Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×
Sam Sokol

Sam Sokol

Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Central Election Committee workers count ballots at the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, after the general elections, on March 25, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 17, 2026, 8:31 am
As Likud challenges the election watchdog, some fear it may challenge the election outcome, too
Netanyahu’s party has been slamming appointments of Central Elections Committee officials, a campaign some experts see as laying the groundwork to contest the vote itself; Likud dismisses the notion, says it has always doubted committee’s neutrality
By Sam Sokol
Protesters demonstrate outside the Knesset in Jerusalem, during events marking the 1,000th day since the October 7 massacre, July 2, 2026 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 2, 2026, 6:29 pm
Survivors rail at government on 1,000th day since Oct. 7: ‘They’ve never taken responsibility’
Families and former hostages denounce government for ducking responsibility for massacre, demand state commission of inquiry, pan Netanyahu, Smotrich, for out of touch comments
By Sam Sokol, Nava Freiberg and ToI Staff
Minister of Heritage Amichay Eliyahu (left) attends a unity conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, June 22, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Nitzan Alon attends the Herzliya Conference at the Reichman University in Herzliya, July 1, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
July 2, 2026, 2:37 pm
Far-right minister says IDF hostage point man ‘to blame’ for Oct. 7 abductions, killings
Amichay Eliyahu leads coalition backlash against Nitzan Alon for pushing back after Smotrich claimed credit for captives’ return, says top general would have enabled Hamas to threaten Israel again
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
MK Boaz Bismuth leads a Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, February 24, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 28, 2026, 9:19 pm
Knesset panel to advance measure freezing arrests of Haredi draft evaders for 90 days
Foreign affairs and defense panel chair makes announcement amid bid to end Haredi boycott of coalition; opposition slams bill equating Torah study, IDF service
By Ariela Karmel, Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators block Route 1 near Jerusalem during a protest against the imprisonment of yeshiva students who failed to comply with military recruitment orders, June 24, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
June 25, 2026, 12:58 am
Haredi convoys spark clashes, traffic chaos; most protesters fail to reach IDF prison
Police assess 1,000 cars joined anti-draft demonstration; video shows some members of public reacting violently to protesters; pregnant woman reportedly hurt in car accident caused by convoy
By Sam Sokol
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to reserve combat officers in Gush Etzion in the West Bank, June 23, 2026. (Maayan Toaf/GPO)
June 23, 2026, 9:50 pm
Haredi parties deny report of deal with Netanyahu to pass array of pre-election laws
Report claims sides agreed on Oct. 20 election date, and to pass laws to boost rights of Torah students, stop arrests of draft-evaders, constrict AG’s role, hold PM’s favored political probe of Oct. 7
By Sam Sokol
Shas chairman MK Aryeh Deri in the Knesset, June 3, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 22, 2026, 6:06 pm
Almost all bills removed from Knesset agenda as Haredi boycott enters second week
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri warns that unless law benefiting yeshiva students and draft evaders is passed, ‘we will not support any coalition legislation’
By Sam Sokol
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and MKs attend a plenum session and a vote on reviving the ultra-Orthodox draft exemption bill at the assembly hall of the Knesset, in Jerusalem, on June 11, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 21, 2026, 6:54 pm
Thwarted by Haredi intransigence, Netanyahu may push to dissolve Knesset within days
The utra-Orthodox push to pass bills benefiting draft evaders, and their ongoing boycott of coalition legislation, could lead PM to call for slightly earlier elections
By Sam Sokol
Attorney Michael Rabello is seen before a court hearing on the dismissal of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, April 15, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 21, 2026, 6:21 pm
High Court: Knesset must explain why state comptroller vote should not be annulled
Statement comes after Knesset speaker rejected call to redo vote, which saw Michael Rabello winning after MKs were allegedly told to video themselves putting his name in ballot box
By Sam Sokol and Jeremy Sharon
Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, during a weekly teaching at the Yazdim synagogue in Jerusalem, on June 7, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/FLASH90)
June 21, 2026, 8:52 am
Top Shas rabbi: US-Iran deal is divine punishment for arrests of Haredi draft dodgers
Ex-Sephardic chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, known for controversial remarks on matters of religion and state, also says ‘garbage’ attorney general to blame for Trump’s ‘turn against’ Israel
By Sam Sokol
Motti Babchik, a senior UTJ political operative, and thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest outside an IDF Military Prison near Kfar Yona, central Israel, against the jailing of seminary students who failed to comply with an army recruitment order, June 17, 2026. (Tal Gal/Flash90)
June 18, 2026, 10:20 pm
Enraged by arrests of draft evaders, Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community is in revolt
Yeshiva students are blocking roads and breaking into police stations as Haredi parties hold coalition’s legislative agenda hostage. PM said to be considering halting detentions
By Sam Sokol
Likud MK Tally Gotliv in the Knesset plenum, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, June 17, 2026. (Oren Ben Hakoon/ Flash90)
June 17, 2026, 9:39 pm
Knesset grants Likud MK Gotliv immunity from prosecution for exposing Shin Bet agent
Vote follows chaotic hearings in which coalition lawmakers rally behind firebrand colleague; opposition lawmakers decry move as ‘disgrace’ and ‘slap in the face’ to security forces
By Ariela Karmel, ToI Staff and Sam Sokol
Police clash with Haredi protesters on Route 4, June 17, 2026 (Screen grabs/Channel 13)
June 17, 2026, 4:24 pm
Haredi anti-draft protest blocks highway near Tel Aviv, 8 hurt as police clear road
Police arrest 5; use stun grenades and batons in violent dispersal that sparks rare criticism from Ben Gvir, who has championed using force against anti-government demonstrators
By Charlie Summers, Sam Sokol and Emanuel Fabian
United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush attends a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, in Jerusalem, May 20, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 17, 2026, 6:46 am
UTJ lawmaker Porush warns Haredim may go after AG ‘with sticks and stones’
Ultra-Orthodox MK warns his faction could soon ‘completely disassociate ourselves from cooperation with other government authorities that are taking part in the persecution against us’
By Sam Sokol
L-R, front: MKs Yitzhak Goldknopf (L), Moshe Gafni and Yinon Azulai in the Knesset, January 14, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 16, 2026, 7:00 pm
Haredi Knesset boycott continues, putting coalition’s legislative blitz at risk
Bills pulled from plenum agenda for second day in a row as Haredim demand return of daycare subsidies for draft evaders; we ‘will not accept any delay,’ says Degel HaTorah
By Sam Sokol
Load More
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.