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
Israeli court postpones ruling on East Jerusalem evictions The Jerusalem court delayed ruling on whether two Palestinians families must vacate their homes in favor of Israeli settlers in the Silwan neighborhood. Israel
The Takeaway: US ties with Egypt loom large again Picking up the pieces in Gaza; the uneasy, uncertain peace between Israel and Hamas; PLO and Hamas still can’t find common ground; Russia on the diplomatic sidelines; desert kingdom looks to build forest; and more! Egypt
Israeli war adds scars to Palestinian psyche Activists see Israel’s bombing of cultural centers, bookstores and other cultural institutions in the Gaza Strip, as well as the killing of a 17-year-old in a refugee camp in the West Bank, as an attempt to obliterate Palestine’s cultural identity. Palestine
Jordan tacitly approves anti-Israel protests Jordanian authorities have appeared more lenient toward the recent protests that erupted across the kingdom in support of Palestinians. Jordan
Palestinian citizens of Israel deal with aftermath of violence in mixed cities The latest round of fighting between the Gaza Strip and Israel might be over, but the differences and inequalities between Israelis and Palestinian citizens of Israel remain a powerful source of conflict. Palestine
In Israel, Jewish-Arab tensions remain high The cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is in place and working for the moment, but tensions within Jewish-Arab mixed cities inside Israel have not disappeared yet. Israel
Egypt’s role in Gaza conflict helps Sisi break ice with Biden President Joe Biden called his Egyptian counterpart as Egypt led back channel negotiations to mediate a cease-fire that ended the Israeli-Hamas escalation. Egypt hopes the call represents a turnaround in US ties and support for Nile Dam dispute. Egypt
Qatari foreign minister visits Egypt Relations between Qatar and Egypt have continued to improve following the January agreement that ended the Gulf diplomatic rift. Egypt
Blinken announces US aid to Gaza, says Hamas won't benefit Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said the US will move to reopen the US Consulate in Jerusalem, which served as a de facto American embassy for the Palestinians before it was shuttered by the prior administration. Israel
Will PLO and Hamas find common ground? Hamas’ popularity has risen sharply, but this doesn’t help them much with the outside world. An understanding with Fatah is key to any potential role in regional diplomacy. Palestine
Netanyahu, Blinken discuss Israel’s security, Gaza reconstruction Meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated US commitment for Israel’s security, and said the United States is committed also to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. Israel
After cease-fire, Israel prepares for next round of Gaza conflict Seniors in the political and security echelons are convinced that the current cease-fire with Hamas does not mean quiet for a very long time. Israel
