Naftali Bennett

Ayelet Shaked and Bezalel Smotrich (L) attend a Constitution, Law, and Justice, Committee meeting in the Israeli parliament on July 9, 2017 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 20, 2019, 12:40 pm

Peretz offers Shaked no. 2 spot on URWP slate, at expense of Smotrich

Union of Right Wing Parties hopes to block Liberman in coalition negotiations after September elections

By TOI staff

Then-economics minister Naftali Bennett visits a center in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak where religious men and women are trained in math, English and other core subjects not taught in ultra-Orthodox schools and seminaries, on April 2015, 2013. (Assaf Shilo/Economy Minister/Flash90)

June 18, 2019, 7:28 pm

Bennett floats alternative to ultra-Orthodox enlistment bill

New Right chief says that, rather than serve, seminary students should be encouraged to study, work at younger age; claims plan could prevent ‘economic collapse’

By Alexander Fulbright

The Knesset plenary hall during the swearing-in ceremony of Knesset members as a new session opens following the elections, on April 30, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

June 18, 2019, 3:11 pm

Who’s running the show in Israel between elections?

Two election campaigns put Israel under an ‘interim government’ for almost all of 2019. How is that playing out?

By Marcy Oster

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a Jerusalem Day celebration at Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva in Jerusalem, on June 2, 2019. (Aharon Krohn/Flash90)

June 13, 2019, 6:41 am

As election campaign begins, cracks emerge in right-wing loyalty to Netanyahu

PM assailed by right-wing pundits as ‘intoxicated with power,’ and not right-wing enough, though no alternative leader is offered, as pro-settlement allies duel

By Marissa Newman

Zehut party leader Moshe Feiglin is seen in Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market, during a campaign stop on April 4, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 13, 2019, 1:40 am

Feiglin mulls run with Shaked, Bennett; rejects other rightists

The pro-marijuana, libertarian head of Zehut says unlike URWP, New Right strikes the best balance to appeal to wider Israeli public

By Stuart Winer and TOI staff

Former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked speaks at a conference at the Tel Aviv University, on June 11, 2019. (Flash90)

June 13, 2019, 12:57 am

Right-wing parties said to offer Shaked no. 2 spot, if she ditches Bennett

URWP hoping to stop popular former justice minister from running in coming elections with New Right, where she is said to have been offered party leadership

By Nati Yefet and TOI staff

Education Minister Naftali Bennett speak at a press conference announcing the launch of his New Right party's 'New South' campaign, in Ashdod on March 26, 2019 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 12, 2019, 3:30 pm

Bennett assails Jewish Home, which he once led, after MK accuses him of betrayal

New Right chairman says his former party now prides itself on opposition to female military enlistment and LGBTQ rights

By Jacob Magid

Ayelet Shaked speaks during her farewell ceremony, at the Justice Ministry offices in Jerusalem on June 4, 2019. ( Hadas Parush/Flash90)

June 11, 2019, 1:22 pm

Ayelet Shaked confirms she will run in September elections

Popular former justice minister rules out waiting 3 years to compete in Likud party’s primary, but doesn’t say whether she’ll join URWP, stay with New Right or form new party

By Michael Bachner

June 7, 2019, 5:50 pm

Survey indicates national religious voters prefer Shaked to head a joint slate

Majority of constituents want to see all their parties united on one list, including the far-right Otzma Yehudit

By TOI staff

Union of Right-Wing Parties chairman Rafi Peretz (R) and National Union faction chair Bezalel Smotrich at the party's 2019 election campaign launch, March 11, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 6, 2019, 12:00 am

Peretz and Smotrich bicker over cabinet post after Netanyahu snubs party

With only one of their preferred jobs still available, URWP leaders issue anonymous remarks calling dibs on Education Ministry

By Jacob Magid

Amir Ohana, appointed acting justice minister on June 5, 2019, seen at a Likud party meeting at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem on March 11, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 5, 2019, 9:33 pm

Netanyahu appoints Amir Ohana justice minister, first openly gay cabinet member

Likud legislator, first openly gay MK in a right-wing party, replaces Ayelet Shaked; Smotrich, passed over, accuses Netanyahu of slighting religions Zionists

By TOI staff

Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked from the New Right party at an election campaign tour in central Jerusalem on January 23, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

June 5, 2019, 9:57 am

Right-wing parties said to make progress toward joining forces in elections

Jewish Home, National Union, New Right reportedly reach initial understandings, with Peretz or Shaked leading slate; New Right says it’s still early but report is ‘fake news’

By Michael Bachner and TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for a Likud party meeting at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, on June 3, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)

June 3, 2019, 9:34 pm

Israel’s ‘do-over’ election brings new threats to Netanyahu

PM faces challenges from right and left; would still be presented with tough task of cobbling together a coalition should Likud gain most seats in September

By Aron Heller

Naftali Bennett gives a statement to the media, outside his home in Ra'anana, June 2, 2019, hours after being fired as education minister. (Flash90)

June 2, 2019, 10:31 pm

Bennett vows to lead New Right to next election ‘more wisely and more modestly’

Meanwhile, partner Ayelet Shaked says she will ‘take a few days to think and decide’ on her political future, amid talks of an alliance of multiple right-wing parties

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embraces his wife Sara as he appears before supporters of his Likud party in Tel Aviv early on April 10, 2019, as election results are announced. (Thomas Coex/AFP)

June 2, 2019, 8:46 pm

Sara Netanyahu said to have vetoed prospect of Ayelet Shaked joining Likud

After firing the justice minister, along with Education Minister Naftali Bennett, PM says he won’t hold on to their portfolios, will appoint interim ministers in next 48 hours

By TOI staff