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Israel

May 19, 2026

Tel Aviv 12:21 pm

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Men gather around the husk of a destroyed pickup truck that was driven by a local shepherd who was reportedly struck by Israeli forces and buried by locals at a grave nearby, in the Najaf desert in southwestern Iraq, on May 12, 2026.

What we know about secret Israeli bases in Iraq

Iraqi authorities have said there are no longer any hostile forces operating in its territory.

Somaliland’s first ambassador to a foreign country formally, Mohamed Hagi, presented his diplomatic credentials in Jerusalem to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, on May 18, 2026.

Israel accredits Somaliland's first ambassador: What to know

Israel was the first country to recognize the breakaway region on the Horn of Africa last year.

talks

Lebanon-Israel ceasefire extended 45 days as US opens security talks

The Pentagon will host Israeli and Lebanese military delegations for a round of separate security talks later this month.

US President Donald Trump talks to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as he departs the Al Bateen Executive Airport on May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Analysis

‘A reckless act’: Netanyahu sparks UAE fury by claiming secret visit

Just as UAE-Israeli relations were deepening through cooperation against Iran, the Israeli prime minister publicly embarrassed Abu Dhabi by revealing his March visit.

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

Latest News

Israel's Netanyahu suing New York Times over column on Palestinian rape

Analysis

Israel’s drone dilemma: Hezbollah’s low-cost threat reshapes Lebanon front

Artillery units are positioned near the Lebanese border in northern Israel, May 4, 2026.

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

Desperate Gaza parents abandon children at Israel border

Palestinian youths are infiltrating Israel, hoping to get caught and sent to prison, while Palestinian parents facing economic crises are abandoning their sick infants at the Erez border crossing, while attempting to search work in Israel.

Netanyahu pretends occupation does not exist

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his associates believe that ignoring the occupation would make it nonexistent.

Israel’s cannabis revolution

Israel has authorized the sale of medical cannibas in pharmacies and is experimenting with fines and community service in lieu of jail time for recreational users.

Qatar pledges to keep money pipeline open to Gaza Strip

Qatar seems adamant about continuing its financial support to the Gaza Strip, disregarding the Palestinian Authority’s resentment.

Hamas leadership woos Egypt's top imam

A Hamas delegation recently met with Al-Azhar officials in Egypt, where the movement received support for the Palestinian cause.

A U.S. Air Force B-52 (C) flies over Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, January 10, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji - GF20000089868

New START withdrawal would ease path for bomber sale to Israel

Debate over whether to renew the 2009 nuclear treaty with Russia could have implications for US defense ties with Israel.

Netanyahu’s successful operation of unifying the far right

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been laboring for the unification of far-right parties. The announcement of HaBayit HaYehudi and National Union parties on running together is his first victory.

Palestinians live in caves to preserve their land

The PLO has funded an operation to rehabilitate caves in Area C of the West Bank to allow Palestinian families to remain on their land that is threatened by settlement expansion.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) attends a Likud party meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem January 16, 2017. Picture taken January 16, 2017. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC187DF66900

Likud's mainstreaming of West Bank annexation

Annexing West Bank territory to Israel was once considered a far-fetched and even crazy idea in the Likud, but the idea is now being publicly advocated by party members.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ekaterina Zaharieva, Bulgaria's deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs pose for family photo at the Middle East conference at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland, February 13, 2019. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel - RC15EF32E9B0

Veteran peace hands see growing Israeli-Arab alignment in Warsaw

While the Palestinians boycotted the meeting in Poland, a number of Arab delegates showed an interest in engaging with US plans for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel takes another step toward Judaizing Jerusalem

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates denounced the Israeli government’s approval to build a cable car connecting the Old City of Jerusalem, saying that Israel seeks to Judaize the city.

US fears aid cuts to PA will undermine security of Israel

There are reports that Israel and the United States are working to resume aid to Palestinian security agencies as they fear the funding cuts might affect security coordination.