Raoul Wootliff

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

January 19, 2021, 11:07 pm

In boost for Bennett, small business owners’ protest leader joins Yamina

Abir Kara of the ‘I am Shulman’ group says his ‘entire movement’ will back the right-wing party in March election; Itzik Shmuli rules out bid for Labor leadership

By Raoul Wootliff

Blue and White's Benny Gantz (right) and Yair Lapid during a faction meeting at the Knesset on November 18, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

January 12, 2021, 1:30 pm

Gantz snubbed after reaching out to opposition leaders to form alliance

Blue and White head says he and Lapid have common goal, doesn’t delude himself he’ll be PM after election; ex-Blue and White MK Zamir says he won’t run again

By TOI staff and Raoul Wootliff

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, in a January 11, 2021 speech, says he was wrong to partner with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Elad Malka)

January 11, 2021, 10:52 pm

Gantz: I was wrong to shake Netanyahu’s hand, parties that oppose him must unite

Blue and White chief says PM ‘deceived me, deceived you’; urges politicians to let go of ego and grievances and ‘unite for the good of the country’

By Raoul Wootliff

Officials count the remaining ballots at the Knesset in Jerusalem, two days after the general elections, early on March 4, 2020. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

January 11, 2021, 10:33 pm

Responsible parties? Fragmenting political field is ripe for mergers

Fusions of like-minded slates among Netanyahu’s increasingly splintered opponents would help at least some of them avoid oblivion on election day

By Raoul Wootliff

Naftali Bennett (R) and Bezalel Smotrich of the right-wing Yamina party hold a press conference in Jerusalem on May 14, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 11, 2021, 9:48 pm

Smotrich confirms he’ll split from Yamina and field independent run

Right-wing union that ran together in previous election now looks set to launch separate slates, with Bennett looking to expand party’s appeal

By Raoul Wootliff

Moshe Ya'alon and Israelis protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in Efrat on December 19, 2020. (Gershon Elinson/Flash90)

January 10, 2021, 9:29 pm

Ya’alon kicks off Telem campaign: ‘Benjamin Netanyahu, your time is up’

After splitting up with Yesh Atid, former Likud defense minister teams up with recently resigned science minister, ex-virus adviser to government, and anti-PM activists

By Raoul Wootliff and TOI staff

Izhar Shay poses at the Knesset, on April 29, 2019 (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

January 10, 2021, 2:08 pm

Ex-science minister, top government virus adviser join Ya’alon’s Telem party

Prominent anti-Netanyahu activist also joins ranks; doctors union chief Hagai Levine says he believes in former defense minister’s leadership

By Raoul Wootliff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) addressing the media alongside US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in Jerusalem, January 7, 2021. (GPO)

January 7, 2021, 12:24 pm

Netanyahu calls ‘rampage’ in DC ‘disgraceful,’ lauds Trump as Mideast peacemaker

After lengthy delay, PM denounces assault on Capitol without naming president or specifying circumstances, says US democracy will prevail; then thanks Trump for peace breakthroughs

By Judah Ari Gross and Raoul Wootliff

Blue and White leaders Yair Lapid (R) and Moshe Ya'alon at a faction meeting at the Knesset on June 24, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 4, 2021, 5:10 pm

Yesh Atid-Telem said planning to split, as Yamina courts Jewish Home

Ya’alon, Lapid reportedly fail to agree on terms for continued partnership; Bennett’s party in talks with faction whose leader, Rafi Peretz, seems poised to retire

By Raoul Wootliff

Labor party head MK Amir Peretz and party member MK Merav Michaeli at a press conference with party members at Rabin square in Tel Aviv, following the announcement of the Trump peace plan, on January 29, 2020. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

January 3, 2021, 5:34 pm

In win for rebel MK Michaeli, court forces Labor to hold primaries

Left-wing lawmaker announces bid for leadership of embattled party after overturning leader Peretz’s decision to cancel internal vote

By Raoul Wootliff and TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the launch of his Likud party's election campaign in Ramat Gan, March 4, 2019.(Aharon Krohn/Flash90)

December 30, 2020, 10:19 pm

Likud scraps primaries; polls show Huldai party taking votes from Lapid, Bennett

Netanyahu given ok to pick 6 names to freshen up slate; said to want ex-Health Ministry DG Moshe Bar Siman-Tov; anti-PM parties heading for majority, but would they join forces?

By Raoul Wootliff

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz speaks at a press conference, December 29, 2020. (Elad Malka/Blue and White)

December 29, 2020, 10:04 pm

Claiming Blue and White ‘saved Israel,’ Gantz says he’ll lead party in election

Defense minister vows to create ‘alliance’ to unseat Netanyahu, castigates ‘whiners’ and ‘cowards’ who criticized him for joining Likud-led government

By Raoul Wootliff

Mayor of Tel Aviv Ron Huldai attends a Tel Aviv city council meeting, January 20, 2020. (Tomer Neuberg/FLASH90)

December 28, 2020, 11:14 pm

Tel Aviv mayor to form new left-wing party to run in March elections

Ron Huldai confirms entry into national political arena, says he’ll launch campaign Tuesday night reaching out to those who ‘feel they have no home in the current political system’

By Raoul Wootliff

Lawyer Ariel Roth, seen in an Uvda TV documentary, December 24, 2020 (Channel 12 screenshot)

December 24, 2020, 11:59 pm

TV report: Partner to Netanyahu’s lawyer plotted to smear judges in his trial

Investigative report airs footage of attorney Ariel Roth seeking funding to record family members of the justices overseeing the case making remarks against the PM

By Raoul Wootliff

Likud MK Sharren Haskel announcing her resignation from the Knesset and the Likud party, on December 23, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

December 23, 2020, 1:22 pm

Sharren Haskel is latest Likud MK to defect to Sa’ar’s new party

Announcing her resignation from Knesset, New Hope’s latest recruit says ‘my conscience does not allow me to continue to support this government’

By Raoul Wootliff