Raoul Wootliff

Raoul Wootliff is the The Times of Israel's political correspondent.

Illustrative: An Israeli rabbinical court reviews a conversion case. (Flash90)

July 21, 2021, 7:00 pm

Religious affairs minister said planning to liberalize Jewish conversions

New plan, which comes on heels of proposed kosher supervision reform, would enable conversions outside auspices of the Chief Rabbinate, giving authority to municipal rabbis

By Raoul Wootliff

Minister of Defense Benny Gantz speaks with Likud parliament member Miki Zohar during a vote at the Knesset, on August 24, 2020. (Oren Ben Hakoon/POOL vis Flash 90)

July 19, 2021, 7:45 pm

Likud seeks to convince Gantz to bolt government, replace Bennett as PM

MK Zohar says defense minister ‘can be prime minister right now’ if he agrees to form an alternate coalition with right-wing parties

By Raoul Wootliff

Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman attends the Eli Horowitz Conference for Economy and Society, organized by Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem on June 29, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 13, 2021, 8:08 pm

Liberman says axed daycare subsidies will fund efforts against domestic violence

Finance minister allots $32 million for shelters for battered women, programs for violent men; asserts plan to slash funds for full-time Torah students will help ultra-Orthodox

By Raoul Wootliff

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked addresses the Knesset on July 6, 2021. {Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 7, 2021, 12:16 pm

Shaked vows to bring downed Palestinian family unification law to another vote

Interior minister says coalition will bring proposal back to Knesset within weeks; Yamina’s Chikli, who torpedoed measure, says he’d consider running with Likud in new elections

By Raoul Wootliff

A plenum session in the Knesset, on July 6, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 7, 2021, 11:36 am

In coalition boost, Knesset okays budget extension, law easing Likud defections

MKs pass three key laws aimed at shoring up the position of the paper-thin majority; coalition forced to pull one bill from agenda for fear it wouldn’t pass

By Raoul Wootliff

Likud MK David Bitan arrives for a Knesset faction meeting on June 6, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 6, 2021, 10:49 pm

State to charge Likud MK David Bitan with bribery, fraud

Netanyahu loyalist accused of taking over $200,000 in bribes while serving in public office, both as a deputy mayor and as a Knesset member; he denies the allegations

By Raoul Wootliff

Opposition members rejoice after a Knesset vote rejected an extension of the Palestinian family reunification law, in Jerusalem, on July 6, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 6, 2021, 10:24 pm

Right-wingers slash at each other after citizenship ban extension fails

Lawmakers accuse each other of endangering the country following government’s failure to pass Knesset motion renewing law barring Palestinian family reunification

By Raoul Wootliff

French MP Meyer Habib (L) with Sara Netanyahu (C) and Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu in the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem, July 1, 2021. (Facebook)

July 1, 2021, 5:17 pm

Netanyahu hosts French MP at Balfour residence despite promises to Bennett

Jewish parliamentarian Meyer Habib publishes photo with former PM at official residence, saying he was there for a ‘private meeting’ that took place amid moving boxes

By Raoul Wootliff

National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat delivers a statement upon his arrival at the Bahraini International Airport on October 18, 2020. (RONEN ZVULUN / POOL / AFP)

July 1, 2021, 12:01 am

National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat announces he’s stepping down

NSC head will leave position at end of August; PM Bennett thanks Netanyahu appointee for ‘many years of contributing to Israel’s security in a professional and successful manner’

By Raoul Wootliff

Portrait of the Jerusalem Supreme Court Judge, Esther Hayut, on May 10, 2017. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

June 24, 2021, 1:07 am

Bennett holds ‘introductory meeting’ with Supreme Court Chief Justice Hayut

PM’s Yamina party has previously pushed for widespread judicial reform to weaken powers of court, seen by many on the right as a symbol of the old left-leaning political elite

By Raoul Wootliff

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (5th left) leads his first cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on June 20, 2021. (Amit Shabi/POOL)

June 20, 2021, 12:48 pm

In 1st cabinet meeting, new government okays state inquiry into Meron disaster

PM Bennett urges unity within diverse coalition, says coalition will continue ‘determinedly opposing Iran reaching a nuclear weapon’; IDF chief Kohavi’s tenure extended by a year

By Raoul Wootliff

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (R) and Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid at the new government's first cabinet meeting, held at the Knesset on June 13, 2021. (Gil COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)

June 14, 2021, 12:31 am

At first cabinet meeting, Bennett, Lapid vow to work to make new government last

Incoming prime minister says ‘we are at the start of new days’; alternative PM: ‘Friendship and trust’ are foundation of coalition and only that will keep it in power

By Raoul Wootliff

Newly elected Prime Minister Naftali Bennett waves, with Yair Lapid (left) and Gideon Sa'ar (right) alongside him, after their new coalition wins Knesset approval, June 13, 2021 (Haim Zach / GPO)

June 13, 2021, 9:22 pm

Bennett sworn in as prime minister, unseating Netanyahu after 12 years in power

Government approved 60-59; Yamina head heckled throughout his Knesset speech; Yesh Atid’s Yair Lapid becomes alternate PM; Netanyahu derides new PM and vows: ‘We’ll be back soon’

By Raoul Wootliff

Prime Minister-designate Naftali Bennett addresses the Knesset on June 13, 2021 (Noam Moskowitz/Knesset)

June 13, 2021, 5:56 pm

‘End this chaos’: Constantly heckled, Bennett says new government ‘here to work’

In address before proposed government’s swearing-in, PM-designate presents coalition amid shouts of ‘liar’ and ‘criminal’; Lapid forgoes speech, says hecklers a disgrace

By Raoul Wootliff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, seen with Likud's Tzachi Hanegbi, right, and Yuval Steinitz, left during a Likud faction meeting at the Knesset, July 27, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 9, 2021, 12:00 pm

Heading to opposition, Likud lawmakers prepare for fierce internal battles

Several MKs said to object to Netanyahu maintaining full control over the party and hope to deny him a snap leadership primary

By Raoul Wootliff