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Israel

August 16, 2026

Tel Aviv 3:56 am

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An Israeli rescue team arrives in Venezuela after the earthquake in June 2026. Israeli Foreign Ministry

Analysis

Why Venezuela is moving closer to Israel but stopping short of full ties

Israel and Venezuela have practical and strategic reasons for advancing their relations after years of hostility, but establishing full ties faces challenges.

Rina Bassist

Adam Lucente

By Rina Bassist , Adam Lucente

Israeli army vehicles move to a position in southern Lebanon, March 27, 2026.

Analysis

Israel defies Trump on Lebanon as Netanyahu, Katz prioritize elections

Both Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump face fateful elections this fall, but one needs progress in Lebanon while the other wants more of the same.

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

Latest News

Syria lodges UN complaint against Colombia’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Golan

Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, delivers a speech at the Pichincha Battalion after being sworn in, in Cali, Colombia, on Aug. 7, 2026.

Analysis

Netanyahu rejects Trump’s Gaza plan while quietly implementing it

lia YEFIMOVICH / AFP via Getty Images

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

Interview

Israel's deputy FM, Sharren Haskel, bets on a new right after breaking with Netanyahu

Sharren Haskel speaks at an event marking 60 years of diplomatic ties between Germany and Israel hosted by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Berlin, Oct. 16, 2025.

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 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) leaves the Likud-Yisrael Beitenu headquarters in Tel Aviv January 23, 2013. Hawkish Prime Minister Netanyahu emerged the bruised winner of Israel's election on Tuesday, claiming victory despite unexpected losses to resurgent centre-left challengers. REUTERS/Nir Elias (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Elections Unlikely to Change Israel’s Iran Strategy

The results of the recent Israeli elections are unlikely to bring much change to Israel’s Iran strategy, writes Meir Javedanfar.

Supporters of the Saadet (Felicity) Party burn an Israeli flag as they shout anti-Israel slogans during a protest in Istanbul, December 2, 2012. REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Chill to Remain in Turkey-Israel Ties

Tulin Daloglu observes that the Israeli elections are unlikely to produce any change in Israeli-Turkish ties.

A synagogue that was the target of an attack is seen in Cairo February 21, 2010. An unidentified man hurled a suitcase containing a primitive explosive device at the synagogue in central Cairo on Sunday but it exploded without injuring anyone, the Interior Ministry said. REUTERS/Tarek Mostafa (EGYPT - Tags: CRIME LAW RELIGION)

Exiled Egyptian Jews Skeptical Of Brotherhood's Invitation Home

The call by a Muslim Brotherhood official for Egyptian Jews to return to their homeland has stirred spirits in Cairo, but the Jews themselves question the sincerity of the proposal and its relevance, writes Jacky Hugi.

Palestinian students demonstrate their skills during a graduation ceremony for martial arts course organized by Hamas ministry of education in Gaza City January 24, 2013. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

Prospects for Negotiations After the Israeli Elections

An analysis of the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations after the elections.

Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid (There's a Future) party, speaks to members of the media outside his home in Tel Aviv January 23, 2013. Lapid, a former television news anchor whose new centrist party stormed to second place in Israel's election, may well be the kingmaker holding the keys to the next coalition government. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)

Israel's Election Results: Mirage or Reality?

Clovis Maksoud examines the results of the Israeli elections and calls for Palestinian unity.

A Palestinian protester holds a flag in front of Israeli soldiers and border police during a protest outside Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah, marking the anniversary of the 1967 Middle East War, June 5, 2012. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

Conditions in Israeli Prisons Take Toll on Palestinian Families

Palestinians thrown into Israeli prisons are deprived of the rights their Israeli counterparts receive, with families often kept apart for decades with no hope of reuniting, writes Linah Alsaafin.

An Israeli soldier arranges ballots in a voting booth at a polling station in a military base in southern Israel January 21, 2013. Israeli soldiers started voting in Israel's parliamentary election on Sunday. Polling stations for the rest of Israel open on Tuesday. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS MILITARY)

Palestinians Smiling, If Unsure About Israeli Election Results

Daoud Kuttab assesses the mixed reactions of Palestinians to the Israeli elections.

Supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party celebrate after the exit polls were announced at the party's headquarters in Tel Aviv January 22, 2013. Hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerged the bruised winner of Israel's election on Tuesday, claiming victory despite unexpected losses to resurgent centre-left challengers. REUTERS/Nir Elias (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)

What Was the Israeli Election Really About?

Akiva Eldar breaks down the meaning of Israel's election results and finds both a crisis of leadership and a crisis of faith in democracy.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands behind a booth as he casts his ballot for the parliamentary election at a polling station in Jerusalem January 22, 2013. Israelis voted on Tuesday in an election that is expected to see Netanyahu win a third term in office, pushing the Jewish state further to the right, away from peace with the Palestinians and towards a showdown with Iran. REUTERS/Uriel Sinai/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)

Bibi, King of Swing!

Some parts of the press dubbed him King Bibi, but these elections are a resounding vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, writes Ben Caspit.

A man stands next to campaign banners depicting Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Likud-Yisrael Beitenu activists draped them on walls surrounding Jerusalem's Old City January 20, 2013. Netanyahu said on Saturday a country with as many enemies as Israel cannot afford a weak ruling party, after polls ahead of Tuesday's parliamentary election showed a slide in his support. The banners read (L and C) "Only Netanyahu will protect Jerusalem" and "Warning! '67 borders ahead". REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (

Elections in the Land Of The Israeli Voter

From soccer stands to upscale Tel Aviv, our Israel Pulse columnists went into the field to talk to voters: Ben Caspit from Bloomfield Stadium in Jaffa on "The Political Soccer Match of All Time;" Shlomi Eldar from Umm al-Fahm on "Apathy and Alienation on the Arab Street;" Akiva Eldar from Netanya on "The New Immigrant Vote;" and Mazal Mualem from "The Tel Aviv Bubble."

An Israeli soldier uses a pair of binoculars by the entrance of Marwahine village in south Lebanon September 27, 2006. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho (LEBANON)

Israel's Elections Linked to Its Arab Policies

Historically, there has been a close relationship between Knesset elections and the way in which Israel has conducted its regional foreign policy towards the Arabs, writes Jean Aziz.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (front row 2nd L) waves during a rally marking the U.N. General Assembly's upgrading of the Palestinians' status from "observer entity" to "non-member state", in the West Bank city of Ramallah December 2, 2012. Israel said on Sunday it was withholding this month's transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, after the United Nations' de facto recognition of a Palestinian state. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

Israel Keeps Palestinian Authority on Life Support

Adnan Abu Amer examines Israel's attitudes and policies toward the Palestinian Authority, and its interest in keeping the PA weakened but alive.