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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 531

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"
Posters for United Torah Judaism candidate Shmuel Greenberg defaced ahead of the 2024 municipal election in Beit Shemesh. (Sam Sokol)
March 20, 2025, 5:45 pm
PM, President Herzog, Haredi ministers condemn mob attack on Beit Shemesh mayor
‘We must denounce the extremists and the violent among us,’ says United Torah Judaism chairman Goldknopf in wake of assault on Degel Hatorah’s Shmuel Greenberg
By Sam Sokol
Police fire water cannons at protesters during demonstrations against the decision of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, in Jerusalem, March 20, 2025 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 20, 2025, 5:07 pm
Jerusalem protests rage for 2nd day as cabinet set to vote to fire Shin Bet head Bar
Police shove Democrats chair Yair Golan to the ground outside Netanyahu’s home, use water cannons to disperse demonstrators; cops tow cars after activists block Paris Square
By Charlie Summers, Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and coalition lawmakers attend a vote on the 2025 state budget in the Knesset plenum, March 19, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 20, 2025, 1:55 pm
Clearing path for budget vote, MKs pass Economic Arrangements Law as Haredim back down
Ben Gvir’s return to the coalition defangs UTJ chief Yitzchak Goldknopf’s threat to scuttle 2025 state budget unless law exempting yeshiva students from IDF service is passed first
By Sam Sokol
Beit Shemesh Mayor Shmuel Greenberg (in helmet) is rescued by police from a mob of ultra-Orthodox extremists, late March 19, 2025. (Screen capture X)
March 20, 2025, 5:02 am
Haredi extremists attack Beit Shemesh mayor and his family, overturn his car
Assailants injure Shmuel Greenberg’s 19-year-old son; video shows armored police rushing mayor from scene as mob shouting ‘Nazi’ chases him
By Sam Sokol
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulates Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir after the Knesset votes to approve his return to the cabinet, March 19, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 20, 2025, 2:07 am
Ben Gvir reappointed police minister as Knesset okays his party’s return to government
Far-right Otzma Yehudit rejoins hours before critical budget vote, raising Netanyahu’s majority to 68; Ben Gvir links move to resumption of Gaza war after he opposed hostage deal
By Sam Sokol
Naftali Bennett attends a commemoration ceremony for a slain Israeli soldier at Mt. Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, December 25, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90/ File)
March 19, 2025, 10:04 pm
Bennett: PM must quit over Qatari payments to aide; if received knowingly, it’s ‘treason’
Former PM calls out Netanyahu for ‘cover-up’ of scandal and resistance to investigation; Likud retorts that he’s a ‘crook’ for building 2021 coalition with Arab party Ra’am
By Sam Sokol
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir holds a press conference together with members of his far-right Otzma Yehudit party in Jerusalem, January 16, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)
March 18, 2025, 4:53 pm
Far-right Otzma Yehudit returning to the government after resumption of war in Gaza
‘Together in strength, for the sake of the people of Israel,’ Ben Gvir exults following end of two-month stint in the opposition over party’s objection to ceasefire deal
By Sam Sokol
Shas minister Haim Biton attends an Education, Culture, and Sports Committee meeting at the Knesset, on August 14, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
March 18, 2025, 2:00 pm
Police grill Shas minister for alleged funneling of taxpayer money to party paper
Officers interrogate Haim Biton, arrest four others in connection to alleged transfer of public funds to pay employees’ salaries while minister headed Shas school network
By Charlie Summers and Sam Sokol
Ultra-Orthodox men protest against the conscription of Haredim to the IDF in Jerusalem on October 31, 2024. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)
March 18, 2025, 1:52 pm
AG urges defense minister to take ‘immediate action’ to penalize Haredi draft evaders
Government must ‘improve enforcement and impose personal sanctions,’ Deputy AG Limon writes, says only a ‘negligible’ fraction of ultra-Orthodox called up for service have enlisted
By Sam Sokol
A composite image shows The Democrats chair Yair Golan (L), Opposition Leader and Yesh Atid chair Yair Lapid (C), and National Unity leader Benny Gantz (R), leading their respective faction meetings at the Knesset on March 17, 2025. (All photos by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 17, 2025, 6:31 pm
Opposition party chiefs to petition High Court against PM’s effort to fire Ronen Bar
Lawmakers accuse Netanyahu of targeting Shin Bet chief to stop probe of aides’ Qatar links, while ministers say AG’s demand that the dismissal face legal review is ‘illegitimate’
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Jerusalem Affairs Minister Meir Porush in the Knesset plenum, April 15, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
March 17, 2025, 3:28 pm
Assailants beat Haredi minister’s son, try to snatch his infant grandson
Attackers accuse Meir Porush of harming Gur Hasidic rebbe, vow to ‘avenge him’; attack seen as related to inter-party squabbles concerning military enlistment, state budget
By Charlie Summers and Sam Sokol
L to R: The Democrats chair Yair Golan, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, and National Unity chair Benny Gantz. (Flash90)
March 16, 2025, 11:37 pm
Opposition lawmakers vow ‘resistance,’ legal action against firing of Shin Bet chief
Lapid accuses PM of ousting Ronen Bar in order ‘to sabotage’ probe into aides’ alleged ties to Qatar; Ben Gvir, Smotrich and Karhi praise decision; Bennett: Netanyahu has to go
By Sam Sokol
Left: Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90); Center: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Reuven Kastro/Pool); Right: Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara (Oren Ben Hakoon/Pool)
March 16, 2025, 11:35 pm
Netanyahu says he’ll fire Shin Bet chief Bar; AG says he can’t without legal review
PM cites ‘ongoing distrust’ in security agency chief, who says expectation of personal loyalty is ‘fundamentally illegitimate’; timing coincides with Shin Bet probe into PM’s aides
By Lazar Berman, Emanuel Fabian, Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Haredi Jews clash with police during a protest against the ultra-Orthodox draft on Road 4 outside Bnei Brak on March 2, 2025 (Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 16, 2025, 12:59 pm
Daily Briefing Mar. 16: Day 527 – Haredi groups help yeshiva students dodge draft
Political correspondent Sam Sokol discusses the issue of ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions amid current budget debate and his ongoing investigation into draft dodging organizations
By Jessica Steinberg and Sam Sokol
Posters of Israelis held hostage in Gaza are seen posted outside the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, under a banner reading: "First, the hostages!" on March 9, 2025. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)
March 10, 2025, 10:17 am
Israeli negotiators set to head to Qatar for hostage talks, amid Gaza aid cut-off
US envoy Witkoff reportedly expected in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and in Doha on Wednesday; hostage families sleep outside Defense Ministry, demanding deal
By Agencies, Jessica Steinberg, Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
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