Michael Bachner

Druze community members protest against the construction of a new wind farm in the Golan Heights, June 21, 2023 (Ayal Margolin/Flash90)

June 22, 2023, 2:58 pm

Ben Gvir overrules police on freezing wind farm project, despite riots – reports

Far-right minister vows work will continue despite two days of protests, violence; police chief reportedly wanted contentious work paused until after next week’s Eid al-Adha

By ToI Staff and Michael Bachner

Tear gas fumes fill the air as members of the Druze community gather with their flags in a protest against an Israeli wind turbine project near the village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights on June 21, 2023. (Photo by JALAA MAREY / AFP)

June 21, 2023, 3:59 pm

4 Druze seriously injured, 12 cops hurt in massive riots against Golan wind farm

Official warns of ‘intifada’ amid anger at project near farmland; police stress program is legal; protesters said to use live fire, firebombs to try and overrun police position

By Michael Bachner

(Left to right) Harel Masood, 21, of Yad Binyamin, Elisha Anteman, 17, of Eli, Ofer Fayerman, 64, of Eli, and Nachman Mordoff, 17, of Ahiya, who were killed in a shooting attack near the West Bank settlement of Eli on June 20, 2023. (Courtesy)

June 21, 2023, 2:03 pm

‘How do I go on?’ Funerals held for 4 Israelis killed in West Bank terror attack

Elisha Anteman, 17, buried next to Ofer Fayerman, 64; mother eulogizes Harel Masood, 21: ‘Everyone was blinded by your beauty’; grandpa of Nachman Mordoff, 17: ‘You never did harm’

By Michael Bachner

United Torah Judaism MK Yitzhak Pindrus gives an interview on June 20, 2023. (Screenshot: Channel 12; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

June 21, 2023, 11:22 am

Coalition MK: LGBTQ community poses greater threat to Israel than Hezbollah or Hamas

Yitzhak Pindrus of the United Torah Judaism party says that it’s his duty to ‘not only prevent the Pride parade, but in general to prevent this movement’

By Michael Bachner

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir holds a meeting at his ministry offices in Jerusalem, June 15, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)

June 18, 2023, 5:50 am

Cabinet okays bill to monitor domestic abusers, months after tanking similar bill

Police minister Ben Gvir, citing men’s rights, had sought preconditions for tracking offenders; new version of bill lets judges bypass those conditions in urgent cases

By Michael Bachner, Carrie Keller-Lynn and ToI Staff

Opposition leader Yair Lapid speaks at Reichman University in Herzliya on June 15, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

June 15, 2023, 2:29 pm

Lapid touts cross-camp ‘alliance’ after opposition MK wins seat on judicial panel

Yesh Atid leader says the 4 or more coalition members who mutinied to help elect his party’s Karine Elharrar are unwilling to be part of plan to ‘destroy Israeli society’

By Michael Bachner

A student looks at Iran's domestically built centrifuges in an exhibition of the country's nuclear achievements, in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

June 15, 2023, 10:18 am

US, Iran said nearing informal, limited ‘political ceasefire,’ not full nuke deal

Citing Israeli, US and Iranian officials, New York Times reports sides closing in on unwritten understandings to curb further uranium enrichment in return for unfreezing assets

By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff

President Isaac Herzog (left) and US President Joe Biden at the White House on October 26, 2022. (GPO)

June 13, 2023, 1:58 pm

Herzog said set to meet Biden, address Congress in mid-July; sides do not confirm

Hebrew media outlets say date will be set in coming days, may be July 19; invitation was extended during president’s trip to Washington last year; offices say nothing has been set

By Michael Bachner

Israeli defender Noam Ben Harosh reacts after Israel's loss to Uruguay in the semifinal of the Argentina 2023 U-20 World Cup, at the Estadio Unico Diego Armando Maradona stadium in La Plata, Argentina, on June 8, 2023. (Juan Mabromata/AFP)

June 8, 2023, 2:18 pm

Israel loses to Uruguay at youth World Cup, ending improbable run

U-20 squad falls 1-0 in semifinals, after showing at tournament in Argentina that included win over Brazil; Herzog hail’s teams ‘winning, skilled, diverse and unified Israeliness’

By Michael Bachner

Ofir Ben Nun, sister of Sgt. Lia Ben Nun who was killed on the Egyptian border the day before, at the military cemetery in Rishon Lezion, June 4, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

June 6, 2023, 1:22 pm

Sister of slain female soldier: Reporter who implied impropriety should be ‘ashamed’

Regulator opens probe after thousands complain about Channel 14 journalists’ suggestion that deaths in Egypt border attack partially attributable to mixed-gender guard shifts

By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff

Beitar Jerusalem soccer fans protest near the home of Israel Football Association prosecutor Nir Reshef in Givatayim on June 5, 2023. (Screenshot: Twitter; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

June 6, 2023, 10:12 am

With death threats and fireworks, Beitar Jerusalem soccer fans protest Europe ban

After being booted from European competition over pitch invasion at State Cup final, angry fans rally near home of IFA prosecutor, vandalize Pride flags; ministers slam punishment

By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff

(L-R) Israel's Roy Navi, Ilai Madmoun, Stav Lemkin (back) and Shon Edri celebrate after defeating Brazil 3-2 in extra-time at the 2023 U-20 World Cup quarterfinal soccer match and qualifying to the semifinals at the San Juan del Bicentenario stadium in San Juan, Argentina, on June 3, 2023. (Photo by Andres Larrovere / AFP)

June 4, 2023, 1:47 am

In sensational upset, Israel downs Brazil 3-2 to reach U-20 World Cup semifinal

Netanyahu hails youth soccer team for making history after Dor Turgeman scores stunning decider during extra time; coach Ofir Haim: ‘We want to reach the final’

By Michael Bachner

Protesters rally against the Netanyahu government's planned judicial overhaul in Tel Aviv, on June 3, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

June 3, 2023, 11:58 pm

On 22nd week, anti-overhaul protests enjoy bump in turnout amid anger at police

Hundreds block main Tel Aviv highway after rally draws at least 95,000; thousands protest elsewhere; Ben Gvir backs cops for Friday crackdown, protesters retort: ‘We’re not afraid’

By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff

Thousands take part in the annual Pride Parade in Jerusalem, on June 2, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 1, 2023, 7:54 am

Police on high alert ahead of Jerusalem Pride Parade threatened by violence

Far-right anti-LGBTQ group calls for large counter-rally against ‘Abomination Parade’; about 2,000 cops, some undercover, deployed to secure tense event; 3 arrested ahead of parade

By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff

Illustrative: Otzma Yehudit member Benzi Gopstein (with microphone), head of the radical group Lehava, leads a demonstration against the Jerusalem Pride Parade on June 6, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 30, 2023, 6:53 am

‘Deadly Thursday’: Far-right activists threaten violence at Jerusalem Pride Parade

Messages by members of extremist Lehava group — whose leader is an ally of police minister Ben Gvir — advocate burning, gunning down participants of LGBTQ rights march

By Michael Bachner