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

Israel cover image

Israel

July 8, 2026

Tel Aviv 11:08 pm

25°C

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (not shown) for bilateral talks at Beştepe Presidential Compound during the NATO Summit on July 08, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey. Leaders from NATO's 32 countries, plus NATO allies like Ukraine, gathered in the Turkish capital to discuss a range of issues involving spending targets, defense industrial production, and support for Ukraine, among other topics. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump declares MoU with Iran 'over' as Hegseth cancels trip to Israel

Trump said diplomacy with Tehran was “a waste of time” after renewed attacks around Hormuz, as US defense chief reportedly cancels Israel visit.

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

Israeli Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana arrives for a photo at the president's residence during a ceremony for the new coalition government, Jerusalem, June 14, 2021.

Israeli minister promotes controversial reform on conversion into Judaism

Minister of Religious Affairs Matan Kahana is determined to break the monopoly of ultra-Orthodox Chief Rabbinate over conversions into Judaism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel meet with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and the female ministers of the Israeli Cabinet, Jerusalem, Oct. 10 2021.

Merkel hailed in final visit to Israel as German chancellor

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, the Weizmann Institute, the Technion Technology Institute and other officials and groups all made efforts to warmly welcome in Israel outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Israel's Defence Minister Benny Gantz (L) and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speak to each other at a Knesset (parliament) meeting during which Isaac Herzog, a veteran of Israel's left-wing Labor party, was sworn in as the Jewish state's 11th president, replacing Reuvin Rivlin, in Jerusalem, on July 7, 2020.

Tensions between Israel’s Gantz, Bennett threaten coalition stability

Defense Minister Benny Gantz is furious with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett over exposing a Mossad operation concerning long-years missing aviator Ron Arad.

Pious Jews join prayers from a terrace overlooking the spot where Jewish priests covered with black and white Talit prayer shawls perform the Cohanim prayer at the Western Wall, with the Dome of the Rock shrine seen in the background, during the Passover holiday, Old City of Jerusalem, April 22, 2019.

Israeli court approves quiet Jewish prayer at Temple Mount compound

In a landmark ruling, the Jerusalem Magistrates Court allowed Rabbi Aryeh Lippo to pray silently at the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) meets Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (R) in Rome, Italy, June 27, 2021.

Israel still fears US approach to Iran

The meeting this week at the White House of the US-Israel Strategic Consultative Group did not reassure Jerusalem — on the contrary.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meets with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid in Moscow, Russia, Sept. 9, 2021.

Israel runs last-minute diplomatic blitz against nuclear deal with Iran

Notching up diplomatic efforts over nuclear talks with Iran, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will travel next week to Washington, while Prime Minister Naftali Bennett might travel the week after to Moscow.

Lebanon border

Israel willing to give maritime talks with Lebanon another try

Energy Minister Karin Elharar says that while Israel welcomes the new American mediator, 'we will not give up on Israel’s security nor on any of Israel’s territory.'

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian speaks during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart following their meeting in Moscow on Oct. 6, 2021.

The Takeaway: Khamenei warns neighboring Azerbaijan over Israel ties

Egypt’s Nile encroachers; Morocco and Ethiopia; Turkey and Syria; Israel’s looming budget showdown; Lebanon’s zoo animals; Egyptian mummy faces revealed; Gilles Kepel talks with Alaa Alaswany — all in about 1,400 words!

Arab crime

Arab-Israelis split on Shin Bet's role in fighting surging violence

Arab-Israelis are divided over the government’s decision to bring in the IDF and the Shin Bet to help police control rising crime and violence in Arab towns.

OECD ministerial summit

At OECD, Israel joins global battle against climate change

Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg and Energy Minister Karin Elharar are both in Paris for the OECD ministerial summit, pledging Israel’s commitment to battle global climate change.

A picture taken on Nov. 10, 2019, shows an Iranian flag at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant.

IDF vows to continue striking Iran’s nuclear program

IDF chief of staff responds to Iran's demand that Israel's attacks on nuclear sites stop if UN wants full inspection access to resume.

Knesset

Fragile Israeli government braces for chill as Knesset winter term begins

The Knesset’s winter session, which opened yesterday, is expected to test the precarious coalition of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.