Tobias Siegal

Tobias (Toby) Siegal is a breaking news editor and contributor to The Times of Israel.

Russian immigrants attend an event marking the 25th anniversary of the major wave of aliya from the former Soviet Union to Israel, at the Jerusalem Convention Center, on December 24, 2015. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

October 2, 2022, 4:48 pm

Israel approves NIS 90 million for absorbing immigrants from Russia amid Ukraine war

Funds to go toward housing, employment, education and health services for new arrivals, as Israel sees most significant immigration wave from Russia since USSR’s collapse

By Tobias Siegal

Balad party head Sami Abu Shehadeh speaks at an Central Elections Committee meeting against disqualifying Balad from running in the upcoming elections, September 29, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)

September 30, 2022, 1:19 pm

Balad to meet to consider boycotting elections after being disqualified

Party has been disqualified by past elections panels and has so far won every appeal to Supreme Court; Meretz petitions court over failure to bar Idit Silman from Likud run

By Tobias Siegal and Carrie Keller-Lynn

September 29, 2022, 8:18 pm

Elections panel blocks Balad party’s run for Knesset, against AG’s advice

Anti-Zionist Arab party set to appeal to Supreme Court against Central Elections Committee disqualification; panel rejects petition seeking to ban Ra’am from running on November 1

By Carrie Keller-Lynn and Tobias Siegal

Members of Lev Tahor prepare to depart their compound in eastern Sarajevo, February 3, 2022. (Courtesy/Davorin Sekulic/Klix.ba)

September 27, 2022, 1:33 pm

Mexican authorities raid Lev Tahor cult compound, detain 26 members

Some members face serious sex charges and could get up to 20 years in prison if found guilty by a Mexican court; 3-year-old boy returned to father in Israel who previously escaped

By Tobias Siegal

Ferula drudeana. (Wikimedia Creative Commons)

September 27, 2022, 11:50 am

Ancient ‘miracle plant,’ believed extinct, said rediscovered in Turkey

Turkish prof. says ferula drudeana, found growing on Mt. Hasan in Anatolia, is ancient silphion — a seasoning, aphrodisiac, medicine, and contraceptive — not seen for 2,000 years

By Tobias Siegal

Defense Minister Benny Gantz, left, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. (AP/Collage)

September 26, 2022, 10:24 pm

Abbas calls Gantz with holiday greeting, discusses West Bank security

Defense minister said to stress PA’s responsibility in maintaining order in West Bank; phone call comes amid clashes in East Jerusalem and on Temple Mount

By Tobias Siegal and Jacob Magid

Video footage shows two masked settlers approaching a Palestinian man near the settlement of Ma’on in the South Hebron Hills area of the West Bank, before a violent confrontation ensues. (Twitter)

September 15, 2022, 7:48 pm

Video suggests recent West Bank clash was sparked by settlers, not Palestinians

The incident that took place Monday was initially classified as a brawl that included 30 Palestinians attacking two settlers — but video footage paints a different picture

By Tobias Siegal

Illustrative: Young Bedouin students study together at the library of their high school in the Bedouin city of Rahat in southern Israel, February 16, 2014. (Hadas Parush/Flash 90)

September 13, 2022, 3:05 pm

Druze lead Israel in high school matriculation; Haredi, Bedouin schools lag behind

Data released a day after Netanyahu agrees to full funding for ultra-Orthodox schools that don’t teach core curriculum, if he regains premiership

By Tobias Siegal

Gal Gadot arrives at the 27th annual ELLE Women in Hollywood celebration, October 19, 2021, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

September 12, 2022, 8:53 am

Disney unveils ‘Snow White’ remake with Gal Gadot as Evil Queen

Israeli superstar describes role in live-action remake of 1937 classic as ‘very different’ from anything she’s done before, adding that ‘getting under her skin was so delightful’

By Tobias Siegal

Likud MK Nir Barkat seen praying at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav in Uman, Ukraine, September 9, 2022. (Twitter/used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law))

September 9, 2022, 5:03 pm

Likud MK Nir Barkat visits Uman despite warnings from Israel, Ukraine

Lawmaker seems to downplay warning from Foreign Ministry; was invited to visit by Ukraine’s chief rabbi, who has said Ukraine unable to guarantee pilgrims’ safety

By Tobias Siegal

Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman arrives in Downing Street in London, September 7, 2022 for the first cabinet meeting since Liz Truss was installed as British Prime Minister a day earlier. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

September 8, 2022, 8:24 pm

Ben & Jerry’s urges new UK cabinet to ‘scrap’ plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda

Ice cream firm that’s been battling Israeli settlements presses UK government to scrap a ‘Rwanda plan’ it says puts people’s ‘lives at risk,’ is accused of political meddling

By Tobias Siegal

Illustrative. A Boeing 747 El Al plane. (Yossi Zeliger/Flash90)

September 5, 2022, 3:03 am

Israel to ban jumbo jets from Ben Gurion airport to cut noise, pollution

Reform set to come into effect in March 2023, though it will only affect cargo carriers as no passenger airlines currently fly 747s, A340s or A380s to Tel Aviv

By Tobias Siegal

Energean floating production, storage and offloading vessel. Energean's floating rig arrived at the Karish field in June 2022. (Energean / Suez Canal Authority / AFP)

September 4, 2022, 8:12 pm

Report: Lebanon maritime border deal ‘almost complete’ as Israel offers concessions

According to sources cited by Al Arabiya, the Karish field will remain under full Israeli control, while gas produced at the Qana oil field will go explicitly to Lebanon

By Tobias Siegal

Convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard endorses Zionist Spirit leader Ayelet Shaked for the upcoming elections, August 29, 2022. (Twitter)

August 30, 2022, 6:46 pm

Jonathan Pollard endorses Shaked, then retracts support hours later

Facing fierce blowback, former spy pulls backing from Zionist Spirit leader over her refusal to commit to ‘only join a right-wing government’

By Tobias Siegal and Amy Spiro

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah meets with Hamas leadership in Lebanon, August 28, 2022. (Twitter)

August 28, 2022, 1:51 pm

Hezbollah chief meets Hamas officials days after sit-down with Islamic Jihad leader

Meeting comes amid fears Lebanese terror group could intend to stir up trouble, with Israel and Lebanon said nearing a deal in maritime border dispute

By Tobias Siegal