The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/ben-sales/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Mon, 31 Aug 2026 05:52:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Ben Sales | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/ben-sales/ 32 32 Why Israel is having a moment in Latin America — and what might make it last https://www.timesofisrael.com/why-israel-is-having-a-moment-in-latin-america-and-what-might-make-it-last/ Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:06:00 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3880211 Jerusalem is being embraced by right-wing Latino leaders eager to follow the White House’s example, cater to evangelical voters and benefit from Israeli technology. The challenge is to ensure the new warmth is sustained

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]]> Trounced in Florida GOP primary, antisemitic candidates believe ‘victory’ is still near https://www.timesofisrael.com/trounced-in-florida-gop-primary-antisemitic-candidates-believe-victory-is-still-near/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:19:12 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3882102 Heavy defeats of Dan Bilzerian and James Fishback show voters are turned off by classical antisemitic rhetoric, yet they may 'have the wind at their back' as young Americans increasingly turn against Jews and Israel

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]]> Daily Briefing Aug. 13: As election nears, can voters see extremism in their own camps? https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-aug-13-as-election-nears-can-voters-see-extremism-in-their-own-camps/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:27:10 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3878588&preview=true&preview_id=3878588 News editor Ben Sales reviews Israelis' concerns about political violence; he also marks 25 years since the Sbarro bombing and reports on the latest in the US political primaries

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]]> 25 years ago, the Sbarro bombing opened a wound in Israel that still hasn’t healed https://www.timesofisrael.com/25-years-ago-today-the-sbarro-bombing-opened-a-wound-in-israel-that-still-hasnt-healed/ Sun, 09 Aug 2026 08:17:57 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3876184 Suicide attack at Jerusalem pizzeria killed 16, including 8 children; a quarter of a century later, a family reckons with its ongoing fight for justice — and a new wave of grief after October 7

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]]> Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan primary win is a watershed moment for anti-Israel Democrats https://www.timesofisrael.com/abdul-el-sayeds-michigan-primary-win-is-a-watershed-moment-for-anti-israel-democrats/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:59:43 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3874736 Progressive in key swing state takes a step closer to the US Senate, after tens of millions of dollars spent by AIPAC, marking a huge victory for opponents of Israel in the party

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]]> Israelis are alarmed over the threat of political violence. Can it be averted? https://www.timesofisrael.com/israelis-are-alarmed-over-the-threat-of-political-violence-can-it-be-averted/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 02:53:02 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3866448 Amid an ugly campaign season, scholars and officials are warning of a toxic political discourse across the spectrum — and fear things could get worse before they get better

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]]> How the Gaza disarmament deal proves everyone right — but could spell trouble for Netanyahu https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-the-gaza-disarmament-deal-proves-everyone-right-but-could-spell-trouble-for-netanyahu/ Sat, 01 Aug 2026 02:21:06 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3871407 The deal may not be implemented, but its very signing gives Israel and its critics, and Netanyahu and his opponents, reason to both celebrate and worry; for the PM, it may prove especially problematic as the election nears

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]]> Daily Briefing July 23: Big whoop? Mamdani admits he can’t arrest Netanyahu https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-july-23-big-whoop-mamdani-admits-he-cant-arrest-netanyahu/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:31:23 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3866562&preview=true&preview_id=3866562 News editor Ben Sales on a new US agreement to help Saudi Arabia go nuclear and, as the House passes its defense bill, the controversy over funding Israel begins anew

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]]> Mamdani trying to arrest Netanyahu would give both men the exact headline they want https://www.timesofisrael.com/mamdani-trying-to-arrest-netanyahu-would-give-both-men-the-exact-headline-they-want/ Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:01:58 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3864234 The New York City mayor likely can't act on ICC warrant. But attempting to do so would bolster Mamdani's left-wing political brand — and give Netanyahu an assist ahead of the election

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]]> There’s a new Democratic consensus on aid to Israel — against it https://www.timesofisrael.com/theres-a-new-democratic-consensus-on-aid-to-israel-against-it/ Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:17:12 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3861422 Military assistance totaling billions annually used to get bipartisan support in Washington. Now, the question for Democrats, exemplified in a key vote on Wednesday, isn't whether to send Israel money, but whether to still sell it arms

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]]> Why US politics feels like it’s all about Israel — and what that does and doesn’t mean for Jews https://www.timesofisrael.com/why-us-politics-seems-to-be-all-about-israel-and-what-that-does-and-doesnt-mean-for-jews/ Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:57:41 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3858493 Israel has become the perfect wedge issue for progressive Democrats. That's left many US Jews in an uncomfortable spot, regardless of how they feel about the Jewish state's actions

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]]> Gruff and unpolished, Gadi Eisenkot is becoming the face of the anti-Netanyahu movement https://www.timesofisrael.com/gruff-and-unpolished-gadi-eisenkot-is-becoming-the-face-of-the-anti-netanyahu-movement/ Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:58:51 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3854225 The plainspoken ex-IDF head embodies a shift from the PM's slick style, which has come to define Israeli politics. But after surging in the polls, he now faces a brutal campaign as Netanyahu's chief foe

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]]> Daily Briefing June 30: Why Netanyahu won’t publicly take on Trump over Iran https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-june-30-why-netanyahu-wont-publicly-take-on-trump-over-iran/ Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:41:16 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3852455&preview=true&preview_id=3852455 News editor Ben Sales reviews PM's status during 2015 Iran deal and now, Israel-opposition as a unifying factor in NYC primaries, and new details about the 1976 raid on Entebbe

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]]> ‘Zero hour is coming’: How Israel went from negotiating over hostages to the daring raid at Entebbe https://www.timesofisrael.com/zero-hour-is-coming-how-israel-went-from-negotiating-over-hostages-to-the-daring-raid-at-entebbe/ Fri, 26 Jun 2026 03:00:43 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3850176 The Entebbe rescue operation, whose 50th anniversary is approaching, is the stuff of Israeli legend. A new trove of archival documents shows how the government took the fateful decision — despite the risks

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]]> American pro-Israel activists may have just had their worst week ever https://www.timesofisrael.com/american-pro-israel-activists-may-have-just-had-their-worst-week-ever/ Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:39:14 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3849369 One party is voting for the loudest critics of Israel; the other is cutting a generous deal with Jerusalem's top adversary; after years of bipartisan support, a new era is dawning

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