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Israel

June 20, 2026

Tel Aviv 1:42 pm

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Former Israeli Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot gives a press conference in Tel Aviv, on December 4, 2018.

Can political novice Eisenkot defeat Netanyahu in upcoming elections?

The former military chief of staff is emerging as the prime minister's strongest rival in upcoming elections, overtaking former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in recent polls.

US President Donald Trump holds a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Palm Beach, Florida, Dec. 29, 2025.

Analysis

How Netanyahu used Lebanon strikes to push back on Trump’s Iran deal

The latest ceasefire in Lebanon leaves Netanyahu squeezed between Washington and domestic pressure.

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

Latest News

'Let Syria take care of Hezbollah': Trump criticizes Israel, leans on Sharaa to help in Lebanon

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 16: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the G7 summit, on June 16, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Leaders from the Group of 7 (G7) countries convened in Evian, France, near the Swiss border, for their annual summit to discuss challenges to peace and security for Ukraine and Europe, the situation in the Middle East, and other geopolitical issues. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Get

Explainer

Ben-Gvir's move to run separately in Israel elections revives debate over party alliances

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir takes part in the Jerusalem Day celebrations on May 14, 2026, in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Analysis

'He knew it was over': Inside Netanyahu’s response to Trump’s Iran deal as Israel recalibrates

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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

Analysis

Erdogan-Netanyahu war of words signals deeper rivalry for regional influence

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Turkish House in New York on Sept. 19, 2023.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

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

Palestinian students undergo their final exam at a school in Gaza June 11, 2007. The test began on schedule, but most pupils took circuitous routes to their schools in a bid to avoid the gunmen as the sounds of shooting punctuated the air, witnesses said. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA) - RTR1QOYW

Israel's smartest student is an Arab

Israeli-Arab Mohammed Zeidan was this year's only student to achieve the highest possible score on Israel's college entrance exam.

Will Israel's new defense minister agree to meet with Abbas?

Israeli mayors who met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas say that he is willing to meet with new Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman.

What to expect from this week's Paris talks on Israeli-Palestinian peace

A conference on advancing a two-state solution will convene in Paris June 3, but the United States has expressed ambivalence about the French initiative.

How to ensure success at the Paris peace conference

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and new Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman made some positive remarks this week about the need for a regional arrangement, but the route from words to deeds is a long and uncertain one.

Are Hamas, Egypt nearing reconciliation?

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri spoke about the improvements in Hamas-Egyptian ties and other Palestinian issues.

When books become issue of Israeli populism

Instead of protecting writers, Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev chooses to advocate cheap book prices.

Can Liberman guarantee stability for Netanyahu's coalition?

The expansion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition should have made things a little easier for him, but Netanyahu’s paranoia is now making him wary of Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon.

IDF warns of escalating pressure in Gaza

IDF officers are concerned that poverty, unemployment and an internal power struggle within Hamas might push the movement into a new military conflict with Israel.

Is new Gaza war more probable with Liberman?

With Avigdor Liberman joining the Netanyahu government, Palestinians feel desperate about a breakthrough in the political stalemate between the PA and Israel and anticipate a military escalation in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian boys stand atop the rubble of a house after it was demolished by Israeli bulldozers in the West Bank village of El Walaja near Bethlehem, April 12, 2016. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RTX29KX8

Claiming lack of building permits, Israel continues to demolish Palestinian homes

While refusing to grant Palestinians building permits, the Israeli authorities have recently intensified their demolition operations targeting Palestinian homes, justifying their actions by claiming that these homes were built without permits.

Israel's new Defence Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, head of far-right Yisrael Beitenu party, shakes hands Israeli army generals during a welcoming ceremony at the Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel May 31, 2016. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RTX2EXQM

Palestinians get ready for hard-line Liberman as defense minister

The appointment of ultranationalist Avigdor Liberman as Israel's defense minister sparked outrage among Palestinians, who already regard President Benjamin Netanyahu's government as one of the most extreme in Israel’s history.

A Palestinian Hamas militant takes part in a rally marking the twelfth anniversary of the death of late Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who was killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza City, March 23, 2016. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem - RTSBYI2

Hamas to execute 13 Gazan criminals as warning to others

A crime wave in Gaza is putting pressure on Hamas, which has promised to execute 13 Palestinians sentenced to death as a deterrent.