Elections/Politics

The 2020 Israeli election, the third in less than a year, was the seventh I’ve covered since 2006. Here is a selection of some of the stories and features I have written about Israeli politics and election campaigns over this time.

August 11, 2020

Israeli PM’s uneasy alliance seems headed toward collapse

JERUSALEM (AP) — When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, Benny Gantz, agreed to form an “emergency” government in May after three bitter and deadlocked election campaigns, the goal was to stabilize Israeli politics in the face of a…

June 29, 2020

A quiet Israeli ex-general emerges as new foil to Netanyahu

JERUSALEM (AP) — Unlike many of his fellow Israeli generals, Amir Haskel wasn’t looking to politics in retirement. After 32 years in the Israeli Air Force, he became a Holocaust researcher and was satisfied with publishing books, leading student delegations…

May 21, 2020

AP Interview: Opposition leader says PM embarrassing Israel

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s new opposition leader said Thursday that Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming corruption trial is “embarrassing” the country and that he believes the only reason the long-time prime minister is still in office is because lawmakers never…

May 17, 2020

Israel finally swears in government after 3 elections

JERUSALEM (AP) — After three deadlocked and divisive elections, a year and a half of political paralysis and another three-day delay because of political infighting in his Likud party, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finally swore in his new government on…

March 25, 2020

Netanyahu ally resigns, deepening Israeli political turmoil

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s parliament speaker abruptly resigned Wednesday, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and deepening the country’s political turmoil as the embattled Israeli leader tries to cling to power amid a fast-spreading outbreak of the coronavirus…

March 24, 2020

Likud members urge speaker to defy Israeli high court order

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel appeared on the verge of a constitutional crisis Tuesday as top members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud urged their party colleague and parliament speaker to defy a Supreme Court order to let lawmakers hold a vote for…

March 16, 2020

Israel swears in new parliament under coronavirus shadow

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel swore in its newly elected parliament on Monday under stringent restrictions because of the coronavirus outbreak, in a surreal ceremony reflecting the country’s unprecedented dual crisis in politics and public health. Instead of the typical festive…

March 06, 2020

Arab voters key to blocking Netanyahu-led hard-line majority

TIRA, Israel (AP) — A surge in Arab voter turnout was key to depriving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist allies of a parliamentary majority in this week’s Israeli election. Undercutting Netanyahu’s ambitions was celebrated as sweet payback in…

March 03, 2020

Netanyahu’s future still uncertain after Israeli election

JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future remained up in the air Tuesday as preliminary results and exit polls from Israel’s third election in under a year indicated the embattled leader would fall short of securing the parliamentary…

March 01, 2020

A look at how Israel’s 3rd election in a year could play out

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel heads into its unprecedented third election in less than a year Monday after a tumultuous campaign that saw the prime minister indicted on corruption charges, President Donald Trump release his much-anticipated Mideast plan and various mergers…

February 23, 2020

Israel’s Lieberman stills holds keys to future government

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel finds itself in a familiar place after a tumultuous election campaign — with maverick politician Avigdor Lieberman still seemingly in control of the country’s fate. The run-up to Israel’s third election in less than a year…

February 10, 2020

Israeli opposition co-leader: PM makes Trump plan a ‘stunt’

JERUSALEM (AP) — A leading Israeli opposition figure said Monday that embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has turned a U.S. initiative for ending conflict with the Palestinians into a campaign “stunt” by pushing for the immediate annexation of West…

November 24, 2019

Will Netanyahu’s party stick with him after indictment? Senior leaders quiet

JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looked to project business as usual Sunday as he returned to work following his indictment on corruption charges, but a wall of silence from his usually loyal Cabinet ministers could mean tough times…

October 08, 2019

Israel’s Gideon Saar challenges lengthy Netanyahu Likud rule

JERUSALEM (AP) — With a simple tweet, Gideon Saar did what no Israeli politician from the ruling conservative party has done in more than a decade — openly challenge its chief, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The brazen move against the…

September 26, 2019

Israeli politics remain in chaos after deadlocked election

JERUSALEM (AP) — Benjamin Netanyahu has been tasked by Israel’s president to form a new government for the sixth time in his lengthy political career. This time it’s no mere formality, but rather a daunting endeavor that looks like mission…

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