Ash Obel

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner listens as he attends a working breakfast with President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

April 2, 2023, 9:11 am

Kushner’s private equity firm said to receive hundreds of millions from UAE, Qatar

Timing, scale of deals lead to criticism from Democrats, ethics experts; Doha said concerned would face ‘unfavorable treatment’ if Trump returns to White House and it didn’t invest

By Ash Obel

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen (right) meets with Cyprus' Foreign Minister Dr. Konstantinos Kombos (center) and Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias (left) in Nicosia, Cyprus, on March 31, 2023. (The Israeli Embassy in Cyprus via The Foreign Ministry site)

April 2, 2023, 1:40 am

Israeli, Greek, Cypriot foreign ministers meet to discuss Iranian terror in Europe

Eli Cohen urges counterparts to work toward EU designation of IRGC as a terror group, days after Greek authorities foiled a suspected Tehran plot to attack Israeli, Jewish targets

By Ash Obel

Israelis protest against the government's planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 28, 2023. (Tomer Neuberg/ Flash90)

March 30, 2023, 2:15 am

Protesters against overhaul begin forming defense group after right-wing attacks

Activists reportedly discuss organizing teams that could rush to conflict points to head off violence at demonstrations

By Ash Obel

US Vice President Kamala Harris conducts a roundtable of women entrepreneurs to discuss economic empowerment, inclusion, and leadership in Accra, Ghana, March 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

March 29, 2023, 9:16 pm

US vice president Harris joins Biden in expressing concern over Israeli upheaval

Without mentioning judicial overhaul, Harris tells reporters during Africa tour that ‘we are all watching’ the Israeli government’s actions, as tensions with Washington grow

By Ash Obel

President Isaac Herzog hosts delegations from Likud, Yesh Atid and National Unity for judicial negotiations at his residence in Jerusalem, March 28, 2023. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

March 28, 2023, 10:46 pm

Coalition, opposition hold first talks on judicial overhaul with President Herzog

Dialogue held in ‘positive atmosphere’; more opposition parties set to join Wednesday; many protest leaders urge Gantz, Lapid to withdraw because legislation has not been abandoned

By Ash Obel

March 28, 2023, 7:42 pm

Thousands march in Tel Aviv despite PM halting judicial overhaul process

With coalition and opposition set to meet in Jerusalem for compromise talks, protesters call for bills to be completely thrown out rather than suspended

By Ash Obel

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (left) seen with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin in the Knesset on February 15, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 28, 2023, 5:12 pm

Gallant still carrying out defense minister duties, with future up in the air

Minister yet to receive official notice of termination; Shas chief Aryeh Deri reportedly working behind the scenes to convince Netanyahu to reverse decision

By Ash Obel

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the Knesset plenum in Jerusalem on March 22, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 26, 2023, 2:17 am

Two Likud MKs back Gallant’s call to pause overhaul; others urge PM to fire him

Opposition welcomes ‘brave’ step, seeks more rebels to join DM’s plea for dialogue, as ministers accuse him of ‘surrender’; turmoil could threaten coalition majority in key votes

By Ash Obel and Michael Bachner

Left: Opposition leader Yair Lapid speaks during a faction meeting at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, on March 20, 2023. (Erik Marmor/Flash90). Right: Transportation Minister Miri Regev attends a conference in Tel Aviv on March 22, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

March 23, 2023, 5:48 pm

Lapid rebuffs Regev request for joint call against protesting on Independence Day

Opposition leader says won’t pretend country ‘celebrating together’ on upcoming national holidays after petition to pause demonstrations on Memorial Day wins broad Knesset support

By Ash Obel

Khaldoon Al Mubarak at a soccer match in England, April 10, 2018. (Anthony Devlin/AFP)

March 23, 2023, 10:37 am

Senior UAE official dispatched to warn Netanyahu over potential crisis in ties

In meetings with PM and president, Khaldoon Al Mubarak raises concern over treatment of Palestinians, cautions that an Israeli misstep during Ramadan may undermine Abraham Accords

By Ash Obel

Visitors walk by the water tower on the ruins of the evacuated settlement of Homesh on August 27, 2019. (Hillel Maeir/Flash90)

March 22, 2023, 2:00 pm

After strong US rebuke, PM says no plan for ‘new’ settlements in northern West Bank

Statement from Netanyahu’s office comes as Israeli envoy is summoned over Knesset’s repeal of part of Disengagement Law; not clear if commitment applies to Homesh outpost

By Ash Obel

Illustrative: A soldier from the IDF's Military Intelligence Directorate works at a computer. (Israel Defense Forces)

March 22, 2023, 12:31 pm

IDF admits psychological warfare attempt targeting Israeli citizens

Opening fake social media accounts and leveraging existing ones, IDF Spokesperson’s Unit sought to foster public positivity toward 2021 Gaza operation; IDF acknowledges ‘error’

By Ash Obel

Young students learn in a classroom at the opening of the new school year in a school for ultra-Orthodox Jewish boys in Beit Shemesh, on August 28, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 22, 2023, 11:21 am

Orthodox schools said to receive millions to compensate for previous budget cuts

Education Ministry says NIS 12 million in retroactive funding earmarked for Haredi and Religious Zionist institutions that were fiscally affected by Bennett-Lapid government’s cuts

By Ash Obel

President Isaac Herzog meets his new UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan to pay his condolences on the passing of the Gulf state's late leader Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 15, 2022. (President's Office)

March 22, 2023, 1:22 am

Herzog sends Ramadan greetings to Arab leaders amid tensions over Smotrich speech

President wishes Muslim leaders ‘peace, happiness and health,’ days after finance minister sparks uproar by saying Palestinian people are ‘an invention’

By Ash Obel

Former mayor of Or Akiva Yaakov Edri. (Screenshot/YouTube; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

March 20, 2023, 4:34 pm

Or Akiva mayor hit with raft of charges, including for bribery, assault

Yaakov Edri resigns after he’s indicted for allegedly taking bribes that were often disguised as charity payments or campaign contributions, in excess of NIS 569,000

By Ash Obel