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

Israel cover image

Israel

May 12, 2026

Tel Aviv 7:16 pm

30°C

Two men stand next to the burned remains of a Palestinian vehicle in the Wadi al-Rakhim area of Susya village in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on May 1, 2026.

EU ministers agree to sanction violent West Bank settlers: What to know

European foreign ministers have agreed to sanction extremist West Bank settlers, but are still discussing the list of names.

Ronen Zvulun / AFP via Getty Images

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

Latest News

Israel strikes Beirut in breach of Lebanon ceasefire

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

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.

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

Arab Israeli Sheikh Raed Salah delivers a sermon during a prayer outside a mosque in the Israeli city of Lod, 30 kms west of Tel Aviv, as a protest against house demolitions in the city on January 29, 2010. Hundreds of people protested against the demolition of Arab-Israeli homes in Lod. Jamal Zahalka, an Arab MP among the protesters said a total of 40,000 Arab homes in Israel were threatened with demolition. AFP PHOTO/JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Calls to prayer rile some residents of mixed Israeli town

Some residents of Lod complain that the ubiquitous Muslim calls to prayer are a nuisance, though others say the multicultural city will never silence them.

Israel’s Gantz warns Hamas on retaliating against annexation

A spokesperson for the militant group said Israel's planned West Bank annexation would be seen as a "declaration of war."

Israeli alternate Prime Minister and Defence Minister Benny Gantz attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem while wearing a protective mask due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on June 7, 2020. - Netanyahu urged world powers to reimpose tough sanctions against Iran, vowing to curb Tehran's regional "aggression" hours after another deadly strike on pro-Iranian fighters in Syria. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Gantz calls July annexation target 'not sacred'

With two days to go before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's target annexation date, Defense Minister Benny Gantz says other issues such as the coronavirus crisis are more urgent.

Israel’s Arab communities claim state turns blind eye to crimes

Crimes continue to take place in the Palestinian villages and towns of Israel, while the Israeli government fails to pursue them legally.

Despite ultra-Orthodox objection, Israeli government advances cannabis laws

The cannabis laws now being promoted at the Knesset are nothing short of a revolution, which would not have been possible under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s previous right-wing, ultra-Orthodox governments.

Israeli police man a checkpoint at the entrance of the central Israeli Elad city on June 24, 2020, as the government imposed a partial lockdown on several neighbourhoods following a recent increase in coronavirus cases. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Netanyahu announces anti-coronavirus cooperation between Israel, UAE

Private companies from Israel and the United Arab Emirates plan to cooperate on developing technologies to battle COVID-19.

United Arab Emirates

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wearing a face mask, attends a government Cabinet meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues, in Jerusalem, June 21, 2020. Abir Sultan/Pool via REUTERS - RC2LDH94S2ER

Netanyahu unapologetic on demanding tax exemptions

Despite soaring unemployment and an economic crisis in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the time to demand retroactive tax exemptions for himself.

Netanyahu’s damage control strategy ahead of annexation vote

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing contradictory estimates from security agency chiefs on whether annexation will generate massive uprisings in the West Bank and Arab retaliation.

Mossad chief meets with Jordanian king, relates message from Netanyahu

According to reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen to Jordan, in an attempt to appease King Abdullah over the annexation plan.

House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) exits the cloak room following a markup session of articles of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 12, 2019. REUTERS/Tom Brenner - RC25UD92WA9N

Intel: Democrats stare down AIPAC with annexation warning

The majority of House Democrats united today to warn Israel against unilaterally annexing parts of the West Bank despite opposition from the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Benny Gantz (C), A former IDF Chief and the head of Israeli Resilience party speaks to supporters during an election campaign event in Tel Aviv. Israelis will vote in a parliamentary election on April 9, choosing among party lists of candidates to serve in the 121-seat Knesset

Netanyahu's war on critical journalists threatens Israeli democracy

Photos of reporter Amnon Abramovich needing a police escort to escape a demonstration in support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should sound an alarm for all Israelis.

European parliamentarians write letter against Israeli annexation of West Bank

The letter rebukes the Trump administration's support for a partial annexation of Palestinian territory.