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
Dutch court to hear Palestinian's civil case against Israeli commanders Ismail Ziada's case accuses Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz of responsibility for killing members of his family in Gaza during the 2014 war. News Brief
Jewish Israelis flock to Temple Mount in greater numbers Despite warnings from some rabbis that visits are forbidden, more Jewish Israelis are ascending the Temple Mount than ever. Israel
West Bank city of Jenin roils as Israel prepares for possible escalation The West Bank and the Gaza Strip are atop a barrel of gunpowder that could explode at any time. Palestine
Israeli, Swedish foreign ministers talk on phone after seven years of silence Bilateral diplomatic relations between Israel and Sweden had deteriorated after Stockholm recognized Palestine in 2014, but now both countries seem eager to rehabilitate ties. Israel
Israel recaptures remaining escapees in prison break fiasco Israeli security forces have redeemed their image after successfully capturing the six Palestinian prisoners who escaped last week from a high-security jail. Israel
Israel’s Gantz keeps eye on premiership Defense Minister Benny Gantz' statements and actions of the past few weeks indicate that he has matured politically and is still hoping to be premier one day. Israel
Israel’s Bennett, Sheikh Jarrah twins make TIME 100 list Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Muna and Mohammed Al-Kurd were among the notable figures in TIME Magazine's list of top newsmakers. Israel
Elderly Palestinian resists Israel’s settlement ambitions A 76-year-old Palestinian has been resisting Israel’s attempts to confiscate his land in the Jordan Valley for years. Palestine
Palestinian escapee allegedly beaten by Israeli forces after being recaptured The Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said Zakaria Zubeidi suffered physical injuries in Israeli custody. Palestine
The Takeaway: Business As Usual: US-Egypt alliance finds its center Also: Bennett meets Sisi; Egypt announces vaccine factory; Saudi Arabia mulls Taliban ties; Syrian jihadi group announces "moral police" in Idlib; NGOs slam Palestinian Authority on human rights; a new Al-Monitor podcast; and more … all in about 1,500 words. Egypt
Palestinian NGOs begin campaign against political corruption The deterioration of democratic policies in the Palestinian leadership has led a coalition of nongovernmental organizations to call what is happening in Palestine "political corruption." Palestine
Bennett rules out meeting Abbas, but not economic cooperation Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Tuesday that he will not meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, but he showed willingness to support economic and business ties with the Palestinian Authority. Israel
