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

Israel cover image

Israel

US President Donald Trump (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands as they arrive to speak to journalists during a joint press conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 29, 2025.

As Trump casts doubt on Netanyahu's future, Likud rushes to reaffirm support

By questioning whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will run in the next Knesset elections, President Donald Trump may have dented one of the Israeli leader's key political assets ahead of the vote.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan buttons up his jacket during a press conference after the conclusion of the G20 Leaders' Summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on November 23, 2025.

Explainer

Turkey-Israel tensions flare over Syria, Lebanon, East Med: What to know

The Turkish president has accused Israel of threatening Turkey through its military actions in Syria, Lebanon and the Eastern Mediterranean, triggering a sharp exchange with the Israeli prime minister.

Latest News

Analysis

'We are already hearing the bus': Israeli insiders fear Netanyahu is losing Trump’s backing on Iran

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to speak to journalists during a joint press conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 29, 2025. US President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on December 29 for crucial talks on moving to the next stage of the fragile Gaza truce plan.The two leaders also discussed Iran, with Trump saying that if Tehran rebuilt its nuclear facilities the United States wo

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

Vance says US and Israel's 'interests diverge' on Iran nuclear issue: What to know

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

US military helped Israel intercept Iran's missiles: What to know

Rocket trails are seen in the sky above the Israeli coastal city of Netanya on June 7, 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

A woman demonstrator holds a Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli troops at a protest where Palestinians demand the right to return to their homeland, at the Israel-Gaza border in the southern Gaza Strip, April 27, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa - RC1C308400C0

Upcoming protests will test Hamas' ability to calm Gaza

Hamas would have to end both the rocket fire and the border demonstrations to achieve a real truce with Israel.

Trump missing piece in Putin’s Syria plan

The Russian president needs the United States to stabilize Syria, but expects sanctions relief in return.

Israeli soldiers walk near mobile artillery units in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israel May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC1F39D55B70

Moscow updates playbook on making Israel, Iran happy

Russia faces the conundrum of figuratively finding common ground between Iran and Israel in Syria while literally keeping distance between them.

Will Hamas, Israel reach a truce agreement?

Palestinians fear that the recent influx of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip could force Hamas to pay exorbitant political costs that could harm the Palestinian cause and pave the way for approval of the US “deal of the century” that they categorically reject.

Arab towns in Israel witness increased crime, violence against women

The crime rate in the Palestinian towns of Israel is on the rise and likely to continue, as Israeli security forces face accusations of not enforcing their laws there and letting the perpetrators roam free.

Is Trump really so popular in Israel?

Contrary to the popular belief that all Israelis applaud US President Donald Trump's policies, center and left-wing politicians worry that the Trump-Netanyahu axis distances an agreement with the Palestinians and isolates Israel on Iran.

Netanyahu breathes easier as ultra-Orthodox draft crisis cools

Israel's ultra-Orthodox draft crisis seems likely to be resolved, leaving the governing coalition intact until the next scheduled elections.

How Israel’s ongoing violation of Oslo Accord threatens security

Under the pretext of security interests, the IDF violates the Oslo Accord nearly every night by entering West Bank areas nominally under Palestinian control, humiliating Palestinian police and threatening ongoing security cooperation.

Defying blockade, Palestinians set sail from Gaza

Although Israel stopped the latest attempt by sea to break the siege on Gaza, Palestinians are determined to continue efforts to draw attention to the blockade.

After Gaza bloodshed, UN mulls protecting Palestinians

The odds of the UN passing a resolution to send a protective force to the Palestinian territories are slim, but recent violence there has given the proposal legs.

Israel's undiplomatic top diplomat

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely made yet another questionable diplomatic move this week, boasting about an education agreement signed with Myanmar.

Israel ignores failure of Gaza blockade policy

Israeli leadership refuses to recognize the reality and admit that its Gaza blockade policy failed in toppling Hamas rule.