Michael Bachner

Education Minister Naftali Bennett (L), Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (R), and Alona Barkat (C), hold a New Right party press conference in Tel Aviv on February 7, 2019. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

February 20, 2019, 10:25 am

New Right unveils Knesset slate featuring equal representation for women

Right-wing ticket, led by Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked, includes several journalists; soccer club owner Alona Barkat in 3rd spot

By Michael Bachner and Raoul Wootliff

Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid (L) and Israel Resilience party chief Benny Gantz. (Yossi Zeliger/Flash90, Hadas Parush/Flash90)

February 20, 2019, 8:18 am

Gantz, Lapid meet in last-ditch bid to unite against the right

Leaders of Israel Resilience and Yesh Atid speak overnight amid effort to reach elusive agreement on leadership of joint centrist ticket

By Michael Bachner and TOI staff

Former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz, left, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right. (Flash90)

February 19, 2019, 2:03 pm

Netanyahu slams Gantz: ‘Shame on you, I risked my life time after time’

PM reacts to Israel Resilience party chief’s scathing attack in which he said that while he was fighting in the IDF, Netanyahu was in TV studios and taking acting classes in the US

By Michael Bachner

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R), accompanied by Maj. Gen. Yoel Strick (L), commander of the Israel Defense Forces Northern Command, meets with soldiers in the northern city of Safed on December 11, 2018. (Jalaa Marey/AFP)

February 13, 2019, 4:56 pm

Judge issues injunction banning Netanyahu from posting photos with IDF soldiers

After PM mocked attorney general’s legal opinion, judge overseeing elections confirms publishing such material breaches election laws; court to discuss issue on Sunday

By Michael Bachner

Avi Gabbay, leader of the Labor Party (C), with Labor party parliament members (R-L) Amir Peretz, Stav Shaffir, Itzik Shmuli and Shelly Yachimovich at a party meeting in Tel Aviv on February 13, 2019. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

February 13, 2019, 2:41 pm

After primaries, Gabbay declares Labor will be ‘the surprise’ of the elections

Poll shows center-left party gaining slightly at expense of Gantz’s Israel Resilience, but still far behind with just 8 Knesset seats

By Michael Bachner

Head of the Jewish Home Party Rabbi Rafi Peretz with new party member Yifat Erlich in Tel Aviv, February 13, 2019. (Flash90)

February 13, 2019, 11:55 am

Journalist Yifat Erlich joins Jewish Home party

Writer placed 3rd on religious right-wing faction’s slate; MK Moti Yogev accuses former leader Naftali Bennett of ‘raping’ the party, apologizes later

By Michael Bachner

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to a base in Haifa, on February 12, 2019. (JACK GUEZ / POOL / AFP)

February 12, 2019, 10:12 pm

Netanyahu laughs off AG’s ‘amusing’ ban on campaign photos with soldiers

PM takes aim at Mandelblit, who is expected to announce graft charges against him soon, saying he’ll take photos with Navy troops and post them after election

By Michael Bachner

Venezuela's self proclaimed president Juan Guaido arrives for a meet with university students at the Central University of Venezuela, in Caracas, February 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

February 12, 2019, 7:40 pm

Venezuelan challenger Guaido says he’s working to renew ties with Israel

Self-proclaimed leader tells Israeli paper talks ‘at their height,’ doesn’t rule out embassy in Jerusalem; Foreign Ministry refuses to comment

By Michael Bachner

Gideon Sa'ar casts his vote at the Tel Aviv Likud polling station in the Likud primaries on February 5, 2019. (Flash90)

February 12, 2019, 3:23 am

Hundreds of votes for PM’s rival Sa’ar ‘go missing’ in Likud primaries — report

Channel 12 says Sa’ar could be eligible for fourth place on Knesset slate; Levin also a victim of ballot irregularities and could overtake Gallant

By Michael Bachner and TOI staff

The two sides of the ancient coin discovered on February 6, 2019 in the Lachish region, dating back to the Bar Kochba revolt in 133 or 134 CE. (Shiri Burchard)

February 11, 2019, 8:47 pm

Rains unearth rare Bar Kochba-era coin hailing ‘freedom of Israel’

Nature and Parks Authority tour guide stumbles on 1,885-year-old find while on training hike in Lachish region

By Michael Bachner and TOI staff

A swastika spray-painted on a mural at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, February 10, 2019. (Screenshot: Twitter)

February 10, 2019, 2:37 pm

20 swastikas spray-painted near Bondi Beach in Australia

Head of local Jewish group calls graffiti near popular Sydney beach an ‘expression of blatant racism,’ while mayor vows to ‘stand united against anti-Semitism’

By Michael Bachner

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman in the Knesset, on October 24, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

February 10, 2019, 11:49 am

Liberman: Netanyahu’s chances of forming government if charged ‘close to zero’

Yisrael Beytenu leader reportedly claims PM may strike plea deal before elections, quit politics in exchange for not being indicted pending a hearing

By Michael Bachner

MK Orly Levy-Abekasis at a Knesset House Committee meeting, March 15, 2017. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

February 8, 2019, 12:53 am

Levy-Abekasis recorded chiding Gantz’s party, appearing to rule out merger

In closed conference, Gesher party leader says her 12-year-son could write a better party platform than Israel Resilience’s; also says she is being wooed by several parties

By Michael Bachner

Likud MK Oren Hazan in Jerusalem on September 19, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

February 8, 2019, 12:36 am

Far-right party says bad-boy MK Oren Hazan seeking to join after Likud defeat

Otzma Yehudit says enfant terrible of Israeli politics has contacted it, trying to stay in Knesset after faring poorly in Likud primaries

By Michael Bachner

Benny Gantz (R) and Moshe Ya'alon (L) at a campaign event for the Israel Resilience party in Tel Aviv on January 29, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

February 7, 2019, 10:32 pm

Israel Resilience party reveals top picks for Knesset slate

Gantz, Ya’alon announce 7 new candidates, including two former PM senior aides; vow that ‘Netanyahu’s ten-year reign will end when met with the best team in Israel’

By Michael Bachner