Michael Bachner

Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, left, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir at the scene of a terror attack in the West Bank settlement of Ma’ale Adumim, outside of Jerusalem, August 1, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

August 16, 2023, 1:57 pm

Police chief and Ben Gvir spar over who cops should obey in constitutional crisis

In latest clash, Kobi Shabtai says force will always follow the law; far-right police minister argues it must hew to government policy rather than High Court rulings

By Michael Bachner

Maccabi Haifa's Surinamese midfielder Tjaronn Chery celebrates with teammates after scoring the opener during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Israel's Maccabi Haifa and France's Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Sammy Ofer stadium in the city of Haifa on September 14, 2022. (RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)

August 16, 2023, 11:52 am

Maccabi Haifa soccer team advances to playoff for qualification to Champions League

Beating Slovakia’s Slovan Bratislava 5-2 on aggregate, Israeli champions to face Switzerland’s strong Young Boys next for chance to reach group stage for 2nd straight year

By Michael Bachner

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich takes part in a march to the illegal West Bank outpost of Evyatar, near the West Bank city of Nablus, during the Passover holiday, April 10, 2023. (Sraya Diamant/ Flash90)

August 15, 2023, 2:33 pm

Smotrich said aiming to allocate $180m to settlements, including to illegal outposts

Report says finance minister planning government decision shaving off ministry budgets to fund move, but timing shortly before mayoral elections creates legal difficulties

By Michael Bachner

Protesters rally at the entrance to Moshav Ramot as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's convoy arrives for a vacation, August 14, 2023. (Screenshot: X; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

August 14, 2023, 2:13 pm

Protests held outside Netanyahu’s vacation site: ‘He won’t relax at our expense’

As PM’s convoy enters Moshav Ramot near Sea of Galilee, hundreds hold noisy rally nearby; similar protests were held last week when premier was in Neve Ativ

By Michael Bachner

A composite image, from left, of Justice Minister Yariv Levin at a government conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on January 15, 2023; Supreme Court Chief Justice Esther Hayut at a hearing in Jerusalem on December 1, 2022; and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on January 29, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

August 7, 2023, 9:12 pm

140 jurists lambaste coalition for claiming High Court can’t review Basic Laws

Ahead of potential constitutional showdown, group of academics argue current leadership is ‘seeking to serve as a single branch of government, elevated above all the rest’

By Michael Bachner

Anti-overhaul protesters rally against the government's judicial overhaul in Tel Aviv, August 5, 2023. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

August 5, 2023, 11:47 pm

Masses protest overhaul, with toned-down Tel Aviv rally in shadow of terror attack

Organizers coordinate with police, don’t play music or try to block roads as over 100,000 demonstrate in city shortly after fatal shooting; tens of thousands protest elsewhere

By Michael Bachner

Police chief Kobi Shabtai (L) arrives to attend the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on July 9, 2023. (Gil Cohen-Magen/Pool/AFP)

August 3, 2023, 6:29 pm

Police chief says he ‘won’t condone’ cops’ rally backing officer accused of violence

A day after Tel Aviv’s Yasam officers cheered Yair Hanuna as he arrived for questioning in probe, Kobi Shabtai says police must be ‘apolitical’ and must not protest state bodies

By Michael Bachner

On left: Supreme Court Chief Justice Esther Hayut, right, attends a hearing in Jerusalem on December 1, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90). On right: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, on January 11, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

August 3, 2023, 10:28 am

Top court holds key hearing on law shielding Netanyahu from removal from office

Petitions argue law passed specifically to let PM violate his conflict of interest deal; High Court nixing it would be 1st annulment of Basic Law, heralding constitutional showdown

By Michael Bachner

Illustrative: Yeshiva students study at the Mir Brachfeld yeshiva in Modi'in Ilit on August 26, 2018. (Aharon Krohn/Flash90)

July 30, 2023, 5:37 am

Cabinet to discuss siphoning NIS 164 million from ministries to fund yeshiva students

Proposal, put on agenda late Saturday night, would include an across-the-board budget cut to fund move demanded by Haredi parties; Lapid: This government ‘doesn’t have a heart’

By Michael Bachner

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a video message, explaining that he is going into the hospital to have a pacemaker fitted, early on July 23, 2023. (Screenshot)

July 23, 2023, 4:14 am

Netanyahu has pacemaker fitted, on eve of final votes on coalition’s overhaul bill

Week after being hospitalized for ‘dehydration’ and getting heart monitor, warning from device prompts surgery for cardiac pacing machine; Levin acting PM, cabinet meeting delayed

By Michael Bachner

Protesters on the Ayalon highway in Tel Aviv, July 20, 2023. (Tali Melamed)

July 20, 2023, 2:26 pm

Police clear out protesters, ending night of demonstrations energized by PM’s speech

8 arrested in Ra’anana, 7 detained in Tel Aviv as police clash with activists blocking roads, after lead protest organizers slam PM’s comments as ‘full of lies and incitement’

By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff

Outgoing Tel Aviv police commander Amichai Eshed speaks at a handover ceremony in Tel Aviv, July 19, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

July 19, 2023, 2:52 pm

‘We don’t have any other democracy’: Demoted Tel Aviv police chief takes his leave

Amichai Eshed, who claims he was sidelined for not being tough on anti-overhaul protesters, avoids handshakes with national security minister, commissioner

By Michael Bachner

Medical staff protest against the judicial overhaul in Tel Aviv, during a two-hour strike in hospitals around Israel, July 19, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

July 19, 2023, 12:26 pm

Hospital staff stage 2-hour strike against overhaul bill, warn of wider action

Doctors rally nationwide, but urgent services unaffected; ex-chair of Medical Association warns of ‘full strike’ in healthcare system if judiciary-curbing legislation advances

By Michael Bachner

Yamina MK Nir Orbach leads a House Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, June 21, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/ Flash90)

July 14, 2023, 2:01 am

Nir Orbach, ex-MK who toppled previous government, to head new Jewish identity office

Far-right Avi Maoz launches body that will oversee school programing, says that while he opposed Orbach taking part in Bennett-Lapid coalition, he’s not ‘engaged in score-settling’

By Michael Bachner

Protesters against the government's judicial overhaul rally outside the US Embassy branch office in Tel Aviv, July 13, 2023. (Yoram Shpirer)

July 13, 2023, 9:21 pm

Anti-overhaul protesters call ‘day of resistance’ for Monday; rally near PM’s homes

After Tuesday’s ‘day of disruption,’ organizers say Netanyahu ‘leading Israel to the abyss’; pro-overhaul activists block kibbutz entrances, call mass rally for July 23

By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff