Shalom Yerushalmi

Shalom Yerushalmi is the political analyst for Zman Israel, The Times of Israel’s Hebrew current affairs website

Then-Justice Minister Amir Ohana delivers a speech at a Likud election rally in Or Yehuda, on February 13, 2020. (Gili Yaari/Flash90)

October 24, 2021, 12:17 am

Likud MK Amir Ohana denies falling out with Netanyahu

Former minister says he didn’t ask anyone to stand up for him at heated meeting, where another MK slammed him and the Likud leader remained silent

By Shalom Yerushalmi and TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Public Security Minister Amir Ohana in Tel Aviv, on December 1, 2020. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

October 23, 2021, 5:45 am

Once a key member of Netanyahu’s inner circle, Amir Ohana on outside looking in

Opposition chair’s silence as Likud MK tears into former minister indicates that longtime loyalist who became one of party’s most popular figures has fallen from favor

By Shalom Yerushalmi and TOI staff

Yair Lapid (L) speaks with Tzipi Livni in the Knesset on December 3, 2014 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

October 13, 2021, 12:58 pm

Tzipi Livni could join race to head Jewish Agency, potentially backed by Lapid

If ex-foreign minister throws hat into the ring, she’s expected to get support of Michaeli and other ministers; nominating panel considering selecting woman for 1st time

By Shalom Yerushalmi and Tal Schneider

US President Joe Biden meets with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 27, 2021. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP)

September 28, 2021, 12:16 pm

PM touts plan similar to that previously proposed by predecessor Netanyahu, but White House demurs

By Shalom Yerushalmi

September 27, 2021, 10:11 am

Bennett tells settlers he said no 3 times to Biden, on Iran, consulate, building

At recent meeting, PM assured settler leaders he won’t bend to American pressure to rein in construction in West Bank, said he resisted specific US request related to Tehran

By Shalom Yerushalmi

MK Meir Porush attends a Knesset Arrangements Committee meeting in Jerusalem on June 21, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 19, 2021, 4:50 pm

A week after attempted beard-cutting attack, Haredi MK says he is still fearful

‘I managed to push the man away and he didn’t reach my beard, but if the scissors had gone into my eye? What then?’ says United Torah Judaism lawmaker Meir Porush

By Shalom Yerushalmi

Defense Minister Benny Gantz left, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, 2nd right, and Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli in the Knesset in Jerusalem, on July 6, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 13, 2021, 11:45 am

Blue and White, Labor mulling future merger, officials say

Fusing two parties seen as way to bring Labor back toward center while giving Blue and White leader Gantz a better shot at becoming prime minister

By Shalom Yerushalmi

Prime Minister Nafatali Bennett (L) and Defense Minister Benny Gantz at a graduation ceremony for Israeli Air Force pilots at the Hatzerim airbase in southern Israel, June 24, 2021. (Jack Guez/AFP)

September 1, 2021, 1:51 pm

A government with 2 heads: Bennett and Gantz lead coordinated, opposing policies

PM has distanced himself from defense minister’s meeting with PA chief, but they seem okay with each taking a different approach to satisfy coalition’s rightist and leftist bases

By Shalom Yerushalmi

Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to right-wing opposition party members a day after a new government was sworn in, at the Knesset in Jerusalem, June 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

August 12, 2021, 11:40 am

‘He cares about himself, not Likud’: Netanyahu attacked by senior party members

Ex-ministers and MKs slam former PM for not relinquishing leadership, dooming them to opposition; Miri Regev says time for party to move away from Ashkenazi men as leaders

By Shalom Yerushalmi

An Israeli police officer stands guard as a Jewish group walks near the Dome of the Rock Mosque atop the Temple Mount on Tisha B'Av (the ninth of Av), a day of fasting commemorating the destruction of the ancient Temples, in the Old City of Jerusalem, Sunday, July 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

July 20, 2021, 6:50 am

Lapid pressed, Bennett folded: The political drama around Temple Mount worship

The PM wanted to make history, but regional and political realities intervened, and the alternate PM stepped in to defuse the crisis

By Shalom Yerushalmi

Yisrael Beytenu MK Eli Avidar at the Knesset on June 21, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

July 16, 2021, 10:47 pm

Maverick Yisrael Beytenu MK is in Liberman’s crosshairs

Party chair wants to declare Eli Avidar a rebel MK to stymie his parliamentary maneuverability — but doing so could risk toppling a coalition desperate for every vote

By Shalom Yerushalmi

Avigdor Liberman attends a Channel 13 news conference in Jerusalem on June 3, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 9, 2021, 8:15 pm

Avigdor Liberman’s moves against the ultra-Orthodox have the coalition seething

Cuts to daycare subsidies spark outrage among Haredi communities, vows of revenge from their parties; it’s not clear move was fully coordinated with other coalition members

By Shalom Yerushalmi

Settlers gather for a group photograph under a giant Star of David and a national flag before evacuating the newly-established wildcat outpost of Evyatar near the northern Palestinian city of Nablus in the West Bank, on July 2, 2021 (Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP)

July 2, 2021, 5:09 pm

Settlers vacate illegal Evyatar outpost under deal that keeps it intact

Evyatar expected to remain point of friction with Palestinians for IDF, which will maintain permanent presence on northern West Bank hilltop as state determines status of land

By Jacob Magid and Shalom Yerushalmi

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid speaks during a faction meeting of his Yesh Atid party at the Knesset, on June 21, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

June 22, 2021, 11:41 am

Lapid confident West Bank outpost Evyatar to be razed

FM says illegality of outpost, which has sparked deadly clashes between the army and local Palestinians, is ‘not a question of right or left’

By Shalom Yerushalmi

Newly elected Israeli President Isaac Herzog (left) with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset after Herzog's election, June 2, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 10, 2021, 4:52 pm

Netanyahu explored a last-minute run for president, but ultimately rejected it

Likud officials eyed idea of leader moving to new post, hoping it would break country out of political logjam, but PM eventually said: ‘It’s better to be leader of the opposition’

By Shalom Yerushalmi