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Israel

May 9, 2026

Tel Aviv 11:34 pm

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Traffic passes a billboard depicting Iranian ballistic missiles in service, with text in Arabic reading "the honest [person's] promise" and in Persian "Israel is weaker than a spider's web," Valiasr Square, Tehran, April 15, 2024. ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images.

Analysis

CIA report on Iran missiles undercuts Netanyahu as war euphoria dissipates

The findings cast doubt on Israel’s wartime gains and put pressure on Netanyahu’s campaign strategy ahead of elections.

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

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

Latest News

Culture

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

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.

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

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

A Palestinian man who works in Israel takes a selfie as he receives the first dose of a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine by an Israeli medical worker at the Meitar crossing checkpoint between the West bank and Israel, March 9, 2021.

Over 105,000 Palestinian workers in Israel vaccinated with first dose

Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said yesterday that over 105,000 Palestinians who cross into Israel to work have received the first coronavirus vaccination dose over the last two weeks.

A worker hangs election campaign posters for Israel's Likud party bearing a portrait of its leader Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a billboard in the Israeli central city of Bnei Brak, on March 14, 2021. - On March 23, the 71-year-old wily politician faces his fourth re-election contest in less than two years, after repeatedly failing to unite a coalition behind him, despite his devoted right-wing base.

Emirati politician says Israel normalization should not be used in Israeli election

Former Minister of State Anwar Gargash made the bold comments following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again canceling his trip to Abu Dhabi.

An image of that statue in Tel Aviv

Naked statue of Netanyahu pops up in Tel Aviv

The statue representing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Gollum from Lords of the Rings is certainly not the first anti-Netanyahu artwork to pop up in Tel Aviv.

Election campaign posters of Israel's Yisrael Beiteinu party bearing a portrait of its leader Avigdor Liberman (L), the Likud party showing its leader and incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (bottom-R), and opposition party leader Yair Lapid (top-R) hang on a construction site in the Israeli central city of Bnei Brak, on March 14, 2021. - On March 23, the Netanyahu faces his fourth re-election contest in less than two years, after repeatedly failing to unite a coalition behind him, despite his devot

Rival of Israeli prime minister warns of US Capitol style riot after election

Avigdor Liberman claimed without evidence that supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are planning an event similar to the Jan. 6 storming of the US Capitol if Netanyahu loses next week’s election.

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin pose as they meet for a working lunch, followed by a joint press conference, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, on March 18, 2021.

Israel’s president campaigns in France against Hezbollah

On his last European tour stop, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin met in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, campaigning against Hezbollah’s entrenchment in Lebanon and against the Iranian nuclear threat.

A worker unloads a refrigerated truck carrying the first delivery of coronavirus vaccine via the United Nations Covax programme supporting poorer areas, to be kept at Palestinian Authority's storage facility in the West Bank city of Nablus, on March 17, 2021. - The Palestinian Authority said that vaccination would begin at the end of this week, primarily for those aged over 75, cancer patients and medical personnel.
Earlier, some 60,000 doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines allocated to the Palestinians

Palestinians receive first batch of vaccines through COVAX

More than 60,000 doses of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines arrived in Ramallah on Wednesday.

Israeli and Emirati rugby teams to play each other for first time

The rugby sevens match in Dubai is the latest example of the strengthening of relations between Israel and the UAE and shows a shift in Israel's sports relations with other regional states.

United Arab Emirates

An Israeli soldier stands near a parked Merkava Mark IV battle tank near Moshav Alonei HaBashan in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on March 1, 2021. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Syria reports new Israeli airstrikes near Damascus

The missile strike follows Israel reportedly hitting Iranian targets in Syria earlier this month following an explosion on an Israeli ship in the gulf.

Israel's foreign minister continues anti-ICC campaign in Russia

In his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi presented his stand against the International Criminal Court probe, a renewed Iran deal and the Iranian presence in Syria.

Netanyahu courts Arab voters as 'Abu Yair'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adopted a new strategy for the Arab public: cynically rebranding himself as "Abu Yair."

Top general threatens Iran could ‘blow up’ Israel as rhetoric escalate

In a new cycle of escalating rhetoric between Tehran and Tel Aviv, Iran’s top general said his country already has what it takes to destroy Israel.

BERLIN, GERMANY - MARCH 16: President of Israel Reuven Rivlin speaks during a press conference with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (not seen) at the Presidential Bellevue Palace during a visit to Germany on March 16, 2021 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Israel’s president in Europe, campaigns against Iranian threat, ICC probe

President Reuven Rivlin arrived today in Germany, his first stop on a three-day European tour focused on the Iranian threat and the ICC probe of Israel.