Settlements

Israeli far-right Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attends a gathering by right-wing activists near the border with Gaza, on Oct. 21, 2024, calling to establish a new Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip.

Israel’s Ben-Gvir visits US Monday, set to meet Trump officials: What to know

While avoiding official travel to the US during the Biden administration, Israel's far-right minister is set to embark on a weeklong trip there next week, where he is expected to meet with Trump officials.

Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Oscar-winning Palestinian director freed from Israeli detention after night in custody

Hamdan Ballal, a co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," was assaulted by Israeli settlers and later detained by Israeli forces in the West Bank as the Israeli army continues its raids in the Palestinian territory.

Yair Golan in Tel Aviv on Feb. 2, 2025.

Interview

Amid Israel's rightward shift, left struggles for relevance

In a special interview with Al-Monitor, Yair Golan, leader of center-left party the Democrats, insists that the Palestinian Authority must play a pivotal role in the future administration of Gaza.

Yair Golan

Yair Golan

Chair of the Democrats Party

Israeli soldier and kids use binoculars during a Sukkoth gathering, calling for resettling Gaza with Jewish communities near the border with the Gaza Strip on Oct. 21, 2024 in Southern Border, Israel.

Why Israel's far right is embracing Trump’s Gaza displacement plan

Israel's far right is elated by President Donald Trump's calls to drive Gazans away from the Strip and resettle them in other Arab states.

Latest News

Trump revokes sanctions on Israeli settlers in West Bank: What we know

A car belonging to Palestinian villagers set on fire during clashes after the Israeli settlers stormed the village of Qusra in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Wahaj Bani Moufleh / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by WAHAJ BANI MOUFLEH/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

As Gaza deal looms, will Netanyahu choose Trump or Israel’s far right?

Trump and Netanyahu

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

Israeli settlers vandalize Palestinian property across West Bank: What we know

A man stands by burnt vehicles at the site of a reported attack by Israeli settlers in a residential area on the outskirts of Ramallah city in the occupied West Bank, on November 4, 2024. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by ZAIN JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel euphoric over Trump's cabinet: Will he pick annexation or Saudi deal?

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 15: Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu waves as he arrives outside the West Wing of the White House September 15, 2020 in Washington, DC. Netanyahu is in Washington to participate in the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images

Lapid makes campaign calculations as Biden's visit to Israel approaches

Just four months ahead of general elections in Israel, US President Joe Biden's visit is sure to have an affect on Prime Minister Yair Lapid's campaign.

Bedouins' sheep and structures are pictured in the village of Humsah al-Baqia in the Israeli occupied West Bank.

Israeli settlement plan in West Bank stirs tensions ahead of Biden trip

US President Joe Biden's visit to the region occurs as Israel escalates military policies in the West Bank and unveils new settlement plans.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (R) and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.

Israel dissolves parliament, declares new elections in October

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will take over as prime minister.

Mansour Abbas, head of Israel's conservative Islamic Ra'am party, speaks in his capacity as Knesset deputy speaker during a plenum session on the state budget, Jerusalem, Sept. 2, 2021.

Israel Ra'am leader tries to keep party together as coalition collapses

Faced with rebel legislator Mazen Ghnaim, Muslim party Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas opted for dialogue instead of confrontation.

Mansour Abbas, head of Israel's conservative Islamic Raam party.

Israel’s Muslim party split on toeing coalition line

Muslim Ra’am party leader Mansour Abbas is committed to supporting the coalition, but he's not sure his party members will follow him.

Golan Heights

Israel cuts red tape to expand construction in Golan Heights

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked signed a legal framework to speed development of new villages in the Golan Heights, with a goal of doubling the area's population.

Saar

Israel’s government faces survival test with settlement bill

Announcing that the renewal of regulations on Israeli civil law in West Bank settlements is a test for the coalition's viability, Justice Minister Gideon Saar pushes his own government into a dangerous political spiral.

HAZEM BADER/AFP via Getty Images

Israel cannot win public-opinion battle over journalist's death

Israel knows that regardless of who shot Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh, it cannot win the public opinion battle being waged across the Middle East and beyond.

An Israeli settler adds the finishing touches to a large Star of David.

Israel adds more than 4,000 new homes in settlements

The government of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett authorized the construction of new housing units in settlements and legalized wildcat outposts despite the upcoming visit next month in Israel of President Joe Biden.

Mansour Abbas

Muslim party may resume membership in Israeli coalition

Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas' coordination with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett about his visit last week to Jordan and his meeting with King Abdullah might signal that he is willing to end his party’s suspension of activity in the coalition.

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images

Israel lays groundwork for Biden visit

President Joe Biden is expected to arrive in Israel in late June.

An Israeli border policewoman is comforted as she mourns next to the grave of her killed colleague Shirel Aboukrat.

Analysis

Fragile Israeli government tested by perfect storm of security threats

Also: Upcoming religious holidays heighten concerns of more violence, including by the Islamic State operating within Israel.

Week in Review

By Week in Review