Yair Lapid
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, shake hands after a press conference after their talks in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Aug.16, 2022. (Wolfgang Kumm/dpa via AP)
Palestinian President Abbas skirts apology for Munich attack

By Frank Jordans Aug. 16, 2022 09:43 PM EDT

Artem Dolgopyat of Israel, poses after winning the gold medal after the floor exercise during the artistic gymnastics men's apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Olympian Dolgopyat arrives home to hero's welcome in Israel

By Laurie Kellman Aug. 03, 2021 07:31 AM EDT

Artem Dolgopyat of Israel, left, celebrates after winning the gold medal on the floor exercise during the artistic gymnastics men's apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Israel's Olympic gold victory raises Jewish identity debate

By Ilan Ben Zion Aug. 02, 2021 02:52 PM EDT

Supporters of Iranian president-elect Ebrahim Raisi celebrate after he won the presidential election in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, June 19, 2021. Initial results released Saturday propelled Raisi, a protege of the country's supreme leader, into Tehran’s highest civilian position. The vote appeared to see the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Hard-line judiciary head wins Iran presidency in low turnout

By Jon Gambrell Jun. 19, 2021 02:21 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2021, file photo, Palestinians take a selfie after receiving the coronavirus vaccine from an Israeli medical team at the Qalandia checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem. Israel said Friday, June 18, 2021 it will transfer around 1 million doses of soon-to-expire coronavirus vaccines to the Palestinian Authority in exchange for a similar number of doses the Palestinians expect to receive later this year. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File)
Palestinians call off 1M dose vaccine exchange with Israel

By Joseph Krauss Jun. 18, 2021 04:56 AM EDT

An Israeli protester wears pink during a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside his official residence in Jerusalem, Saturday, June 12, 2021. If all goes according to plan, Israel will swear in a new government on Sunday, ending Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's record 12-year rule and a political crisis that inflicted four elections on the country in less than two years. Hebrew reads: "You failed"," Israel free" and "Leave". (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Knesset approves new coalition, ending Netanyahu's long rule

By Joseph Krauss Jun. 13, 2021 02:56 AM EDT

Naftali Bennett, an Israeli parliament member from the Yamina party, arrives to the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, Monday, June 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, Pool)
Israeli parliament to vote on new government on Sunday

Jun. 08, 2021 05:00 AM EDT

Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid speaks to journalists at the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, Monday, June 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, Pool)
Vote on new Israeli government to be held in coming week

Jun. 07, 2021 11:22 AM EDT

Yamina party leader Naftali Bennett, left, smiles as he speaks to Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid during a special session of the Knesset, whereby Israeli lawmakers elect a new president, at the plenum in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (Ronen Zvulun/Pool Photo via AP)
Netanyahu foes push for quick vote to end his 12-year rule

By Laurie Kellman Jun. 03, 2021 05:06 AM EDT

Israeli left-wing protesters chant slogans and hold flags during a demonstration for the forming of a new government in the central Israeli city of Ramat Gan, Wednesday, June 2, 2021. Hebrew sign reads: "We are the hope". (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Netanyahu opponents reach coalition deal to oust Israeli PM

By Josef Federman Jun. 02, 2021 11:37 AM EDT

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men attend the funeral of Yossi Kohn, 21, from Cleveland, Ohio, who died during Lag BaOmer celebrations at Mt. Meron in northern Israel, in Jerusalem, Sunday, May 2, 2021. A stampede at a religious festival attended by tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews in northern Israel killed dozens of people and injured about 150 early Friday, medical officials said. It was one of the country's deadliest civilian disasters. (AP Photo/Oren Ben Hakoon)
Israeli watchdog to investigate deadly festival stampede

By Ilan Ben Zion May. 03, 2021 07:00 AM EDT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, front, attends the swearing-in ceremony for Israel's 24th government, at the Knesset, or parliament, in Jerusalem, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. The ceremony took place shortly after the country's president asked Netanyahu to form a new majority coalition, a difficult task given the deep divisions in the fragmented parliament. (Alex Kolomoisky/Pool via AP)
Israeli president picks Netanyahu to try to form government

By Laurie Kellman And Ilan Ben Zion Apr. 06, 2021 11:41 AM EDT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech following the announcement of the first exit poll results for the Israeli parliamentary elections, at his Likud party headquarters in Jerusalem, Wednesday, March. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
Israel appears mired in deadlock as votes are tallied

By Josef Federman Mar. 24, 2021 03:41 AM EDT

Israeli politician Benny Gantz gestures as he speaks during a conference in Jerusalem, March 7, 2021. Israel is holding its fourth election in two years after two deadlocked votes and a government that collapsed after less than a year. It is widely seen as a one-issue referendum — with the electorate almost evenly divided — on whether longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can remain in power. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
EXPLAINER: Israelis vote in fourth election in 2 years

By Ilan Ben Zion Mar. 23, 2021 02:13 AM EDT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, waves to supporters as he tours the Mahane Yehuda market while campaigning a day before national elections, in Jerusalem, Monday, March 22, 2021. The March 23 vote is Israel’s fourth parliamentary election in two years. (AP Photo/Oren Ben Hakoon)
Israeli election seen as referendum on divisive Netanyahu

By Josef Federman Mar. 22, 2021 02:05 AM EDT

In this Feb. 4, 2021 file photo, Israelis receive a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from medical professionals at a coronavirus vaccination center set up on a shopping mall parking lot in Givataim, Israel. Candidates hoping to topple Benjamin Netanyahu in next month’s election are looking to the U.S. experience of 2020 for lessons about campaigning during a pandemic. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File)
Pandemic politicking: Israel's election sprint echoes US's

By Laurie Kellman Feb. 17, 2021 01:08 AM EST

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews participate in the funeral for prominent rabbi Meshulam Soloveitchik, in Jerusalem, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021. The mass ceremony took place despite the country's health regulations banning large public gatherings, during a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Thousands join in Jerusalem funerals, flout pandemic rules

By Ilan Ben Zion Jan. 31, 2021 07:52 AM EST

Israeli police officers stand by burning garbage during clashes with ultra-Orthodox Jews over the coronavirus lockdown restrictions, in Bnei Brak, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. As he seeks re-election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has turned to a straightforward strategy: Count on the rock-solid support of his ultra-Orthodox political allies and stamp out the coronavirus pandemic with one of the world’s most aggressive vaccination campaigns. But with ultra-Orthodox communities openly flouting safety guidelines and violently clashing with police trying to enforce them, this marriage of convenience is turning into a burden. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Ultra-Orthodox unrest threatens Netanyahu reelection hopes

By Josef Federman Jan. 28, 2021 01:06 AM EST

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement at the Israeli Knesset, or Parliament, in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. Netanyahu said, "We did not want elections, but we will win." (Yonatan Sindel/Pool Photo via AP)
Israel heads to new elections as government collapses

By Josef Federman Dec. 22, 2020 02:15 PM EST

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement to his Likud party in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Pool Photo via AP)
Israeli parliament takes step toward new national elections

By Ilan Ben Zion Dec. 02, 2020 08:21 AM EST