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

Israel cover image

Israel

September 9, 2026

Tel Aviv 1:38 am

26°C

TOPSHOT - Explosions from projectile interceptions by Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system are pictured over Tel Aviv on February 28, 2026. The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, with Israel's public broadcaster reporting that the Iranian supreme leader had been targeted, as the Islamic republic retaliated with barrages of missiles at Gulf states and Israel. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel braces for Iran attack as Trump’s economic squeeze on Tehran intensifies

Skeptical about the effectiveness of the American economic blockade on Tehran to weaken the regime, Israel is preparing for the possibility that Iran could decide to strike the Jewish state during the upcoming high holidays.

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

West Bank settlements

12 countries including France, UK, Canada end trade with West Bank settlements

The decision comes against the backdrop of an escalation in settler violence and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli soldiers take positions during a military operation in the town of Qalqiya, in the occupied West Bank, Dec. 4, 2025.

Katz warns PA against 'Oct. 7-style' attack as West Bank violence rises

After a West Bank stabbing of an Israeli settler, Defense Minister Israel Katz warns the Palestinian Authority against launching an “Oct. 7-style” assault.

An excavator digs as rescuers search for survivors amid the rubble following an overnight Israeli airstrike on the village of Kfar Roummane, southern Lebanon, Sept. 7, 2026.

Lebanon says at least 12 killed in Israeli strikes as tensions rise in south

The escalation in southern Lebanon casts a shadow over upcoming Israel-Lebanon talks in Rome.

Latest News

Analysis

LORA missile test reveals limits of Germany’s Gaza criticism of Israel

A woman walks past a model of a Lora missile, Israel's long range artillery missile at the Israel defence stall at the international DefExpo 2008 defence fair, in New Delhi on February 16, 2008. India kicked off South Asia's largest defence fair, with hundreds of global weapons firms offering their latest hardware to the country's technology-hungry military. About 450 weapons companies from 30 countries are present at the four-day "DefExpo" in New Delhi, with several big-ticket announcements expected. AFP P

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

How Jewish politician joining Arab party could reshape Israeli politics

Raam

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Playing for time: Despite US pressure, Israel stalls Lebanon talks until after election

Ammar Ammar / AFP via Getty Images

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

Analysis

As Israeli settler attacks mount, Trump avoids public pressure on Netanyahu

Israeli soldiers arrive in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which has faced escalating Israeli settler violence over the past month, on Aug. 29, 2026.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

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

Druze education success story threatened by Israel’s political crisis

Israeli Druze high-schoolers have excelled in matriculation exams since 2013. What’s their secret?

US Presidential Adviser Jared Kushner (C-R) and US National Security Adviser Robert OBrien (C-L) pose with members of the Israeli-American delegation in front of the El Al's flight LY971, which will carry the delegation from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, at the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on August 31, 2020. - The El Al flight, scheduled to leave at 0730 GMT from Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, will carry a delegation led on the American side by President Donald Trump's son-in-law and White House advisor Ja

First commercial flight from Tel Aviv lands in Abu Dhabi

El Al Flight 971 makes history, as first commercial flight from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi.

United Arab Emirates

First commercial flight from Israel to UAE follows historic deal

The flight is a first step in a normalization process between the countries as an official signing of the agreement is expected next month.

United Arab Emirates

Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erakat speaks during the 2019 J Street National Conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC on October 28, 2019. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by MANDEL NGAN has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Saeb Erakat] instead of [Saab]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have

Palestinian public diplomacy blitz to block other Arab countries following UAE lead

The Palestinian leadership seeks to counter US and lsrael diplomacy with Sudan, Bahrain and Oman to secure another normalization deal.

United Arab Emirates

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and alternate Prime Minister and Defence Minister Benny Gantz (L) issue a statement at the Israeli Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv on July 27, 2020 following the high tensions with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah at the Israeli-Lebanon border. (Photo by Tal SHAHAR / POOL / AFP) (Photo by TAL SHAHAR/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Gantz calls Netanyahu’s bluff on budget showdown

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s partner and rival Benny Gantz has called his bluff, forcing him to compromise on extending the budget deadline that would have forced new elections.

Exiled former senior Fatah member Mohammed Dahlan attends a Palestinian legislative Council meeting in Gaza City through video conference from the United Arab Emirates on July 27, 2017 following developments at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Palestinians were set to return to pray at a sensitive Jerusalem holy site after Israeli authorities removed controversial new security measures, potentially ending a nearly two-week crisis that sparked deadly unrest. Dahlan, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's exiled r

Turkey tries to settle scores with Palestinian leader backed by the UAE

Interpol recently rejected Turkey’s request to arrest dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan, who is currently in the United Arab Emirates, but analysts believe this will not stop Ankara from pursuing Dahlan through other means.

United Arab Emirates

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi speaks during a news conference with German Foreign Minister at the Wannsee lake in Berlin, Germany on August 27, 2020. (Photo by MICHELE TANTUSSI / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MICHELE TANTUSSI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli foreign minister in Berlin pushes arms embargo on Iran

After meeting with his German counterpart in Berlin, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said that Germany supports Israel on arms embargo on Iran.

Yossi Cohen, the head of the Israeli Mossad attends a Fourth of July Independence Day celebration at the residence of the US Ambassador to Israel in Herzilya Pituah on July 3, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Heidi Levine (Photo credit should read HEIDI LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Agreement with UAE reveals Mossad chief's ambitions

As the world learns more of Israel’s agreement with the United Arab Emirates and other contacts with Gulf states, the central role and lofty ambitions of Mossad chief Yossi Cohen are also emerging.

Harris says Biden presidency will not condition aid to Israel

The Democrats' vice presidential pick, Sen. Kamala Harris, sought to distance the Biden campaign from emerging party criticism of Israel in recent years.

Pompeo makes final stop in Oman amid Israel deal push

Oman has been floated as a possible next country to normalize ties with Israel.

United Arab Emirates

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a cabinet meeting of the new government at Chagall State Hall in the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in Jerusalem on May 24, 2020. (Photo by ABIR SULTAN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ABIR SULTAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Netanyahu facing settlers' anger over UAE agreement

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is dealing with blowback from settlers over both the agreement reached with the United Arab Emirates and the suspension of the annexation plan.

The Takeaway: Dermer on Iran nuclear deal: ‘We have been the guinea pigs in this failed experiment'

Israel’s ambassador to the US Ron Dermer describes a different approach to nuclear diplomacy with Iran; will Israel oppose US F-35 sale to UAE?; Turkey shuts off water to Syrian Kurds again; increased risks of escalation in Syria; two cool things from Gaza!