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Naftali Bennett
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz. (Oded Balilty and Jack Guez/AFP)
October 17, 2019, 6:01 pm
Netanyahu floats new offer for unity government, Gantz swiftly rejects it
PM says country needs leadership to face ‘growing security challenges,’ but Blue and White chief accuses him of ‘not seeking unity but immunity’
By TOI staff
Yamina party leader Ayelet Shaked arrives for a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his office in Jerusalem on September 18, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
October 17, 2019, 2:12 pm
Shaked on PM’s loyalty pledge: Couples don’t keep reaffirming marriage contracts
Former justice minister, whose New Right party didn’t sign statement against joining minority coalition backed by the Joint List, says earlier document was enough
By Michael Bachner and Jacob Magid
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with right-wing and Haredi faction leaders at his office in Jerusalem on September 18, 2019. (Courtesy Likud)
October 16, 2019, 10:48 pm
Religious slates put kibosh on minority coalition as Gantz said to ease stance
Bennett and Shaked refuse to sign onto PM initiative, calling it unnecessary; Gantz said prepared to accept Rivlin’s Blue and White-Likud unity government proposal
By Jacob Magid
Ayelet Shaked (R), leader of the New Right party that is part of the Yamina political alliance, flanked by Jewish Home candidate Moti Yogev (L), National Union party leader Bezalel Smotrich (2nd-L), and Jewish Home party leader Rafi Peretz (C) at the alliance's headquarters in Ramat Gan, September 17, 2019. (Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP)
October 10, 2019, 11:25 am
Yamina party officially splits into New Right, Jewish Home-National Union
Alliance reverts to original factions as planned before joint Knesset run; New Right MK says move ‘in accordance with the promise made to voters’
By Raoul Wootliff
Bezalel Smotrich adresses a National Union faction event on October 6, 2019. (National Union)
October 7, 2019, 3:03 am
Ahead of Yamina split, Smotrich calls for religious slates to stick together
With New Right branching off, National Union head urges permanent alliance with Jewish Home, but latter party says it first has internal matters to deal with
By Jacob Magid
Ayelet Shaked (R), leader and candidate of the New Right party that is part of the Yamina political alliance, speaks to the press while flanked by Jewish Home member and candidate Moti Yogev (L), National Union party leader and candidate Bezalel Smotrich (2nd-L), (Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP)
October 4, 2019, 5:25 pm
Shaked’s Yamina faction to officially dissolve next week
Alliance to split back into New Right and Jewish Home as originally planned before joint Knesset run; National Union to stay with Jewish Home; Peretz pledges support to Netanyahu
By TOI staff
Rafi Peretz, left, Bezalel Smotrich, center, and Ayelet Shaked, right, at the Yamina party headquarters on election night in Ramat Gan, September 17, 2019. (Flash90)
October 2, 2019, 11:29 pm
Report: PM’s allies refuse to declare they’ll back him right up to new election
During meeting of rightist/Orthodox bloc supporting Netanyahu, Yamina MKs Smotrich and Bennett said to agree to remain outside coalition if they’re the obstacle to unity government
By TOI staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) greets Benny Gantz, leader of Blue and White party, at a memorial ceremony for late Israeli president Shimon Peres, at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on September 19, 2019. (Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP)
September 19, 2019, 3:34 pm
As Netanyahu offers Gantz a hand in unity, his fingers are crossed
PM calls on Blue and White to negotiate ‘without preconditions’ — immediately after he signs an agreement that would make that impossible
By Raoul Wootliff
Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz arrives to give a statement for media in Tel Aviv, September 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
September 19, 2019, 3:04 pm
Gantz says he should lead unity government, rejects coalition led by right
Blue and White chief urges ‘broad, liberal’ coalition, declares he won’t be dictated terms after PM conditions government on inclusion of religious parties
By TOI staff
President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz shake hands at the memorial ceremony for the late president Shimon Peres, at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem, on September 19, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 19, 2019, 11:27 am
Netanyahu locks in right, Haredi parties, then urges unity coalition with Gantz
PM invites Gantz to talks ostensibly ‘without preconditions,’ after signing alliance pledge with Yamina, UTJ, Shas; Blue and White: PM knows he’s lost, is scheming for 3rd election
By TOI staff
Yamina party member and Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at the Yamina party headquarters on election night in Ramat Gan, on September 17, 2019. (Flash90)
September 18, 2019, 3:09 pm
Far-right minister slams ‘peacock’ extremist party leader for election fail
Bezalel Smotrich says Otzma Yehudit chief Itamar Ben Gvir should ‘not show his face in public’ after costing right-wing bloc ‘tens of thousands’ of votes
By TOI staff
Ayelet Shaked (R), leader and candidate of the New Right party that is part of the Yamina alliance, speaks at Yamina headquarters in Ramat Gan on September 17, 2019, as the first exit polls are announced on television. (GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)
September 18, 2019, 2:07 am
Shaked’s Yamina faction dissolves an hour after polls close
Leader of right-wing alliance says technical bloc of New Right, Jewish Home and National Union will still negotiate coalition agreement together
By TOI staff
Democratic Camp leader Nitzan Horowitz.(Flash90)
September 16, 2019, 8:58 am
Democratic Camp’s Horowitz: West Bank annexation would mean ‘kind of apartheid’
Left-wing leader says Israel should partner President Abbas’s PA to statehood: ‘They’ve been partners for 25 years. We work with them daily on security coordination’
By Raoul Wootliff
Yamina's Naftali Bennett speaking at the Srugim conference in Jerusalem on September 2, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 16, 2019, 2:08 am
Bennett won’t promise immunity for PM; will weigh ‘stability of Israel’
Senior Yamina leader says he won’t give Netanyahu a ‘blank check’ to protect him from prosecution, but also won’t risk damaging country at sensitive time
By Raoul Wootliff
Yamina's Naftali Bennett speaking at the Srugim conference in Jerusalem on September 2, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 15, 2019, 11:12 am
Settlement ‘islands’: Bennett posts map of Trump’s alleged plan for West Bank
Ostensible proposal would see Israel controlling Jerusalem, isolated enclaves and the Jordan Valley; deliver majority of territory to Palestinians
By TOI staff and Raphael Ahren
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