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August 25, 2026

Tel Aviv 8:55 pm

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Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C) watches as US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack prepares to sign an agreement in Damascus on September 16, 2025. Shaibani announced on September 16 a plan backed by Jordan and the United States to restore calm to Druze-majority Sweida province, which witnessed deadly violence in July. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP) (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images)

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Israel recalibrates Syria policy, explores path to security deal

Israel is rethinking its hard-line Syria policy and seeking to repair ties with US envoy and Donald Trump's confidant Tom Barrack amid a push for a security agreement with Damascus.

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

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.

Latest News

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

ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP via Getty Images

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

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

TOM WILLIAMS/AFP via Getty Images

CIA chief Burns, Israel's Bennett meet to discuss Iran

CIA Director William Burns met with the new Israeli prime minister on Wednesday as talks to revive the landmark nuclear deal remained deadlocked.

HAZEM BADER/AFP via Getty Images

Government report details how Israel has failed Bedouin community

The Bedouin community in the Negev Desert region has been allocated far bigger budgets for development, health, education and transportation services.

Bahrain’s undersecretary for international relations at the Foreign Ministry Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa visiting the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation in Jaffa, Aug. 10 2021.

Israel rolls out red carpet for senior Bahraini official's third visit

Visiting Israel for the third time, Bahrain’s undersecretary for international relations at the Foreign Ministry, Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, met with President Isaac Herzog, visited the Peres Center for Peace and innovation and even went diving in the Mediterranean.

A family arrives for a rapid COVID-19 antigenic test at Israel's Magen David Adom medical service in Jerusalem on Aug. 8, 2021.

Israeli government's tight grip on pandemic slips

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had labeled himself as Mr. Coronavirus, but now that he is at the helm, the pandemic just keeps spreading.

Michael Herzog speaks at The Washington Institute's Soref Symposium in Washington, DC, May 7, 2009.

Israel’s new US ambassador intimately familiar with Washington

Israel’s new envoy to the United States, Michael Herzog, is the only Israeli official to have participated in all diplomatic negotiations between Israel and Arab states over the past two decades and he knows Washington by heart.

Israeli Foreign Ministry

Arab-Israeli legislator tours Israel’s Foreign Ministry

Raam leader Mansour Abbas' visit to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem was anything but ordinary.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Israel appoints bipartisan negotiator as ambassador to US

Having served in a variety of military positions and as negotiator in several rounds of talks with the Palestinians and Arab countries, Israel’s next ambassador to the US Michael Herzog is widely hailed as the right person for the job.

Michael Herzog and Isaac Herzog

Bennett names Michael Herzog as Israeli ambassador to US

Herzog, a retired brigadier general and fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, is the brother of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Raisi at swearing-in

Raisi ready to support ‘any diplomatic plan’ that lifts sanctions on Iran

Meanwhile, Israeli prime minister is ready to "send a message" to Iran in response to drone attack on Israeli-managed ship that killed two.

JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Israel treads cautiously as fire exchanged on border with Lebanon

Israel’s border with Lebanon is increasingly volatile like the roiling Gaza front in the south.

Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett attends the first meeting of the new government, Jerusalem, June 13, 2021.

Israel’s Bennett strives for new center-right electorate

As new prime minister in a government composed of the right, center and left, Naftali Bennett strives to create for himself a new political base.

Israel's Defence Minister Benny Gantz (L) and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speak to each other at a Knesset (parliament) meeting during which Isaac Herzog, a veteran of Israel's left-wing Labor party, was sworn in as the Jewish state's 11th president, replacing Reuvin Rivlin, in Jerusalem, on July 7, 2020.

Gantz says Israel ready for military action against Iran, if necessary

Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid champion diplomatic efforts against what they consider Iranian terror acts at sea.