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

Israel cover image

Israel

May 24, 2026

Tel Aviv 10:47 pm

21°C

AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

As Pakistan military chief holds Iran talks, Israel's Netanyahu fears being left out

US President Donald Trump's comment that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would do "whatever I want” is troubling the premier's inner circle ahead of the elections in October.

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

Burak Kara/Getty Images

Ireland joins EU push to ban trade with Israeli settlements amid flotilla backlash

European frustration with Israel intensified this week after a far-right Israeli minister posted a video of the mistreatment of international activists detained in the country.

Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP via Getty Images

Israel targets Turkey charity amid Gaza flotilla tensions

The request, published in Israeli media, marks a further escalation in tensions with Turkey amid disputes over Gaza aid operations.

Latest News

Interview

Ahmad Tibi says Arab parties in Israel can block Netanyahu without joining next government

Arab-Israeli Knesset member Ahmed Tibi takes part in a demonstration against rising crime rates against Arab-Israelis in Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 31, 2026.

Ahmad Tibi

Ahmad Tibi

Israeli Arab lawmaker

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

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)

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

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.

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

Season of culture unites Jerusalem

Jerusalem Season of Culture includes artistic installations across city rooftops and an all-night dance party that combines Jewish soul music with Arabic liturgy.

A man looks at a printed banner of Kurdistan region referendum in Erbil, Iraq August 26, 2017. Picture taken August 26, 2017. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari - RC1D90FE8B20

200,000 Jewish Kurds headed for Iraqi Kurdistan, howls Turkish press

The Turkish media is abuzz with the story of a secret agreement between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Israel to resettle Jewish Israelis of Kurdish origin in Iraqi Kurdistan after the independence referendum, and some quarters are taking the news as an indication of US support for Kurdish independence.

Gaza's clothing makers look to weave their way back into Israeli markets

For the first time in 10 years, a Palestinian sewing company in Gaza exports a shipment of clothes to the Israeli market.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C), Transport Minister Yisrael Katz (L) and Cabinet Secretary Tzachi Braverman (R) raise a toast to mark the upcoming Jewish holiday of Passover at the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem April 9, 2017. REUTERS/Abir Sultan/Pool - RC1188FDE160

Netanyahu maintains battle against Iran deal ahead of UN meeting

The Israeli leadership fears that with the US administration leaving Syria in Russian hands and its inaction toward North Korea, no one will stop Tehran from placing its forces near Israel’s borders.

A member of the Palestinian security forces, loyal to Hamas, stands guard as men set up a barbed wire on the border with Egypt, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, August 24, 2017. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa - RC1F1E073D70

Will Egypt impose a 'Gaza supervisor' on Hamas?

By agreeing to dismantle its Gaza governing body, Hamas indicates that it is willing to concede to Egypt’s demands and form a unity government with Fatah.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) and Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon (L) attend a news conference while Israeli military chief Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz speaks in Tel Aviv July 28, 2014. Palestinian fighters slipped into an Israeli village from the Gaza Strip and fought a gun battle with troops on Monday as an unofficial truce called for the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festival disintegrated. The incident was not the only breach of the fragile truce. Eight children and two adults were killed by a bl

How Israel's political parties headhunt generals

Labor head Avi Gabbay and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid both know that to win the premiership they must add a prominent ex-general to their Knesset lists.

An Israeli Air Force F-16 fighter plane flies above a traffic sign after taking off for a mission in Lebanon from an Israeli Air Force Base in northern Israel July 20, 2006. Hizbollah fought fierce battles with Israeli troops on the Lebanese border on Thursday, as thousands more foreigners fled the nine-day-old war in Lebanon, including 1,000 Americans evacuated by U.S. Marines. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (ISRAEL) - GM1DTCAOOUAA

Senate could reverse billions of dollars of cuts to Israeli defense sector

An amendment from Sen. Lindsey Graham would allow Israel to continue using US military financing on its own domestic industry.

Palestine's primary schools defy Israeli demolition orders

Israel's destruction of a European-financed school in the West Bank has forced Palestinian children to instead attend classes in a tent.

Hamas finds itself at Egypt's mercy

Despite Hamas' apparent rapprochement with Iran, the movement is finding it can only pursue relations as Cairo allows.

Court could force Israel to rethink nuke policy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu keeps issuing warnings on Iran’s nuclear program, but refuses to discuss the hazards of Israel’s own nuclear policy.

Will Russia tolerate Israeli actions in Syria?

The large IDF drill near Israel’s northern borders, sends a clear message to Hezbollah: if the organization decides to attack Israel, Israel won’t hesitate to destroy Lebanon’s infrastructure.

Ultra-orthodox Jews watch the wedding ceremony of Esther Rokeach and Avraham Safrin (not pictured) in Jerusalem June 10, 2014. Thousands gathered on Tuesday to celebrate the wedding between Safrin and Rokeach, the granddaughter of the spiritual leader of the Belz Hasidim, which is one of the largest Hasidic movements in the world. Picture taken June 10, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY) - GM1EA6B1I3X01

Sabbath summit unites Israel's rival ultra-Orthodox parties

The leaders of Israel's distinct ultra-Orthodox sectors united for a unique summit on Sabbath observation in the public space and formulated a joint political strategy.