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

Israel cover image

Israel

June 23, 2025

Tel Aviv 3:18 am

25°C

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is briefed by Professor Alon Chen, President of the Weizmann Institute of Science, as he visits the facility's site which was hit by an Iranian missile barrage, in the central city of Rehovot on June 20, 2025. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Euphoric Netanyahu’s push for Iran regime change after US strikes risks ‘anarchy’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ecstatic over the Americans striking Iran, but experts are warning the attack might not have fully eliminated Tehran’s nuclear project.

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

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - JUNE 22: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon on June 22, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. U.S. President Donald Trump gave an address to the nation last night after three Iranian nuclear facilities were struck by the U.S. military. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Iran's missile systems 'did not see us': Pentagon says nuclear capabilities destroyed at Fordow

Largest-ever USAF B-2 bomber mission involved multiple feints — Iran’s air defenses did not fire a shot, top Pentagon general says.

Commuters drive past an anti-Israel billboard in Tehran, on June 22, 2025. President Donald Trump said the US military carried out strikes on June 22 on three Iranian nuclear sites and that Tehran "must now agree to end this war", following days of speculation over whether the United States would join its ally Israel's bombing campaign. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey airs 'deep concern' as Saudi Arabia, Russia condemn US strikes in Iran

Iranian-backed proxies, including Hamas and the Houthis, condemned the attack, with the Yemeni militants saying retaliation is only a "matter of time."

Smoke rises from locations targeted in Tehran amid the third day of Israel's waves of strikes against Iran, on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Photo by Khoshiran / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by KHOSHIRAN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump: US dropped bombs on Iran's Fordow, Natanz, Isfahan nuclear sites

Donald Trump now calls for peace after the United States' "very successful attack on three nuclear sites in Iran including Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan."

Latest News

Interview

Amos Yadlin: Israel's goal to enable Trump to reach better Iran deal than 2015

Retired Israeli general and Executive Director of Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) Amos Yadlin attends a session at the Manama Dialogue security conference in the Bahraini capital on December 5, 2020. (Photo by Mazen Mahdi / AFP) (Photo by MAZEN MAHDI/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel's war in Iran redefining AI’s warfare role: The Gulf is taking notes

A drone flies beside a damaged building following a strike by an Iranian missile in the Israeli city of Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, early on June 15, 2025.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

EU FMs hold talks with Iran's Araghchi as US mulls strike: What to know

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (C) gives a statement during his visit to the mausoleum of slain Lebanese Hezbollah's Leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in September 2024, in Beirut's southern suburbs on June 3, 2025.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Francesco Schiavi

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

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

Rina Bassist

Associate Editor (Israel)

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Marjayoun, near the Lebanon-Israel border, on Sept. 23, 2024.

Israel security cabinet approves ceasefire deal with Hezbollah to end Lebanon war

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet approved the US-mediated deal with Hezbollah for stopping the conflict in Lebanon.

Smoke billows above Beirut's southern suburbs following an Israeli airstrike on Nov. 26, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Cautious optimism in Lebanon as Israel inches toward cease-fire deal

Lebanon is awaiting Israel’s decision on a US-brokered cease-fire deal even as Israeli strikes continue across the country.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the District Court to follow Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan by video conference from Brighton, testifying at a trial involving Netanyahu, Jerusalem, June 25, 2023.

Netanyahu gets partial delay for testimony; cease-fire decision expected in hours

As the Jerusalem District Court decided to delay Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial by one week only, reports say a deal with Lebanon is imminent.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a memorial ceremony for Israelis killed on the Hebrew calendar anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on Oct. 27, 2024.

Analysis

Will Netanyahu finally agree to Lebanon cease-fire after months of delays?

Barring any major surprises, Israel is expected to approve a cease-fire deal with Hezbollah Tuesday — something that will make delaying his graft trial even harder for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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

The influential head of Lebanon's General Security apparatus, Abbas Ibrahim, is pictured during an interview at his office in the capital Beirut on July 22, 2020.

Interview

Lebanon’s ex-spymaster says Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire close

Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim told Al-Monitor that a deal to end the year of fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah could be imminent.

Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim

Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim

Former Lebanese intelligence chief

Rabbi Levi Duchman performs morning prayers on the roof of the Jewish Community Center of the UAE, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 22, 2021.

UAE’s Jewish community in shock as arrests made in Israeli rabbi’s killing

The Israeli-Jewish community in the United Arab Emirates is horrified after the killing of prominent Israeli-Moldovan Rabbi Zvi Kogan.

Republican presidential nominee, former US President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Analysis

Does Israel warning foreshadow shift on Iraq policy under Trump?

“Israel will not hesitate to do whatever is necessary” to protect its people, Israel’s UN ambassador tells Al-Monitor.

Andrew Parasiliti

By Andrew Parasiliti

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: President Donald Trump (R) holds up a chart of military hardware sales as he meets with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Oval Office at the White House on March 20, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images)

Analysis

Saudi Arabia to pursue two-track approach for Trump presidency

Riyadh is likely to compartmentalize business dealings with incoming President Donald Trump separately from its foreign policy engagements, where there is likely to be disagreement.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

US President Donald Trump with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu(R) at the White House, Washington, DC, Sept. 15, 2020.

Analysis

Could Trump intervene against ICC arrest warrants to help Netanyahu?

Associates of the Israeli prime minister had hoped that Trump's victory would derail International Criminal Court warrants.

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

US President Joe Biden shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 25, 2024.

US isolation deepens with ICC’s Netanyahu arrest warrant

The White House was quick to condemn the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister, fueling accusations of a double standard.

OLIVER BUNIC/AFP via Getty Images

With exception of Arab Hadash, Israeli parties slam ICC's Netanyahu warrant

Apart from the Arab Hadash party, Israeli political leaders across the spectrum have condemned the International Criminal Court for issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

DEBBIE HILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel’s Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas' Deif

Six months after International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan submitted his request to prosecute them, the world court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.