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Israel

August 5, 2026

Tel Aviv 6:51 am

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Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Netanyahu’s Gaza double game: Back Trump, reassure Israel’s right

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to both give the impression that Israel retains total freedom of action in Gaza while allowing the Board of Peace to move ahead with President Donald Trump’s peace plan.

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

Tiziana FABI / AFP via Getty Images

What to know about Lebanon-Israel 7th round of talks held in Rome

The US, Israel and Lebanon have sent expanded delegations to the talks, set to continue for three days and expected to focus on security arrangements, border issues and reconstruction.

US President Donald Trump (C) is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion International Airport on Oct. 13, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Analysis

Lacking leverage over Trump, Israel stays quiet on US-Iran talks

Realizing it has little to no influence over President Donald Trump’s decision-making, the Israeli government has remained silent on the possibility of the United States and Iran resuming negotiations.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

An Egyptian man looks at the Qatari Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carrier "Duhail" as its passes through the Suez Canal near the Egyptian port city of Ismailia on April 1, 2008. The vessel has a capacity of 210,100 cu.m making it one of the largest LNG carriers constructed to date. AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo credit should read -/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

How strike on Damietta port exposes Egypt's energy infrastructure risks

The unclaimed attack on the port of Damietta could draw Egypt further into the US-Iran conflict as experts point to growing threats to critical infrastructure in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Latest News

Analysis

No Iran commitment, no Trump endorsement: Netanyahu leaves US empty-handed

US President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2026. President Trump is traveling to Camp David in Maryland to hold a cabinet meeting and later to Bedminster, New Jersey to spend the weekend at his golf club. (Photo by Oliver Contreras / AFP via Getty Images)

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

Analysis

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

Win McNamee/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

Israel's Culture Minister Miri Regev arrives to the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem June 21, 2015. REUTERS/Dan Balilty/Pool - RTX1HFQD

Israeli left needs to face defeat, move on

By lashing out instead of accepting its electoral defeat and rehabilitating itself, the Israeli left stands to alienate even more Israelis.

Deputy Defense Minister Ephriam Sneh in front of a large map of the West Bank during a press conference March 19 at which he announced the Israeli cabinet decision to go ahead with a further redeployment from 6.1% of West Bank land to be handed over to full Palestinian Authority. control. The dark brown areas show areas to be included in the redeployment in the northern part of the West Bank. The Palestinians will control 60% of their population but only a bit less than 20% of the West Bank land after the 6

I'm no fan of Bibi but I see a bad deal, says former Labor minister

In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh argues that the deal with Iran is dangerous to Israel, because it will strengthen Hezbollah and Hamas, while allowing Iran to enlarge its regional hegemony.

A Palestinian woman holds a Palestinian flag in the West Bank village of Susiya June 24, 2012. Susiya the Israeli settlement enjoys well-watered lawns, humming electricity, and the protection of a mighty state. One rocky hill away, Susiya the Palestinian village is parched and doomed. Picture taken June 24, 2012. To match Feature ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS/DEMOLITION
REUTERS/Baz Ratner (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR347HZ

West Bank villagers deliver final plea to save homes from destruction

Residents of the Palestinian village of Khirbet Susiya say that their repeated requests for construction permits were rejected by Israel, which has instead decided to demolish their homes.

Palestinian man Jihad Nuwaja stands next to a tent in Susiya village, south of the West Bank city of Hebron July 20, 2015. Sitting under a fig tree to escape the searing sun, Nuwaja looks out on the only land he knows - the dry expanse of the Hebron hills in the southern West Bank. Within days, his home is set to be demolished and he, his wife and 10 children expelled. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTX1L1EB

US, EU take strong stand against Israeli demolition plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained silent about plans to destroy the West Bank village of Susiya despite calls by the United States and the European Union to rescind the demolition orders.

Obama calls for 'practical conversation' between Iran, Arab states

US President Barack Obama tells Arab Gulf allies to “stop giving Iran opportunities for mischief”; Zarif says Iran “ready to engage” with Arab countries; Netanyahu weighs political costs of Iran deal.

Kerry begins Iran deal sales push on Capitol Hill

A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of July 20.

The Palestinian dancer who was locked away

Lina Khattab, an 18-year-old dancer and university student, tells Al-Monitor about her ordeal when Israeli forces arrested her and says she hopes she can show the world the suffering of the Palestinians.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deliver joint statements to the media in Jerusalem July 16, 2015. REUTERS/Debbie Hill/Pool - RTX1KKOC

Netanyahu rejects US offer of military support; IDF says not so fast

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects again the US offer for a security-compensation package, unlike the IDF that is taking the agreement as a done deal and wishes to cooperate closely with the United States on security follow-up.

Israeli play about French prostitute premieres in Turkey

Actor Zion Ashkenazi tells Al-Monitor about the warm welcome he and his one-man play based on the life of French playwright Jean Genet received at a Turkish theater festival.

Palestinians hold a large flag depicting President Mahmoud Abbas (L) and late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during a rally marking the annual al-Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day, on the fourth Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, at the compound known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City July 10, 2015. An Israeli police spokesperson said on Friday that some 140,000 people attended the prayers on the compound and some 56,000 Palestinians from the West Bank enter

Palestinians hope to regain global attention after Iran deal

Israel and the Palestinians are both preparing themselves for the new period opening up after the signing of the nuclear agreement with Iran, with Netanyahu's government moving more to the right and the Palestinians encouraging a French-led UN resolution proposal.

An Israeli protester holds a placard and a flag during a demonstration against a court decision to demolish housing units in the Jewish settlement of Beit El, outside the Supreme Court in Jerusalem July 8, 2015. Israel's Supreme Court ruled that 24 housing units, built on Palestinian owned land, be razed by July 30, according to local media. The placard in Hebrew reads, "The Supreme Court is ruining us". REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RTX1JMGQ

Netanyahu's so-called 'settlement freeze'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly admitted that he has halted settlement construction because of the delicate international setup, but this is aimed at appeasing the United States, pretending that he is battling rightist coalition forces.

Islamic Jihad leader, Khader Adnan is hugged by his daughter upon his release from an Israeli jail, in the West Bank village of Arabeh near Jenin July 12, 2015. Israel on Sunday released Adnan from jail following a deal last month in which he agreed to end a 56-day hunger strike, Islamic Jihad sources in the West Bank said. REUTERS/Stringer TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTX1K24O

West Bank community welcomes Khader Adnan home from Israeli prison

The story of Khader Adnan, who was arrested twice by Israel and recently released, garnered public sympathy in Palestine and throughout the world.