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Naftali Bennett
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the city of Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem on September 8, 2020. (Alex Kolomiensky/Pool/AFP)
Haviv Rettig Gur
Analysis
Haviv Rettig Gur
Netanyahu earned his moment in the sun – and the public distrust that clouds it
PM is both the grand strategist who produced the peace being unveiled Tuesday, and the political acrobat whose ceaseless campaigning is undermining Israel’s coronavirus fight
US President Donald Trump watches as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) speaks from the Truman Balcony at the White House during the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords where the countries of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recognize Israel, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, September 15, 2020. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
September 17, 2020, 6:08 pm
Diplomatic deals with Gulf fail to provide Netanyahu electoral boost – poll
Likud projected to win 30 Knesset seats, while Bennett’s Yamina would surge to 22; 58% of Israelis not satisfied with PM’s handling of the coronavirus crisis
By TOI staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) with US President Donald Trump, during the Abraham Accords signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, September 15, 2020. (Alex Brandon/AP)
September 16, 2020, 11:55 am
After rockets, Netanyahu says Palestinians want to set back peace, won’t succeed
Hamas warns it may escalate conflict; ex-defense ministers Bennett and Liberman slam PM over Gaza attack that came as he was in Washington signing agreements with UAE, Bahrain
By TOI staff and AFP
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the city of Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem on September 8, 2020. (Alex Kolomiensky/Pool/AFP)
September 15, 2020, 3:11 pm
Netanyahu earned his moment in the sun – and the public distrust that clouds it
PM is both the grand strategist who produced the peace being unveiled Tuesday, and the political acrobat whose ceaseless campaigning is undermining Israel’s coronavirus fight
By Haviv Rettig Gur
Stacked chairs outside a restaurant on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem on July 17, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 13, 2020, 11:29 pm
Opposition leaders slam reimposition of lockdown, say government failed
Bennett warns 3-week closure over Jewish holidays will deal economic ‘hammer blow’ to many Israelis; deputy head of restaurant group says may keep some eateries open in protest
By TOI staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets schoolchildren as he attends a ceremony to mark the start of the school year in Mevo Horon on September 1, 2020. (Marc Israel Sellem/Pool/AFP)
September 9, 2020, 4:34 am
Virus-battered Israel pays the price of Netanyahu’s endless election campaign
A consensus is building on left, right and center that no pandemic or economic meltdown will convince the PM to stop electioneering long enough to manage the crisis
By Haviv Rettig Gur
From left to right: Naftali Bennett, Ayelet Shaked, and Bezalel Smotrich, at a campaign event in the West Bank settlement of Elkana on August 21, 2019. (Ben Dori/Flash90)
September 7, 2020, 10:34 pm
Poll: Yamina would surge to 21 seats, majority think Netanyahu caved to Haredim
Survey gives Likud 31 seats; Netanyahu still seen as best-suited to be PM, but respondents report deep dissatisfaction with his handling of pandemic
By TOI staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at a military base belonging to the IDF's Home Front Command, on September 7, 2020. (Screen capture/YouTube)
September 7, 2020, 9:37 pm
PM rips into opposition after call not to heed virus rules: ‘This is anarchy’
Netanyahu says experts concerned about likely spike in serious cases, deaths; claims cases have not been traced to rallies against him because demonstrators shut off phones
By TOI staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, welcoming Shuli Moalem-Refaeli to the Likud party, September 2, 2020. (Likud)
September 2, 2020, 7:41 pm
In blow to Bennett, former Yamina MK joins Likud
PM Netanyahu poaches Shuli Moalem-Refaeli, in possible attempt to stem right-wing challenger’s recent rise in popularity
By TOI staff
Yamina leader Naftali Bennett speaks during a Knesset plenary session in Jerusalem on August 24, 2020. (Oren Ben Hakoon/POOL)
September 1, 2020, 11:40 am
Bennett intensifies attacks, says Netanyahu only concerned with his trial
As his Yamina party surges in polls, PM’s right-wing rival further hints at his intention to vie for national leadership if elections are called again soon
By TOI staff
Yamina leader Naftali Bennett seen during a visit in downtown Jerusalem on August 5, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 29, 2020, 7:18 am
Bennett blasts Netanyahu for enmity, virus response: ‘It’s unforgivable’
As his party climbs in polls, Yamina chief continues his criticism of government’s handling of pandemic, steps up personal accusations against premier
By TOI staff
MK Bezalel Smotrich in Jerusalem, on November 11, 2019. (Noam Rivkin Fenton/Flash90)
August 14, 2020, 3:25 pm
Outraged by annexation halt, rightist leaders suggest time for Netanyahu to go
Yamina’s Bezalel Smotrich says right must present ‘alternative leadership’ to the PM; settler chief Elhayani declares premier ‘needs to be replaced’ if he gave up on sovereignty
By TOI staff
(From L-R) Samaria Regional Council chairman Yossi Dagan, Yamina MK Ayelet Shaked, Jordan Valley Regional Council chairman and Yesha Council chairman David Elhayani and Yamina chairman Naftali Bennett, during a Yamina faction meeting in the Knesset on June 1, 2020. (Courtesy)
August 13, 2020, 9:57 pm
Right slams halted annexation, settlers cry betrayal, as most pols laud UAE deal
Blue and White, Yesh Atid welcome Netanyahu’s Abu Dhabi breakthrough, but many settler leaders say it marks end of their trust in PM: Bennett: He missed a once-in-a-century chance
By TOI staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks as then-defense minister Naftali Bennett and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri confer, during a meeting of right-wing party leaders at the Knesset following election day, on March 4, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 13, 2020, 1:31 pm
Protests to the left, Bennett to the right, Netanyahu troubled only if they meet
The demos are growing, as is support for the PM’s longtime rival. But these are disparate challenges that spell danger to his rule only if they find a way to complement each other
By David Horovitz
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a televised statement at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv on July 27, 2020. (Tal Shahar/Pool/AFP)
August 8, 2020, 4:03 am
Likud ministers said to pan Netanyahu’s push for new election ‘disaster’
Cabinet members tell TV new vote would be unnecessary, detrimental; coalition chair Miki Zohar: Election inevitable if Blue and White don’t yield on budget
By TOI staff
Opposition lawmakers heckle Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he speaks in the Knesset, August 5, 2020. (Screenshot/Knesset Channel)
August 5, 2020, 8:27 pm
Opposition rips into Netanyahu at fiery Knesset session: ‘This isn’t your house’
Lapid lashes premier over recent protests outside his residence, saying ‘You’re not the landlord here’; premier dismisses criticism: ‘I heard your baseless claims’
By TOI staff
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