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

Israel cover image

Israel

May 15, 2026

Tel Aviv 3:04 am

22°C

Israel's Netanyahu suing New York Times over column on Palestinian rape

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof's accusations of systematic sexual abuse and rape of Palestinian prisoners, calling the claims a "blood libel."

Artillery units are positioned near the Lebanese border in northern Israel, May 4, 2026.

Analysis

Israel’s drone dilemma: Hezbollah’s low-cost threat reshapes Lebanon front

While Israeli and Lebanese delegations are set to meet in Washington for the third time, the Israeli military faces a growing threat from Hezbollah’s cheap yet highly lethal drones.

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

Latest News

EU ministers agree to sanction violent West Bank settlers: What to know

Two men stand next to the burned remains of a Palestinian vehicle in the Wadi al-Rakhim area of Susya village in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on May 1, 2026.

Netanyahu fears being left out as Trump pursues Iran diplomacy

Ronen Zvulun / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

CIA report on Iran missiles undercuts Netanyahu as war euphoria dissipates

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.

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

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

GIL COHEN-MAGEN,MENAHEM KAHANA,DEBBIE HILL/AFP via Getty Images

After Netanyahu's failure, Lapid tapped to form Israeli government

After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's failure, President Reuven Rivlin has handed the mandate for composing the government to Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid.

Israel's foreign ministry

Israel flies medical aid to India

An Israeli plane loaded with medical aid arrived to India this morning and others will soon follow.

Funeral for stampede victim

Ultra-Orthodox blame own leadership for failing to prevent Meron stampede

More and more decision-shapers within the ultra-Orthodox community are coming out against their own leadership, calling on authorities to thoroughly investigate the Mount Meron stampede.

Joshua Roberts/Getty Images

Israel not reassured by Biden’s meeting with Mossad chief

President Joe Biden told Mossad chief Yossi Cohen in the White House that the United States will not abandon Israel on Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on June 7, 2020. Netanyahu urged world powers to reimpose tough sanctions against Iran, vowing to curb Tehran's regional "aggression" hours after another deadly strike on pro-Iranian fighters in Syria.

Mossad chief conveys Israeli concerns about Iran to Biden

Reports say that President Joe Biden joined unexpectedly on Friday a meeting at the White House between Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Israeli drivers go electric

The importation of 1,500 Tesla cars in May paints a picture of Israeli consumers eager to transition to electric vehicles.

A projection of an Israeli flag flying before lit candles is displayed on the Old City walls of Jerusalem, as Israel declares a national day of mourning for victims of a stampede during the Lag Ba'Omer holiday at Mount Meron, May 2, 2021,

Israel marks national day of mourning after Mount Meron tragedy

Flags were lowered to half-staff in Israel on May 2, as the country honored the 45 people who perished in the Mount Meron stampede on April 30.

Lebanon's parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (R) meets with US envoy David Schenker (C) and US Ambassador to Algeria John Desrocher (L) in Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 15, 2020.

US to send mediation team for Israel-Lebanon maritime talks next week

The resumption of talks, which stalled in November, could unlock significant economic benefits for debt-ridden Lebanon.

Despite years of warnings that the site was unsafe for such large events, thousands of worshipers gathered at Mount Meron for a celebration that turned into a nightmare.

Warnings foreshadowed deadly stampede in Israel

Despite years of warnings that the site was unsafe for such large events, thousands of worshipers gathered at Mount Meron for a celebration that turned into a nightmare.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews gather at the grave site of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai at Mount Meron as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba'Omer, marking the anniversary of the death of the Talmudic sage, approximately 1,900 years ago, Israel, April 29, 2021.

Dozens killed at stampede in Israel during religious celebration

At least 45 people were crushed to death during the Lag Ba’Omer celebrations at the Mount Meron site.

Blinken and Cohen

Blinken meets Israel’s Mossad chief to talk Iran

The meeting follows talks earlier this week involving Israeli officials and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

Orna Barbivai receives the rank of major general from Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz as her husband and Defense Minister Ehud Barak look on, June 23, 2011.

First woman to head Knesset defense committee

Orna Barbivai, a retired major general, is taking over one of the most enviable positions in Israel's male-dominated security establishment: head of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.