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
Two Palestinian children killed in Israeli raid in Jenin as West Bank tensions soar The truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has not calmed the situation in the West Bank with at least 240 Palestinians killed since Oct. 7. Palestine
Meet Israeli activist Maoz Inon, who lost his parents in Hamas attack, now calls for peace Having lost both his parents at the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, Maoz Inon calls on the government to take responsibility for the divide within the Israeli society, which had weakened the country, and for what happened that terrible day. Israel
Calling him 'butcher of Gaza,' Turkey's Erdogan unloads on Netanyahu Erdogan also said hopes for a permanent cease-fire between Israel and Hamas have been dampened. Turkey
Teetering West Bank economy fuels instability, fear of PA security collapse An economic downturn in the West Bank as a result of increased security measures and Israel withholding funds to the Palestinian Authority is fueling instability. Palestine
Hamas releases 10 Israeli, 2 Thai hostages as Gaza truce holds Hamas has released 12 more hostages, 10 Israelis and 2 Thai nationals, Israeli authorities said on Tuesday. Among those released was a teenage girl together with her family dog. Israel
Analysis Israel-Hamas truce extension buys Netanyahu and Sinwar time The Israeli government has pledged to resume fighting once Hamas stops liberating hostages, but the battle against the group could employ other war methods. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
CIA chief Bill Burns returns to Qatar as Israel-Hamas truce holds The heads of the CIA and Israel's Mossad met Qatar's prime minister in Doha to discuss a possible extension of a truce between Hamas and Israel. Legacy: Gulf
Gaza truce brings halt in Iran-linked attacks on US troops in Iraq, Syria Pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas coincides with tentative reprieve for US troops hunting down the remnants of the Islamic State group as Iran-backed militias hold their fire. Syria
What's behind Elon Musk's visit to Israel, meeting with Netanyahu? On a visit to Israel, American billionaire Elon Musk called for a halt to the hate propaganda that he said enabled the Oct. 7 attack and also expressed willingness to help reconstruct Gaza. Israel
UN estimates 43,000 Gaza housing units wiped out, 80% of population displaced As Hamas and Israel appeared to maintain the cease-fire for the fourth day, Palestinians rushed to secure aid and check damages to their homes. Palestine
