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Israel

August 5, 2026

Tel Aviv 4:06 pm

33°C

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

Latest News

Analysis

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

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)

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

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

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

Activists gesture from the "Stefano Chiarini" ship, which is part of the "Freedom Flotilla II", during a demonstration against the Greek authorities' ban on Gaza-bound ships on the Greek island of Corfu July 2, 2011. Greek authorities said on Friday that ships destined for Gaza -- which involves transit through international waters -- were prohibited from leaving Greek ports. REUTERS/Marko Djurica (GREECE - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR2ODFT

Gazans nervous as next freedom flotilla nears

After successive failed attempts, a third freedom flotilla will set sail to the Gaza Strip, though many activists expect Israeli opposition.

A Palestinian Bedouin woman stands next to her sheep in the West Bank village of Al-Eizariya, near east of Jerusalem September 18. 2014. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS ANIMALS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR46STW

Bedouin face expulsion as Israel builds Greater Jerusalem

Bedouin communities in the highlands of Jerusalem are facing evacuation threats by Israeli authorities who purportedly plan to use the land to expand the settlements.

Palestinians supporting Hamas chant slogans during a rally celebrating Hamas student supporters winning the student council election at Birzeit University in the West Bank city of Ramallah April 23, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman
- RTX19YL4

Israel, Hamas need each other

Elements within the Israeli security establishment propose to negotiate with Hamas and enable Gaza to benefit from Israeli distillation facilities, electricity services and employment opportunities, while assuring Israel a certain degree of calm.

Tourists visit Herodium, where Herod's fortress palace once stood, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem March 31, 2015. Israeli archaeologists have recently uncovered a grand arched walkway built by Herod the Great at his palace of Herodium that sheds more light on the formidable building projects of the Jewish Roman king. After the palace-fort was completed, Herod appears to have changed his mind and he ordered the entire mound, including the walkway, to be buried under rubble and it remained hidden un

Israelis travel under radar to tour Jericho, Bethlehem

Hundreds of Israelis are discreetly visiting Jericho and Bethlehem to see archaeological marvels and enjoy local hospitality.

U.S. President Barack Obama pauses while speaking during his meeting with U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington May 29, 2015. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RTR4Y31T

Obama warns Israelis of settlement policy consequences

In an interview with Israeli journalist Ilana Dayan, President US Barack Obama warns that the international community has ceased believing in Israel's willingness to negotiate peace.

Palestinians Hamas supporters chant slogans as they take part in a rally ahead of the 27th anniversary of the movement founding, in Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip December 12, 2014. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR4HR30

Amnesty report causes uproar within Hamas

Hamas officials describe a new Amnesty International report on the group's execution of alleged collaborators with Israel as unprofessional.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (L) speaks near U.S. Republican Senator John McCain during a news conference at the David Citadel hotel in Jerusalem January 3, 2014. REUTERS/Brendan Smialowski/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX170Z3

Israel, Republicans push Palestinians into corner

If violence erupts again, Israeli and US politicians would have only themselves to blame, having discouraged the Palestinians from diplomatic negotiations.

A view shows a checkpoint used by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the northwestern city of Ariha, after a coalition of insurgent groups seized the area in Idlib province May 29, 2015. Insurgents who captured the last government-held town in Syria's Idlib province celebrated inside on Friday and made more advances in surrounding areas, in a further blow to the stretched army and allied militia. REUTERS/Abed Kontar - RTR4Y2JU

Israel fears breakup of Syria

Israeli experts are cautious about predicting events in Syria, but concede that despite losses by Hezbollah there, the organization might attack Israel unexpectedly from the Lebanese border.

New Likud MK: BDS is 'form of terrorism'

Likud Knesset member Anat Berko says that the bid to suspend Israel from FIFA ''is terrorism in every sense of the term,” calling on the government to fight the BDS movement, “just like we fight against terrorism.”

FIFA President Sepp Blatter speaks during a joint news conference with Avi Luzon, Israeli Football Association Chairman (not pictured), in Jerusalem July 9, 2013. Blatter will establish a task force to address Palestinian concerns over travel restrictions for soccer players and officials through border crossings controlled by Israel, he said on Tuesday. REUTER/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS SPORT SOCCER) - RTX11HMA

Israeli leadership ignores international warning signs

The Vatican's recognition of Palestine and the large support for a committee on Israel's approach to Palestinian soccer, should serve as warning signs before Israel becomes isolated in the international arena.

Israel's Christian schools demand equality with Jewish schools

Christian schools in Israel do not receive the same financial support as their Jewish counterparts, burdening parents with higher tuition costs.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem May 26, 2015. Netanyahu has proposed resuming peace negotiations with the Palestinians but with the initial focus on identifying those Jewish settlements that Israel would keep and be allowed to expand, an Israeli official said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RTX1EKJI

Netanyahu increasingly exposed to political extortion

The precedents of Ministers Gilad Erdan and Zeev Elkin receiving the portfolios they were after encourage Likud central committee members, who seek to weaken Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hold on the party.