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Raoul Wootliff
Raoul Wootliff
Raoul Wootliff is the The Times of Israel's political correspondent.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, speaks with Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked in the Knesset, December 21, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 22, 2019, 1:22 pm
Right-wing parties, left-wing parties ink vote-sharing agreements
Likud signs deal with Yamina as Democratic Camp and Labor team up to ensure ballots don’t go to waste
By Raoul Wootliff
Yisrael Beytenu party leader Avigdor Liberman (R) speaks with Yesh Atid chief Yair Lapid at the Knesset on November 16, 2015. (Miriam Alster/ Flash90)
August 20, 2019, 2:41 pm
Blue and White and Yisrael Beytenu ink vote-sharing deal, drawing fire
Liberman insists move only technical, not a sign of ideology, after Likud slams right-wing faction for forging deal with centrists pushing to unseat Netanyahu
By Raoul Wootliff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, on July 23, 2019. (Marc Israel Sellem/Pool/Flash90)
August 20, 2019, 1:44 pm
Netanyahu won’t rule out ‘broad’ government with center-left — report
PM insists Blue and White’s place in his next coalition would be ‘in addition to, not instead of’ Likud’s ‘natural’ right-wing partners, likely making such a pairing impossible
By Raoul Wootliff
Former justice minister Ayelet Shaked poses for a selfie during a press conference in Ramat Gan, July 21, 2019. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
August 19, 2019, 11:49 pm
Report claims Shaked promised Netanyahu immunity if he made her justice minister
Yamina leader alleged to have claimed she could force attorney general to close graft cases as she lobbied for membership in Likud; Shaked denies ‘low, ugly slander’
By Raoul Wootliff
Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz addresses a demonstration outside the Tel Aviv Museum on May 25, 2019, against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to avoid prosecution in three criminal cases he faces. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
August 19, 2019, 12:39 am
Gantz says no split in Blue and White despite internal mole probe
Party leader says hiring agency to sniff out leaks was ‘normal;’ private intel company reportedly plants fake campaign plans among Blue and White leadership to track leakers
By Raoul Wootliff
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid (R) and Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman hold a joint press conference at the Knesset on February 29, 2016. (Miriam Alster/Flash90/File)
August 18, 2019, 8:42 pm
Liberman defends proposed vote-sharing deal with Blue and White
Move could boost centrist faction’s chances of unseating Netanyahu, but Yisrael Beytenu chief insists he will only back a unity government
By Raoul Wootliff
Avigdor Liberman, center, visits the Tomb of the Patriarchs in the West Bank city of Hebron on January 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
August 7, 2019, 5:24 pm
Spinning heads: Could Liberman really become PM under a rotation deal?
With no clear solution to an anticipated post-election coalition deadlock, the Yisrael Beytenu chief makes an audacious pitch to move from kingmaker to king
By Raoul Wootliff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (c) speaks with then-health minister Yaakov Litzman (l) at the Knesset on March 28, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 6, 2019, 5:37 pm
Ultra-Orthodox back Litzman, Likud silent, after allegations he helped pedophile
Deputy health minister and UTJ party head receives broad backing from Haredi parties, while the opposition manages to muster only mild criticism for the key political player
By Raoul Wootliff and Jacob Magid
Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman at the ceremony for the opening of a new branch of his Agudath Israel party, ahead of the upcoming elections, in the northern city of Safed, July 4, 2019. (David Cohen/Flash90)
August 6, 2019, 12:20 pm
Police recommend Litzman stand trial for bribery, aiding alleged pedophile
Deputy health minister and UTJ party head could be charged over pressuring employees to prevent extradition of Malka Leifer to face 74 counts of child sex abuse in Australia
By Raoul Wootliff and Jacob Magid
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman in Tel Aviv, July 30, 2019. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
August 2, 2019, 2:15 am
Election lists close with rifts on left and right, leaving Liberman as kingmaker
Three major takeaways as 32 parties register with the Central Elections Committee for the September 17 national vote
By Raoul Wootliff
Otzma Yehudit's Itamar Ben Gvir speaks to reporters at the Knesset before his far-right party submits its electoral slate to the Central Elections Committee on August 1, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)
August 1, 2019, 10:32 pm
Resisting pressure from Netanyahu, far-right Otzma Yehudit runs alone
Itamar Ben Gvir accuses Bennett of ‘blowing up’ merger, claims United Right seeking to join coalition led by Blue and White
By Jacob Magid and Raoul Wootliff
Hadash-Ta'al chairman Ayman Odeh speaks at a demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, outside the Tel Aviv Museum on May 25, 2019. (Tomer Neuberg/ Flash90)
August 1, 2019, 9:57 pm
Top Arab MK says open to ‘joining’ Gantz
Ayman Odeh’s spokesman says the Joint List leader meant ‘cooperation’ only, won’t join Blue and White-led coalition
By Raoul Wootliff
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz speaks to reporters at the Knesset as his party submits its electoral slate to the Central Elections Committee on August 1, 2019. (Flash90)
August 1, 2019, 9:20 pm
Gantz appears to open, then abruptly closes, door to government with Netanyahu
After seeming to endorse coalition with PM, Blue and White head says he misheard question, insists he wants to replace the premier
By TOI staff and Raoul Wootliff
Women from the Ambash cult speak with reporters at the Knesset as they arrive to present their electoral slate to the Central Elections Committee on August 1, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)
August 1, 2019, 6:58 pm
Four wives of jailed cult leader found pro-polygamy party to run in elections
Spouses of Daniel Ambash, convicted of sadistic abuse of his family members, vow to fight to prevent the government intervening in Israelis’ private lives
By Raoul Wootliff
United Right head Ayelet Shaked (L) and Otzma Yedhudit senior member Itamar Ben Gvir. (Flash90)
August 1, 2019, 11:58 am
Extremist Otzma Yehudit still seeking merger with United Right as deadline nears
Itamar Ben Gvir says Ayelet Shaked under pressure to exclude his far-right party from electoral alliance, but joint run ‘still possible’
By Raoul Wootliff
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