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Raoul Wootliff
Raoul Wootliff
Raoul Wootliff is the The Times of Israel's political correspondent.
Then-Foreign Minister Israel Katz speaks during an emergency meeting the at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem on February 13, 2020. (Flash90)
October 12, 2020, 11:50 am
Katz denies Treasury turmoil as top officials exit ministry
Minister says he won’t address gossip, claims Finance Ministry functioning well after director-general follows others out the door as crisis swirls over budget, virus response
By TOI staff and Raoul Wootliff
Keren Terner Eyal, then-director general of the Transportation Ministry, attends a hearing at the Knesset, on March 20, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
October 11, 2020, 7:30 pm
Treasury director resigns amid deepening turmoil under Minister Katz
Keren Terner Eyal steps down after just 5 months on the job, as crisis swirls over budget and virus response; move comes after several other senior ministry officials resign
By Raoul Wootliff
MK Yifat Shasha-Biton at a Knesset coronavirus committee meeting on July 19, 2020. (screen capture: Knesset livestream)
September 21, 2020, 10:55 pm
Knesset virus committee chief: PM should ‘get it together,’ stop casting blame
After Netanyahu intimates her actions contributed to case surge, Likud MK urges him to focus on solutions, ‘not shirking responsibility and slinging mud and filth’
By Raoul Wootliff
The flags of the U.S., United Arab Emirates, Israel and Bahrain seen on the side of a road in the city of Netanya, September 14, 2020. (Flash90)
September 14, 2020, 6:32 pm
700 due at White House Israel-UAE-Bahrain signing; Netanyahu to meet Trump first
Hours before ceremony, wording of UAE ‘peace treaty’ and Bahrain ‘peace declaration’ still not published; PM’s office says UAE deal will be valid only when Knesset gives okay
By Jacob Magid and Raoul Wootliff
Yesh Atid-Telem leader Yair Lapid gives a statement to the press on April 21, 2020. (Elad Guttman/Yesh Atid-Telem)
September 7, 2020, 8:25 pm
Rejecting primaries, Lapid says ‘internal’ leadership vote to be held next year
Deflecting challenge by prominent MK, Yesh Atid chief agrees ‘it’s time’ for election to choose party leader, but only after careful, and lengthy, consideration
By Raoul Wootliff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discusses the agreement for Israel and the UAE to establish diplomatic relations, at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, on August 13, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)
August 13, 2020, 9:41 pm
Hailing ‘new era with Arab world,’ Netanyahu says others will follow UAE’s lead
Touting ‘full and formal peace’ with advanced, innovative Gulf nation, PM notes Israelis will soon be flying direct to Abu Dhabi; insists annexation plan is only temporarily halted
By Raoul Wootliff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his office in Jerusalem on a phone call with UAE leader Mohammed Bin Zayed, on August 13, 2020. (Kobi Gideon/PMO)
August 13, 2020, 6:49 pm
In historic declaration, Israel and United Arab Emirates agree to normalize ties
Trump first to announce ‘historic peace agreement,’ says Israel agreed to suspend West Bank annexation bid in exchange for formal relations with Gulf nation
By Raoul Wootliff, Raphael Ahren and TOI staff
Then-justice minister Ayelet Shaked seen with then-chief justice Miriam Naor, then-Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and members of the Judicial Appointments Committee at a meeting in Jerusalem, on February 22, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 14, 2020, 8:42 pm
Netanyahu said working to block Shaked from joining panel to appoint judges
Move would mean right-wing Knesset parties hold three seats on powerful body and be able to block candidates put forward by currently-serving judges
By Raoul Wootliff
Shas party leader Aryeh Deri arrives at the Knesset for a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, March 3, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 18, 2020, 12:37 am
Using new law, Shas leader Deri resigns from Knesset to allow new MK to enter
Petah Tikva deputy mayor Uriel Busson to become party’s newest lawmaker after Rabbi Baruch Gazahay dropped candidacy amid outcry over his comments disparaging women
By Raoul Wootliff
Then-Foreign Minister Israel Katz speaks during an emergency meeting the at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem on February 13, 2020. (Flash90)
June 17, 2020, 11:40 pm
Finance minister denies Netanyahu seeking new elections with budget U-turn push
Insisting his considerations are only for the good of the economy, Israel Katz says efforts to pass a one-year budget are not a pretext for new elections
By Raoul Wootliff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) with MK Miki Zohar during a Likud faction meeting at the Knesset, on December 7, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 16, 2020, 11:21 pm
Senior Likud MK says Netanyahu vowed he’ll never recognize a Palestinian state
Touting Trump plan as ‘historic opportunity’ to annex parts of West Bank, coalition whip Miki Zohar promises recognition of Palestine is not on the table
By Raoul Wootliff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touring the INS Tanin submarine, built by the German firm Thyssenkrupp, as it arrived in Israel on September 23, 2014. (Kobi Gideon/GPO/Flash90)
June 16, 2020, 9:12 pm
Anti-corruption group asks High Court to probe Netanyahu in submarine case
Movement for Quality Government wants attorney general to investigate PM’s decade-old stock deal with cousin tied to Case 3000
By Raoul Wootliff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Defense Minister Benny Gantz lead a weekly cabinet meeting, at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem on June 7, 2020. (Marc Israel Sellem)
June 16, 2020, 1:01 am
Knesset passes ‘Norwegian Law,’ letting parties replace ministers with more MKs
Sought by Gantz, law passes after he reportedly agrees to amend coalition deal to protect Netanyahu from a future High Court ruling barring indicted MK from serving as alternate PM
By Raoul Wootliff
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at the 17th annual Jerusalem Conference of the 'Besheva' group, on February 24, 2020. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
June 12, 2020, 1:03 pm
Bennett: Netanyahu betrayed religious Zionists, and will pay for it
Yamina party chief says government leading Israel to coronavirus peril, PM needlessly dragging out annexation talks
By Raoul Wootliff
MKs vote one by one in the Knesset plenary to form committees on March 24, 2020. (Adina Veldman/Knesset)
June 9, 2020, 2:59 pm
Bill that lets parties replace ministers with more MKs approved for final votes
So-called ‘Norwegian Law’ passes 8-5 in Knesset committee; opposition says it wastes public funds
By Raoul Wootliff
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