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Sam Sokol

Sam Sokol

Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. 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"
Ra’am party chairman Mansour Abbas (center right) holds a joint press conference with former Yesh Atid MK Yoav Segalovitz (center left), who will run on the Ra'am slate in October's election, in Nazareth, August 31, 2026. (Michael Giladi/FLASH90)
August 31, 2026, 10:58 pm
In unprecedented move, Abbas and Segalovitz announce joint run, bringing Jewish lawmaker to Arab party’s slate
Ra’am chief: We need to create partnerships and ‘see the other as a human being, not as an enemy’; Segalovitz: ‘The assertion that after October 7 it is impossible to maintain a political partnership with Arab parties is false’
By Sam Sokol and JTA
Political correspondent Sam Sokol appears on the Daily Briefing with host Jessica Steinberg (Flash 90)
August 31, 2026, 1:39 pm
Daily Briefing Aug. 31: Splinter parties jockey for position as election deadline looms
Political correspondent Sam Sokol discusses ‘third bloc’ political parties ahead of September 8 deadline for forming slates, and the new ultra-Orthodox party, The Charedi Public
By Jessica Steinberg and Sam Sokol
Left to right: Former minister Gilad Erdan and MK Yuli Edelstein in Tel Aviv, August 6, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90); Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel in Jerusalem, July 14, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90); Yoaz Hendel and Chili Tropper in Jerusalem, August 5, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 30, 2026, 8:17 pm
With only days left to submit slates, small parties are still jockeying for position
Despite polling under the electoral threshold, newly established right-wing factions seen as unlikely to agree on any sort of joint run until right before September 8 deadline
By Sam Sokol
Religious Zionism chairman and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich presents his plan to "Judaize" the Negev and Galilee while curtailing Arab building, August 27, 2026. (Courtesy of Religious Zionism)
August 27, 2026, 6:47 pm
Smotrich calls to ‘Judaize’ Negev, Galilee as part of his settlement ‘revolution’
Far-right minister’s pre-election plan would establish dozens of towns for one million new Jewish residents while curbing Arab building
By Sam Sokol
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the Negev Conference in the southern city of Dimona, southern Israel, July 17, 2026. (Tsafrir Abayov/Flash90)
August 27, 2026, 4:06 pm
With debutant Winter poised to cannibalize his bloc, Netanyahu has reason to sweat
New People of Israel party seen as most likely to draw votes away from PM’s coalition allies, as well as his own Likud, with rivals and other small right-wing factions already siphoning away support
By Sam Sokol
Yair Golan, chairman of The Democrats party, speaks during a party rally at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, July 25, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
August 26, 2026, 11:27 pm
Democrats chair Yair Golan said to request security detail due to threats on his life
Request reportedly cites posts saying Golan should be hanged, shot, maimed; Eisenkot trades barbs with hawkish newcomer Winter as PM’s glumness on Likud’s chances is backed up by poll
By Sam Sokol
Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas (left) and former Yesh Atid MK Yoav Segalovitz in a handout photo released by the party on August 26, 2026. (Courtesy)
August 26, 2026, 7:35 pm
Abbas eyes Segalovitz pact amid backlash for saying he’s ‘compelled’ to accept Jewish state
Ra’am chair angers right-wing lawmakers in Facebook post asserting that Arab politicians must accept ‘imposed’ reality of Israel’s Jewish character; Erdan: Abbas wants a caliphate
By ToI Staff and Sam Sokol
Ofer Winter at the launch of his new People of Israel party in Jerusalem, August 25, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
August 25, 2026, 11:57 pm
Winter launches nationalist ‘People of Israel’ party; Netanyahu warns it could doom the right
Controversial ex-general says Israelis will no longer accept same political faces after Oct. 7; does not mention PM; unveils diverse slate including Arab-Israeli influencer Yosef Haddad
By Sam Sokol
Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel speaks to the media as she announces her resignation as deputy foreign minister at the Knesset in Jerusalem, July 14, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
August 25, 2026, 4:28 pm
No slate, no HQ: Sharren Haskel wages an uphill fight to return to the Knesset
The Israel First party is polling far below the electoral threshold, but the former deputy foreign minister at its helm insists she’s not just looking to dock with another ‘Third Bloc’ faction
By Sam Sokol
Far-right lawmaker Zvi Sukkot smashes a Palestinian 'Martyrs Monument' in the West Bank village of Madama, August 25, 2026. (MK Zvi Sukkot's office)
August 25, 2026, 1:44 pm
Far-right MK smashes monument for Palestinian ‘martyrs’ during IDF-escorted West Bank tour
Zvi Sukkot, aides filmed wielding sledgehammers in Madama; army accuses him of acting ‘deceptively and manipulatively; incident triggers condemnations across political spectrum; PM: ‘Unacceptable’
By Emanuel Fabian, Sam Sokol and Stav Levaton
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu votes in Jerusalem in the Likud primary election on August 17, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
August 25, 2026, 12:52 am
Lagging in polls, Netanyahu warns small right-wing parties could hand election to ‘fascist’ left
Fuming that a rash of new parties led by disaffected nationalists will waste vital votes, PM, whose coalition seeks oversight of media, claims opposition would restrict free speech, shutter his supportive Channel 14
By Sam Sokol
Policemen stand by as ultra-Orthodox men block a road during a protest against conscription into the Israel Defense Forces, in Bnei Brak on August 24, 2026. (Ilia YEFIMOVICH/AFP)
August 24, 2026, 9:39 pm
Haredi protesters shut down highway near Bnei Brak over draft dodger’s arrest
Demonstration by extremist Jerusalem Faction comes after weeks-long lull in ultra-Orthodox protests
By Noam Lehmann, Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Moti Leitner, chairman of The Charedi Public, and Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer, head of the party's rabbinic committee, attend the kick-off of the new ultra-Orthodox faction's Knesset campaign in Beit Shemesh, August 23, 2026. (Sam Sokol/Times of Israel)
August 24, 2026, 7:26 pm
Launching campaign, new Haredi party slams ‘detachment, stupidity’ of existing factions
The Charedi Public calls for secular education, workforce participation and the enlistment of everybody who is not learning full-time in yeshiva
By Sam Sokol
The Altalena ship burns after being shelled near Tel Aviv, June 22, 1948. (Hans Pinn/GPO)
August 24, 2026, 12:57 pm
Wreckage found of Altalena arms ship sunk in deadly 1948 power tussle, far-right ministers announce
IDF says it had no part in search for Irgun ship sunk by army of nascent state; 16 Irgun members, 3 IDF troops died in incident that became right-wing symbol; chances of lifting still-intact vessel said slim
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
A screenshot from a Shas campaign video featuring an IDF soldier from a Haredi background, which the Central Elections Committee ordered the part to take down on August 23, 2026. (Screenshot/Shas)
August 23, 2026, 7:19 pm
Election czar orders Shas to remove ad claiming troops support Haredi party
Judge gives Aryeh Deri 2 days to respond to Yashar petition alleging the video, featuring a religious family welcoming their soldier son home, violates election rules
By Sam Sokol
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