Israel - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Israel cover image

Israel

July 7, 2026

Tel Aviv 8:12 pm

28°C

Froun

Explainer

Lebanon's latest damage estimate outlines reconstruction challenge

More than 1 million Lebanese residents fled their homes after Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon intensified in March, when Hezbollah entered the conflict.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) welcomes US President Donald Trump (R) upon his arrival on Air Force One at Etimesgut Air Base near Ankara, on July 7, 2026, before attending the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Trump's F-35 push for Turkey runs into CAATSA — and Israel

Israel fears that Washington may be shifting its strategic options toward Turkey as the two rivals push for regional hegemony.

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

ABIR SULTAN / AFP via Getty Images

Israel, Greece conduct military drills ahead of NATO summit in Turkey

Photos published by the Greek military showed fighter jets from both countries flying side by side over the Aegean Sea.

Latest News

Interview

Ayman Odeh says Arab parties could back Bennett or Eisenkot to block Netanyahu

Joint List Party leader Ayman Odeh attends a meeting on April 5, 2021 in Jerusalem, Israel.

Ayman Odeh

Head of the Knesset's Hadash-Ta'al faction

Analysis

As US-Iran talks falter, Israel views war outcome as 'total strategic failure’

Motorists drive past a billboard bearing a picture of Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei, ahead of his funeral in Tehran on July 3, 2026. Iranian leaders began paying their respects on July 3 before the coffin of the country's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, killed in the US-Israeli strikes that triggered the Middle East war, as Tehran prepared for a vast funeral. Khamenei's body arrived at Tehran's Grand Mosalla on July 3 ahead of ceremonies which are expected to draw millions. (Photo by AFP via Ge

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

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

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

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Rina Bassist

Associate Editor (Israel)

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Israel technology

Despite pandemic, Israeli high-tech industry soars

The Israeli high-tech sector has thrived through the end of 2021, with Israeli unicorns making more money than ever before and entering the US stock exchanges.

Gantz Abbas

Benny Gantz, Mahmoud Abbas see eye to eye on security risks

Embracing an opposite approach to that of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Benny Gantz tries reinforcing the status of the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the 74th United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations on September 26, 2019 in New York City.

Israel's Gantz announces confidence-building measures after hosting Palestinian President Abbas

After hosting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his home in Rosh Ha’ayin, Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced a series of confidence-building measures for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

A member of Israel's security forces carries flags of Hamas that were seized during clashes with Palestinian protesters north of Ramallah in the West Bank, on Oct. 8, 2015.

Israel concerned over Hamas involvement in West Bank attacks

There are voices in Israel demanding retaliation against Hamas whenever it gets involved in West Bank terror attacks.

Israeli tanks are seen in action during a military drill near Ramat Trump settlement in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights on Dec. 7, 2021.

Israeli, Russian foreign ministers discuss key regional issues via phone

With the second round of Iran nuke talks resuming in Vienna, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid speaks on the phone with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.

US President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, Aug. 27, 2021.

Israel's Bennett gets scolded by the White House

Refusing an Israeli request for a phone call between Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and US President Joe Biden, the White House clarified the rules of the game and what kind of relationship they expect between the two leaders.

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Likud party's Tel Aviv headquarters, Dec. 19 2021.

Netanyahu battles over Likud control, campaigns to remove liberal members

To preserve his absolute control over the party, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is campaigning to remove from the party thousands of more liberal members.

Palestinians protesting against the return of Jewish settlers to their area, confront members of the Israeli security forces, in the occupied-West Bank village of Burqah, near the illegal Israeli outpost of Homesh, on Dec. 23, 2021.

Tensions flair at Homesh West Bank outpost following killing of Israeli

Following the killing last week of Yehuda Dimentman, tensions are rising at the ruins of the Homesh West Bank outpost, demolished in the 2005 Gaza disengagement.

The Israeli government poses following the Dec. 26 weekly Cabinet meeting, which took place at Kibbutz Mevo Hama in the Golan Heights.

Israel plans to double Golan Heights population

Relocating its weekly meeting to the Golan Heights Kibbutz Mevo Hama, the government approved a 1 billion-shekel plan for the development of the region.

Head of the Mossad Yossi Cohen attends a Fourth of July Independence Day celebration at the residence of the US ambassador to Israel in Herzilya Pituah, Israel, July 3, 2017.

Scandal threatens political ambitions of former Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen

Revelations over an alleged liaison with a married woman could threaten whatever political ambitions former Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen was harboring.

GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

The Takeaway: Israel fears Iran strike could ignite war with Hezbollah

Erdogan’s rescue plan for the lira, Turkey’s Africa drone market, Lebanon’s homeless cats and dogs, Gaza’s racism, Gulf stock markets and more — in less than 1,300 words!

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan meets with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Dec. 22, 2021, in Israel.

US national security adviser meets with Bennett, Lapid, Gantz in Israel

Facing growing pressure from Jerusalem on the Vienna talks, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan met yesterday in Israel with President Isaac Herzog and today with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz.