth Ahronoth investigation shows Kahanists receive funding for their activities through web of American nonprofits; party calls report a ‘collection of fabrications’

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a televised statement after a meeting of his ruling Likud party in Ramat Gan on February 21, 2019. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)

February 25, 2019, 4:47 pm

Netanyahu and the Kahanists: A moral compromise that may ruin his legacy

Few politicians will put moral concerns above political ones unless they fear public shame. The Otzma Yehudit deal may exact a higher cost than the PM realizes

By Haviv Rettig Gur