Feature 50,000 Israeli expats fly home to vote in potential boon to Netanyahu rivals Israel prohibits voting from abroad with limited exceptions, and Israelis who spoke to Al-Monitor said they are especially motivated to fly home this year. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Analysis How Israel opposition infighting is boosting Netanyahu days before election Discord within the opposition, including its reluctance to name a single candidate for prime minister ahead of the Oct. 27 election, is working in Netanyahu’s favor. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
In first, Israel’s Netanyahu says he held call with Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa It is the first publicly disclosed contact between the leaders of Israel and Syria, which lack formal relations and have fought several wars. Sharaa’s government began US-mediated talks with Israel in 2025. Syria
Sisi says Egypt has no ‘territorial ambitions’ after Israel’s Smotrich threatens Sinai The Egyptian president’s remarks follow a warning from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that Israel would seize the Sinai Peninsula if Egypt attacks. Egypt
Exclusive Rights, faith groups urge Congress to block $2.8B bomb sale to Israel By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Amid Biden-Netanyahu split over Rafah, Pentagon leans on lessons from Iraq As the Biden administration seeks to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe in Rafah, former US commanders told Al-Monitor there are key ways the Israeli military can shape an operation to protect civilians. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
White House: No Rafah invasion until Israeli delegation talks alternatives "We don’t support a major ground operation," White House NSC coordinator John Kirby emphasized on Thursday, as an Israeli delegation is expected to discuss alternatives with top officials in Washington next week. Palestine
State Department staffer resigns over Biden's handling of Gaza Annelle Sheline is the second State Department official to publicly resign since Oct. 7, citing the erosion of US credibility on human rights in the Middle East as a result of the war. Washington Pulse
In latest about-face, Netanyahu agrees to resend canceled US delegation to discuss Rafah The White House said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed for his top aides to travel to Washington to discuss the situation in Rafah after the Israeli leader canceled the delegation Monday. Israel
Palestinian UN mission makes small gains as all eyes on Qatar cease-fire talks By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Iran reassures Hamas of continued support as Haniyeh visits Tehran The meetings in Tehran were held as Iranian officials celebrated a moment of triumph for Hamas after the United States allowed the UN Security Council to pass a Gaza cease-fire resolution. Iran
Israel confirms Hamas’ Marwan Issa killed in airstrike earlier this month IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed that Hamas' No. 3 in Gaza, Marwan Issa, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 10. Israel
Analysis As Israel's Gallant seeks arms in Washington, Netanyahu picks fight with Biden The Israeli premier's decision to cancel a major diplomatic visit to Washington will add to the distance between his country and the United States, but that may be precisely his plan. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
What we know about alleged Iran weapons plot in West Bank Israel said that Iran’s IRGC was working to smuggle explosives into the Palestinian territory. Israel
Israel’s Gallant kicks off US visit with weapons, Rafah on agenda Washington still seeks to avert an Israeli operation in Rafah, even as Netanyahu cancels a delegation of top advisers over the US abstention on a UN Security Council vote. Israel
Macron warns Netanyahu forced population transfer in Gaza would be war crime French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Paris is against a military operation in Rafah and against any attempt to transfer displaced Gazans. Israel
Hamas' popularity dips 11%, but only 7% of Palestinians blame it for Gaza war A new poll by a Palestinian research institute found discrepancies between the attitudes of West Bank and Gaza Palestinians the current war, Hamas and a two-state solution. Palestine
