Jacob Magid

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US correspondent

Composite image shows Michael Herzog, left, now Israeli ambassador to the US, at a conference in Jerusalem, February 15, 2016. At right, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman at the State Department in Washington on August 18, 2021. (Tamir Hayoun; AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

March 22, 2023, 4:10 am

Israeli envoy called to US State Department in protest of Disengagement Law’s repeal

Ambassador Mike Herzog summoned for meeting with deputy secretary of state, who conveys concern over legislation green-lighting resettlement in northern West Bank

By Jacob Magid

Right-wing MKs, including former Knesset speaker Yuli Edesltein, visit the illegal settlement outpost of Homesh in 2022. (Roi Hadi)

March 21, 2023, 10:28 pm

State Dept: ‘Provocative’ Israeli nixing of Disengagement Law negates promises to US

US says bill allowing Israelis to return to settlements evacuated in 2005 violates commitment ex-PM Sharon made in exchange for Bush nodding at legitimacy of settlement blocs

By Jacob Magid

The Atlantic Council's N7 Initiative senior director Will Wechsler addresses a gathering of the program in Abu Dhabi on March 14, 2023. (Courtesy)

March 21, 2023, 8:44 pm

As Israel-Arab ties chill, one regional cooperation confab avoids chopping block

Experts, private sector executives from Israel, West Bank and nearly a dozen Muslim countries meet in Abu Dhabi to discuss joint ventures in field of food and water security

By Jacob Magid

Religious Zionism party head Bezalel Smotrich speaks on March 19, 2023, at a memorial service in Paris for prominent right-wing Likud activist and Jewish Agency board member Jacques Kupfer, who passed away after a long battle with cancer in 2021. (Screenshot via Ynet, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

March 20, 2023, 8:32 pm

Jordan summons Israeli envoy over ‘racist’ Smotrich speech, ‘Greater Israel’ map

Israel says it respects Amman’s territorial integrity after Smotrich address in which he called Palestinians an ‘invention’ while standing behind map of Israel that includes Jordan

By Jacob Magid

Then-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and then-US vice president Joe Biden speak in front of media prior to a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

March 20, 2023, 12:44 am

Biden voices concern over judicial overhaul in ‘candid’ phone call with Netanyahu

US president reiterates call for coalition to secure ‘broadest possible’ support for foundational changes to High Court, avoids extending White House invitation long sought by PM

By Jacob Magid

Palestinian protesters burn tires during a small protest called for by Hamas east of Gaza City by the border with Israel on March 19, 2023 against the regional summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)

March 19, 2023, 10:07 pm

Israel, PA renew vow to curb violence and halt unilateral moves at Egypt summit

Joint statement from follow-up regional meeting includes new recognition of Ramallah’s ‘legal right’ to security control over Area A, where IDF has been operating regularly

By Jacob Magid

Israeli Consul General to New York Asaf Zamir speaks at a New York City event with the Jewish Federations of North America on September 27, 2021. (Shahar Azran)

March 19, 2023, 9:20 pm

Israel’s envoy in NY summoned to Jerusalem over criticism of judicial overhaul

Asaf Zamir ordered to fly home to explain his comments at a gala dinner expressing ‘deep concern’ over country’s direction and saying Jewish homeland must remain democratic

By Jacob Magid and Lazar Berman

Israel's Consul General in New York Asaf Zamir speaks at a JNF-USA event on October 28, 2021. (Shahar Azran)

March 18, 2023, 12:46 am

Israeli envoy in NY ‘deeply concerned’ by country’s direction as overhaul advances

In rare criticism of the government by a sitting diplomat, Asaf Zamir, a Lapid appointee, says a ‘national home’ in Israel ‘really must be democratic’

By Jacob Magid

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during an interview with AFP in Niamey, Niger, on March 16, 2023. (Boureima Hama/AFP)

March 17, 2023, 2:24 pm

Blinken urges consensus on Israeli judicial overhaul: ‘The best way forward’

Amid anti-government protests rocking Jewish state, secretary of state says US won’t take sides on legislative proposals in the ‘very vibrant democracy of Israel’

By AFP, ToI Staff and Jacob Magid

A delegation from the Jewish Federations of North America meets with President Isaac Herzog at his official Jerusalem residence on March, 15, 2023. (Courtesy)

March 15, 2023, 11:52 pm

US Jewish federations delegation lobbies in Israel against judiciary overhaul

Jewish leaders focus on proposal to allow Knesset to override Supreme Court decisions, seek to explain how government effort is impacting Israel’s ties with Diaspora

By JTA and Jacob Magid

Then-US vice president Joe Biden, left, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, talk before a dinner at the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem, March 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner, Pool)

March 15, 2023, 1:42 pm

Netanyahu said to bar ministers from meeting US officials until Biden invites him

‘As long as I don’t visit there, nobody does,’ PM reportedly says, angry at lack of access to White House; plans for UAE visit said delayed until after Ramadan

By Michael Bachner and Jacob Magid

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in the lobby of the Citibank headquarters in New York on March 14, 2023. (Courtesy)

March 14, 2023, 9:52 pm

In New York, Smotrich predicts compromise on overhaul that ‘mainstream’ will accept

Finance minister tells Citibank executives ‘noise’ over overhaul will ‘settle down’; meeting with ZOA’s Klein, discusses removing the ‘grandchild clause’ in the Law of Return

By Jacob Magid and Luke Tress

Jewish Americans and Israeli ex-pats protest against Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich outside the Grand Hyatt hotel in Washington on March 12, 2023. (Jacob Magid/Times of Israel)

March 13, 2023, 12:05 pm

Overhaul or occupation? Smotrich trip dredges up Israeli-Diaspora rift at DC protest

Hundreds hold joint rally against far-right minister, but while US Jews use opportunity to highlight Palestinian plight, Israeli expats prefer to focus solely on judicial overhaul

By Jacob Magid

March 13, 2023, 6:34 am

In US, Smotrich walks back Huwara remark, touts unity, as hundreds protest; 7 arrests

Finance minister again says call to destroy Palestinian town ‘created a mistaken impression,’ claims to embrace Israelis of all types, as ex-pats and others rally outside DC hotel

By Jacob Magid

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arrive at a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on February 23, 2023. (Alex Kolomoisky/POOL)

March 12, 2023, 4:22 pm

Smotrich lands in DC, where hundreds plan to protest speech at Israel Bonds confab

Finance minister to meet with leaders in Jewish, global business communities; but US officials, liberal Jewish groups are boycotting him after ‘wipe out’ Huwara remark

By Jacob Magid