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October 2, 2026

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Rights, faith groups urge Congress to block $2.8B bomb sale to Israel

If the Trump administration moves forward with the transfer, dozens of groups are urging lawmakers to seek a joint resolution of disapproval.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

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West Bank settlers attack Israeli activists as Netanyahu claims 'hoax'

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attention surrounding settler violence was a “tremendous hoax.”

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Israel-UAE flights disrupted as airlines plan rescue flights: What to know

Israeli carriers are preparing repatriation flights from Dubai starting on Friday, subject to security approval.

United Arab Emirates

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FlyDubai incident recalls decades of Middle East airline hijackings: What to know

In 1968, the PFLP hijacked an El Al flight from Rome to Tel Aviv, marking the first political hijacking of an aircraft tied to the Middle East.

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FlyDubai incident spotlights key global link for Israeli travelers

Israelis pick up their luggage upon arrival from Tel Aviv to the Dubai airport in the United Arab Emirates, on Nov. 26, 2020, on the first scheduled commercial flight operated by budget airline flydubai.

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FlyDubai flight lands in Tel Aviv after distress alert, Saudi diversion

Flydubai

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Inside Netanyahu’s relentless push for meeting with UAE’s MBZ

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after speaking during the 81st United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, on Sept. 24, 2026.

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

Ex-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar to sue Netanyahu over Oct. 7 accusations: What to know

Ronen Bar, former chief of Israel's domestic Shin Bet security agency

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

Israel's Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon (L) attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem April 21, 2013. REUTERS/Gali Tibbon/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTXYU9T

Israeli defense minister closes debate on US security plan

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has rejected the US security plan for the West Bank.

Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Jose Angel Gurria (R) speaks during a news conference with Israel's Finance Minister Yair Lapid in Tel Aviv December 8, 2013. Gurria was in Israel on Sunday to present the organisation's 2013 report on Israel's economy. The Bank of Israel should prepare for interest rate increases once the global economy returns to normal, the OECD said. REUTERS/ Nir Elias (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS) - RTX169RU

Lapid pushes plan to fix housing crisis

For the first time since he was elected, Finance Minister Yair Lapid has justified the trust placed in him by his voters and advanced his program to lower housing costs.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel (R) and his Israeli counterpart Moshe Yaalon speak during their meeting at the Kirya base in Tel Aviv April 22, 2013. Israel suggested on Monday it would be patient before taking any military action against Iran's nuclear programme, saying during a visit by Hagel there was still time for other options. REUTERS/Jim Watson/Pool (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) - RTXYVT1

US takes selective offense against Israeli defense minister

The United States reacts with outrage to Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon’s criticism of US policy, but is silent about Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman’s delegitimization of 1.6 million Arab citizens.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman addresses journalists during a news briefing inside Greece's Foreign Ministry in Athens March 20, 2014. Lieberman held a meeting with Greek counterpart Evangelos Venizelos over Crimea, Turkey relations and Iran nuclear talks and said there is no link between Crimea and problems in the Middle East and that Israel will not interfere. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis (GREECE - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3HX2I

Israeli diplomats go on strike at crucial moment

Israel's international standing requires all possible diplomatic efforts, but years of low salaries and disregard for their working conditions have forced the Foreign Ministry's staff to declare a general strike.

Damages are seen on a street at Yabroud town in Damascus countryside March 20, 2014, after soldiers loyal to President Bashar al-Assad took control of it from the rebel fighters. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT CIVIL UNREST) - RTR3HYPI

Syria’s victory in Yabrud may be game changer

At least for now, the recapture of Yabrud by Syrian government forces appears to have tilted the military and political balance in favor of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

BERLIN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 06: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara attend a memorial service at Track 17, the place where the Nazis deported tens of thousands of Berlin Jews to concentration camps during World War II, on December 6, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. The German and Israeli governments are meeting today in Berlin for German-Israeli government consultations. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Israelis indifferent to latest Netanyahu scandal

The latest scandal concerning the behavior of Sara Netanyahu toward the premier's residence manager has not turned into a significant public debate, but generated caricatures and satirical comments on social networks.

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stands with Shula Zaken (L), an administrator in his office, during a session of the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, in Jerusalem January 2, 2008. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM) - RTX55O4

The woman who holds the key to Olmert's fate

As Ehud Olmert's former chief of staff, Shula Zaken has decided to unravel evidence which might incriminate the former prime minister for corruption, after realizing that he left her legally unprotected while covering his end in this long legal battlefield.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) is greeted during an unveiling ceremony for a monument commemorating the victory of the Soviet Red Army in World War Two in the coastal city of Netanya, north of Tel Aviv June 25, 2012. Israeli President Shimon Peres on Monday urged visiting Putin to take steps to avert the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran and to stop the bloodshed in Syria. REUTERS/Jack Guez/Pool (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR344SB

Israeli immigrants divided on Russia, Ukraine

Israelis of Russian-Ukrainian-Belarus origins are divided between those who support Russian President Vladimir Putin, those opting for the democratic Ukrainian revolt and those claiming that the new Ukrainian forces are anti-Semites.

People watch planes from the Israeli Air Force fly over Jerusalem during celebrations marking Israel's 63rd Independence Day in Jerusalem May 10, 2011. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside (JERUSALEM - Tags: ANNIVERSARY MILITARY TRANSPORT) - RTR2M7SX

One Arab woman in Israel Independence Day event

Of 14 women, only one Arab will be among those participating in the traditional torch-lighting ceremony.

An Israeli Air Force F-15I jet is seen in the background as Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon (3rd R) speaks to reporters while standing next to Israel's armed forces chief Major-General Benny Gantz (R) and commander of Israel's Air Force Major-General Amir Eshel (4th R) during a presentation at Hatzerim air base in southern Israel April 30, 2013. Israel on Tuesday launched its first targeted attack on a militant in Gaza since a war in November, killing a Palestinian jihadist in an air strike that put f

Israel's defense minister speaks his mind about US

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon's urge to vent his frustration in public is harming US-Israel ties.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a joint news conference with Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari in Baghdad February 20, 2014. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX196LB

Look for more assertive Russia in Middle East

Unless there is a de-escalation of the crisis over Crimea, the Obama administration could expect to deal with a Russian president more willing to challenge US interests in the Middle East.

Palestinian Fatah supporters hold placards showing pictures of President Mahmoud Abbas (R) and late leader Yasser Arafat during a rally in support of Abbas in the West Bank village of Tubas near Jenin March 16, 2014. With pessimism growing over future of Middle East peace talks, U.S. President Barack Obama will meet Abbas in Washington on Monday to try to break stalemate. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3HADW

Israeli deputy FM: Palestinians haven't budged 'a millimeter'

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin claims that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is willing to pay a political price for advancing negotiations, unlike the Palestinian partners.