Lazar Berman

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

File: Ukraine's ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, gives a statement to the media in Tel Aviv, on March 11, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni‎‏/Flash90)

June 25, 2023, 6:04 pm

In blistering critique, Ukraine accuses Israel of pro-Russian stance

Foreign Ministry to summon Kyiv’s envoy for reprimand after embassy says Israeli officials have ‘a blatant disregard for moral boundaries’

By Lazar Berman

Gergely Gulyas, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, interviewed in Jerusalem, June 14, 2023 (Lazar Berman/Times of Israel)

June 16, 2023, 4:51 am

In Israel, top Orban aide says Russian aggression violates international law

Hungary’s Gergely Gulyas, minister in PM’s office, meets Netanyahu and Dermer, as rumors swirl of embassy move

By Lazar Berman

Former Kosovar prime minister Avdullah Hoti, June 14, 2023 (Lazar Berman/Times of Israel)

June 14, 2023, 8:45 pm

Muslim-majority Kosovo wants ‘strategic partnership’ with Israel — former PM

Avdullah Hoti, who opened embassy in Jerusalem, wants Israel to open a mission in Pristina; Foreign Ministry points to budgetary constraints

By Lazar Berman

An Israeli soldier closes a gate leading to the Egyptian border in southern Israel, following a shooting attack on June 3, 2023. (AP/Tsafrir Abayov)

June 14, 2023, 3:20 am

Wary of harming Israel ties, Egypt looks to bury popular praise for border attack

After deadly incident leaves 3 IDF soldiers dead, Cairo has attempted to prevent gunman Mohamed Salah Ibrahim from being worshiped as a martyr, with limited success

By Lazar Berman

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

June 13, 2023, 11:00 pm

Herzog said set to meet Biden, address Congress in July, as Netanyahu still shut out

Hebrew media reports say president will make US trip in third week of July, with address to joint session of Congress expected on July 19; sides do not confirm date

By ToI Staff, Jacob Magid and Lazar Berman

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska arrives at Buckingham Palace in London May 5, 2023. (Jacob King, Pool via AP)

June 13, 2023, 6:50 pm

Ukraine’s first lady to visit Israel next week at invitation of president’s wife

Herzog’s office confirms trip by Olena Zelenska; will discuss trauma care with Israeli counterpart, is expected to visit Ukrainian soldiers receiving care in country

By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff

Newly elected head of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay following her election on October 13, 2017, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. (AFP/Thomas Samson)

June 12, 2023, 6:51 pm

UNESCO head calls US decision to rejoin a vote of confidence in reforms

Foreign Ministry refuses to comment on White House move, reportedly meant to counter Chinese influence on cultural body that Israel accuses of bias

By Lazar Berman

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on a phone call with mayors and leaders of communities in southern Israel on May 9, 2023 (Ariel Hermoni / Defense Ministry)

June 11, 2023, 7:07 pm

Ukraine claims Israeli defense minister rebuffing requests to speak with counterpart

Officials say Oleksii Reznikov has been trying to arrange call with Yoav Gallant since current government assumed office; Defense Ministry says no official request made

By Lazar Berman

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska pays her respects as she passes the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at the Palace of Westminster in London on September 18, 2022. (Jacob King/POOL/AFP)

June 11, 2023, 3:51 pm

Ukraine’s first lady expected in Israel next week at invitation of Michal Herzog

Olena Zelenska slated to meet president’s wife; invitation was extended at last month’s London coronation of King Charles

By Lazar Berman

Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski in Tel Aviv, June 6, 2023 (Lazar Berman/The Times of Israel)

June 9, 2023, 10:53 am

Polish official says don’t compare WWII suffering of Poles, Jews: ‘All were victims’

Poland’s deputy FM Pawel Jablonski, visiting Israel as the two countries look to mend ties, says his compatriots are wrongly painted as perpetrators

By Lazar Berman

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (front left) tours a flooding area after the collapse of the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric plant, in Kherson, Ukraine, July 8, 2023. (Twitter video screenshot: Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

June 8, 2023, 5:46 pm

Zelensky visits flooded Kherson after dam collapse; 5 dead in Russian-occupied city

Ukrainian president says he’s onsite to assess aid and rescue efforts as rising waters displace 4,000 on both sides of frontline; MKs slam ‘deliberate act of Russian aggression’

By AP and Lazar Berman

This shows a building damaged by a drone, that was shot down during a Russian overnight strike, in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Alex Babenko)

June 7, 2023, 9:34 pm

Israeli-built aerial warning system set to be deployed in Ukraine by September

Ukrainian, Israeli officials set to meet in Poland this week to work on system, which will first be deployed to Kyiv, then duplicated in other cities

By Lazar Berman

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , right, converses with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana during a Likud faction meeting on February 6, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 5, 2023, 2:03 pm

Knesset speaker Amir Ohana set to visit Morocco’s parliament this week

Ohana to meet counterpart in Rabat on 1st official visit by head of Israeli legislature to Muslim country’s parliament; Israel waiting for kingdom to set date for next Negev Summit

By Lazar Berman

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, holds a situation assessment with National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, left, Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman, and Military Secretary Avi Gil at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on May 11, 2023 (Courtesy)

June 2, 2023, 6:44 pm

Casting wary eye on IAEA, Israel fears US laying groundwork for new Iran deal

Jerusalem worries Washington may be bowing to Iranian demands for a new nuclear pact, and is concerned that Saudi normalization may be used to compensate for its objections

By Lazar Berman

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana (R) shakes hands with Lord Eric Pickles, part of a delegation from the British House of Lords visiting Israel, May 29, 2023. (ELNET)

June 1, 2023, 11:00 pm

Visiting British Lords warn of potential fracture in Israel’s institutions

Group from UK’s upper house following Israel’s judicial overhaul with concern, but see it as symptom of broader trends

By Lazar Berman