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Israel

May 9, 2026

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Traffic passes a billboard depicting Iranian ballistic missiles in service, with text in Arabic reading "the honest [person's] promise" and in Persian "Israel is weaker than a spider's web," Valiasr Square, Tehran, April 15, 2024. ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images.

Analysis

CIA report on Iran missiles undercuts Netanyahu as war euphoria dissipates

The findings cast doubt on Israel’s wartime gains and put pressure on Netanyahu’s campaign strategy ahead of elections.

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

People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs neighborhood of Haret Hreik on May 6, 2026.

Israel strikes Beirut in breach of Lebanon ceasefire

Israel has continued to carry out strikes in southern Lebanon but had not targeted Beirut since the ceasefire took effect.

Amirhossein KHORGOOEI / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Israel fears Trump seeking Hormuz win while sidestepping Iran nuclear issue

While President Donald Trump keeps pressuring Iran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Israel fears the American leader will decide to cut his losses and sideline the nuclear threat.

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

Latest News

Culture

Lebanon's churches, mosques and archaeological sites damaged in Israeli strikes

A man sits watching as Lebanese first responders search for human remains among the rubble the day after a house was targeted in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, on May 1, 2026.

Analysis

Can Bennett, Lapid unite Israel’s opposition to unseat Netanyahu?

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid (L) speaks to outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, during a meeting at the Knesset (parliament), in Jerusalem on June 30, 2022. - Final approval of the parliament dissolution bill was initially expected by midnight but was postponed to June 30 as coalition and opposition lawmakers sparred over last-minute legislative details, several sources familiar with the parliamentary said. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Iron Dome in Gulf: How Iran war turned UAE-Israel defense ties operational

AFP via Getty Images

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

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

A split image shows Israeli alternate prime minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid arriving to attend the first weekly cabinet meeting of the new government in Jerusalem, on June 20, 2021, and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde during a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu after their meeting at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Ankara, Turkey on Oct. 13, 2020.

Israeli, Swedish foreign ministers talk on phone after seven years of silence

Bilateral diplomatic relations between Israel and Sweden had deteriorated after Stockholm recognized Palestine in 2014, but now both countries seem eager to rehabilitate ties.

Israeli soldiers patrol near a hole in a security fence in the West Bank town of Jenin, on Sept. 6, 2021, following the break out of six Palestinians from an Israeli prison.

Israel recaptures remaining escapees in prison break fiasco

Israeli security forces have redeemed their image after successfully capturing the six Palestinian prisoners who escaped last week from a high-security jail.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett listens during a meeting with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House, Washington, Aug. 27, 2021.

100 days in, Bennett’s government challenged on Iran, Gaza

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett registered several achievements since he founded the government 100 days ago, but is still not perceived as a true leader.

Benny Gantz, Yaid Laid and Naftali Bennett

Israel’s Gantz keeps eye on premiership

Defense Minister Benny Gantz' statements and actions of the past few weeks indicate that he has matured politically and is still hoping to be premier one day.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Israel’s Bennett, Sheikh Jarrah twins make TIME 100 list

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Muna and Mohammed Al-Kurd were among the notable figures in TIME Magazine's list of top newsmakers.

MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/AFP via Getty Images

Israel’s natural gas wealth fund disappoints

Despite grand promises that billions of dollars would pour into Israel's sovereign wealth fund from maritime natural gas fields, little money has arrived.

JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Gantz says Israel could accept new nuclear deal with Iran

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz also said Israel wants to see a “viable US-led plan B” if talks between Tehran and world powers fall through.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett chairs the weekly cabinet meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offices in Jerusalem, on Sept. 11, 2021.

Bennett rules out meeting Abbas, but not economic cooperation

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Tuesday that he will not meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, but he showed willingness to support economic and business ties with the Palestinian Authority.

JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images

Capture of escaped Palestinian prisoners divides Arab-Israelis

Minister of Public Security Omer Bar-Lev thanked Arab-Israelis for assisting in the capture of escaped Palestinian prisoners, but not all of them are comfortable with the situation.

SEBASTIAN SCHEINER/AFP via Getty Images

Egypt’s embrace of Bennett highlights divisions in Israeli cabinet

While coalition partners from the center and left congratulated Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, figures on the right are busy criticizing him over Gaza.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Bennett, Lapid shift stance on Gaza

Despite his past support for attacking Hamas, the meeting between Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's plan to rehabilitate Gaza signal a very different policy.

Naftali Bennett

Israel's Bennett has lost his voter base

National-religious activists and settlers are abandoning Prime Minister Naftali Bennett because of his partnering with centrist and left-wing parties.