Israeli politics

Head of Ra'am Mansour Abbas (right) holds a joint press conference with new party member Yoav Segalovitz (left) in Nazareth. August 31, 2026. (Michael Giladi/FLASH90)

September 1, 2026, 1:26 pm

Jewish Zionist politician joins Arab party Ra’am in push to defeat Netanyahu

“Hope won out” over fear, Mansour Abbas said as he welcomed former Yesh Atid lawmaker Yoav Segalovitz to his party.

By Tomer Almagor

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on the phone on September 04, 2019. (Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images)

August 25, 2026, 2:23 pm

Netanyahu gives out his phone number in campaign video

Hundreds of messages and calls arrived in minutes, disabling the WhatsApp account associated with the number.

By Deborah Danan

Opposition Leader and Head of the Yesh Atid party Yair Lapid and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speak during a press conference announcing a joint list named “Together” ahead of upcoming elections, to be led by Bennett, in Herzliya, Israel, April 26, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

April 27, 2026, 2:34 pm

Israeli opposition leaders Lapid and Bennett form joint party

“The era of division is over,” the two past prime ministers said.

By Philissa Cramer

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) speaks to Mossad chief David Barnea at Mossad headquarters during a Rosh Hashanah toast on September 14, 2023. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

February 9, 2026, 8:34 am

In meeting days before Oct. 7, Netanyahu sought to maintain quiet with Hamas – report

PM told security chiefs not to proactively assassinate Hamas leaders, Oct. 1 meeting summary said to show; omitted mention of discussion from his response to comptroller’s probe of attack

By Lazar Berman and Ariela Karmel

President Isaac Herzog speaks during an event on Mount Hermon in northern Israel on December 1, 2025. (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)

December 1, 2025, 1:49 pm

Herzog vows to weigh only ‘the good of the country’ in deliberating Netanyahu pardon

President urges public to go to his website and tell him what they think; set to fly to New York next week, he is unlikely to meet Trump, who has pressured him to grant PM clemency

By Nava Freiberg, ToI Staff

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) is joined by Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and other officials for a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on July 09, 2025. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, via JNS)

November 11, 2025, 4:56 pm

Ron Dermer resigns as Israel’s strategic affairs minister

In his letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Dermer cites two extended terms and reflects on guiding Israel through crisis

By JNS Staff

Yoni, who identifies as "more right-wing than Bibi," joined a mass protest in Tel Aviv against the Israeli prime minister, March 22, 2025. (Deborah Danan)

March 24, 2025, 10:31 am

As Netanyahu fires Shin Bet chief, right-wing Israelis are joining mass protests against him

“This isn’t what we’re fighting for,” said Ohad, a right-winger who has spent 12 months doing reserve duty since Oct. 7, 2023.

By Deborah Danan

Thousands of Israeli protesters wave flags during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul bills in Jerusalem, March 27, 2023. (Gili Yaari/Flash90)

January 10, 2025, 8:40 am

Israel’s judicial overhaul is back. So are the protests.

This time, a more limited proposal might pass.

By Ben Sales

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in court in Tel Aviv, ahead of the start of his testimony in his corruption trial on Dec. 10, 2024.(Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

December 10, 2024, 5:40 pm

Benjamin Netanyahu takes the stand in his corruption trial

Netanyahu has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the cases, which revolve around allegations of bribery and attempting to illicitly shape media coverage.

By Ben Sales

View of the Supreme Court Building, with the Knesset building visible in the background (israeltourism - flickr.com/photos/visitisrael/6180275423)

January 1, 2024, 12:51 pm

In historic 1st, High Court strikes down Basic Law amendment, voiding reasonableness law

The ruling establishes in legal precedent the High Court’s contention that it has, in limited circumstances, the right to annul Basic Laws.

By Jeremy Sharon

Anti-overhaul protesters outside the Knesset, where barbed-wire has been placed around the parliament’s perimeter, July 24, 2023 (Photo courtesy of The Times of Israel)

July 24, 2023, 1:15 pm

Coalition passes 1st judicial overhaul law, limiting review of government decisions

The bill passed its third and final reading with 64 votes in favor and 0 against, as the entire 56-member opposition boycotted the vote in protest.

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a statement to the nation on the judicial overhaul on March 23, 2023. (Screen capture)

July 14, 2023, 8:17 am

Israeli government advances judicial overhaul push

The law that was advanced in an initial vote on Tuesday would remove the Supreme Court's ability to strike down decisions by elected officials because they are unreasonable.

By Ben Sales

Locals handing out snacks and water to protesters against Israel's judicial overhaul on March 23, in Bnei Brak, Israel. (Haim Uzan)

March 30, 2023, 8:59 am

Bnei Brak presents: How to turn a tense anti-overhaul rally into a ‘cholent party’

A grassroots charm offensive in the predominantly ultra-Orthodox city had locals handing out treats to thousands of protesting out-of-towners

By Canaan Lidor

March 28, 2023, 8:53 am

Right-wing demonstrators air grievances against Israel’s courts

“We are trying to create counter-pressure to the demonstrations of the left."

By Ben Lynfield

March 27, 2023, 2:15 pm

Netanyahu: ‘I’m delaying judicial reform to give real dialogue a chance’

The Israeli prime minister announced a hold on judicial reform until after the Passover holiday, calling on the opposition to negotiate in good faith.

By JNS