Nir Barkat

Left: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at the Knesset on November 20, 2023. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90); Right: Minister Benny Gantz attends a press conference at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, November 22, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

November 27, 2023, 7:39 pm

Amid fierce opposition from Gantz and Barkat, cabinet unfreezes coalition funds

Ministers approve new war budget, redirecting some NIS 30b from 2023 budget to defense goals, while also unlocking hundreds of millions in frozen political promises

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Economy Minister Nir Barkat (middle) speaks at Knesset Economy Committee meeting, October 25, 2023. (Courtesy)

October 25, 2023, 9:46 pm

Barkat slams Treasury, presents rival emergency aid plan for war-affected businesses

Economy minister says Finance Ministry’s compensation plan is not comprehensive and does not provide full assistance for all businesses suffering losses during the Gaza war

By Sharon Wrobel

Nir Barkat, minister of economy and industry, at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on September 10, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

October 23, 2023, 6:43 pm

Barkat: We’ll wipe Iran’s leaders off the face of the earth if they expand conflict

Economy minister warns Tehran against pushing Hezbollah to open a second front against Israel as it battles Hamas: ‘We will go to the head of the snake’

By ToI Staff

Illustrative photo of a graduation ceremony for pilots who have completed the IAF Flight Course, at the Hatzerim Air Base in the Negev desert, December 26, 2018. (Aharon Krohn/Flash90)

July 21, 2023, 8:32 pm

‘We won’t surrender’: Coalition far-right heads reject IAF protest as akin to coup bid

Smotrich says Israel can’t manage without pilots but also can’t be ruled by ‘military junta’; Ben Gvir: We won’t let government become subordinate to army, overhaul laws will pass

By ToI Staff

Economy Minister Nir Barkat attends a conference at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange on July 10, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

July 10, 2023, 4:17 pm

Likud minister urges resumed judicial reform talks after 1st vote on ‘reasonableness’

Nir Barkat hopes presidential negotiations can resume once the legislation clears its first reading Monday, charges that ‘it was the opposition that left the room’

By ToI Staff

June 29, 2023, 9:03 pm

Israel antitrust watchdog declares Wissotzky a monopoly

Israel Competition Authority cites abuse of market power by company when it comes to green teas and herbal infusions

By Sharon Wrobel

File: Itamar Ben Gvir (right), head of the Otzma Yehudit party, and chairman of the Religious Zionism party Bezalel Smotrich at an election campaign event in Sderot, October 26, 2022. (Flash90)

June 25, 2023, 3:59 am

Ministers slam security chiefs for calling settler attacks on Palestinians ‘terror’

Ben Gvir orders probe into ‘collective punishment’ at settlement of Ateret after assault on nearby Palestinian village; Smotrich rejects security chiefs’ denunciation of attacks

By ToI Staff

Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for a court hearing in his trial at the Jerusalem District Court on May 31, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)

June 23, 2023, 11:30 pm

Netanyahu allies claim doubts over bribery charge prove need to overhaul judiciary

After judges in Netanyahu trial reportedly warn prosecutors over weakness of accusation, politicians say it shows dangers of allowing a state body to act without oversight

By ToI Staff

Economy Minister Nir Barkat arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on May 7, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 16, 2023, 5:13 pm

‘Israel shooting itself in the foot,’ Jewish leaders warn Barkat in Boston

Heads of Jewish organizations tell economy minister that government’s extremist members and judicial overhaul are making defending Israel a tall task

By ToI Staff

A security guard with Economy Minister Nir Barkat throws a protestor to the ground, in Boston on June 8, 2023. (Screenshot via Twitter used in accordance with clause 27a of the Copyright Law).

June 9, 2023, 1:40 am

Barkat’s security guards scuffle with protesters during minister’s Boston visit

Economy minister’s office claims a demonstrator tried to attack, was arrested by local police; protest leaders say activist in hospital after being roughed up by security detail

By ToI Staff and Luke Tress

Economy Minister Nir Barkat speaks during a conference in Haifa, March 21, 2023. (Shir Torem/Flash90)

June 8, 2023, 11:06 am

Barkat said to tell US bankers that only a negotiated judicial reform will pass

Government continues to send mixed messages, with Zohar telling domestic audience that coalition will pass the overhaul or fall; DC Jewish group said to cancel Chikli meeting

By ToI Staff

June 7, 2023, 7:43 pm

Barkat said to nix appearance in Boston amid ongoing anti-government protests

Economy minister reportedly accuses consulate of not doing enough to prevent demonstrations, as coalition MKs continue to face resistance during trips abroad

By Luke Tress and ToI Staff

Anti-overhaul activists demonstrate outside the Tel Aviv home of Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, June 6, 2023 (screenshot: Twitter)

June 6, 2023, 9:18 am

‘No compromise’: Anti-overhaul protesters rally outside Lapid’s home

‘Democracy! Democracy!’ and ‘We won’t allow a dictatorship,’ protesters chant, responding to reports of emerging agreements in talks

By ToI Staff

Anti-overhaul activists disrupt Economy Minister Nir Barkat at a Jerusalem Post conference in New York, June 5, 2023. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)

June 6, 2023, 1:28 am

Anti-overhaul protesters disrupt Economy Minister Barkat’s speech at NY conference

Activists shout ‘shame’ at Likud lawmaker as he delves into economic development plans at JPost event, the latest in a series of protests against visiting coalition members in US

By Luke Tress

Michal Cohen, director-general of the Israel Competition Authority, speaks during an Economic Affairs Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, January 16, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 22, 2023, 8:34 pm

‘Lack of trust’: Economy minister asks Competition Authority chief to resign

Nir Barkat claims ‘weakness’ of agency under Michal Cohen a key reason for rising food prices, accuses her of refusing to adopt his policies

By ToI Staff