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
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar sues Netanyahu for nearly $1M over Oct. 7 claims Bar is suing for 3 million shekels ($970,000) over a Sept. 28 post on X in which Netanyahu blamed the former Shin Bet chief for Oct. 7 intelligence failures and accused him of withholding warnings. Israel
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
US sanctions Palestinian Lion's Den armed group in West Bank The group emerged in 2022 amid an uptick of violence between Palestinians and settlers in Nablus Israel
Israel threatens 'intense operation' near Lebanon as Qatar hosts Gaza talks Israel’s war cabinet is set to convene Thursday evening to discuss the escalation in the north with Hezbollah. Israel
CIA chief heads to Qatar, McGurk to Egypt as US presses for Gaza deal Biden's top Middle East adviser and CIA Director Bill Burns are leading a last-ditch effort to pressure Hamas to take the first step toward ending the Gaza war. Palestine
House passes ICC sanctions bill, setting up showdown for Biden and Democrats After passing the House with bipartisan support, the bill responding to a requested arrest warrant for Netanyahu now heads to the Senate. Israel
Israeli war cabinet calls Lebanon meeting as Hezbollah tension spikes Israel's war cabinet is set to convene to discuss the escalation of violence on the border with Lebanon. Israel
Iran’s acting FM meets Assad in Syria after talks with Hezbollah chief Iran has been backing its proxies, including Hezbollah and Hamas, in their fight against Israel since the Gaza war erupted. Iran
Palestinian presidency criticizes Iran's Khamenei publicly: What we know Iran has long backed Hamas and threw its support behind the group following its assault on southern Israel last October. Palestine
UAE, Qatar join efforts to support Biden's Gaza proposal The US is reaching out to countries in the region to push for a recent proposal laid out by President Joe Biden that includes a cease-fire in Gaza and a hostage deal. Palestine
Could US Congress vote shut down Gaza pier permanently? A special resolution that gives Congress power over the use of US armed forces abroad could force Democrats to vote on Biden’s handling of the conflict and aid to Gaza Palestine
Biden's popularity plummets to 18% among Arab American voters over Gaza The president has lost support with Arab voters in Michigan, Virginia and Pennsylvania over his handling of the Gaza war, according to the Arab American Institute. Israel
Jordan to host emergency meeting on humanitarian response in Gaza The conference, which will be co-hosted with Jordan, Egypt and the UN, comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening following the closure of the Rafah border crossing. Jordan
France to bar Israeli firms from Eurosatory defense expo The decision is due to French President Emmanuel Macron calls for a cease-fire in Gaza and will affect several Israel companies. Israel
