Israeli-Gulf relations

A police speed boat patrols the port as oil tankers and high speed crafts sit anchored at Muscat Anchorage near the Strait of Hormuz on March 30, 2026 in Muscat, Oman.

Analysis

Hostage to Hormuz, can Gulf rewire future energy flows to bypass Iran’s chokepoint?

As the US-Israel-Iran war disrupts around 20% of global oil supply, experts point to opportunities and challenges facing a renewed push to develop alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the eastern outskirts of the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre on March 24, 2026. Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Iran-backed Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel has since launched strikes across Lebanon, killing at least 1,039 people and displacing more than a million others, and sent ground troops into the country's south. (Ph

Analysis

Israel hedges, intensifies Iran and Lebanon strikes ahead of Trump talks

Israel believes that US President Trump might soon opt to end the war, leading to a surge in Israeli strikes ahead of a potential ceasefire.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

An undated image of Eran Etzion.

Interview

Ex-Israeli security official: Netanyahu pushed US, Israel into Iran war without imminent threat

Eran Etzion, a former Israeli deputy national security adviser and opposition politician, says Netanyahu might decide to prolong the war against Hezbollah and Iran even if the United States opts out.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, US President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador to Israel, testifies during his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, March 25, 2025.

Interview

Huckabee confirms US-Israel alignment on Iran, says Hamas will disarm 'sooner or later'

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Al-Monitor in an interview that the 2025 strike on Iranian nuclear sites was only a preview of what the US military is capable of.

Latest News

Saudi-UAE rift complicates Israel's counter-Iran efforts, normalization

This photograph taken on Jan. 20, 2026, organized by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, shows Saudi-backed Yemeni forces in the city of Mukalla in Yemen's coastal southern Hadhramaut province.

Analysis

As US-Iran talks set to begin, Israel struggles to shape Trump's options

The commander of CENTCOM, Admiral Brad Cooper, visited Israel as the official guest of Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

On eve of talks, UAE's Gargash throws weight behind Iran-US deal

Diplomatic advisor to the United Arab Emirates President Anwar Gargash (C) react on stage with Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) and Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe (R) during the World Governments Summit in Dubai on February 3, 2026. Spain will seek to ban social media for under-16s to protect them from harmful content such as pornography and violence, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on February 3, in the latest such move by governments. Australia established a world first i

United Arab Emirates

Interview

Gaza calm could revive East Med Forum, Israel-Jordan projects: Cohen

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen gives a press conference in Larnaca on December 20, 2023 talking about a humanitarian aid corridor from the Mediterranean island to war-torn Gaza. (Photo by Elisa AMOURET / AFP) (Photo by ELISA AMOURET/AFP via Getty Images)

Eli Cohen

Eli Cohen

Israeli Energy Minister

A man walks outside the Imam al-Tayeb Mosque during a media tour at the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi on February 21, 2023. - The United Arab Emirates has opened a centre housing a mosque, church and the country's first official synagogue with the aim of promoting interfaith coexistence in the Muslim nation. (Photo by RYAN LIM/AFP via Getty Images)

Culture

UAE's Abrahamic House widens space for Jewish community across Gulf

Consisting of a mosque, a synagogue and a church side by side, the concept is a monumental step forward for the Gulf state as well as its multireligious community.

A general view shows a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, at the United Nations headquarters, New York, Feb. 20, 2023.

Israel rebukes UN Security Council anti-settlement statement, criticizes US support

Members of the UN Security Council issued on Monday a rare joint statement, the first in nine years, condemning recent Israeli measures for West Bank settlement expansion.

Shlomi Amsalem/GPO

Israel, Sudan to normalize ties? Not so fast

The normalization process is allowing the prime minister to flash his diplomatic bona fides at a time of domestic turmoil, but normalization may still take time.

LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

Israel's Netanyahu echoes 'shared estimate' with France on Iran, 'serious concerns' on Ukraine

"I must note that we share concerns and we share the estimates on the nature of the Tehran regime," Netanyahu said following his meeting with Macron

Israeli PM Netanyahu and Macron

Netanyahu meets Macron as Iran threatens retaliation against Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Thursday with French President Emmanuel Macron in a bid to bring their positions closer on Iran.

Israel protest

Netanyahu more worried about Israel's protests than Palestinians

The Israeli prime minister will receive US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as violence escalates, normalization stalls, and the economy tanks in anticipation of right-wing reforms.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud attends a session at the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2023.

Saudi FM says no normalizing ties with Israel before Palestinian issue resolved

Following the normalization deal between Israel, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, talks have increased about more Arab countries joining the initiative; Saudi Arabia is on hold for now.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Jerusalem, Jan. 19, 2023.

Iran, expanding Abraham Accords top Netanyahu's meeting with Jake Sullivan

Netanyahu met in Jerusalem with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, in a bid to coordinate positions on Iran and prepare for a trip by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

An undated image of Ronen Levy.

Analysis

Who is Ronen Levy, Shin Bet’s shadow man and Israel’s new foreign ministry chief?

Ronen Levy, previously known only as "Maoz," is emerging from his career as a shadowing intelligence figure and conduit to Arab leaders, to become director general of Israel's Foreign Ministry.

Mazal Mualem

By Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

MAZEN MAHDI/AFP via Getty Images

Negev Forum convenes in UAE with Jordan absent from Arab-Israeli meeting

Senior officials from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, the United States and Israel have convened in Abu Dhabi for the third Negev Forum steering committee meeting.

Local Jewish residents and tourists pray during Purim at the Address Dubai Marina Hotel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 26, 2021.

Culture

UAE schools will now teach Holocaust in national curriculum

More than two years following the signing of the Abraham Accords, the UAE confirms that it will include the Holocaust in the curriculum of its primary and secondary schools.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli far-right minister risks regional flareup with Temple Mount visit

Despite international warnings, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed for National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to ascend the Temple Mount.