Jewish pluralism in Israel: It’s flourishing

Published on April 23, 2013

While American Jews haven’t been looking — or have been looking in the wrong places — Jewish pluralism in Israel is booming.

Lapid orders $13 million transferred to Holocaust survivors fund

Published on March 21, 2013

Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid ordered the transfer of more than $13 million to a foundation to assist Holocaust survivors.

Netanyahu introduces new government during Knesset session

Published on March 18, 2013

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduced his new government during a Knesset plenum session.

Netanyahu brings new gov’t to Peres, taps Ya’alon for defense

Published on March 18, 2013

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told President Shimon Peres that he formed a government coalition.

New Israel housing minister pledges more settlement building

Published on March 18, 2013

Israel's new housing minister said on Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's incoming cabinet would keep expanding Jewish settlements to the same extent as his previous government.

Reports: Netanyahu to present new government on Sunday

Published on March 15, 2013

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and potential coalition partners Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett successfully crossed the last hurdle in talks on forming a new government, which may be presented on Sunday, Israeli media reported.

Yair Lapid named as Israeli finance minister

Published on March 15, 2013

A former TV anchor whose upstart political party was the biggest surprise in Israel's January election was named finance minister on Friday as a coalition deal was signed, his spokesman said.

Primaries vs. Backroom Deals and the Declining State of the Likud Party

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on March 15, 2013

What Conclusions Might We Draw Concerning the New Israeli Government

By Rabbi John Rosove
Published on March 14, 2013

Netanyahu clinches coalition deals

Published on March 14, 2013

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clinched deals for a coalition government on Thursday reflecting a shift to the center in Israel and a domestic agenda that has shunted peacemaking with Palestinians to the sidelines.

‘Rivals’? Certainly. A ‘Team’? That’s Yet to be Determined: Notes on a New Israeli Government

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on March 14, 2013

Netanyahu threatens to turn to Charedi Orthodox parties for coalition

Published on March 13, 2013

The Likud party, citing what it called "excessive demands" from Yesh Atid, threatened to launch government coalition negotiations with the Charedi Orthodox parties.

March 13, 2013

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on March 13, 2013

Netanyahu, with team of rivals, puts together a government

Published on March 11, 2013

He’s had to bite a few bullets to get there, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will lead Israel’s next government.

March 6, 2013

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on March 6, 2013

With time running out to form a government, Netanyahu facing tough choices

Published on March 5, 2013

When he emerged bruised but unbeaten following the Jan. 22 elections, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced some tough choices.

Following extension to form government, Netanyahu calls for parties to unite

Published on March 3, 2013

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for Israeli political parties to "come together and unite our forces," hours after being granted an extension to form a new government.

Netanyahu sets meeting to request extension in forming government

Published on February 28, 2013

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with President Shimon Peres to request an extension in forming a government.

February 28, 2013

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on February 28, 2013

The Rosner-Fuchs Exchange, Part 4: On ‘Potential Labor Voters’

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on February 19, 2013

Obama- Let Us Be Friends

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on February 8, 2013

Netanyahu tackles tricky coalition-building

Published on February 7, 2013

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Thursday with Yair Lapid, the surprise runner-up in an election last month, to try to draw him into a broad government that could bridge Israel's religious divide.

Peres receives official Knesset elections results

Published on January 30, 2013

Israeli President Shimon Peres received the official results of the elections for the 19th Knesset.

Meet some of Israel’s new Knesset members

Published on January 28, 2013

Last week’s Israeli election saw a major shakeup in the country's government, with 53 new members elected to its parliament, the Knesset. Some already have received wide attention, including Yair Lapid, the middle class-focused chairman of Yesh Atid; Naftali Bennett, the high-tech entrepreneur who chairs the new Jewish Home party; technocrat Yair Shamir, Yisrael Beiteinu’s No. 2; and Moshe Feiglin, the nationalist settler who finally landed a Knesset seat with the ruling Likud Party. Though lesser known, many of the other new faces in the Knesset are no less interesting. Meet five of them: a woman with a doctorate in Talmud, an Ethiopian immigrant, a mother of 11 from Hebron, a socially conscious venture capitalist and an American-born rabbi.

Can Lapid and Netanyahu make common cause?

Published on January 24, 2013

This week’s election in Israel was a watershed -- but not in the ways you might think. In almost every election cycle, the campaign has been about one thing. To adapt James Carville’s famous adage: It’s about security, stupid.

Israeli voters force Netanyahu to seek centrist partner

Published on January 24, 2013

Israel's next government must heed voters and devote itself to bread-and-butter issues, not thorny foreign policy problems such as Iran's nuclear plans and the Palestinian conflict, senior politicians said on Thursday.

Plus a great undertaking: to reform the electoral system

By Gidi Grinstein
Published on January 22, 2013

Here are a few thoughts (scroll down for my personal commitment) in the immediate aftermath of tonight’s election results per the exit polls (results may change over coming 24 hours. As you can see every MK can tilt the balance:

Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu take 31 seats; Yesh Atid comes in second

Published on January 22, 2013

Initial Israeli exit polls show the combined Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu ticket won the highest vote total while the new center-left Yesh Atid unexpectedly came in second.

The 2013 campaign: 5 days, 34 mandates, 67 votes, 8 lost - or maybe not

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on January 17, 2013

The no-alternative Israeli elections

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on January 16, 2013

The story of the upcoming Israeli elections, which will take place on Jan. 22, can be written in many different ways. One is with an eye to the small numbers, a story of preserving the political status quo: Back in 2009, the Kadima Party got 28 mandates.

Two weeks to D-day, and they haven’t yet decided (or have they?)

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on January 10, 2013

Are Israelis already thinking about the next round? 11 short notes, 2 great graphs

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on January 6, 2013

Craziest election developments of the week: Livni coming, Barak going

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on November 26, 2012

The meaning of Bieberman

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on October 31, 2012

The Israelis who would not support Diaspora Jews

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on June 28, 2012

NEW: Tracking the trends in Israeli elections season

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on May 3, 2012