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

Israel cover image

Israel

May 31, 2026

Tel Aviv 3:07 am

21°C

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Jarjoua, southern Lebanon, on May 13, 2026.

Lebanon and Israel hold military talks at Pentagon despite Israeli offensive: What to know

A renewed Israeli offensive in southern Lebanon aims to extract concessions from Beirut in US-brokered diplomatic talks, but Lebanese military officials say there is no path forward until Israel halts its attacks and returns to the April ceasefire.

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 29: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Alternate crop) U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. The two leaders are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting to discuss regional security in the Middle East as well as the U.S.-Israel partnership. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Exclusive

Trump 'hit the brakes': Netanyahu's circle faults US president for failed Iran regime change, looming deal

With regime in Iran still standing and a possible US-Iran agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands to pay the ultimate political price as elections near in Israel.

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

Ibrahim AMRO / AFP via Getty Images

Israel strikes Lebanon's capital Beirut for first time in 3 weeks: What to know

According to Israeli media, Ali al-Husseini, the commander of the missile unit in the Imam Hussein Division, a brigade affiliated with Iran’s Quds Force that operates alongside Hezbollah, was the target of the attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, (R) shakes hands with Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, during a news conference on April 3, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary.

With Hungary’s ICC U-turn, Israel loses a key European ally

Hungary’s parliament voted to remain in the International Criminal Court, reversing a planned withdrawal and marking a shift in Budapest’s approach to Israel and the EU.

Latest News

Who was Mohammed Odeh, Hamas military commander killed by Israel in Gaza?

Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

'Very bad news’: Israel alarmed as Trump pushes ahead toward Iran deal

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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

Israel strikes near Lebanon’s Qaraoun dam as war intensifies: What to know

A partial view shows a drainage vacuum hole on the lake of Qaraoun in Lebanon's southern Beqaa Valley on April 5, 2019.

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

Why some Israeli high schools stopped trips to Poland

Some of Israel's high schools have decided to end student trips to the concentration camps in Poland, preferring other educational frameworks to deal with the issue of the Holocaust.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is seen on stage during a town hall with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Facebook's headquarters in Menlo Park, California September 27, 2015. REUTERS/Stephen Lam - RTX1SQLE

Can Israel twist Facebook's arm?

Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan hopes to hold Facebook responsible for incitement against Israelis on its platform, though policing social media is widely understood to be nearly impossible.

What Israel must understand about Gaza

Israel is oblivious to warnings by the United Nations and the IDF intelligence directorate over the ever-desperate situation of Gaza residents.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the press during his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Prime minister's residence in Jerusalem February 24, 2014. REUTERS/Sebastian Scheiner/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX19EWH

10 things Angela Merkel can do to help Israeli-Palestinian conflict

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stated that now is not the time to promote the two-state solution, but certain improvements are possible. Here's how.

An employee of Peace Now, an Israeli NGO that tracks and opposes Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, works near a placard at their offices in Tel Aviv January 31, 2016. The placard in Hebrew reads, "Love Israel. Against the occupation". Picture taken January 31, 2016. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - RTX25Z92

Is the two-state solution dead?

Palestinians are ringing alarm bells in worry that if the E1 settlements in East Jerusalem materialize, the two-state solution would be eliminated.

Members of the Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas stand guard as they view a landslide caused by floodwater pumped by Egyptian forces to destroy a network of Palestinian tunnels, near the border between Egypt and southern Gaza Strip November 26, 2015. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa - RTX1VYBN

Did Egypt flood tunnels at Israel's request?

Israel's energy minister sparked anger with statements he reportedly made about security cooperation between Cairo and Tel Aviv.

Why one IDF soldier continues to cause controversy in Egypt

The case of Dina Ovadia, an Egyptian woman from Alexandria who was stripped of her citizenship after moving to Israel and joining the IDF, has returned to the headlines in Egypt.

Israel's Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gadi Eizenkot speaks at the annual Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) conference in Tel Aviv January 18, 2016. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - RTX22X9A

Why Israeli politicians are turning against the IDF

Senior IDF officers disagree with right-wing politicians, who call for strong measures against Palestinians.

Women mourn during the funeral of Palestinian Ahmed Zakarna in the West Bank town of Qabatya, near Jenin February 5, 2016. Zakarna and two other Palestinians armed with guns, knives and explosives killed an Israeli border policewoman and seriously wounded another before being shot dead by nearby officers at an entrance to Jerusalem's walled Old City on Wednesday, Israeli police said. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RTX25N6L

Why Israelis and Palestinians demonize each other

Israeli senior politicians and officials are demonizing the enemy by accusing Palestinian society of sanctifying death instead of cherishing life.

Israeli elementary school students stand near the entrance to a bomb shelter during a nationwide emergency drill simulating a rocket attack, in Jerusalem June 2, 2015. Israel launched a five-day annual home front defence exercise on Sunday, preparing soldiers and civilians for missile attacks. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RTR4YGUV

Can Israel separate politics, education?

Parents and educators are concerned about Education Minister Naftali Bennett integrating values of Judaism and nationalism into the education system, at the expense of tolerance and dialogue.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen on monitors before the evening news bulletin at Channel 10's control room in Jerusalem November 18, 2015. Critics say Netanyahu, known as "Bibi," is hitting the wrong note when it comes to the media, weakening press freedom and holding sway over TV broadcasters in a country that bills itself as the Middle East's only true democracy. Picture taken November 18, 2015. To match Insight ISRAEL-NETANYAHU/MEDIA REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RTX1VG2J

Why is Israeli media attacking itself?

Freedom of speech, vital to any democracy, is under attack by the Israeli media.

Will economic aid rebuild trust between Israelis, Palestinians?

Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Palestinian Finance Minister Shukri Bishara are advancing an economic package designed to improve the lives of Palestinian youth.