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Mail & Guardian
Mike Smith 1

Creator

Mike Smith 1

Mike Smith is the AFP news editor for Israel and the Palestinian Territories and author of Boko Haram: Inside Nigeria's Unholy War.

The community now numbers around 140 000, of whom some 50 000 were born in Israel. They are Jewish, but say they are in many cases still seen as outsiders. (Corinna Kern/Reuters)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU

Angered by police killing, Ethiopian-Israelis demand change

Solomon Teka’s death has been a deeply personal tragedy for his family, but for the wider Ethiopian-Israeli community, he has become a symbol as well

  • Mike Smith 1
4 min read
Israel’s former premier Benjamin Netanyahu is greeted by supporters of his Likud party as he arrives to speak following the announcement of exit polls in Israel’s parliamentary election at the party headquarters. (Reuters/Ronen Zvulun)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU

Netanyahu on path for victory in Israeli election

Netanyahu sought to portray himself as Israel’s essential statesman in the run-up to the vote and highlighted his bond with US President Donald Trump

  • Mike Smith 1
5 min read
Former military chief Benny Gantz (pictured) poses a serious threat to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bid to extend his already 13 years in office. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU

Netanyahu, Gantz make final pitches before Israeli vote

Ahead of Tuesday’s vote, opinion polls are giving Netanyahu’s Likud and Gantz’s Blue and White a similar number of seats in the 120-seat parliament

  • Mike Smith 1
4 min read
Israeli politics has moved sharply to the right in recent years, with much of the electorate disillusioned by failed peace efforts with the Palestinians. (AFP)
ARAB ISRAELIS

In close election, Netanyahu relies on ‘us versus them’

As Israel approaches an April 9 general election, Netanyahu is again resorting to right-wing populism

  • Mike Smith 1
4 min read
Netanyahu has spoken out against the possibility that the attorney general will announce his decision on whether to indict him before April 9 elections. (AFP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU

Netanyahu takes aim at graft probes ahead of Israel polls

A prime minister is not legally required to resign if charged — only after convicted with appeals exhausted

  • Mike Smith 1
4 min read
Police in February recommended indicting Benjamin Netanyahu in two other corruption investigations. They recommended Sara Netanyahu face charges of bribery, fraud, breach of trust and obstruction of justice. (Reuters)
AVI GABBAY

Israel police recommend indicting Netanyahu in third graft probe

Police said there was evidence to charge Netanyahu with bribery, fraud, breach of trust and unlawful acceptance.

  • Jonah Mandel
  • Mike Smith 1
4 min read
There has been no shortage of controversy ahead of this week’s visit. (Tobias Schwartz/AFP)
ANGELA MERKEL

Merkel, Netanyahu seek to brush past differences for Israel talks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel holds talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday as they seek to publicly brush past

  • Mike Smith 1
4 min read
‘Empty gesture’: Israel’s prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been lambasted for a recent ‘incendiary’ statement.
AVI GABBAY

Netanyahu rejects calls to resign after police seek indictment

The Prime Minister has been suspected of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust.

  • Mike Smith 1
4 min read