Amy Spiro

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

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, right, welcomes Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades before their meeting at Maximos Mansion in Athens, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

December 5, 2021, 2:09 pm

Bennett to host leaders of Cyprus, Greece at tripartite meeting this week

Hosting his first such meeting in Jerusalem since taking office, prime minister slated to discuss regional concerns, COVID pandemic with regional counterparts

By Amy Spiro

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (right) meets with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at the Willard Hotel in Washington, August 25, 2021. (Olivier Douliery/Pool via AP)

December 2, 2021, 1:02 pm

Bennett to Blinken: US must immediately halt Iran talks over ‘nuclear blackmail’

In call with US secretary of state, prime minister calls for world powers to take ‘concrete steps’ against Tehran over its boosted uranium enrichment

By Amy Spiro

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh during a press conference in Tehran, on February 22, 2021. (Atta Kenare/AFP)

December 1, 2021, 2:15 pm

Iran accuses Israel of lying in order to ‘poison’ Vienna nuclear talks

Foreign ministry spokesman tweets that Israel’s ‘existence relies on tension,’ and calls on parties to negotiations to ignore ‘fake news designed to destroy prospects for success’

By Amy Spiro

Palestinians receive their $100 financial aid as part of the aid allocated by Qatar to poor families, through a post office, in the town of Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, on December 3, 2020. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

November 30, 2021, 2:03 pm

Hamas says it reaches deal with Qatar for it to subsidize Gaza public employees

Deal between Hamas, Egypt and Qatar will see Doha send fuel to Gaza from Egypt for Hamas to resell in order to help cover payrolls

By Amy Spiro

Illustrative: Malaysia's Ng Ean Yow, right, and Hong Kong's Au Chun Ming during the men's team squash final match at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

November 29, 2021, 9:14 pm

Squash world championship in Malaysia canceled over refusal to allow in Israelis

World Squash Federation says it was forced to cancel the tournament since it could not ensure an ‘open and inclusive’ event

By Amy Spiro

US Vice President Kamala Harris talks with her husband, Doug Emhoff, during a visit to Paris on November 13, 2021. (Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

November 29, 2021, 6:42 pm

VP Kamala Harris and husband Doug Emhoff light Hanukkah menorah at home

Bidens to host COVID-curtailed Hanukkah gathering on Wednesday at the White House; Emhoff addresses lighting ceremony of National Menorah

By Amy Spiro

The cast of 'Eight Gifts of Hanukkah,' premiering this year on Hallmark. (Courtesy Hallmark)

November 28, 2021, 5:05 pm

Love, laughter, latkes: Hanukkah rom-coms are having a moment

With a new Hallmark film and multiple new romance novels out this year, American Jews have a greater chance of seeing the Festival of Lights reflected in popular culture

By Amy Spiro

Yamina's Abir Kara at the Knesset on April 5, 2021. (Olivier Fitousi/Flash90)

November 24, 2021, 4:46 am

Police open criminal probe into Yamina MK who voted twice in Knesset

Investigators collect security camera footage documenting alleged July crime that Abir Kara has already confessed to, though he insists that his actions were accidental

By Amy Spiro

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (left) speaks at a ceremony in Rabat, on August 11, 2021. Poland's President Andrzej Duda (right) arrives for a NATO summit in Brussels on June 14, 2021. (Shlomi Amsalem/GPO; Kenzo Tribouillard/Pool via AP)

November 24, 2021, 2:06 am

Poland, Israel moving toward thaw in ties after four-month freeze

Jerusalem’s chargés d’affaires expected to return to Warsaw, though Israel holding back from full restoration of ambassadors following spat over Holocaust restitution legislation

By Amy Spiro

Magda Rubenfeld Koralewska (front) on a walking tour of the site of the former Plaszow concentration camp in Krakow. (Stan Baranski/FestivALT)

November 23, 2021, 9:07 pm

Jewish group seeks to stall plan to finally commemorate Krakow concentration camp

Fear of an antisemitic backlash causes some local Jews to join residents and environmental activists in pushing back against municipal plans to mark the notorious Plazsow site

By Amy Spiro

Tehran cast and crew pose during the 49th International Emmy Awards on November 22, 2021 in New York City. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images/AFP)

November 23, 2021, 4:55 am

Israeli thriller ‘Tehran’ wins best drama at International Emmy Awards

Streaming on Apple TV+, show beats out Indian, Chilean and British competitors for Israel’s third-ever win; Roy Nik misses out on best actor for role in ‘Normali’

By Amy Spiro

President Isaac Herzog visits the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, on November 17, 2021. (Haim Zach/GPO)

November 17, 2021, 1:20 pm

President Herzog condemns hospital violence as incidents rack up

Head of security at Rambam Medical Center says riot police were called in to prevent a crowd of 100 people from bursting in, raising the number of similar incidents to 3 this week

By Amy Spiro

Activists protest against recent cases of violence against women in Tel Aviv, on March 7, 2021. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

November 17, 2021, 9:57 am

Domestic violence complaints increased by 10% this year, ministry data shows

Welfare and Social Affairs Minister Meir Cohen says action must be taken to ensure homes do not become ‘a trap of violence and fear for so many women and children’

By Amy Spiro

Supporters of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu protest outside his trial at the District Court in Jerusalem on November 16, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)

November 16, 2021, 11:06 pm

TV reporter has kippa flipped off by pro-Netanyahu protester outside courtroom

After woman attacks Channel 13’s Baruch Kra, he says a ‘well-oiled system of incitement’ has led to such violence

By Amy Spiro

A medical employee takes a COVID-19 rapid antigen sample in Lod on October 17, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

November 16, 2021, 9:12 pm

Health Ministry plans to ease pre-flight testing rules for incoming travelers

According to proposal, those flying to Israel will be allowed to choose between a PCR test in the 72 hours before departure or a rapid antigen test in the 24 hours pre-boarding

By Amy Spiro