Carrie Keller-Lynn

Carrie Keller-Lynn is a political and legal correspondent for The Times of Israel

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich presents his 2023 wartime budget update to the Knesset, December 6, 2023 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

December 6, 2023, 5:23 pm

Knesset advances NIS 30 billion in new wartime funds, over intra-coalition objections

NIS 17 billion for military and NIS 13 billion for home front mostly funded by increased deficit; multiple ministries seemingly unrelated to war effort receive major funding boosts

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Minister of National Security Minister speaks at the outset of his Otzma Yehudit faction meeting at the Knesset, December 4, 2023. (Oren Ben Hakoon/ Flash90)

December 4, 2023, 9:05 pm

260,000 firearm permits sought since Oct. 7, after Ben Gvir’s push to arm civilians

National security minister dismisses connection between his efforts to disseminate guns, slacken open-fire rules and tragic shooting death of Yuval Castleman

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks during a Knesset plenum session, Jerusalem, December 3, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

December 3, 2023, 8:52 pm

Smotrich to bring wartime budget update for vote, unfreezing political earmarks

Finance minister heckled in plenum by opposition MKs who say government should not be spending on coalition favors as nation fights Hamas, deals with internally displaced masses

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (R) and Coastal Police commander Yoram Sofer in Jerusalem to present a new proposal to eradicate crime in the Arab sector, August 17, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

November 30, 2023, 5:42 pm

Internal pressure builds to end truce as Israel weighs extending it into an eighth day

Ben Gvir accuses Hamas of breaking Gaza ceasefire after the terror group takes responsibility for deadly Thursday terror attack in Jerusalem

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers remarks during a Security Council open debate on the maintenance of international peace and security at the UN headquarters in New York on November 20, 2023. (Yuki IWAMURA / AFP)

November 30, 2023, 11:46 am

After 7 weeks of silence, UN chief calls to investigate Hamas sex crimes on Oct 7

Envoy Erdan slams lengthy delay, casting of doubt by Guterres on such incidents during terror onslaught in Israel, despite testimony from survivors, first responders, morgue workers

By Amy Spiro, Jacob Magid and Carrie Keller-Lynn

Israeli soldiers seen at a staging area near the Israeli-Gaza border, southern Israel, November 29, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

November 29, 2023, 10:30 pm

Netanyahu, Gallant emphatic war will resume soon, though current truce may be extended

Defense minister says IDF ‘ready for immediate renewal of fighting’; IDF chief approves battle plans; PMO official confirms envoys in Qatar to discuss more hostage releases

By ToI Staff and Carrie Keller-Lynn

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attends a National Security Committee meeting at the Knesset, November 20, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

November 29, 2023, 4:16 am

Ben Gvir threatens to tear down government if war not resumed

Despite far-right leader’s threat, Netanyahu’s coalition would survive the loss of Otzma Yehudit party if National Unity continues to back him

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Released Palestinian security prisoners (wearing grey jumpers) cheer after being released from the Israeli Ofer military facility in Baytunia near the city of Ramallah in the West Bank in exchange for hostages freed by Hamas in Gaza, on November 24, 2023. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

November 28, 2023, 6:29 pm

Attempted murder, shootings, bombings: Most freed Palestinians were held for attacks

Violent crimes, including rock throwing, cited by Prison Service in cases of 64 of 117 Palestinian prisoners released in first three days of hostage deal

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a Religious Zionism party faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 27, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

November 28, 2023, 3:17 pm

‘There are 2 million Nazis’ in West Bank, says far-right Finance Minister Smotrich

Remark made in reference to polls showing most West Bank Palestinians back Hamas’s Oct. 7 onslaught; Netanyahu said lobbying Likud MKs, saying only he can foil Palestinian state

By Carrie Keller-Lynn and Jacob Magid

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

People cheer as a vehicle carrying hostages released by Hamas drives towards Hatzerim army base in Ofakim, southern Israel, on November 26, 2023, after they were released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)

November 26, 2023, 10:33 pm

Israelis greet newly freed hostages with joy, but can’t forget those left behind

Spontaneous celebrations welcome returnees on way from Gaza; grandfather of 4-year-old Avigail Idan elated, but her parents’ deaths are ‘an open wound that will never heal’

By Carrie Keller-Lynn, Canaan Lidor, Jacob Magid and Emanuel Fabian

Illustrative: Victim of domestic violence and abuse. (djedzura/ iStock by Getty Images)

November 25, 2023, 1:49 pm

Domestic violence exacerbated by wartime, raising concerns over looser gun policies

Since the Knesset made it easier to qualify for a gun license last month, welfare groups register an uptick in firearms concerns for roughly 13,200 annual domestic abuse victims

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi speaks to reporters at the Israel Defense Forces' Tel Aviv headquarters, October 14, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash 90)

November 23, 2023, 2:59 am

In surprise delay, top Netanyahu aide says hostage release ‘not before Friday’

National Security Council chairman Tzachi Hanegbi announces talks for deal on at least 50 hostages and 4-day fighting lull ‘progressing’; truce also on hold, war to continue

By Tal Schneider, Carrie Keller-Lynn and Jacob Magid

Families of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip protest outside the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv calling for their release, on November 21, 2023, during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)

November 22, 2023, 9:16 pm

Release of 50 abducted women, children to begin 10 a.m. Thursday – Israeli official

Israel said to receive list of first batch of hostages to be freed; senior Israeli official says Hamas, desperate for more days of halted fighting, could end up releasing up to 80

By Tal Schneider and Carrie Keller-Lynn

In this screenshot of a video released by the government, ministers meet to vote on a hostage agreement with Hamas, November 21, 2023. The agreement was approved early on November 22. (Screen capture/X)

November 22, 2023, 11:42 am

Most politicians welcome hostage deal; Smotrich explains why party ended up voting yes

Herzog, Lapid back cabinet-approved agreement; many lawmakers stress that initial deal must lead to release of all hostages, allow for IDF to continue fighting following pause

By Carrie Keller-Lynn and Amy Spiro