Carrie Keller-Lynn

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

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich at a press conference at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, on January 25, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 25, 2023, 9:37 pm

Netanyahu blasts ‘irresponsible’ warnings that judicial plans will damage economy

PM hits back at civil society, professional, political critics who say judiciary shakeup is spooking investors, will hurt credit rating

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

A plenum session on forming the government in the Knesset on December 29, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 24, 2023, 12:00 am

Expanded ‘Norwegian Law’ passes, with up to 27 fresh MKs able to swap into coalition

At expected annual cost of up to $11 million, downlist politicians are expected to free up parliamentary pressure on PM to control party, enable MKs to attend committees

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, January 22, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

January 23, 2023, 6:40 pm

Netanyahu: We’ll fight ‘all illegal building’ in West Bank – Israeli and Palestinian

Gantz calls Smotrich a ‘Trojan horse’ in Defense Ministry; Smotrich says it is ‘parts of the opposition’ that are behaving like Trojan horses

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a Shas party faction meeting at the Knesset, with Shas leader Aryeh Deri seated at his side, on January 23, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 23, 2023, 5:10 pm

Coalition heads join Shas meeting in support of Deri; PM vows to ‘fix’ dismissal

Netanyahu once again lashes High Court ruling against fired minister, defends judicial shake-up: ‘We haven’t come to end democracy, we’ve come to save democracy’

By Carrie Keller-Lynn and TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) reads a letter to Shas chair Aryeh Deri, informing Deri that he must remove him from ministerial office, at the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, January 22, 2023. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

January 22, 2023, 2:42 pm

Netanyahu fires Deri ‘with a heavy heart’ after High Court nixes convicted minister

PM vows to find ‘legal way’ to reinstate ally in wake of ‘unfortunate’ decision that ‘ignores will of the people’; Deri to retain ‘Vice PM’ title, expects cabinet meeting invites

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Crowds estimated at over 100,000 protest against the government's proposed sweeping changes to the judicial system, in Tel Aviv on January 21, 2023. (Flash90)

January 21, 2023, 8:54 pm

‘Night is descending on Israel’: Over 100,000 rally in Tel Aviv; largest protest yet

Demonstrators come out in force to oppose overhaul of judicial system; rallies also held in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba and other towns; Grossman: ‘Now is the hour of darkness’

By Carrie Keller-Lynn and TOI staff

Health and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri outside his home in Jerusalem, January 18, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 19, 2023, 12:42 pm

AG demands Netanyahu fire Deri after High Court disqualifies him as minister

Shas leader has vowed to battle decision; his legal woes are expected to play an outsize role in the government’s ongoing push to remake the judiciary

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Constitution Committee chair MK Simcha Rothman leads a committee debate, January 17, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

January 18, 2023, 2:48 pm

Knesset law panel chair seeks to expedite judicial upheaval, with some changes

Rothman proposes reforms similar to Levin’s, but would make it even harder for the court to cancel laws, while softening changes to judicial appointments and ‘reasonableness’ test

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

The Knesset's House Committee chair Likud MK Ofir Katz during a debate on fast-tracking bills that would annul the citizenship of convicted terrorists who receive stipends from the Palestinian Authority, in the Knesset in Jerusalem, January 9, 2023. (Noam Moshkovitz, Knesset spokesperson)

January 17, 2023, 11:22 pm

MKs accept a ‘considerate’ 5.1% pay hike, having been advised against taking 12.5%

Citing need to keep change in line with 2022 market and Israelis’ ongoing cost of living struggles, MKs accept advice to reduce their raises

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the outset of Likud's Knesset faction meeting, January 16, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

January 16, 2023, 6:05 pm

PM says protests won’t deter judicial push as Gantz presses for compromise talks

Netanyahu claims electorate knew of future government’s plans to rejigger balance between governing branches; Lapid: ‘Voters weren’t told Israel will cease being a democracy’

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon (center) speaks at a meeting of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on January 16, 2023. (Dani Shem-Tov/Knesset)

January 16, 2023, 3:10 pm

Deputy AG: If reforms pass, ‘government won’t be above the law; it will be the law’

Gil Limon says coalition’s proposals seek to trample legal opposition; Justice Minister Levin accuses him of grandstanding, says comments underline imperative for reform

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Justice Minister Yariv Levin attends a hearing of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice committee, January 11, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 12, 2023, 1:53 pm

Bill would allow ministry legal advisers to make only non-binding recommendations

First draft of legislation seeks to restrict judicial officials’ independence, pave way for ministers to hire their lawyers of choice to defend policy

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich announces plans to reduce the cost of living, at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, on January 11, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

January 11, 2023, 10:43 pm

Government unveils ’emergency’ economic plan to reduce utility, gas and tax hikes

Despite being central election promise, government yet to present comprehensive cost of living plan; PM says triage measures will be like ‘putting sticks in the wheel of inflation’

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Justice Minister Yariv Levin attends a Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset, January 11, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 11, 2023, 3:21 pm

Ministry legal advisers are first target in coalition’s plan to remake judiciary

Knesset opens discussion of plan, with Justice Minister Yariv Levin saying he is ‘determined’ to push contentious reforms through against any ‘threat’

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Arab Israeli Karim Younis is carried by friends and relatives following his release after 40 years in an Israeli prison for kidnapping and murdering an Israeli soldier, on January 5, 2023, in the northern Israeli town of 'Ara. (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

January 11, 2023, 3:02 pm

Bid to revoke citizenship of PA-paid terror convicts advances with opposition’s help

Likud MK ties initiative to ending veneration of terrorists as heroes among Arab Israelis, after killer Karim Younis’s jubilant homecoming last week

By Carrie Keller-Lynn