Nir Barkat

Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for a court hearing in his trial at the Jerusalem District Court on May 31, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)

Netanyahu allies claim doubts over bribery charge prove need to overhaul judiciary

After judges in Netanyahu trial reportedly warn prosecutors over weakness of accusation, politicians say it shows dangers of allowing a state body to act without oversight

File: Itamar Ben Gvir (right), head of the Otzma Yehudit party, and chairman of the Religious Zionism party Bezalel Smotrich at an election campaign event in Sderot, October 26, 2022. (Flash90)

June 25, 2023, 3:59 am

Ministers slam security chiefs for calling settler attacks on Palestinians ‘terror’

Ben Gvir orders probe into ‘collective punishment’ at settlement of Ateret after assault on nearby Palestinian village; Smotrich rejects security chiefs’ denunciation of attacks

By ToI Staff

June 23, 2023, 11:30 pm

Netanyahu allies claim doubts over bribery charge prove need to overhaul judiciary

After judges in Netanyahu trial reportedly warn prosecutors over weakness of accusation, politicians say it shows dangers of allowing a state body to act without oversight

By ToI Staff

Economy Minister Nir Barkat arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on May 7, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 16, 2023, 5:13 pm

‘Israel shooting itself in the foot,’ Jewish leaders warn Barkat in Boston

Heads of Jewish organizations tell economy minister that government’s extremist members and judicial overhaul are making defending Israel a tall task

By ToI Staff

A security guard with Economy Minister Nir Barkat throws a protestor to the ground, in Boston on June 8, 2023. (Screenshot via Twitter used in accordance with clause 27a of the Copyright Law).

June 9, 2023, 1:40 am

Barkat’s security guards scuffle with protesters during minister’s Boston visit

Economy minister’s office claims a demonstrator tried to attack, was arrested by local police; protest leaders say activist in hospital after being roughed up by security detail

By ToI Staff and Luke Tress

Economy Minister Nir Barkat speaks during a conference in Haifa, March 21, 2023. (Shir Torem/Flash90)

June 8, 2023, 11:06 am

Barkat said to tell US bankers that only a negotiated judicial reform will pass

Government continues to send mixed messages, with Zohar telling domestic audience that coalition will pass the overhaul or fall; DC Jewish group said to cancel Chikli meeting

By ToI Staff

June 7, 2023, 7:43 pm

Barkat said to nix appearance in Boston amid ongoing anti-government protests

Economy minister reportedly accuses consulate of not doing enough to prevent demonstrations, as coalition MKs continue to face resistance during trips abroad

By Luke Tress and ToI Staff

Anti-overhaul activists demonstrate outside the Tel Aviv home of Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, June 6, 2023 (screenshot: Twitter)

June 6, 2023, 9:18 am

‘No compromise’: Anti-overhaul protesters rally outside Lapid’s home

‘Democracy! Democracy!’ and ‘We won’t allow a dictatorship,’ protesters chant, responding to reports of emerging agreements in talks

By ToI Staff

Anti-overhaul activists disrupt Economy Minister Nir Barkat at a Jerusalem Post conference in New York, June 5, 2023. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)

June 6, 2023, 1:28 am

Anti-overhaul protesters disrupt Economy Minister Barkat’s speech at NY conference

Activists shout ‘shame’ at Likud lawmaker as he delves into economic development plans at JPost event, the latest in a series of protests against visiting coalition members in US

By Luke Tress

Michal Cohen, director-general of the Israel Competition Authority, speaks during an Economic Affairs Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, January 16, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 22, 2023, 8:34 pm

‘Lack of trust’: Economy minister asks Competition Authority chief to resign

Nir Barkat claims ‘weakness’ of agency under Michal Cohen a key reason for rising food prices, accuses her of refusing to adopt his policies

By ToI Staff

An employee assaults a protester at the Pastoral Kfar Blum Hotel in northern Israel, on May 15 2023. (Screengrab via Maariv used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

May 15, 2023, 3:18 pm

Anti-overhaul activists attacked with chairs, flagpoles as they protest minister

Hotel staff members beat demonstrators as Economy Minister Barkat, accompanied by staff from right-wing Kohelet think tank, meets with local authority leaders

By ToI Staff

Economy Minister Nir Barkat arrives for a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, January 3, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 8, 2023, 1:53 pm

Ukraine to invite Economy Minister Barkat to June recovery conference in London

Kyiv’s ambassador to meet with minister Monday for talks on confab; First Lady Michal Herzog invites Ukrainian counterpart Olena Zelenska to Jerusalem

By Lazar Berman

April 28, 2023, 9:22 am

Police briefly arrest 2 after Barkat says he was attacked outside Tel Aviv venue

Economy minister says he was accosted outside restaurant; anti-overhaul demonstrators deny claim of violence, protest outside police station

By ToI Staff

Students protest against the judicial overhaul, in Jerusalem, March 23, 2023 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 23, 2023, 7:45 am

‘Day of paralysis’: Anti-overhaul activists block roads, bring protest to ministers

Some 500,000 expected at dozens of locations, with march to Bnei Brak planned for evening amid fears of clashes; banners go up on Jerusalem Old City walls, statue of Herzl

By ToI Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin in the Knesset in Jerusalem on March 6, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 22, 2023, 12:43 pm

As Israel’s constitutional crisis brews, overhaul brings Likud to a boil

Though no one in Netanyahu’s party will vote against the bills, many are uncomfortable with them, and the cracks are beginning to show

By Shalom Yerushalmi

Activists opposed to the judicial overhaul protest Economy Minister Nir Barkat as he gives a speech at a conference in Haifa, March 21, 2023. (Shir Torem/Flash90)

March 21, 2023, 11:48 pm

Protesters up pressure on Likud ministers who have signaled concern about overhaul

Rallies held near homes of Yuli Edelstein, Yoav Gallant; some activists berate Nir Barkat at Haifa restaurant, with one warning ‘we won’t give you a minute of rest’

By ToI Staff