Amy Spiro

Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel.

Ambassador Ben Bourgel presents his credentials to Chad President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno on May 17, 2022. (Foreign Ministry/Twitter)

May 17, 2022, 2:01 pm

For first time in 50 years, Israeli diplomat presents credentials in Chad

Nonresident Ambassador Ben Bourgel takes up post following resumption of relations between Jerusalem, N’Djamena in 2019 after ties cut in 1972

By Amy Spiro

Haredi women and girls protest against sexual assault in their community outside a school in Ramat Shlomo, March 7, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 16, 2022, 4:55 am

6 months after the Walder abuse scandal broke, has the Haredi world seen change?

Activists and observers say much work remains to counter sex abuse and the culture of silence in the ultra-Orthodox community and its media: ‘I think the dust hasn’t settled yet’

By Amy Spiro

Singer Michael Ben David performs on behalf of Israel during the second semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest on May 12, 2022 at the Pala Alpitour venue in Turin. (Marco Bertorello / AFP)

May 13, 2022, 12:42 am

Eurovision hopes dashed as Israel comes up short in semi-final

Michael Ben David fails to impress judges and voters with performance of ‘I.M.,’ missing out on final for Israel for first time since 2014

By Amy Spiro

File: Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, right, with Minister of Defense Benny Gantz during a plenum session at the Knesset, on February 28, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 11, 2022, 11:14 am

Israeli leaders: Al Jazeera journalist likely killed by Palestinian gunfire in Jenin

PM slams PA’s Abbas for ‘throwing blame at Israel without basis’; Gantz: Initial findings show no IDF fire directed at Shireen Abu Akleh, cites ‘indiscriminate fire by terrorists’

By Amy Spiro and Aaron Boxerman

Zabar's deli in New York City. (Jacob Magid/Times of Israel)

May 6, 2022, 4:25 pm

The appetizing history of Zabar’s, a New York City culinary icon

A new book from 3rd-generation Lori Zabar, who died months before its publication, traces her family history from pogroms in Ukraine to enduring fame on Manhattan’s Upper West Side

By Amy Spiro

US President Joe Biden sends a video greeting to Israel to mark its 74th Independence Day on May 5, 2022. (Screenshot)

May 5, 2022, 11:48 am

‘Our ties are unbreakable’: Biden, world leaders share Independence Day messages

Canada’s Trudeau vows to ‘continue to oppose efforts to isolate Israel in international fora’; amid diplomatic spat, Putin says he is ‘confident’ in Russia-Israel relations

By Amy Spiro

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (left) attends a press conference in Moscow on April 27, 2022 and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid addresses a press conference in Casablanca, on August 12, 2021. (Yuri KOCHETKOV / various sources / AFP)

May 3, 2022, 12:18 pm

Moscow, under fire for Hitler comments, says Israel backing ‘neo-Nazis’ in Ukraine

Russia calls comments by Lapid ‘anti-historical,’ defends Lavrov’s suggestion the Nazi leader had Jewish blood, claiming some Jews in Holocaust did ‘absolutely monstrous deeds’

By Amy Spiro

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid holds a press conference in Tel Aviv on April 14, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

May 3, 2022, 10:13 am

Lapid says Russian envoy subjected to ‘tough conversation’ over Lavrov comments

Declining to elaborate further due to ‘diplomatic protocol,’ foreign minister reiterates call for Moscow to apologize after his Russian counterpart claimed Hitler had Jewish blood

By Amy Spiro

View of the Strauss Elite candy factory in Nof Hagalil, northern Israel, April 28, 2022. (David Cohen/FLASH90)

May 1, 2022, 4:22 pm

Pigeons, flawed oversight: Health Ministry report on salmonella recall slams Strauss

In initial report, ministry says pigeons in factory, construction work, and the lack of a food safety director could all have played a role in disease outbreak

By Amy Spiro

A man shops for groceries at a Rami Levy supermarket in Jerusalem on February 3, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

April 27, 2022, 4:19 pm

Strauss expands recall to include gum, candies after further salmonella traces found

Citing an abundance of caution, food manufacturer says it is also fully shutting factory; CEO: ‘We apologize to the public, customers and retailers for the serious malfunction’

By Amy Spiro

View of Elite chocolate products manufactured by Strauss following a massive recall after the discovery of salmonella on the production line at a factory in the Galilee, on April 25, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

April 26, 2022, 11:36 am

Two children suspected of salmonella infection after massive Strauss recall

Health minister vows to investigate incident, as ministry avers that company’s week-long delay in issuing recall of chocolate, ice cream and other snacks followed its guidelines

By Amy Spiro and Tobias Siegal

Author Omer Friedlander and his new book, 'The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land.' (Yam Traiber)

April 13, 2022, 5:57 pm

Israeli writer brings his homeland to life in new English story collection

27-year-old debut author Omer Friedlander, now living in New York, paints vivid pictures of characters, tales and times gone by in ‘The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land’

By Amy Spiro

IDF soldiers are seen operating in the West Bank on April 13, 2022. (Israel Defense Forces)

April 13, 2022, 2:16 pm

Israeli forces surround West Bank building in reported raid to foil attack

Clashes appear to break out in town of Silwad north of Ramallah, with TV reports indicating multiple arrests of terror cell that was plotting attack over Passover

By Amy Spiro

Kalush Orchestra, Ukraine's 2022 Eurovision act, film a clip at the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem on April 5, 2022. (Amy Spiro/Times of Israel)

April 5, 2022, 6:21 pm

From Lviv to Jerusalem, Ukraine’s Eurovision act sends message of defiance

Visiting Israel and performing for Ukrainian refugees, members of the Kalush Orchestra, heavily favored to win this year’s international song contest, make their country’s case

By Amy Spiro

Olympic gold medalist Linoy Ashram speaks during a press conference on April 4, 2022 in Tel Aviv announcing her retirement from competition. (Roy Alima/Flash90)

April 4, 2022, 2:45 pm

Olympic gold medalist Linoy Ashram announces retirement: ‘I achieved my dream’

Tearful gymnast, 22, tells reporters that ‘athletes need to know when to retire,’ says she will continue her career as a coach

By Amy Spiro