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Israel

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

Israel's Yamina party leader, Naftali Bennett (L), smiles as he speaks to Yesh Atid party leader, Yair Lapid, during a special session of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, to elect a new president, in Jerusalem on June 2, 2021.

Israel's change coalition: What happens next?

Here’s what could happen next as the Knesset gears up to vote on a governing coalition aiming to unseat Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

YONATAN SINDEL/AFP via Getty Images

Netanyahu asks Israeli right to stop 'dangerous' coalition

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on lawmakers to oppose the broad-based governing coalition and accused his former aide, Yamina leader Naftali Bennett, of "selling out."

ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP via Getty Images

Israel’s new president brings spirit of compromise

Jewish Agency head Isaac Herzog was chosen Israel’s new president only hours before Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid announced the composition of a new government.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Despite agreements, fate of Israel’s new government still uncertain

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, senior Likud members and settler leaders are calling upon legislators in Yamina and New Hope to defect from the change bloc.

This combination of pictures shows (L to R) Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid party speaking during an interview in Jerusalem on March 7, 2021; Naftali Bennett of the Yamina party speaking to reporters at a conference in Jerusalem on March 15, 2021; and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party speaking during a ceremony marking Yom HaZikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, in Jerusalem on April 13, 2021.

Israel’s new government explained

If the eight-faction change government succeeds in getting sworn in, this is how it will look like.

Ra'am Party leader Mansour Abbas (L) signs a coalition agreement with Yair Lapid (L) and Naftali Bennett (C) in Jerusalem, June 2, 2021.

The Takeaway: Israel’s new government united in opposition to Bibi but not much else

Israeli Arab party leader Mansour Abbas makes history as dealmaker; will Hamas and Assad bury the hatchet; Does Hadi have a future in Yemen? Egypt, Sudan double down on military, economic ties; update on UN Iraq report; more!

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid in Knesset on June 2

Minutes before deadline expires, Israel gets new government

Minutes before his mandate expired, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid announced that he had called President Reuven Rivlin to tell him that Lapid had signed agreements providing the support needed to form a government that will oust Benjamin Netanyahu from power.

Pro Palestinian protesters face off with a group of Israel supporters and police in a violent clash in Times Square on May 20, 2021 in New York City.

Israeli-Hamas conflict continues to reverberate in US

US backers of Israelis, Palestinians argue their cases.

Isaac Herzog

Isaac Herzog elected Israel’s next president

With the support of an historic majority of 87 parliamentarians, Jewish Agency chair Isaac Herzog has been elected Israel’s 11th president.

Amir Levy/Getty Images

In first for Israel, Arab party speaks with official voice in coalition talks

Whatever the outcome of tonight's talks on the composition of a new government, Raam head Mansour Abbas had already made history by openly participating in the negotiations for the change coalition.

Google sign

Israel to get own cloud in deals with Amazon, Google

In a bold move, Israel has signed a series of contracts with Amazon Web Services and Google to provide the government with cloud services.

Kochavi

Israeli officials play down IDF chief’s comments about bombed Gaza tower

Defense Minister Benny Gantz dismissed Kochavi's comments as illustrative, not literal.