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Israel

July 18, 2026

Tel Aviv 9:46 pm

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Israeli police officers clash with ultra-Orthodox Jewish men during a protest against their conscription, Bnei Brak, Israel, July 16, 2024.

Analysis

How Netanyahu's bet on ultra-Orthodox exposes his vulnerability in Israel's upcoming election

The prime minister needs the support of the ultra-Orthodox, who reject mandatory conscription, if he is to have a chance at winning reelection and forming the next government.

Mazal Mualem

By Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a session of the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on July 16, 2026, before the start of the election recess ahead of the Oct. 27 general election.

Analysis

Trump's ‘180-degree reversal’ on Lebanon, Syria leaves Netanyahu with few options before elections

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes an Israeli withdrawal from two pilot zones in southern Lebanon will help ease tensions with President Donald Trump.

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

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.).

Latest News

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

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)

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

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 Prime minister Bejamin Netanyahu sits in the Supreme Court before he speaks at a hearing about the legality of a government-approved deal to develop Israel's offshore natural gas reserves in Jerusalem, February 14, 2016. REUTERS/ Jim Hollander/ POOL - GF10000308252

Netanyahu battles judicial system, tarnishes Israel’s image

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is destroying Israel's image as a democratic state in a shameless battle against the Supreme Court in an attempt to protect himself from indictment.

An Israeli settler walks between concrete walls for protection at the Jewish West Bank settlement of Ganim. An Israeli settler walks between concrete walls for protection at the Jewish West Bank settlement of Ganim, May 24, 2005. Ganim and another three Jewish settlements, Kadim, Homesh and Sa-Nur, at the northern part of the West Bank are about to be removed as part of Israel's disengagement plan in Gaza and north Samaria. Photo taken May 24, 2005. REUTERS/Nir Elias - RP6DRNASSZAC

Netanyahu’s dilemma: settlements versus immunity

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must deal with the problematic demand that he include reversing disengagement from the northern West Bank as part of a coalition agreement.

TEHRAN, IRAN - MAY 4, 2008: People visit book stands with pictures of Ayatollah Khomeini (R) and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (L) displayed outside, at the 21st Tehran International Book Fair on the city's congregational prayer site on May 4, 2008 in Tehran, Iran. The annual event showcases 200,000 titles from 1700 domestic and 840 international publishers from 75 countries. The books will be presented under categories for General, Academic, Educational and Children's books. (Photo by Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images)

Iran's burgeoning ‘resistance literature’: A new front?

Despite an ongoing “paper crisis” that has engulfed both print media and publishers, “resistance literature” promoted by the Iranian political establishment is reaching new heights.

Israeli legal experts join Druze against Nationality Law

A group of Israeli legal experts have drafted an amendment to the Nationality Law to codify equality for all citizens.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacts at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting at his Jerusalem office May 12, 2019. Gali Tibbon/Pool via REUTERS - RC1CF7A3A580

Can doing nothing bring down Netanyahu?

With the days allotted by law for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a new government soon to expire, some of his potential partners have adopted a tactic that could mean his political end..

Gaza soda bottler opens West Bank site to deal with siege

Pepsi Palestine, based in the Gaza Strip, has opened a new branch in the West Bank in light of the Gaza siege and Israeli restrictions, and some analysts fear such action could contribute to the collapse of the already-fragile economy in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives to the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem May 5, 2019. Abir Sultan/Pool via REUTERS - RC11FA84D670

Why Netanyahu's so quiet on US-Iran conflict

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is being cautious about engaging Israel in the US-Iran tensions, though he would surely not object to an American attack on Iran.

Netanyahu's coalition stumbles over secular-religious standoff

Avigdor Liberman has set his secular agenda as precondition for joining the coalition government.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu look on during the Middle East summit in Warsaw, Poland, February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel - RC1695A9F040

Netanyahu embraces anti-Semites to preserve far-right alliance

As long as European anti-Semites serve his goal of blocking sanctions against Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to have no problem with them.

Eurovision welcomed to Israel with anti-occupation billboard

The anti-occupation group Breaking the Silence prepared its own Eurovision billboard, showing tourists the other face of Israel, that of West Bank occupation.

Netanyahu dragging Israel into constitutional crisis

The campaign of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pass immunity legislation could drag Israel’s political and judicial systems into a constitutional crisis.

How will Israel protect its vehicles on Gaza border?

Three days after Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades fired a guided missile at an Israeli vehicle, the Israeli army embarked on setting up a new concrete barrier to protect its vehicles in the border areas.