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
Why Iran is downplaying Israel's Isfahan attack despite public bravado Iranian officials appeared uninterested in entering into a fresh round of escalation with Israel and soft-pedaled on the severity of the Isfahan attack, which, in their view, did not invite reciprocation. Iran
US, EU slap sanctions on Israeli Jewish supremacist, extremist settler groups The European Union and the United States have published new lists of radical Israeli individuals and groups to be sanctioned. Israel
US, Israeli military chiefs spoke ahead of Isfahan strike By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
US vetoes Palestinian membership at United Nations The resolution to grant the Palestinians full UN membership received support from a majority of the council but failed to pass after a US veto. Israel
Did Gaza protests force Algeria's first KFC restaurant to close? Three days after opening its first branch in Algeria, KFC is facing protests over alleged support for Israel amid conflicting reports on its closure on Wednesday. Algeria
Palestinian UN envoy: US 'holding us hostage' ahead of membership vote The UN Security Council will vote Thursday on full Palestinian membership in the United Nations, and though it appears likely to have the votes, the United States has signaled that it could use its veto to block the measure. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Qatar 'reevaluating' Hamas-Israel mediation role amid mounting criticism Qatar, alongside the US and Egypt, has mediated talks between Israel and Hamas on a cease-fire in exchange for the release of hostages taken in the militant group’s Oct. 7 attack. Qatar
Hamas' Haniyeh to visit Turkey as Erdogan hits back at Gaza criticism The Turkish president dials up his defensive tone in response to domestic criticism over the Gaza war. Turkey
Nervousness reigns as ordinary Iranians fear Israel war looming Fears of a military conflict with Israel are fast spreading among many Iranians who are already feeling the economic impacts of the recent escalation and facing the state crackdown over criticism of the Israel attack. Iran
Starbucks pledges $3M to World Central Kitchen for Gaza meals The coffee giant has announced a large donation to the aid group World Central Kitchen, which lost seven of its staff members earlier this month in an Israeli airstrike. Palestine
Turkey’s FM to visit Qatar as regional diplomacy seeks to contain Iran-Israel tension Turkey says its flurry of diplomatic activity is aimed at bringing the Gaza war back into focus amid the Israel-Iran escalation. Turkey
Iran vows it will respond 'within seconds' if Israel retaliates The latest Iranian attack on Israel in response to a suspected Israeli strike against Iran’s consulate in Syria has set off fears of a full-blown war in the region. Iran
