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

Israel cover image

Israel

September 20, 2026

Tel Aviv 5:51 am

23°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

Is Jordan planning major change in Red Sea-Dead Sea project?

Amid rumors that Jordan is freezing out Israel and the Palestinian Authority with regard to the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project, officials remained silent.

Netanyahu's strategy to avoid negotiations

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu exploits the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation in order to set impossible conditions for resuming talks with the Palestinians.

Avi Gabbai, the new leader of Israel's centre-left Labour party, delivers his victory speech after winning the Labour party primary runoff, at an event in Tel Aviv, Israel July 10, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC1D4C8AD5C0

Why does Israeli Labor chief sound like Netanyahu?

The statements of Labor Party leader Avi Gabbay these last few days more so resemble the proposals by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu than the peaceful principles of Zionism visionary Theodor Herzl.

Knesset’s winter session to focus on nationalism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will advance in the coming months a controversial NGO Transparency law, the Greater Jerusalem law and other nationalistic bills.

Russia sandwiched in Syria between Israel, Iran

Russia has many irons in the Mideast fire, and it must attend to them all to keep from getting burned.

Israeli Labor chief rules out alliance with Israeli-Arab party

Israeli Labor Chairman Avi Gabbay surprised his party members when he announced that there was no possibility of forming a coalition with Arab Joint List party members, something that could restrict Labor's political prospects.

Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu (R) stands next to his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman as as they look at pictures of Jews killed in the Holocaust during a visit to the Hall of Names at Yad Vashem's Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem October 17, 2017. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC1504C794D0

Russian defense minister arrives in Tel Aviv as Israel strikes Syria

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman explained to visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu Israel’s red lines in Syria.

West Bank telecom authorities flounder in flood of Israeli phone tech

Increasing numbers of Palestinians are using Israeli SIM cards for better cellular service despite their illegality, and the West Bank's economy and security are paying the price.

Israel may regret hasty UNESCO exit

Israel reacted quickly to the US announcement that it was pulling out of UNESCO with one of its own, potentially forfeiting an opportunity to shore up its international presence.

How will Hamas’ new deputy head influence events?

The election of Saleh al-Arouri as deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau reflects a shift in the movement toward leaders with strong local ties in the Palestinian territories.

An Israeli soldier aims his weapon during clashes with Palestinian protesters near the Jewish settlement of Qadomem, in the West Bank village of Kofr Qadom near Nablus September 8, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RC17624D16C0

Israel should practice what it preaches to the Palestinians

Instead of risking a three-front war with its current policy of settlement expansion, Israel would do better if its leaders followed through on previous peace initiatives and the commitments it has made in negotiations with the Palestinians.

Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe arrives at the White House for a group dinner during the US Africa Leaders Summit August 5, 2014 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Arabs campaign to keep Israel from gaining foothold in Africa

After Togo postponed the African-Israel Summit, Arab efforts continue to permanently cancel the event.