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Israel

May 20, 2026

Tel Aviv 4:22 pm

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NICOSIA, CYPRUS - APRIL 24: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrives for an informal meeting of European Union leaders on April 24, 2026 in Nicosia, Cyprus. The EU heads of state and government are meeting over two days to discuss the conflict in Iran and the Middle East, including freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the effects of high fuel prices, and how Europe may contribute to de-escalation and a peace agreement. (Photo by Byron Smith/Getty Images)

Syria's Sharaa renews ban on Israeli imports in customs law: What to know

The renewal comes even as Damascus pursues US-backed security talks with Israel aimed at reducing tensions along the border.

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.

Somaliland's first ambassador to Israel announces embassy in Jerusalem: What to know

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

A bride and group couple rides in a military jeep arriving for a public mass wedding ceremony at Imam Hossein Square in Tehran on May 18, 2026. Iran said on May 18 that it had responded to a new US proposal aimed at ending the war, adding that diplomatic exchanges continue despite Iranian media reports describing Washington's demands as excessive. Washington and Tehran have been swapping proposals in an effort to end the conflict which the US and Israel launched on February 28, but they have held only a sin

Analysis

Israel pushes for full Iran blockade as it awaits Trump's next move

Israel’s preferred strategy, sources told Al-Monitor, calls for a comprehensive naval, economic, land and air blockade of Iran, alongside tighter sanctions and covert activity aimed at destabilizing the regime.

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

Latest News

What we know about secret Israeli bases in Iraq

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.

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

talks

Analysis

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

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.

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

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

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

An Israeli commando from the engineering corps Yahalom ("Diamond") unit takes part in a tunnel-hunting drill in Sirkin special forces base, near Tel Aviv March 7, 2012. Israel, fearing a surge in tunnel and bunker construction by Hezbollah and Palestinian militants in neighbouring Lebanon and Gaza, is training crack troops to hunt below ground with the help of robot probes and sniffer dogs. REUTERS/Nir Elias (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) - GM1E83802EC01

Netanyahu raises doubts with operation against Hezbollah tunnels

The timing of Operation Northern Shield, to destroy Hezbollah tunnels leading from Lebanon into Israel, suggests that considerations other than security were behind the decision to launch it.

Netanyahu’s Israel is state in crisis

If there is any substance to the Israeli police's recommendations to indict Prime Minister Netanyahu for bribery, the State of Israel is more a model of government corruption than a "light unto nations."

Arab Israeli protesters clash with Israeli police during a demonstration in the northern Arab Israeli village of Arara, January 21, 2017 REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RC16B2E41470

Israel boycott movement takes on US law enforcement

Several US police departments are ending training in Israel amid pressure from pro-Palestinian activists as pro-Israel groups explore legal countermeasures.

This picture taken on December 4, 2018 near the northern Israeli town of Misgav Am, shows Israeli machinery operating machinery (R) near the border wall with Lebanon. - Israel's army said on December 4 it had detected Hezbollah "attack tunnels" infiltrating its territory from Lebanon and had launched an operation called "Northern Shield" to destroy them, a move likely to raise tensions with the Iran-backed group. (Photo by JALAA MAREY / AFP) (Photo credit should read JALAA MAREY/AFP/Getty Images)

Israel destroys Hezbollah's border tunnels but missile threat looms

Israel has started uncovering and destroying Hezbollah's attack tunnels under the Lebanese border, but destroying the group's ambitious precision missile project will be much more difficult.

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) arrives at Democratic Party caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas - RC14D7B8FF50

Congress weighs rushing Israel anti-boycott bill by year’s end

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., wants to attach controversial anti-boycott legislation before the end of the year by attaching it to a must-pass spending bill.

Fishing boats are seen on a beach in the southern Gaza Strip October 7, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa - RC19FC99FED0

Israel tests waters for truce talks with return of Gaza fishing boats

Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip have recovered the boats that Israel had confiscated years earlier — but is this development political rather than judicial?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at his Jerusalem office December 2, 2018. Gali Tibbon/Pool via REUTERS - RC138832F860

Likud party hostage in Netanyahu’s hands

Even after the publication of police recommendations to indict him, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not consult with his party seniors, nor did he involve them in his intentions.

A general view shows the Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank September 11, 2018. Picture taken September 11, 2018. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma - RC14BC22BB50

Israeli bill to end civil administration part of annexation scheme

A proposed bill would close the Israel's civil administration in a bid to advance the gradual annexation of the West Bank.

A general view shows a road leading to the Jewish West Bank settlement of Dolev where rental properties listed on Airbnb are offered February 23, 2016. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - GF10000320052

Why boycotting Israel won’t end the occupation

The BDS movement proudly presents all of its "achievements" in the last year, yet all of these campaigns did little to advance the end of the conflict and the occupation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during an Likud Party gathering marking the first day of the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, in Ramat Gan, Israel December 2, 2018. REUTERS/Corinna Kern - RC1881F587D0

Intel: Why Netanyahu faces real legal danger this time

Netanyahu, Rivlin differ on anti-Semitism in Europe

Separate interviews given by President Reuven Rivlin and by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to CNN about European anti-Semitism highlight the differences between them over Israel’s attitude toward the rise of the far right in Europe.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a ceremony awarding people who contributed in the fight against human trafficking, in Jerusalem December 2, 2018. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC1137278E60

Expect drama as attorney general weighs Netanyahu indictment

The Israeli police's recommendation to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife for taking bribes in the so-called Case 4000 could lead to several dramatic possibilities for the people of Israel.