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August 25, 2026

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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

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

Liberman takes on ultra-Orthodox

New finance Minister Avigdor Liberman is ending daycare subsidies for ultra-Orthodox families in which the husband studies rather than works.

A former Israeli Druze officer (R) holds a banner that reads in Hebrew, "Bibi, look at the absurdity that you have created with your law,"

Israel's top court upholds Jewish nation-state law

The 2018 law, which enshrines national self-determination as a unique right of the Jewish people, was denounced by critics who say it discriminates against Israel's Arab population.

Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (R) and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid attend the first meeting of the new government, Jerusalem, June 13, 2021.

Israel’s Bennett rethinks Iran policy

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is reviewing Israel’s policy on Iran in order to find the best strategy adapted to the developing situation in the region and worldwide.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with members of the Israeli border police in the central city of Lod, near Tel Aviv, on May 13, 2021, a day after Israeli far-right groups clashed with security forces and Arab Israelis.

Israeli imam charged with inciting violence

Yusuf Albaz allegedly called for police to be killed during May's unrest in the city of Lod.

jordan water pipe

Israel’s Bennett, Jordan's king meet secretly, make water deal

In a meeting July 8 in Jordan, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi formalized an agreement reached by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Jordanian King Abdullah last week on increasing the quantity of water Israel will sell to Jordan.

A building that belonged to Palestinian Montasser Shalaby, who was arrested in May on suspicion of carrying out a drive-by shooting attack, is imploded in the course of its demolition by Israeli forces in the village of Turmus'ayya near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on July 8, 2021.

Bennett bristles under US criticism for punitive house demolition

In a first open disagreement, Washington condemned Jerusalem for demolishing the family home of a Palestinian assailant, while Jerusalem said its first priority is the safety of Israeli citizens.

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

Herzog inauguration marks new beginning for Israelis

With his pleasant persona, political record and status as an international statesman, new President Isaac Herzog could be the answer to the divides that have plagued Israeli society for years.

GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

Isaac Herzog sworn in as Israeli president

Newly inaugurated President Isaac Herzog pledged to work to mend the rifts and divides in Israeli society.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli government's Arab party pays dearly for place in coalition

The drama over the citizenship law gave the Arab Raam Party its first bitter taste of life in the coalition.

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

Jordan prices entice Israeli vacationers

High prices in Israeli hotels might drive locals to prefer trips to Jordan or Egypt as international travel cautiously resumes.

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

Bennett government fails first Knesset test

Israel's new government has failed to win Knesset approval to extend family unification legislation often cited as a security issue.

Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images

Netanyahu-Olmert mudslinging splashes Israeli headlines

The family of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is suing former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for saying they are mentally ill, but Olmert is standing behind his claims.