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

Israel cover image

Israel

August 25, 2026

Tel Aviv 7:04 am

23°C

Palestinian militant group Hamas police officers stand guard as people attend the opening of the Fatah party's eighth general conference at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City on May 14, 2026.

Ex-defense minister: Israel in ‘worst possible’ Gaza situation as Hamas gains strength

Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant criticized the Israeli government for allowing Hamas to retain control over half of the Gaza Strip.

A merchant ship "Jabotinsky" (former "Altalena"), chartered by Jewish military group Irgun Zvaei Leumi to carry weapons for Israeli fighters, burns near Tel Aviv beach, after being shelled by the Haganah, Israel, June 27, 1948.

Wreck of ship sunk by Israeli military in Irgun clash found after 78 years

The wreck of the Irgun underground's Altalena ship, bombed by the Israeli military in 1948 and deliberately sunk in 1949, was located off Israel's coast at a depth of 1,650 feet.

ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP via Getty Images

Israel tightens election safeguards as public distrust surges: What to know

Israelis have lost trust in the government and in its ability or willingness to conduct free and fair elections.

Latest News

Analysis

Why Turkey sees Israeli strikes in Syria as warning over its military role, Mecca Pact

A Turkish soldier from the 1st Border Regiment Command looks out over the border wall to Syria during alert drills at a military outpost on the Turkey/Syria border on March 2, 2017 in Kilis, Turkey.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

Turkey bets on US deconfliction as Israel widens Syria red lines

Turkey/Syria border

Ezgi Akin

Rina Bassist

By Ezgi Akin , Rina Bassist

Analysis

Israel fears Turkey’s Syria ambitions and doubts Trump will stop them

ANKARA, TURKEY - JULY 7: U.S. President Donald Trump (L)shakes hands with with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) during a formal arrival at the Bestepe Presidential Palace during the NATO summit on July 7, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey. Leaders from NATO's 32 countries, plus NATO allies like Ukraine, gathered in the Turkish capital to discuss a range of issues involving spending targets, defense industrial production, and support for Ukraine, among other topics. (Photo by Emrah Gurel - Pool/Getty Images)

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

Turkey seeks Interpol Red Notices for Netanyahu over Gaza flotilla

Murat Kocabas / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

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

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's new Minister of National Security and leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, greets supporters during a visit to Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market on Dec. 30, 2022.

Ben-Gvir’s visit to Jerusalem holy site draws US rebuke

The Biden administration expressed concern over Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to the flashpoint site revered by both Muslims and Jews.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli far-right minister risks regional flareup with Temple Mount visit

Despite international warnings, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed for National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to ascend the Temple Mount.

This picture taken from the Mount of Olives shows a view of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and its Dome of the Rock, Old City, Jerusalem, Jan. 2, 2023.

UAE, Saudi, others condemn Israeli minister’s visit to Jerusalem holy site

Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif could hurt the new far-right Israeli government's relations with Arab states and Turkey.

Norway wealth fund

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund considers ending all investments in Israel

Recent investigations by Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund into the activities of Israeli banks and companies in the West Bank could lead it to completely severing all investments in Israel.

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

Israel claims 'Palestinian hypocrisy' in new UN resolution allowing ICJ opinion

Newly appointed Foreign Minister Eli Cohen claimed on Monday that the UN resolution to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the West Bank only makes resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict harder.

Amir Levy/Getty Images

2022 in review: Israel's great survivor Bibi Netanyahu makes a comeback

Israelis started 2022 with Naftali Bennett as prime minister, moved on to Yair Lapid and ended with the resurrection of Benjamin Netanyahu.

JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images

Former ambassador Ron Dermer takes point on White House for Netanyahu

The Likud’s Eli Cohen and Israel Katz will alternate the position of foreign minister, but the real right hand of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in relations with the White House will be Israel’s new Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.

MAXIM SHEMETOV/AFP via Getty Images

Netanyahu's old world allies celebrate his return to power

Russia’s Vladimir Putin, India’s Narendra Modi, Hungary’s Victor Orban and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni were all quick to congratulate their ally Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on establishing his sixth government.

AMIR COHEN/AFP via Getty Images

Netanyahu takes PM seat as Israel's new far-right government sworn in

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has presented to his new cabinet amid yelling on the Knesset floor and protests outside.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Israel set to top up Galilee with desalinated water from Mediterranean

Some of the Sea of Galilee's water will reportedly go to Jordan following a water-sharing deal between Israel and Jordan earlier this year.

Amir Levy/Getty Images

With discrimination protections at risk, protests planned across Israel

Entrepreneurs, retired judges, municipalities and academics all are warning against the new government's stated intention to amend Israel's anti-discrimination law.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Israel expected to increase natural gas drilling in 2023

Faithful to his past energy policies and on the backdrop of the global energy crisis, Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to expand exploration for natural gas off Israel's shores.