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Sam Sokol

Sam Sokol

The Times of Israel

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Ben Gvir says Jewish prayer, including full prostration, permitted at Temple Mount

Far-right minister rejects longtime status quo at flashpoint Jerusalem holy site; Prime Minister’s Office: ‘Israel’s policy concerning the Temple...

26.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Lapid suggests Israel funding foreign ‘shell companies’ distributing Gaza aid

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson denies allegations, says ‘Israel does not fund the humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip’

26.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Knesset panel approves National Security Strategy Bill for final readings

Sponsors of bipartisan bill assert that lack of an explicit security doctrine damaged the country’s preparedness in the face of threats, paving way...

26.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

After Knesset clash, Likud MK Halevi vows to continue challenging defense minister on war

Hawkish lawmaker says he expects to be reinstated to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee within weeks, criticizes government’s campaign as...

23.05.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Far-right ministers blame Yair Golan for shooting of Israeli embassy staffers

‘Yair, the blood of the embassy employees is on your hands and on those of your friends,’ tweets Amichay Eliyahu; President Herzog calls...

22.05.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Only 1,212 of the 24,000 Haredi men called up in past year have begun enlisting

Haredim continue legislative boycott for third week in effort to pressure PM to pass a law exempting yeshiva students from military service. Coalition...

21.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Golan defends ‘killing babies’ comment, says it was directed at ‘failed’ government

After widespread condemnation, left-wing leader insists he supports soldiers, says his words meant for government that ‘sounds like Hamas’...

21.05.2025 9

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Study: Ultra-Orthodox only pay 4% of total national taxes, costing economy billions

Non-Haredi workers set to pay an additional average NIS 3,540 in taxes in 2025 due to low ultra-Orthodox employment, researcher finds

20.05.2025 9

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Outrage as opposition party leader Golan says Israel ‘killing babies as a hobby’ in Gaza

Ex-general says Israel becoming ‘pariah state’; PM accuses him of ‘antisemitic blood libel’; IDF chief condemns comment...

20.05.2025 90

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Trump’s in-law Charles Kushner confirmed as US ambassador to France

Father of US president’s son-in-law approved 51-45; citing Holocaust survivor parents, real estate developer who was pardoned by Trump has said...

20.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Bill allowing gender segregation in graduate courses passes 1st Knesset vote

Otzma Yehudit MK Limor Son Har-Melech lauds legislation as ‘true equality’; while Labor MK Merav Michaeli derides bill as promoting...

20.05.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Liberman urges opposition parties to draft own version of Haredi enlistment bill

Lapid says ‘Zionist parties’ will meet next week to discuss the issue; Golan says he is on board; former PM Bennet also invited to join...

20.05.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Liberman files police complaint against ex-chief rabbi for encouraging draft dodging

Yisrael Beytenu party head accuses former Sephardic chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and other leading rabbis of violating the law by urging yeshiva students...

20.05.2025 60

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Egyptian director skewers President Sissi in political thriller at Cannes festival

‘Eagles of the Republic’ tells of Egyptian filmmaker forced to make propaganda film; director used real footage of Sissi, found lookalike...

20.05.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Likud MK booted from Knesset panel after voting against extending reservist call-ups

MK Amit Halevi becomes second lawmaker from ruling party removed from key committee as dissent within coalition mounts amid strain on reservists 19...

20.05.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Eisenkot says establishment of Palestinian state ‘irrelevant’ in post-Oct. 7 reality

The National Unity no. 2 says similarly that there’s no reason to discuss resettling Gaza, and accuses Netanyahu of turning war into...

18.05.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

To prevent defections, Bennett said seeking unprecedented control over new party

After his 2021-2022 government was brought down by revolts in his party, the former PM plans to hold on closely to the levers of political power when...

16.05.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Oil prices fall after Trump says Iran nuclear deal may be close

Dollar still facing pressure over uncertainty surrounding Trump tariffs, while equity markets were generally lower Thursday

15.05.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Anti-Zionist Haredi extremists clash with Ben Gvir in Beit Shemesh

Video from the scene shows the minister walking back and forth in the street challenging residents, as police attempt to restrain him

15.05.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Coalition bills removed from agenda as Haredi boycott continues for second week

Multiple private members bills sponsored by coalition lawmakers were removed from the Knesset plenum’s agenda on Wednesday as the Shas and United...

15.05.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Trump tells Gulf leaders Iran must end support of proxies under nuclear deal

Tehran ‘must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars,’ US president says at Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Riyadh; Iran’s FM...

14.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Ex-chief rabbi: If Haredi draft dodgers arrested, ultra-Orthodox will leave Israel

‘If they come to yeshivas and arrest students… we will all go abroad,’ says Yitzhak Yosef, threatening a mass exodus for the second time

14.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Attorney general urges conscription of all draft-age Haredim starting this summer

Enlisting yeshiva students is ‘an essential security need,’ says AG’s office, calling for enhanced enforcement and stronger sanctions against...

13.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Haredim threaten to bolt coalition as IDF launches operation against draft dodgers

‘As soon as there is one arrest…we will shut down the government,’ United Torah Judaism official says

13.05.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Renegade Shas rabbi to establish new party that supports Haredi conscription

Rabbi Haim Yosef Abergel, who has challenged the ultra-Orthodox Sephardi party at the local level, advocates for Haredim to serve in military and...

