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Sam Sokol

Sam Sokol

The Times of Israel

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Bill creating new intelligence oversight body passes preliminary Knesset reading

Legislation aims to create a devil’s advocate unit reporting to PM, in order to challenge consensus conclusions of other bodies and avoid October...

latest 7

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Ben Gvir accuses embattled AG of running fishing expedition against him

Gali Baharav-Miara dismisses far-right police minister’s claim she ordered a subordinate to ‘investigate and find something’ to charge him with

previous day 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Smotrich: Israel must vow to stay in northern Gaza forever unless hostages returned

Finance minister also rejects ‘surrender ‘agreement to end the war, weeks after calling for permanent settlements in Gaza; PM said to again reject...

previous day 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Ministers back bills creating new intelligence oversight body, banning ‘enemy’ flags

Despite PMO classified documents scandal, legislation establishes a ‘devil’s advocate’ unit, reporting directly to Netanyahu, that would...

monday 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Cabinet okays forced retirement for government legal advisers, ignoring AG criticism

Ministers reportedly accuse advisers of acting like ‘gangsters,’ waging ‘war on the government’; attorney general: Move aimed...

17.11.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Shin Bet chief says firing of flares at Netanyahu’s home ‘far from legitimate protest’

Reports say the 3 people arrested over the incident are prominent anti-government activists; minister urges sacking of AG, accusing her of inaction...

17.11.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

PM looking to establish probe to head off Oct. 7 commission of inquiry — report

‘The worst disaster we faced since Israel’s founding cannot end with a window-dressing committee,’ says former war cabinet minister Benny Gantz

13.11.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Knesset suspends far-left MK Ofer Cassif for six months over comments on Gaza war

Hadash-Ta’al lawmaker penalized by for supporting South African motion accusing Israel of genocide before the International Court of Justice in The...

12.11.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Smotrich says Trump’s victory an opportunity to ‘apply sovereignty’ in the West Bank

New administration could allow Israel to advance annexation of settlements, claims far-right finance minister, says the groundwork is already being...

12.11.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

‘Constitutional crisis’: Netanyahu warns AG against reported bid to fire Ben Gvir

Lapid calls far-right police minister a ‘danger to the people of Israel,’ while Democrats party leader Yair Golan accuses the government of...

12.11.2024 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Bill calling for national security strategy gets ministerial committee backing

High-level body also gives the nod to extension of law blocking Al Jazeera and expansion of police surveillance of criminal suspects’ computers

11.11.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

MKs push bill to create new intelligence oversight body under Netanyahu

Ministerial Committee for Legislation set to discuss proposal despite ongoing leak scandal at the Prime Minister’s Office

08.11.2024 50

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

‘An illegitimate PM’: Opposition appeals to Likud MKs not to back Gallant’s ouster

Defense minister’s removal was ‘an act of insanity by an incompetent prime minister,’ says Lapid, as Liberman says Netanyahu also preparing to...

06.11.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Knesset passes law allowing government to fire teachers it asserts identify with terror

Right-wing MKs call new law an important tool in preventing radicalization; rights group ACRI says it ‘violates the rights to expression, employment...

06.11.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Lawmakers advance bills cutting welfare benefits for convicted terrorists

Legislation would halt child allowances to parents of minors incarcerated for security offenses, cut off workplace injury compensation for...

06.11.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Netanyahu demands ‘solution’ to ‘adversarial’ AG as ministers call for her ouster

Lapid slams ‘threats’ against Baharav-Miara by PM, whose office then insists he is careful to follow his agreement not to meddle in legal...

05.11.2024 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Senior Likud MK says he won’t back daycare subsidies bill for Haredi draft-evaders

Yuli Edelstein says law ‘attempts to circumvent’ IDF draft expansion efforts; controversial bill advances to Knesset vote, but reports say it does...

05.11.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Turkey presses UN for arms embargo on Israel in joint letter with 52 countries

Russia, China, Iran among signatories of missive, which comes a month after Erdogan’s similar demand to UN; Turkish FM: ‘Selling arms to Israel...

04.11.2024 90

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Ministers back bill giving government control over public broadcaster’s budget

Legislation entails a ‘serious violation of the constitutional rights to freedom of expression and freedom of the press,’ says Deputy Attorney...

04.11.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Following stormy debate, lawmakers advance measure to deport terrorists’ relatives

Bill allowing interior minister to expel, without trial, citizens who encourage family members to commit attacks ‘not constitutional,’ says rights...

30.10.2024 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Knesset passes bill banning establishment of new foreign consulates in Jerusalem

Government to push for building embassies in capital, law won’t effect status of existing consulates in city; ‘Jerusalem is the core of our...

30.10.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Ministers back bill denying the PA a path to petition the High Court of Justice

Ministerial Committee for Legislation also backs bills preventing security prisoners from receiving visitors, granting government oversight of...

29.10.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Knesset approves laws barring UNRWA from Israel, limiting it in Gaza and West Bank

Bucking global pressure, MKs overwhelmingly back legislation against UN Palestinian refugee agency over staffers’ terror links; PM’s office: Ready...

29.10.2024 100

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Smotrich urges ramping up West Bank, Gaza settlements, pushing Palestinians out

Allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu say Israel must hold sovereignty from Jordan River to sea. Minister suggests inducing Palestinians who...

28.10.2024 50

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Knesset winter session to feature battles over budget, judiciary and Haredi enlistment

As MKs return from 3-month break, Rothman says bill to change composition of Judicial Selection Committee will become law ‘the second there is...

27.10.2024 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Netanyahu promises Haredi draft bill by month’s end, as ultra-Orthodox threaten budget

Legislation meant to renew sweeping exemptions from military service, after fierce Haredi opposition to High Court ruling ordering government to end...

