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
Jailbreak from Israeli prison shakes up Palestinian public The escape of six Palestinians from a maximum security Israeli prison jolted observers. Palestine
Palestinian media alleges rights abuses during Israeli search for escaped prisoners The Palestinian Authority is demanding the release of more prisoners following an escape at a high-security Israeli prison. Palestine
Israel’s president takes lead on ties with Jordan, Palestinians President Isaac Herzog has been busy these past few days on the Arab and Palestinian fronts, secretly visiting Jordan and speaking on the phone first with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and then with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel
Israel vows to capture escaped Palestinian prisoners After the escape of six Palestinian prisoners and following riots in prisons and in the West Bank, Israel expects more violence. Israel
Boxed in: Bennett, Abbas can’t win despite ‘goodwill gestures’ Domestic politics are complicating any moves toward better ties, and Hamas is seeking an advantage by stoking resistance. Israel
Israel asks Egypt to pressure Hamas to end border violence In a meeting yesterday between senior Israeli and Egyptian defense officials, Israel asked Egypt to pressure Hamas to stop the ongoing nightly demonstrations by the Gaza border. Israel
Gestures toward Palestinians leave Bennett in bind With his rightwing base on the one side, the Biden administration and his coalition partners on the other, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place on bettering the lives of Palestinians. Israel
Palestinians welcome US plan to reopen Jerusalem consulate Palestinians reacted positively to the US plan to fulfill one of President Joe Biden’s promises of reopening the US mission in Jerusalem, which will be providing services and a liaison to the people of Palestine. Palestine
Will popular pressure in Gaza lead to new clashes with Israel? Palestinian youth are carrying out non-military activities, backed by military factions in Gaza, to pressure Israel to lift the siege, among other demands. Palestine
Palestinian president in Cairo for talks with Egyptian, Jordanian leaders Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed the need for Palestinian political unity to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. News Brief
Israel announces 'civil steps' to alleviate conditions in Gaza Israel says the measures are dependent on "preservation of security" and follow the announcement of $155 million to the Palestinian Authority. Israel
Israel expands Gaza fishing zone after demonstrations Along with several other humanitarian gestures, Israel announced it would expand the offshore fishing zone by 15 nautical miles. Israel
