Israel - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Israel cover image

Israel

May 8, 2026

Tel Aviv 3:42 am

16°C

People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs neighborhood of Haret Hreik on May 6, 2026.

Israel strikes Beirut in breach of Lebanon ceasefire

Israel has continued to carry out strikes in southern Lebanon but had not targeted Beirut since the ceasefire took effect.

Amirhossein KHORGOOEI / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Israel fears Trump seeking Hormuz win while sidestepping Iran nuclear issue

While President Donald Trump keeps pressuring Iran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Israel fears the American leader will decide to cut his losses and sideline the nuclear threat.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

A man sits watching as Lebanese first responders search for human remains among the rubble the day after a house was targeted in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, on May 1, 2026.

Culture

Lebanon's churches, mosques and archaeological sites damaged in Israeli strikes

Israeli strikes in Lebanon have damaged a growing number of cultural and religious sites, as sites in Israel have also sustained damage from Hezbollah and Iranian attacks.

Latest News

Analysis

Can Bennett, Lapid unite Israel’s opposition to unseat Netanyahu?

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid (L) speaks to outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, during a meeting at the Knesset (parliament), in Jerusalem on June 30, 2022. - Final approval of the parliament dissolution bill was initially expected by midnight but was postponed to June 30 as coalition and opposition lawmakers sparred over last-minute legislative details, several sources familiar with the parliamentary said. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Iron Dome in Gulf: How Iran war turned UAE-Israel defense ties operational

AFP via Getty Images

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Analysis

Without exit strategy, Israel faces emboldened Hezbollah, limited options on Iran

Ibrahim AMRO / AFP via Getty Images

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Rina Bassist

Associate Editor (Israel)

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Freij and Meretz Knesset member Michal Rozin meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Oct. 3.

Israeli ministers meet with Abbas in Ramallah

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Freij and Meretz Knesset member Michal Rozin met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Sunday, in an effort to establish cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and campaigning to keep the concept of the two-state solution alive.

Israel Dubai expo

Israel’s participation in Dubai expo signals huge trade potential

Israel and the Emirates both believe that the potential for bilateral trade, commercial cooperation and investments is huge.

Mahmoud Abbas addresses UNGA

Bennett keeps quiet on ministers' planned meeting with Abbas

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is keeping mum on two Meretz members from his cabinet planning to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, second from left, visits the USS Pearl Harbor in Bahrain, Sept. 30, 2021.

Israel's Lapid visits Bahrain-based US warship in warning to Iran

The Iranian threat and the campaign against a new nuke deal came up all along the historic visit of Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in Bahrain.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett addresses the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, United Nations headquarters, New York, Sept. 27, 2021.

Bennett’s government at work to expand Abraham Accords

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his Cabinet are hard at work to upgrade the Abraham Accords for normalization, and extend them to more countries in the region.

Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid meets with Bahraini King Hamid bin Issa al Khalifa

Israel’s Lapid meets with Bahraini king, inaugurates embassy in Manama

On a first historic visit to Manama, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met today with Bahraini King Hamid bin Issa al Khalifa before inaugurating Israel’s embassy to the country.

Bedouin village

Report finds Negev Bedouins remain poorest population in Israel

The latest report by State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman highlights the plight of the Bedouin communities living in the Negev region, with little progress seen despite their new representation in the governing coalition.

WEst Bank

Tensions rise in West Bank after settler violence

Reports say that dozens of masked settlers came to the cave-hamlet Khirbat al-Mufaqara, throwing stones at residents and breaking windows and cars.

Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett addresses the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 27, 2021, at UN headquarters in New York City.

Bennett’s UN speech stirs controversy in Israel over pandemic efforts

In his speech at the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made it clear that he, not the health authorities, have the final say on the national campaign against the coronavirus.

Israeli Knesset member Emilie Moatti meets with Aurore Berge, a member of the French National Assembly, on her diplomatic trip to France on Sept. 27.

Israel offers EU new approach, constructive dialogue

The French visit of Emilie Moatti, Labor Knesset member and head of the Subcommittee for Foreign Affairs, reflects the new approach that Israel’s government now offers to the European Union: open and constructive dialogue.

Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett addresses the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 27, 2021 at U.N. headquarters in New York City.

Israel’s Bennet makes first speech to UN

Contrary to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett chose to deliver a straightforward, calm and gimmick-free first speech to the General Assembly.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid is pictured during a press briefing with his Moroccan counterpart, in Rabat on Aug. 11, 2021.

Lapid's rhetoric divides Israel

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has abandoned his aspirations for leading the center-right, targeting instead the center-left camp.