12.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

As Edan Alexander freed, opposition chiefs accuse PM of bungling ties with Washington

The ‘Americans are fed up with Netanyahu,’ says Lapid, while Golan asserts release of hostage lone soldier due to US intervention constitutes an...

12.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Government backs bill to remove High Court chief’s power to assign cases to justices

Continuation of efforts to restrain the judiciary on the part of the coalition ‘significantly affects the democratic nature’ of Israel, says...

12.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Ministers struggling financially, claims MK behind controversial salary bill

While asserting that his legislation is not intended to raise public officials’ wages, Likud’s Avihai Boaron insists some are having trouble...

11.05.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

After October 7, IDF said to increase penalties for deserters, but not draft dodgers

‘Haredi evaders did not suffer at all according to this enforcement policy,’ says former chief military defense counsel Ran Cohen Rochverger

09.05.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Edelstein urges ‘real solution’ as work set to begin on revising Haredi draft bill

Failure to pass the controversial legislation could put the continued existence of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government in jeopardy, warn...

09.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

‘The final deadline’: Could the IDF conscription crisis bring down Netanyahu’s government?

Without a bill shielding Haredim from the draft, the Knesset’s ultra-Orthodox parties are weighing tactics from boycotting votes on coalition...

08.05.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Ex-PM Bennett, Ben Gvir deny report alleging exchange of ‘hush money’

After Kan claims former premier paid NIS 35,000 to political rival in 2020 to keep a secret, both men say money was solely a lawsuit settlement, while...

07.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Knesset summer session to focus on Haredi draft, efforts to curb public media

Bills under discussion would shutter Kan broadcaster, split the attorney general’s position into two, and impose 80% tax on foreign donations to...

07.05.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Levin and other Likud ministers accuse pro-Netanyahu commentator of blackmail

Jacob Bardugo denies accusation; Karhi and Zohar support justice minister, as firebrand Likud MK assails them for triggering calls to investigate...

06.05.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Bennett’s new party aims to ‘restore security to Israel,’ draft ultra-Orthodox

Newly released party registration document says former PM seeks to integrate all citizens ‘in carrying the security, civil and economic burden’

06.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Haredi parties to boycott government votes over failure to pass IDF exemption law

Ultra-Orthodox MK warns that if legislation doesn’t pass during current Knesset session, ‘we will have a very big problem sitting in such a...

06.05.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Lawmakers debate controversial 80% tax bill on foreign government donations to NGOs

Likud’s Ariel Kallner says law will ‘preserve’ Israel’s Jewish and democratic character; Hadash-Ta’al MK Tibi counters that it is intended...

05.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Lapid: AG must take ‘decisive action’ against Haredi draft evasion organizations

Those behind hotlines instructing yeshiva students to ignore enlistment orders ‘should be treated as criminal offenders,’ says opposition leader

04.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Government approves controversial legislation regulating top officials’ salaries

Ministerial Committee for Legislation backs bill on condition that ministers, MKs do not receive raises; Smotrich calls to cut ‘excessive...

04.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

New US envoy: Israel’s struggle against its enemies is a ‘battle between heaven and hell’

Mike Huckabee, an Evangelical, declares Israel ‘a chosen place for a chosen people,’ lauds Trump for reversing Biden’s ‘ridiculous...

29.04.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

‘Bring them to justice’: MKs demand legal action against anti-IDF Haredi protesters

Yisrael Beytenu’s Forer demands AG enforce law against inciting evasion. Finance Minister Smotrich calls on law enforcement to ‘seize the rioters...

29.04.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

‘Zionists are not Jews’: Haredi extremists harass recruits from their community at IDF centers

Police clash with jeering, road-blocking protesters; IDF chief denounces extremists, says army ‘needs everyone’; Religious Zionism MK appears at...

28.04.2025 70

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Edelstein says Knesset near to drafting new enlistment law, won’t accept ultimatums

‘The goal of this law is to reach a kind of agreement with the rabbis and the Haredi leadership,’ Defense Ministry deputy director tells MKs

28.04.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

At Knesset hearing, AG dismisses accusation of selective enforcement in leak cases

Shin Bet admits to probing law enforcement, denies gathering intelligence on politicians in investigation of Kahanist elements infiltrating police

27.04.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Bennett accuses PM of preventing victory over Hamas by not drafting ultra-Orthodox

Former premier says military ‘stretched past the limit’ since Oct. 7, demands government draft 20% of eligible Haredim to offset ‘stagnation’...

27.04.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

PM shares call for Shin Bet to arrest dozens over faux ‘severed heads’ protest display

Netanyahu endorses post by hawkish hostages’ families’ group that attributes ‘displays of murder and hatred’ to feud between premier and Bar,...

27.04.2025 50

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Mayor sparks uproar with Holocaust day speech condemning ‘lust for revenge’ in Gaza

Hod Hasharon Mayor Amir Kochavi says Israelis must not be silent, even against atrocities ‘carried out in our name,’ amid call for hostages’ return...

24.04.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Stymied on conscription, Haredi party declares itself free from coalition discipline

UTJ official says party ‘will not bring down the government’ but will vote independently unless progress is made on exempting yeshiva students...

24.04.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

PM’s adviser: Haredi IDF bill will pass ‘with or without’ committee chair Edelstein

Remarks suggest Netanyahu considering removing or bypassing senior Likud lawmaker; Edelstein says committee will soon start drafting final version of...

23.04.2025 7

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Court orders Netanyahu aides to be released from house arrest in Qatargate case

22.04.2025 6

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol