Feature 50,000 Israeli expats fly home to vote in potential boon to Netanyahu rivals Israel prohibits voting from abroad with limited exceptions, and Israelis who spoke to Al-Monitor said they are especially motivated to fly home this year. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Analysis How Israel opposition infighting is boosting Netanyahu days before election Discord within the opposition, including its reluctance to name a single candidate for prime minister ahead of the Oct. 27 election, is working in Netanyahu’s favor. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
In first, Israel’s Netanyahu says he held call with Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa It is the first publicly disclosed contact between the leaders of Israel and Syria, which lack formal relations and have fought several wars. Sharaa’s government began US-mediated talks with Israel in 2025. Syria
Sisi says Egypt has no ‘territorial ambitions’ after Israel’s Smotrich threatens Sinai The Egyptian president’s remarks follow a warning from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that Israel would seize the Sinai Peninsula if Egypt attacks. Egypt
Exclusive Rights, faith groups urge Congress to block $2.8B bomb sale to Israel By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Palestinian security forces become more involved in resistance in West Bank The involvement of Palestinian security service members in attacks against Israeli forces in the West Bank is on the increase, amid the growing concerns of the Israeli army. Palestine
French Palestinian jailed in Israel on hunger strike Arrested last March by Israeli authorities, French Palestinian Salah Hamouri protests his prolonged administrative detention. By AL-MONITOR Staff
Palestinian attack on Israeli soldiers ramps up tension in Jerusalem With the deadly attack Oct. 8, Israeli security agencies warn about tensions in the West Bank seeping into East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount compound. Israel
Turkey taps career diplomat as new ambassador to Israel Turkey has named a veteran career diplomat as the new Turkish ambassador to Israel — a move that also reflects Ankara’s sensitivities to the Palestinian cause. Turkey
Egypt persuades Israel to extract Gaza’s natural gas Al-Monitor obtained information from Palestinian and Egyptian officials about the success of Egyptian mediation in pushing Israel to allow the start of extracting natural gas off the coast of the Gaza Strip. Egypt
Israel escalates raids on Palestinian armed groups in West Bank The security situation in the West Bank continues to worsen as Israel escalates its raids and assassinations inside cities and armed factions retaliate. Palestine
In EU dialogue, Lapid recommits Israel to two-state solution Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid addressed the long-defunct council for the Israel-EU Association Agreement today in a major step toward resuming dialogue with the European Union. Israel
Israel-US tensions grow over West Bank escalation With elections just a month out and despite American warnings, Prime Minister Yair Lapid is sticking with his hawkish line on West Bank security escalation. Israel
Israeli army could use armed drones for targeted killings in West Bank If the IDF does not manage soon to thwart the current wave of violence in the West Bank, it could opt for targeted killings of terrorists using armed drones. Israel
Israel threatens Gaza amid West Bank escalation Israel threatened to target Hamas and its leaders in the Gaza Strip over the movement’s role in inciting young Palestinians to attack Israel in the West Bank and forming and funding military cells. Palestine
Israel’s Lapid ducks calls from PA head Abbas Reports say that unlike President Isaac Herzog and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Prime Minister Yair Lapid avoided requests for a phone call from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of the Jewish New Year. Israel
Palestinian Authority steps up arrests in Nablus under Israeli, US pressure Clashes broke out between the Palestinian security forces and citizens in Nablus, in the wake of the arrest of a wanted person by Israel, in a move further deepening the popular anger against the Palestinian Authority. Palestine
