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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

Secretary of State Antony Blinken (C) greets Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid ahead of their meeting in Rome, on June 27, 2021.

Israel’s Lapid puts Iran talks on table in meeting with Blinken

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid is committed to repairing ties with the US administration and opening discrete dialogue channels on the Iranian file.

A woman attends a ceremony to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust at the Ghetto Heroes Monument in Warsaw, Poland, on Jan. 27, 2021.

Lapid calls out Poland for bill limiting Holocaust compensation

Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid objects to Polish legislation designed to limit restitution rights for Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks as he chairs the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, on June 27, 2021. - The Israeli health ministry reimposed a requirement on June 25 for masks to be worn in enclosed public places, following a surge in Covid-19 cases since the rule was dropped 10 days earlier.

Is Israel breaking left under Bennett?

The decision to evacuate the West Bank Evyatar outpost suggests that the new government is further left than right.

Trump Heights Golan Heights

State Department says no change in US recognition of Israel's claim to Golan Heights

The Washington Free Beacon reported that the Biden administration would be “walking back” President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli.

masked worshipper at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

Israel renews indoor mask mandate amid COVID-19 surge

After registering its highest daily caseload in more than two months, Israel has reimposed a mandate on mask usage indoors.

Nizar Banat's body carried

Can Abbas survive summer of Palestinian discontent?

Following killing of a political dissident, the Palestinian president’s hold on power continues to weaken, while support for Hamas is growing.

JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Druze woman appointed Jewish Agency representative in US

Many within the Druze community are shaking their heads following news that former Knesset member Gadeer Kamal Mreeh has agreed to serve as emissary of the Jewish Agency.

Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett arrives to the prime minister's office to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting, Jerusalem, May 6, 2018.

Unlike Netanyahu, Bennett opts for discreet dialogue with US on Iran

The Biden administration seems to welcome the approach of the new Bennett government, of conducting a discreet yet open dialogue on the Iranian file.

MAZEN MAHDI/AFP via Getty Images

Omani FM voices hope Israel's new leaders will advance Palestinian state

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi told his Israeli counterpart that the Gulf country is hopeful the new government in Israel can take "concrete steps" to establish a sovereign Palestinian state.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

IDF chief argues against Iran deal in Washington

In his meetings this week in Washington, IDF chief Aviv Kochavi reiterated Israeli warnings against the United States rejoining the Iran nuclear agreement.

HEIDI LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images

Bennett welcomes Honduran Embassy in Jerusalem

In a first such event under the Bennett government, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has inaugurated his country’s new embassy in Jerusalem.

Amir Levy/Getty Images

New Israeli government jumps to deepen ties with Emirates, Bahrain

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid plans to travel to the United Arab Emirates June 29-30 in the first ever Israeli ministerial visit to the country.