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

Israel cover image

Israel

July 29, 2026

Tel Aviv 11:26 pm

27°C

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Analysis

Katz riles Iran, US as Netanyahu-Trump meeting raises questions

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to settle for a brief meeting with President Donald Trump, while his defense minister, Israel Katz, appeared intent on provoking Iran by publicly disclosing sensitive intelligence.

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

Israel PM office

Netanyahu lauds 'excellent' Trump meeting as Israel pushes harder Iran line

Hours before the meeting, President Donald Trump signaled impatience with the Israeli leader.

Latest News

On eighth visit, Israel’s Netanyahu seeks to repair ties with Trump

Trump Netanyahu

Analysis

Why US carriers unlikely to rush back to Beirut as Trump lifts Lebanon flight ban

JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

Ahead of Trump meeting, Netanyahu lays groundwork for Israel to rejoin Iran war

GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP via Getty Images

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

New Israeli director general of foreign affairs, Dore Gold, delivers a speech on June 1, 2015, in Jerusalem during a conference about the 50-day war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas militants in the summer of 2014. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu named on May 25, 2015 Dore Gold as his director general of foreign affairs. Gold was an adviser to Netanyahu after he first took office in 1996, served as ambassador to the UN in 1997-1999 and also advised former premier Ariel Sharon. AFP PHOTO / THOMAS

Why did Israeli Foreign Ministry director quit?

The resignation of Foreign Ministry Director General Dore Gold reflects yet another instance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's penchant for one-man rule.

Palestinians are silhouetted as they walk in front of the Dome of the Rock on the compound known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City, before the start of morning prayers marking the first day of Eid al-Adha celebrations, early morning September 12, 2016. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RTSNCVX

Tension rises on Temple Mount during Jewish holy days

Israeli security forces fear that the recent shooting attack in Jerusalem signals the beginning of a new wave of violence, especially during this month of Jewish holy days.

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign event for U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. October 11, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Barria - RTSRUFF

Obama’s three diplomatic options for Mideast peace

Both Israelis and Palestinians object to a diplomatic move by US President Barack Obama: the Palestinians object to a presidential speech, while the Israelis object to a UN General Assembly resolution.

Houses are seen in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim as the Palestinian village of Al-Eizariya is seen in the background May 24, 2016. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - RTX2EZIG

Why Israeli occupation of the West Bank is reversible

New data shows that the settlements in the West Bank are not an irreversible situation, and that most of the population growth in settlements is due to births — not immigration of Israelis into the settlements.

Israeli riot policemen secure the area following a shooting incident in what an Israeli police spokesperson described as a terrorist attack, in Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem October 9, 2016. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RTSRF90

What's driving Palestinian attacks?

When the wave of Palestinian violence broke out, most of the assailants were youngsters who believed that their acts would bring closer Palestinian statehood; but recent attacks seem motivated largely by religious beliefs.

How will Palestine benefit from joining international environment group?

Palestine is seeking more global recognition as it recently became a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (C) sits alongside European Council President Donald Tusk (L) as they attend the funeral of Shimon Peres, 93, at Mount Herzl Cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel September 30, 2016. REUTERS/Stephen Crowley/Pool - RTSQ7FO

Backlash at Abbas escalates among Palestinians

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' attendance at the funeral of former Israeli President Shimon Peres has angered the Palestinian public and political factions, increasing the chance of violence in the streets.

A picture taken from the West Bank Christian village of Taybeh on September 11, 2016, shows the wildcat Jewish settlement of Amona.
An Israeli court has ruled that the wildcat Jewish settlement of Amona, where live around 40 families in mainly caravan homes, is on Palestinian property and must be evacuated by December 25. Settlements such as Amona are called outposts -- those that Israel has not approved. Outpost residents hope such authorisation will one day be provided, as has occurred in other cases. Amo

Is a new West Bank settlement Obama's red line?

If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on defying the US president and building a new West Bank settlement, Barack Obama could respond by abstaining in a UN Security Council vote on Palestinian Statehood.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opens the weekly cabinet meeting at his Jerusalem office moments after he was informed about a shooting attack in Jerusalem October 9, 2016. REUTERS/Gali Tibbon/Pool - RTSRFJT

How Netanyahu sidelined Peres’ vision for peace

By naming Israel’s nuclear facility after Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ignores his peacemaking efforts to position himself as heir to Peres' security legacy.

Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike on the Gaza Strip hours after a rocket launched from the Palestinian enclave hit the Israeli border town of Sderot, as seen from the Israeli side of the border with Gaza October 5, 2016. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RTSQVVB

Will Salafi groups trigger Israel-Hamas clash?

Salafi groups have adopted the tactic of firing rockets at Israel in an attempt to weaken Hamas by pushing it into a military confrontation with Israel.

Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike on the Gaza Strip hours after a rocket launched from the Palestinian enclave hit the Israeli border town of Sderot, as seen from the Israeli side of the border with Gaza October 5, 2016. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RTSQVVG

Has Israel’s defense minister given up on toppling Hamas?

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman seems to have realized that attacking Hamas targets in retaliation for rocket fire from rogue groups could damage the organization’s efforts to contain those elements.

Israel's President Shimon Peres attends a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos in this January 28, 2010 file photo. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/Files - RTSPRKZ

How Peres' funeral highlighted rift among Israeli Arabs

Despite a boycott of late President Shimon Peres' funeral by Arab Knesset members, several Arab-Israeli regional council heads and mayors paid a condolence visit to his family, to wide public approval.