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July 17, 2026

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US Vice President JD Vance speaks at the Wisconsin Air National Guard facility at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport on July 8, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Vance says Israeli intelligence had ties to Epstein: What to know

Vice President JD Vance has grown more critical of Israel, possibly in an effort to capitalize on changing views among voters with an eye on the 2028 presidential election.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a cornerstone laying ceremony for the Atarot Heritage Center at an abandon airport in East Jerusalem near the separation wall with the Israeli occupied West Bank city of Ramallah on July 5, 2026.

Israeli PM Netanyahu 'will not travel' to US next week, his office says

On Wednesday, an Israeli official had told Al-Monitor that Netanyahu was planning to travel on Saturday and meet with President Donald Trump next week and attend the memorial service for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

BEIRUT, LEBANON - OCTOBER 13: Lebanese people wave flags and hold portraits of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (not pictured) as he arrives in southern suberb of Beirut on October 13, 2010 in Lebanon. The controversial visit is seen as a boost for key ally Hezbollah. According to reports Mr Ahmadinejad may visit the border with Israel - the site of recent deadly clashes between Israeli and Lebanese forces. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)

Ahmadinejad denies alleged Mossad plot to install him as Iran leader: What to know

The former president, who was a virulent critic of Israel while in office, was reportedly part of a Mossad plan to replace the current Iranian leadership.

Latest News

Analysis

As Trump prioritizes Hormuz, Israel fears Iran rebuilding nuclear program while preserving ballistic missile threat

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

Explainer

Israel's next election: Who's leading in polls and what's at stake?

Israelis turn out to cast their ballots on election day for the 20th Knesset on March 17, 2015 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

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

Members of the Joint List Ahmad Tibi (C) speaks to the press in the presence of Ayman Odeh (R) and Mansour Abbas (L) following their consulting meeting with Israeli President, to decide who to task with trying to form a new government, in Jerusalem on September 22, 2019. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo credit should read MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images)

Arab lawmaker says joining coalition would legitimize Israeli occupation

The leading elected Palestinian leader in Israel tells Al-Monitor that while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vicious racism led Arab voters to the polls, the Arab coalition still cannot join a ruling coalition.

Arab Knesset members expose Netanyahu’s double game

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outwardly incites against the Arab population while privately asking Arab Knesset members for help when he needs it.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin speaks as he meet members of the Likud Party as he began talks with political parties over who should form a new government, at his residence in Jerusalem September 22, 2019. Menachen Kahana/Pool via REUTERS - RC1352568060

Could Israel’s president prevent third elections in a year?

With Avigdor Liberman insisting on a unity government, Blue and White rejecting a government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Netanyahu’s upcoming pre-indictment hearing, the establishment of a government seems almost impossible.

Time has come for Israeli-Arab party to join government

Israeli Arab voters came out in drove to the polling stations, as such, the Joint List must be accepted by Blue and White as a natural partner in governing.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men walk past a Likud party election campaign banner depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump in Jerusalem September 11, 2019. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RC1A12196B30

How strong is Netanyahu’s alliance with the ultra-Orthodox?

The alliance between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties is one of pure interests; both sides must stick to it or risk failure.

Ayman Odeh, leader of the Joint List, gestures as he hands out pamphlets during an an election campaign event in Tira, northern Israel September 5, 2019. Picture taken September 5, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC131423B620

Arab party torn over integration in Israeli society

Leaders of the Arab Joint List qualified their recommendation of Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to compose the next government as historic — that is, until the Balad faction withdrew from the recommendation.

GAZA CIY, GAZA - SEPTEMBER 02: Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh attends the commemoration ceremony for the three policemen in two suicide bomb attacks and in Gaza City, Gaza on September 02, 2019. (Photo by Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Do the Hamas-Israeli understandings have a future?

The results of the Israeli elections have raised concerns within Hamas about the future of the understandings reached between the movement and Israel that have provided Gaza a lifeline and that are helping it remain in control.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry addresses journalists during a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias (not pictured) following a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Athens, Greece July 30, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas - RC130150F8D0

Egyptian FM: Ethiopian dam development shouldn’t 'come at expense of lives of Egyptians'

In an exclusive, in-depth interview with Al-Monitor, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry says he sees no change in Qatari policies; great potential in regional integration; and says Egypt will play its "traditional role" to support "courageous decisions" to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beitenu party, arrives to deliver a statement following his party faction meeting, near Neve Ilan, Israel September 22, 2019. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC18ADACE250

Israel’s Liberman tries instigating a secular revolution

The very fact that matters of religion and state became the main issues in the Sept. 17 election could help to resolve them.

An aerial view shows the newly arrived foundation platform of Leviathan natural gas field, in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Haifa, Israel January 31, 2019. Marc Israel Sellem/Pool via REUTERS - RC17C1973F80

Israel to start exporting natural gas to Egypt as last obstacle is removed

An agreement was recently signed allowing the Egyptian Eastern Mediterranean Gas company to use the Eurasia-Israel pipeline, which would allow the resumption of natural gas exports to Egypt.

Israeli Arabs vote during Israel's parliamentary election at a polling station in Kafr Manda near Haifa on September 17, 2019. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo credit should read AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images)

The initiative that increased Israeli-Arab voting rate

The participatory democracy project for polling booths on local issues, managed to wake up the Arab street and get it to participate actively also in the national democratic process.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on as he sits next to Benny Gantz, leader of Blue and White party, during a memorial ceremony for late Israeli President Shimon Peres, at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem September 19, 2019. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC140183F6E0

Are Netanyahu and Gantz really so different?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz appear to hold similar views on certain issues, but are miles apart in tone and expression.