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
Bennett bristles under US criticism for punitive house demolition In a first open disagreement, Washington condemned Jerusalem for demolishing the family home of a Palestinian assailant, while Jerusalem said its first priority is the safety of Israeli citizens. Israel
Israel, Hamas edge toward agreement on mechanism for Qatari aid money Talks on prisoner exchange and border restrictions complicated by Hamas resumption of incendiary balloon attacks. Israel
Israel demolishes facilities in Silwan, Jerusalem Israel has prioritized the evacuation and demolition of Palestinian homes in the town of Silwan in Jerusalem, in favor of settlement projects, but it measures the Palestinian and international reactions before moving forward with its plans, fearing a repetition of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood scenario. Palestine
Jerusalem bilingual school promotes coexistence A bicultural school in Jerusalem has put the political conflict aside and is building a better future for Arab and Jewish students. Palestine
Israeli army bombs Hamas site after balloons start fires The Israeli army said its warplanes struck a Hamas manufacturing site in the Gaza Strip. Israel
Settlement evacuation compromise rocks Israeli coalition The deal made with settlers on the evacuation of the Evyatar outpost and the upcoming Knesset vote on the controversial citizenship law are already destabilizing the coalition. Israel
US teachers union to vote on support for ‘heroic struggle’ of Palestinians The National Education Association will vote this week on motions that call for backing the Palestinian cause as well as an end to US military support for Israel and Saudi Arabia. News Brief
Israel, Morocco take baby steps on diplomatic, social, economic ties Diplomatic relations are not advancing as rapidly as those with the Emirates and Bahrain, but Israel sees positive trends in ties with Morocco. Israel
Gazans rebuild with rubble as reconstruction delayed The Ministry of Public Works and Housing in Gaza is contracting with local companies to crush rubble and turn it into construction material. Palestine
New Israeli government to renew controversial law banning Palestinians from uniting with families in Israel The Israeli government is expected to renew the law on citizenship and family reunification, which prohibits Israelis from passing on citizenship or residency to their Palestinian spouses residing in the West Bank or Gaza Strip for family reunification purposes. Palestine
Marginalization leads Fatah in Gaza to stage coup against Abbas In a dramatic development within the Fatah movement, its members in Gaza announced their resignation in protest against the policy of marginalization and exclusion by President Mahmoud Abbas. Palestine
Egypt's Sisi discusses Gaza reconstruction with Israeli PM Bennett During their first phone call since Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett took office, the two leaders agreed to meet soon. News Brief
