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

Israel cover image

Israel

May 9, 2026

Tel Aviv 7:23 am

19°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

Israel gas

More gas discovered off coast of Israel as Lebanon talks falter

Energean’s discovery follows a setback in the US-mediated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon over their maritime border.

The Turkish (R) and Israeli flags.

Turkey taps career diplomat as new ambassador to Israel

Turkey has named a veteran career diplomat as the new Turkish ambassador to Israel — a move that also reflects Ankara’s sensitivities to the Palestinian cause.

MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images

IDF forces on alert as maritime agreement with Lebanon crumbles

Israel has rejected the changes Beirut has demanded to the draft maritime border agreement and now fears tensions could escalate on its northern border.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz

Israeli defense minister fosters security ties in Azerbaijan

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz traveled this week to Azerbaijan on the backdrop of growing tensions with Iran and Jerusalem’s desire to deepen strategic, security and economic ties with Baku.

Itamar Ben-Gvir (L), Israeli far-right lawmaker and leader of the Jewish Power party, arrives with other Israeli right-wing activists at the archaeological and religious site of the Tomb of Samuel in Nabi Samuel village, between Ramallah and Jerusalem, West Bank, Sept. 2, 2022.

Netanyahu's ultranationalist minister pick concerns US

American officials are warning opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu that including ultranationalist Itamar Ben Gvir in a possible future cabinet would damage Israel’s relations with its great ally.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to speak at the Computer History Museum, Mountain View, California, March 5, 2014.

Netanyahu attacks US over Israel-Lebanon maritime border deal

In his efforts to win the Nov. 1 elections, opposition head Benjamin Netanyahu is willing to torpedo the American-mediated agreement between Israel and Lebanon on maritime border demarcation and to attack the Biden administration.

A view of the platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea.

Israel, Cyprus to resolve disagreement over maritime gas field

Most of the disagreement points between Israel and Cyprus over the joint Aphrodite-Yishai natural gas reservoir have been resolved, and an agreement is apparently imminent.

Kobi Gideon/GPO

In EU dialogue, Lapid recommits Israel to two-state solution

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid addressed the long-defunct council for the Israel-EU Association Agreement today in a major step toward resuming dialogue with the European Union.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid makes an opening statement as he chairs the weekly Cabinet meeting, Jerusalem, Oct. 2, 2022.

Israel’s Lapid defends compromise with Lebanon over maritime border

Slammed by opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Yair Lapid claims the proposed deal over the demarcation of Israel and Lebanon’s maritime border protects Israel strategically on several levels.

An Aeroflot-Russian Airlines Boeing 777-3M0 lands at Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod, east of Tel Aviv, Israel, Aug. 3, 2020.

Israel warns dual citizens about travel to Russia

Jerusalem tells Israeli-Russian citizens they could be drafted into Russian army.

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews attend the funeral of Rabbi Shalom Cohen, influential spiritual leader of Israel's largest ultra-Orthodox Shas party, Jerusalem, Aug. 22, 2022.

Culture

Ultra-Orthodox address mental illness in Israel

Bayit Cham battles against the attitude still prevalent among many ultra-Orthodox families that mental illness is something that needs hiding.

Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

Israel-US tensions grow over West Bank escalation

With elections just a month out and despite American warnings, Prime Minister Yair Lapid is sticking with his hawkish line on West Bank security escalation.