09.10.2024 60

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Following inconclusive vote, AG demands second round in chief rabbi election

Call for runoff comes after a single miscast ballot left rabbis Micha Halevi and Kalman Bar with 40 votes apiece in last Sunday’s Chief Rabbinical...

08.10.2024 50

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

‘I’m only human’: Regev faces growing criticism over wartime transit, travel snafus

From allegedly failing to arrange buses for reservists to mistakenly claiming to be at a cabinet meeting but on a trip to Budapest, Israel’s...

07.10.2024 50

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

PM says weighing plan for siege on Hamas in north Gaza; believes half of hostages alive

During closed-door meeting with lawmakers, Netanyahu argues putting pressure on Hezbollah could help force Hamas’s Sinwar to the table, predicts ICC...

23.09.2024 80

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Sa’ar abandons pursuit of defense minister role as Lebanon fighting escalates

Confirming PM offered that he replace Gallant, New Hope chief says it is inappropriate given the circumstances; does not shut door on entering...

22.09.2024 100

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Ben Gvir boycotts meeting on Arab crime with Netanyahu amid new spat

PM quoted saying he’s ‘not impressed by such boycotts’ after latest clash with national security minister

20.09.2024 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Right-wing lawmakers question IDF’s claimed defeat of Hamas’s Rafah Brigade

Likud MK Halevi accuses military of ‘misleading’ public over Hamas death toll; former top defense official argues matter ‘irrelevant’ so long...

20.09.2024 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

IDF surveillance troops testify to glitches, neglect, no warfare training before Oct. 7

They had no weapons, no directives in case of base being overrun, says father of Noa Price, killed at Nahal Oz; ex-soldier at base describes broken...

18.09.2024 8

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Israel to revoke press credentials of Al Jazeera reporters after ban on network

Government Press Office says move to apply to journalists, broadcasters, not producers or photographers; network says it has 14 staffers with press...

13.09.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Son of prominent Ukrainian rabbi killed on frontlines of war with Russia

Anton (Moty) Samborsky, son of Kyiv rabbi Moshe Azman, listed as missing since July; MK Yuli Edelstein says his ‘heart breaks,’ says Israelis and...

12.09.2024 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Witness: For years before Oct. 7, ‘PM told me he’d never order IDF to topple Hamas’

Channel 13’s Or Heller says PM told him alternative to Hamas was anarchy, ‘did not believe in any way in the possibility of military action to...

11.09.2024 60

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Far-right minister Sofer signals backing for unity government, Ben Gvir opposes

Lapid ‘wants to drag Israel and Netanyahu into complete surrender,’ argues Ben Gvir, rejecting opposition leader’s possible inclusion in...

11.09.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Labor’s Golan calls on opposition to coordinate and establish ‘shadow government’

Opposition Leader Lapid denies Shas is pushing Netanyahu to bring opposition parties into the coalition to dilute Ben Gvir’s influence

10.09.2024 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Knesset set to vote on billions for the north, but some coalition MKs are opposed

Proposal would increase budget by almost $924 million. United Torah Judaism, Noam and Otzma Yehudit parties threaten to tank bill unless their...

09.09.2024 80

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Court shuts down Histadrut strike, accepting government claim it was political

Union boss says he’ll respect ruling, but doesn’t regret move; MKs urge class action suit; some activists protest against strike demanding...

02.09.2024 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Histadrut labor union announces nationwide strike, over failure to release hostages

‘A deal is more important than anything else,’ says Bar-David, amid outrage over killing of 6 captives; Smotrich says strike illegal, accuses him...

02.09.2024 50

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Lapid says Netanyahu knew for months before Oct. 7 that a violent eruption was looming

Opposition leader: Disaster could have been prevented, PM seemed ‘bored’ when told of dangers during joint briefing; PM’s office: He ‘did not...

29.08.2024 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

After ‘Rabbis Law’ stymied, Shas minister advances appointments of municipal rabbis

Michael Malkieli’s spokesman says he doesn’t believe Haredi party ditched effort to pass bill despite Ben Gvir’s opposition, but ‘there’s an...

29.08.2024 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Far-right minister calls for expulsion of Eritrean asylum seekers after deadly brawl

Ben Gvir’s demand follows Tel Aviv fight between pro-regime and anti-regime factions in which two people were killed

25.08.2024 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

‘We are in the abyss’: Coalition turns on itself following mob attack on IDF bases

MKs call on leaders ‘to stop tearing us apart from the inside’ after far-right politicians join mobs attacking Sde Teiman, Beit Lid; PM...

30.07.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Netanyahu, Herzog appeal for ‘calm’ after mob storms IDF base with far-right MKs

Right-wing politicians furious after Military Police arrest 9 soldiers suspected of seriously abusing Gaza terror detainee at Sde Teiman; IDF chief:...

29.07.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Knesset’s summer session ends but parliamentary activity continues

Despite three-month recess, Knesset committees will still convene and the government is expected to push for passage of a Shas-backed bill on funding...

28.07.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

‘Tear Beirut apart’: Politicians beat war drums following Majdal Shams rocket attack

As Smotrich says ‘Nasrallah should pay with his head’ and Ben Gvir demands ‘war in the north now,’ opposition leaders also...

28.07.2024 40

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

Knesset panel to oversee IDF probes into October 7 failure

New subcommittee will oversee the military’s internal investigations but cannot serve as a substitute for a state commission of inquiry, says...

25.07.2024 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

MKs give initial nod to bill empowering Knesset to choose judicial ombudsman

Critics assert legislation would politicize justice system, slam Justice Minister Levin for failing to appoint successor to recently retired judge...

25.07.2024 10

The Times of Israel

Sam Sokol

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