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

Israel cover image

Israel

July 10, 2026

Tel Aviv 2:34 pm

32°C

Former Israeli army chief of staff Gadi Eizenkot speaks during the launch of the Yashar party's election campaign in Hod Aharon, in central Israel, on June 30, 2026.

New Israeli election poll puts Eisenkot ahead of Netanyahu: What to know

Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party has now bypassed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud in the polls, cementing his status as Netanyahu’s main opponent.

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.

Latest News

Analysis

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

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)

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

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

ABIR SULTAN / AFP via Getty Images

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

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

Would Israeli ultra-Orthodox bail on Netanyahu, Likud?

Feeling betrayed by their own leadership on the handling of the coronavirus, young, modern ultra-Orthodox might shift their support to Bezalel Smotrich’s radical right-wing religious party.

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - NOVEMBER 14: (ISRAEL OUT) Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman smiles during a press conference at the Israeli Parliament on November 14, 2018 in Jerusalem, Israel. Lieberman has announced his resignation as Defense Minister of Israel as a protest against the cease-fire Israel agreed to with Hamas following recent heavy rocket fire targeting Israel from Gaza Strip. (Photo by Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images)

Avigdor Liberman's life mission: to topple Netanyahu

Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman’s paramount mission is to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even if it means setting aside his prime ministerial ambitions.

First court victory for opponents of Jerusalem cable car project

Israel's High Court has halted the cable car Jerusalem project for now, but opponents of the project fear it will not be blocked indefinitely.

Israel begins vaccination drive for Palestinian workers

More than 122,000 Palestinians working in Israel or its settlements are eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

<<enter caption here>> on June 16, 2014 in New York City.

For Israelis, ICC decision hypocritical, politicized

Families of the three Israeli youths kidnapped and killed in 2014 wonder why the ICC would not start with an investigation into these murders.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a state memorial ceremony for his late predecessor Golda Meir at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on November 18, 2018. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo credit should read MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Few women on party lists for upcoming elections in Israel

Ahead of the March 23 elections, only one party has a woman to lead it and it is only that same party that offer a gender-equal list for the next Knesset.

Ultra-orthodox Jewish men, some wearing the traditional Jewish prayer shawls known as Tallit, pray in divided sections at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's old city on February 23, 2021. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Ultra-Orthodox furious over Israeli top court’s ruling on conversions

Ultra-Orthodox parties announced that they will not join any coalition unless it cancels recognition of progressive Judaism conversions.

Israeli Defence Minister and alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz arrives at the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in Jerusalem on December 2, 2020. - Gantz said his party will vote for an opposition bill to dissolve parliament, a move that could force a fourth election in under two years. (Photo by Alex KOLOMIENSKY / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ALEX KOLOMIENSKY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Gantz informs Biden administration of updated Israeli plans to strike Iran

Israel's defense minster joins other officials in subtle warning to Washington over Iran nuclear talks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) meets Israeli actress Carmit Mesilati Kaplan (R) during a visit to the Khan theatre ahead of the re-opening of the culture sector following Covid-19 imposed closures, on February 23, 2021 in Jerusalem. - Israel took a step towards normalcy on February 21, re-opening a raft of businesses and services from pandemic lockdowns, but with some only available to fully vaccinated "green pass" holders. (Photo by Ohad ZWIGENBERG / POOL / AFP) (Photo by OHAD ZWIGENBERG/POO

Netanyahu gambles political fate on reopening Israel

Fighting for his political life after three inconclusive elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows that the pandemic will determine his fate on March 23.

Republicans challenge Biden's Pentagon policy nominee on Iran

Colin Kahl said he supports the Abraham Accords and continued pressure on Tehran.

march 4 2021 2.jpg

Netanyahu says Israel, Denmark, Austria will cooperate against virus

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel, Denmark and Austria will establish a joint research and development fund to battle the coronavirus.

International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda (C) and deputy prosecutor James Stewart (R) attend the initial appearance before judges of member of the board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona of the Central African Republic, at the ICC in The Hague on January 25, 2019, following his extradition from France on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. - Ngaissona is charged with coordinating so-called anti-Balaka militia which emerged after

Biden faces calls to lift Trump's controversial ICC sanctions

The International Criminal Court’s investigation into potential war crimes committed by Israel and Hamas is looming over the Biden administration’s review of sanctions on the Hague-based tribunal.