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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)

Exclusive

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

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, President Reuven Rivlin, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, and ousted premier Benjamin Netanyahu attend a memorial service at the Mount Herzel military cemetery in Jerusalem on June 20, 2021, commemorating soldiers who died in the 2014 Gaza war.

Netanyahu tries to sabotage new government's relations with Washington

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu falsely accuses Foreign Minister Yair Lapid of giving up on Israel’s freedom of action against Iran.

ABIR SULTAN/AFP via Getty Images

All eyes on enigmatic Bennett as he works out what kind of premier to be

Is new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett the right person at the right time for the job or just a political opportunist?

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

New environment minister has ambitious plans for Israel

New Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg has announced some lofty goals, including raising the target for renewable energy to 40% by 2030.

ABBAS MOMANI/AFP via Getty Images

Routine renewal of immigration regulation tears at Israeli coalition

A temporary Israeli immigration measure's yearly renewal has put the members of the new government in an uncomfortable position.

HAZEM BADER/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli Bedouin lawmaker emerges as weak link in new government

Even though his party is part of Israel’s new coalition, Ra’am Knesset member Saeed Alkharumi is already making waves over his top concern: house demolitions in unrecognized Bedouin villages.

Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at the Kohelet Policy Forum conference, where he warned Israel would strike a "resounding blow" if attacked by Iran, Jerusalem, Jan. 8, 2020.

Israel’s Bennett says world powers must 'wake up' after Iranian elections

Israel’s new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and new Foreign Minister Yair Lapid both say that the results of Iran’s presidential elections reflect the country’s true menacing and dangerous intentions.

IDF Chief Aviv Kochavi makes a statement on Nov. 12, 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Israeli army chief heading to Washington to restore mutual trust

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi is scheduled to fly to Washington this weekend, with the mission of restoring trust and cooperation between the sides, especially on the Iranian file.

Pfizer vaccine near Hebron

Palestinian Authority calls off vaccine deal with Israel

The PA said Friday that it wouldn't accept the Pfizer vaccines provided by Israel because the doses were too close to expiring.

A Palestinian member of a health ministry mobile unit vaccinates elderly Palestinians against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in the village of Dura near Hebron in the occupied West Bank, on June 9, 2021.

Israel to give more than 1 million vaccine doses to Palestinians

In order to accelerate the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to the Palestinians, Israel started transferring 1 million Pfizer doses.

Members of the Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian man in front of the Dome of the Rock mosque following Friday prayers in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque complex, on June 18, 2021, as Palestinians protested in response to chants by Israeli ultranationalists targeting Islam's Prophet.

Clash at Al-Aqsa Mosque leaves several wounded

The clashes on Friday came as the Israeli military carried out airstrikes in Gaza in response to continuing incendiary balloons.

Israelis demonstrate outside the court as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial resumes in occupied East Jerusalem, Feb. 8, 2021.

Netanyahu clings to prime minister’s residence

The Netanyahu family is still living in the official residence on Jerusalem's Balfour Street even though Benjamin Netanyahu is no longer prime minister.

Erdogan and Netanyahu

Why Erdogan may miss Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu’s departure as prime minister of Israel is a loss of sorts for Erdogan when it comes to both domestic and regional politics.