Jacob Magid

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US correspondent

Doug Emhoff, the husband of US Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks during a roundtable discussion with Jewish leaders about the rise in antisemitism and efforts to fight hate in the United States in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House Campus in Washington, December 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

December 7, 2022, 10:11 pm

At White House antisemitism roundtable, Doug Emhoff laments ‘epidemic of hate’

Husband of American VP hosts meeting with Jewish leaders against backdrop of Trump-Ye-Fuentes dinner, rapper’s pro-Nazi rant; participant says discussion was less policy focused

By Jacob Magid

(L-R) Democratic Reps. Melanie Stansbury, Jennifer Wexton, Madeleine Dean and Sean Casten address the J Street conference in Washington on December 5, 2022. (J Street)

December 7, 2022, 9:44 pm

With Biden cautious on new Israeli gov’t, Dems at J Street ready to take gloves off

As White House takes wait-and-see attitude, Congress members addressing group’s conference blast ‘extreme right-wing’ coalition being formed by Netanyahu, liken him to Trump

By Jacob Magid

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks as his image in seen on a large screen behind him at the J Street National Conference at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

December 6, 2022, 8:41 am

As Israeli far-right rises, US wait-and-see approach leaves all options on the table

Acknowledging 2 states distant as ever, Blinken for the first time stresses equal rights and justice under the law for both sides, but otherwise sticks with script, for now

By Jacob Magid

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the J Street National Conference at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, December 4, 2022. (AP Photo/ Carolyn Kaster)

December 4, 2022, 9:12 pm

Blinken: US will judge the next Israeli government on policies, not personalities

Secretary tells J Street that simply discouraging sides not to take steps that harm prospect for 2 states is insufficient, amid speculation US won’t work with far-right ministers

By Jacob Magid

Prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" on December 4, 2022. (Screen capture/Twitter)

December 4, 2022, 6:52 pm

Amid concerns over Maoz, Netanyahu insists he ‘won’t accept’ harm to LGBT rights

Speaking to NBC’s ‘Meet the Press,’ Likud leader expresses ‘doubt’ that Law of Return’s grandparent clause will be revoked, says Trump meeting with Kanye West ‘is just wrong’

By Jacob Magid

US President Joe Biden (L) speaks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Decemnber 2, 2022. Former president Donald Trump announces a third run for president as he speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida on November 15, 2022. (Manuel Balce Ceneta, Rebecca Blackwell/AP)

December 2, 2022, 8:05 pm

Taking aim at Trump, Biden says leaders must call out antisemitism, not platform it

In first comments since Trump hosted Fuentes and Kanye, who later went on unhinged pro-Nazi rant on Infowars to say he liked Hitler, US president tweets against Holocaust denial

By Jacob Magid

US President Joe Biden speaks with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., as they walk on the South Lawn of the White House after stepping off Marine One on Nov. 10, 2021, in Washington. (AP/Patrick Semansky)

December 2, 2022, 3:58 am

US senator says Biden working to limit Smotrich and Ben Gvir influence in next gov’t

White House has been subtle in expressing concern over far-right’s rise, but Democrat close to president says administration working behind the scenes to push back

By Jacob Magid

The United States Consulate General building in Jerusalem, March 4, 2019. (Ariel Schalit/AP)

December 1, 2022, 9:46 pm

US insists it’s still committed to reopening Jerusalem consulate, but few convinced

Biden’s new envoy to Palestinians reiterates pledge in 1st briefing, but senior Palestinian official laughs it off and Netanyahu aide says his stance against it hasn’t changed

By Jacob Magid

House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., arrives for leadership elections at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

November 30, 2022, 11:04 pm

Pro-Israel Democrat Jeffries elected first-ever Black House minority leader

NYC lawmaker who rejects BDS, conditioning aid to Israel, likely to toe line set by his predecessor Pelosi and others in party leadership who oppose harsher stance on Jewish state

By Jacob Magid and AP

US President Joe Biden (L) meets opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, July 14, 2022. (GPO)

November 29, 2022, 5:02 pm

With hardline Israeli coalition, US can only pretend business as usual for so long

Biden will keep working to limit public disagreements with Israel, but veering from what he sees as the right path in Jerusalem and the West Bank will inevitably cause friction

By Jacob Magid

Nick Fuentes, far-right activist, holds a rally at the Lansing Capitol, in Lansing, Michigan, November 11, 2020. (Nicole Hester/ Ann Arbor News via AP)

November 28, 2022, 9:53 pm

Trump’s own ex-antisemitism envoy is latest to bash him for Kanye, Fuentes meeting

Elan Carr calls on old boss to condemn Kanye West and Holocaust denier who he dined with at Mar-a-Lago; Orthodox Union calls pair country’s ‘most vicious antisemitic figures’

By TOI staff, Jacob Magid and Luke Tress

November 27, 2022, 2:16 am

White House, some Republicans pan Trump for hosting Holocaust denier and Kanye

Biden press secretary says antisemitism has ‘no place in America — including at Mar-a-Lago’; former ambassador Friedman among GOP members joining chorus of criticism

By Agencies and Jacob Magid

File: Conservative student and supporter of US President Donald Trump, Nick Fuentes, answers question during an interview with Agence France-Presse in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 9, 2016. (WILLIAM EDWARDS/AFP)

November 26, 2022, 5:10 am

Trump defends meeting with known white supremacist, says he ‘knew nothing’ about him

Nick Fuentes, antisemite, Holocaust denier who calls Jews a ‘hostile tribal elite,’ says Israel is ‘the anti-Christ,’ joined Kanye West for Mar-a-Lago dinner with ex-president

By TOI staff and Jacob Magid

File: US President Donald Trump meets with rapper Kanye West, right, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 11, 2018. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

November 25, 2022, 7:38 pm

Trump was ‘really impressed’ after meeting with Holocaust denier, Kanye claims

Rapper embroiled in antisemitism scandal brings Nick Fuentes to Mar-a-Lago sit-down with ex-US president, who lashes out at West for suggesting Trump be West’s running mate in 2024

By Jacob Magid

Passengers arrive on the Jordanian side of the Allenby Bridge crossing between the West Bank and Jordan on July 19, 2022. (Khalil Mazraawi/AFP)

November 24, 2022, 2:05 am

After US pressure, Allenby crossing to Jordan set to open at all hours on weekdays

Following pilot program, West Bank border to open to Palestinian travelers on expanded schedule starting in April, but diplomat says quota for buses to crossing to remain the same

By Jacob Magid