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Israel

May 10, 2026

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Netanyahu fears being left out as Trump pursues Iran diplomacy

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was not surprised by President Donald Trump’s suspension of Project Freedom and move toward talks with Iran, but analysts say Washington may not be fully weighing Israel's concerns in negotiations with Tehran.

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.

Latest News

Analysis

Israel fears Trump seeking Hormuz win while sidestepping Iran nuclear issue

Amirhossein KHORGOOEI / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images

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

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

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

An Israeli F35 I takes part in the "Blue Flag" multinational air defence exercise at the Ovda air force base, north of the Israeli city of Eilat, on November 11, 2019. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel hoping for last-minute F-35s from Trump administration

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said additional F-15 purchases may follow the procurement of a third F-35 squadron.

An Arab Israeli woman leaves after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine at Clalit Health Services, in the northern Arab Israeli city of Umm al Fahm , on January 4, 2021. - Israel said Sunday two million people will have received a two-dose Covid-19 vaccination by the end of January, a pace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasts is the world's fastest. Health Ministry Director General Hezi Levy said that because of the enthusiastic takeup, Israel would be easing the speed of vaccination to eke out stocks. (Photo b

Israel's vaccination drive tops 10% of population

Israel expects to administer the vaccine to two million people by the end of the month.

Israeli Merkava battle tanks hold position near Moshav Kidmat Tzvi in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on December 25, 2020. - Israeli missile strikes on Syria killed at least six Iran-backed fighters on December 25. The dead were all foreign paramilitaries fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad's forces, the Syrian Observatory for Human Right said. (Photo by JALAA MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel fears Iranian retaliation before Trump leaves office

While Israeli officials have dismissed Iranian allegations that they are preparing for war as "nonsense," Israeli forces have been on a heightened state of alert with the Jan. 3 anniversary of Qasem Soleimani’s killing.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi listens during a news conference with German Foreign Minister at the Wannsee lake in Berlin, Germany, August 27, 2020. (Photo by MICHELE TANTUSSI / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MICHELE TANTUSSI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli left mourns Ashkenazi's departure as wasted chance

Israelis who believed Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi would be the next leader of the center left are sorely disappointed over his decision to quit politics.

An electoral worker counts ballots cast by Israelis under home quarantine after returning from Coronavirus infected zones, in the central Israeli town of Shoham on March 4, 2020 - Some 4,200 ballots from 17 polling stations set up for people under quarantine were gathered and counted by workers wearing protective gear under a tent at the Central Elections Commissions logistical centre in Shoham to be counted. (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP) (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Amid pandemic, Israel considers drive-through polling stations

On the backdrop of a third nationwide closure, preparation for the March elections present great difficulties and challenges.

US again sends B-52 bombers to deter Iran as tensions peak

The deployment is the third flight of nuclear-capable Stratofortresses to the region in less than two months

Was UAE behind Israeli decision to allow Palestinian farmers access to Jordan Valley?

For the first time in 46 years, Israel allowed Palestinians to enter al-Qa'oun valley in the northern Jordan Valley to cultivate their land. Despite the Palestinian Authority’s statement that this was in implementation of a judicial decision, Al-Monitor received information about Emirati-Israeli understandings that led to this action.

United Arab Emirates

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Convicted spy Pollard welcomed to Israel by Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greeted ex-spy Jonathan Pollard at the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport, hailing his arrival to Israel and granting him Israeli citizenship paperwork.

Israeli protesters gather with national flags during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu near his private home in the coastal town of Caesarea in northern Israel, on December 12, 2020. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel’s right, left disintegrate ahead of March elections

Israeli politics is no longer divided between right and left with a pragmatic center in between as Benjamin Netanyahu rewrites the rules of the game.

Pro-Israel group criticizes Georgia Senate candidate for past sermon

Christians United for Israel slammed Georgia Democrat Raphael Warnock over a 2018 sermon he gave on the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem, but others have defended the candidate for a US Senate seat.

On June 14th, 2016 Ambassador Dan Shapiro and Ms. Julie Fisher hosted the US Embassy’s annual shared society and interfaith Iftar welcoming leaders from all faiths and diverse Arab and Jewish communities in celebration of the holy month of Ramadan. With a message of partnership and tolerance, religious and community leaders, educators and youth groups, along with Egyptian and Jordanian friends, all gathered to dine for a Tuesday evening Iftar meal at Ambassador’s residence in Herzliya Pituach . Ambassador

US ambassador's residence in Tel Aviv sold for $67 million

The State Department has not acknowledged the buyer, reported to be Trump ally and casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.

Israeli Defence Minister and alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz arrives at the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in Jerusalem on December 2, 2020. - Gantz said his party will vote for an opposition bill to dissolve parliament, a move that could force a fourth election in under two years. (Photo by Alex KOLOMIENSKY / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ALEX KOLOMIENSKY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel's Gantz presides over collapse of Blue and White

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, the only real alternative to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now collapses politically, taking down with him the whole center-left camp.