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

Israel cover image

Israel

September 19, 2026

Tel Aviv 12:57 pm

29°C

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive to hold a joint press conference in Jerusalem, Oct. 24, 2023.

Analysis

After France's settlement ban, Israel sees no warming of ties with Macron government

Israeli diplomats say France’s decision to ban imports from West Bank settlements has brought bilateral relations to an unprecedented low point.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looks on as he attends a trade agreement signature ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris on August 24, 2026. (Photo by LOU BENOIST / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

How Netanyahu is leveraging Houthi threat in secret Saudi normalization push

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to capitalize on Riyadh's need for intelligence assistance to make normalization headway ahead of the October elections.

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

OLIVER BUNIC/AFP via Getty Images

Serbia opens factory to assemble Israeli-made drones: What to know

Serbian President Vucic said the factory will put together “state-of-the-art” Israeli-designed drones and employ around 100 workers.

Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787-9 'Dreamliner' aircraft

Israel, Morocco agree to exchange ambassadors, open embassies

The move will mark the first time Morocco and Israel have exchanged ambassadors.

Latest News

Culture

Israeli show ‘Fauda’ tops Netflix in Lebanon, hits top 10 across Arab states

ISRAEL-ENTERTAINMENT-TELEVISION-POLITICS-GOVERNMENT-MASS-MEDIA-D (L to R) Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff, co-creators of the hit Israeli TV show "Fauda", attend a demonstration against the Israeli government's plans to shut-down public broadcaster KAN, in Israel's Mediterranean coastal city of Tel Aviv on January 25, 2023. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Explainer

Why France is pushing to keep UNIFIL in Lebanon beyond 2026

UN peacekeepers stand next to an armored vehicle during a patrol in southern Lebanon, Feb. 22, 2026.

Exclusive

Lacking deterrence, Israel’s security establishment opposes attacks on Houthis

Fighters loyal to the Houthi authorities, brandish their weapons during a rally to recruit more fighters, in Sanaa on September 10, 2026. The country relapsed into war in July after years of calm, drawn into the regional conflict triggered by the US-Israeli offensive against Iran that began at the end of February. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP via Getty Images)

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

Analysis

Europe’s West Bank trade ban fires warning shot at Israel’s economy

Jewish settlement of Kedumim, in the West Bank

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

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

Israelis unite against Polish Holocaust law

A Polish bill threatens to whitewash Poland's participation in massacring Jews during the Holocaust.

Jordan seeks to ease travel burden on Palestinian Jerusalemites

Jordan recently announced its decision to allow and arrange for Jerusalem's Palestinians to renew and receive official documents in the city itself, instead of having to travel to Amman, a move widely welcomed by Palestinians.

Israel's 'tribal wars' veer out of control

A song by Israeli Yehonatan Geffen about the Palestinian girl who slapped two Israeli soldiers ignited an all-out war between right and left.

Palestinians express despair over Israeli leadership

Palestinians are hoping for a Yitzhak Rabin-style Israeli leadership from the security establishment that will distance itself from current settlement annexation policies.

Palestinian teen Ahed Tamimi enters a military courtroom escorted by Israeli security personnel at Ofer Prison, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RC1E3EA8C290

How Israel created a Palestinian heroine

By arresting Ahed Tamimi for slapping an IDF soldier, Israel turned her into a symbol of Palestinian resistance to the occupation.

Europe emerges as new sponsor of Mideast peace

The European Union reassured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas about European support for a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, but will the United States and Israel allow other parties to be involved in the Middle East peace process?

US-Palestinian rift nothing for Israel to celebrate

Israel shouldn’t rejoice over rift between the United States and the Palestinians as previous US administrations helped repeatedly to ease tensions and end violent clashes.

Growing anger in Israel over refugee deportation

Israeli academics, pilots and Holocaust survivors joined protests against the government’s decision to deport by force African asylum-seekers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem January 21, 2018. REUTERS/Gali Tibbon/Pool - RC1C497858C0

Netanyahu wants diplomacy, without diplomatic missions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes statements about reinforcing Israel’s diplomatic outreach, but at the same time, he plans to close diplomatic missions abroad.

What's Hamas up to in Lebanon?

Saleh al-Arouri, deputy chief of Hamas' political bureau, is busy reinforcing the movement's presence in Lebanon and mending ties with Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) and Cabinet Secretary, Avichai Mandelblit (L) arrive for the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem on September 6, 2015. AFP PHOTO / POOL / MENAHEM KAHANA

(Photo credit should read MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images)

Netanyahu indictment looms, but high stakes drag out decision

More than the fate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rides on the decision of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit: public trust in the legal system, not to mention his own career.

Lebanon’s crisis allows Hezbollah to consolidate power once again

Hezbollah's support base seems to be divided on Saad Hariri's sudden resignation from Riyadh and the visit of Asaib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazali to Hezbollah members in south Lebanon.