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

Israel cover image

Israel

May 9, 2026

Tel Aviv 4:22 am

18°C

Traffic passes a billboard depicting Iranian ballistic missiles in service, with text in Arabic reading "the honest [person's] promise" and in Persian "Israel is weaker than a spider's web," Valiasr Square, Tehran, April 15, 2024. ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images.

Analysis

CIA report on Iran missiles undercuts Netanyahu as war euphoria dissipates

The findings cast doubt on Israel’s wartime gains and put pressure on Netanyahu’s campaign strategy ahead of elections.

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

People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs neighborhood of Haret Hreik on May 6, 2026.

Israel strikes Beirut in breach of Lebanon ceasefire

Israel has continued to carry out strikes in southern Lebanon but had not targeted Beirut since the ceasefire took effect.

Amirhossein KHORGOOEI / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Israel fears Trump seeking Hormuz win while sidestepping Iran nuclear issue

While President Donald Trump keeps pressuring Iran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Israel fears the American leader will decide to cut his losses and sideline the nuclear threat.

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

Latest News

Culture

Lebanon's churches, mosques and archaeological sites damaged in Israeli strikes

A man sits watching as Lebanese first responders search for human remains among the rubble the day after a house was targeted in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, on May 1, 2026.

Analysis

Can Bennett, Lapid unite Israel’s opposition to unseat Netanyahu?

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid (L) speaks to outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, during a meeting at the Knesset (parliament), in Jerusalem on June 30, 2022. - Final approval of the parliament dissolution bill was initially expected by midnight but was postponed to June 30 as coalition and opposition lawmakers sparred over last-minute legislative details, several sources familiar with the parliamentary said. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Iron Dome in Gulf: How Iran war turned UAE-Israel defense ties operational

AFP via Getty Images

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

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

Israeli security forces deploy in the Deir Sharaf area, near the Israeli settlement of Shavei Shomron, west of Nablus, following a reported attack, West Bank, Oct. 11, 2022.

Israel destroys Lion’s Den explosive factory in Nablus

A week before the Nov. 1 elections, Israel Defense Forces raided an explosive factory of the Palestinian Lion’s Den terrorist group and killed one of its founders.

Hannibal Hanschke/Getty Images

Ukraine's Zelenskyy calls on Israel to act against Russia-Iran alliance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Israel to take action against the emerging Russia-Iran alliance and supply his country with missile defense systems.

Leon Neal/Getty Images

Next British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's views on Middle East

The Conservative statesman has expressed fairly mainstream views on Israel, Iran and other regional issues.

Israeli settlers walk with batons as they cross a street during clashes in which Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian residents and shops in the town of Huwara, West Bank, Oct. 13, 2022.

Settler violence ramps up as Israeli elections near

Alongside growing tensions in the West Bank and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces, the number of violent clashes between settlers and Palestinians keeps growing rapidly.

People walk past the Zara store in a shopping mall, Modiin, Israel, Feb. 21, 2021.

Arab Israelis boycott Zara over ties with Jewish ultranationalist

The street-initiated boycott against Zara shops in Israel demonstrates the force of the young Israeli Arab generation, seeking to bring about a change through social media.

West Bank

Analysis

‘Lion's Den’ sharpens West Bank conflict as Israeli elections loom

Israel’s ultra-right could boost Netanyahu; Iran returns as election issue, via Ukraine.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

Netanyahu

New Netanyahu memoir slams Obama, Clinton, Ehud Barak

In his autobiography published this week, shortly before the Nov. 1 elections, opposition head Benjamin Netanyahu settles scores with both American and Israeli leaders.

RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images

Israel agrees to PA helicopter purchase

With West Bank tensions calming somewhat, Israel has agreed for the Palestinian Authority to acquire helicopters for Palestinian officials to travel to Jordan and within the West Bank.

Israeli campaign poster

Netanyahu plays dangerous game as extremist bloc grows stronger

Ultranationalist Itamar Ben Gvir, once shunned as a supporter of the outlawed Kahane movement, is increasingly popular among the Israeli right at the expense of opposition chief Benjamin Netanyahu.

Google

Israel gets Google Cloud region

Cities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia will also soon gain access to the service, which provides advanced cloud computing.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli candidates treat violence in Arab towns as niche problem

Instead of treating the rise of violence in Arab society as a national problem, Prime Minister Yair Lapid and opposition head Benjamin Netanyahu are only making Arab Israelis promises to remedy the situation.

JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Israel moves to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions

Ahead of the COP27 climate summit in Egypt next month, the Israeli government is focused on reducing greenhouse emissions within the industrial sector.