Miri Regev

Illustrative: Honorary Grand Marshall New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, center right, joins other dignitaries as they march along 5th Ave. during the 53rd annual Celebrate Israel Parade Sunday, June 4, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

May 22, 2018, 12:45 am

Israel minister, diplomats to take part in NY celebration despite security fears

'Relax,' says Consul General Dani Dayan after report that Israeli diplomats are barred from their own Times Square 70th Independence Day parade due to Gaza tensions

By TOI staff

Illustrative: Demonstrators expressing their support for Israel in Times Square, New York City, on October 18, 2015. (Amir Levy/Flash90)

May 21, 2018, 9:32 pm

Israel said to bar diplomats from own Times Square event over security fears

Official says concerns over attack heightened following Gaza violence; envoys okayed to attend other events in Midtown celebrating country's 70th birthday

By TOI staff

Israeli revelers at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv on May 13, 2018, celebrating Netta Barzilai's Eurovision Song Contest victory. ( Screen capture: YouTube)

May 13, 2018, 3:23 am

Thousands of Israelis fill streets, social media to celebrate Eurovision win

Rabin Square packs with revelers, hundreds party in Jerusalem market after Netta Barzilai nets victory for Israel at song contest

By TOI staff

Archaeologists work near remains of the Acra citadel and tower in the City of David in Jerusalem. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 9, 2018, 3:48 pm

Culture Ministry earmarks NIS 60m for Jerusalem archaeology digs, preservation

Excavations in and around the City of David to be bolstered by two-year government grant

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Former IDF soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted for manslaughter for shooting dead a disarmed and injured Palestinian attacker during his army service in the West Bank city of Hebron, seen after his release from prison and return to his home town Ramla on May 8, 2018. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

May 8, 2018, 2:39 pm

Ministers welcome release of Hebron shooter Elor Azaria

Some cabinet members call for expunging criminal record of former soldier who killed a wounded Palestinian attacker

By Stuart Winer and TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hops on a bicycle in a video released on April 25, 2018, ahead of the Giro D’Italia cycle race to be held in Israel in May. (Screen capture: Twitter video)

May 2, 2018, 2:39 pm

Organizers hope Giro D’Italia gets more Israelis pedaling

Ahead of massive bicycle race, sport minister says state plans to invest NIS 16 million in bike infrastructure

By Melanie Lidman

A military helicopter searches for missing hikers near the Dead Sea, southern Israel, April 26, 2018 (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

April 26, 2018, 10:55 pm

Israeli leaders mourn ‘terrible tragedy’ of 10 youths killed in flash flood

Country 'grieves for lives cut short,' says Netanyahu; students were taken 'at the height of their flowering,' opposition leader says

By Stuart Winer

Students from Bialik School, in South Tel Aviv, many of them children of African asylum-seekers, attend a pre-Passover seder in the schoolyard on March 20, 2018. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

April 25, 2018, 4:20 pm

How Netanyahu turned victory into all-around defeat in African migrant crisis

The prime minister secured a win-win arrangement, but scrapped it under pressure. Now all the asylum-seekers are staying, Israel is being battered, and his rivals smell blood

By David Horovitz

Natalie Portman arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Annihilation" at the Regency Village Theatre, on February 13, 2018. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

April 23, 2018, 10:41 pm

TV: Portman initially refused to collect Genesis prize because of Gaza violence

Email from actress's representatives reportedly expresses concern about 'the news from Gaza... the government's actions and the latest escalation'

By TOI staff

Natalie Portman attends the 27th Annual EMA Awards at Barker Hangar on September 23, 2017, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Richard Shotwell/ Invision/AP)

April 21, 2018, 9:22 pm

Likud attacks ‘hypocrite’ Natalie Portman after actress snubs Netanyahu

Israeli-born Hollywood star clarifies she is not boycotting Israel, but won't come to accept prize known as 'Jewish Nobel' so as not to be seen as endorsing PM

By TOI staff

Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, March 11, 2018. (Marc Israel Sellem)

April 21, 2018, 6:38 am

Internet rips into Regev over supposed invite to Thatcher for 70th ceremonies

Social media has a laugh at culture minister's expense after Knesset speaker claims she sought to invite the late UK leader to Independence Day events

By TOI staff

Natalie Portman arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Annihilation' at the Regency Village Theatre on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

April 21, 2018, 4:06 am

Natalie Portman on prize snub: ‘I didn’t want to appear to endorse Netanyahu’

Actress says decision to skip Israel event has been 'mischaracterized,' stresses she doesn't back BDS: 'I can be critical of the leadership without wanting to boycott the nation'

By TOI staff

Natalie Portman, seen in Jerusalem's Nahlaot neighborhood in a scene from 'A Tale of Love and Darkness,' February 11, 2014. (Photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash 90)

April 20, 2018, 10:27 pm

Israeli minister to Natalie Portman: You have been fooled by Hamas propaganda

Gilad Erdan appeals to Jerusalem-born actress to come and see the truth, after she says she does 'not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel'

By TOI staff

Israel Prize winner Miriam Peretz speaks during the ceremony at the International Conference Center (ICC) in Jerusalem on April 19, 2018. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

April 20, 2018, 1:54 pm

Israel, a new year: 7 things to know for April 20

The country officially turns 70, and local events offer a look at the good and the bad surrounding the Jewish state

By Adiv Sterman

Natalie Portman tinkers with a mutant crocodile in 'Annihilation.' (Paramount Pictures)

April 20, 2018, 11:54 am

Culture minister says Natalie Portman has ‘fallen into BDS hands’

MK Azaria warns that actress's cancellation of visit to Israel to receive award is a sign of Israel losing US Jewish community; Likud MK Hazan: Cancel her citizenship

By TOI staff