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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

This picture taken on Aug. 25, 2019, shows a view of a battery of Israel's Iron Dome defense system, designed to intercept and destroy incoming short-range rockets and artillery shells, near the town of Bet Hillel in northern Israel.

After Iran ship blast, Gantz says Israel preparing for military threats

Defense Minister Benny Gantz declined to react to the report by The New York Times that Israel was behind the attack yesterday on the Iranian Saviz boat, stating simply that Israel is preparing for threats on all possible fronts.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C-R) attends the hearing for his corruption trial at district court in Jerusalem on April 5, 2021.

Netanyahu pledges to end Israel's election paralysis

After receiving the mandate to compose the next government and after the swearing in of the 24th Knesset, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will form a government of action.

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

As coalition talks take shape, Netanyahu preps Plan B

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to compose a majority-backed government, but he's also preparing to fight as leader of the opposition.

Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu greets supporters as he speaks at a Likud party gathering after a vote event, Jerusalem, March 24, 2021.

Drama in Israel: Netanyahu tasked with composing next government

New Hope leader Gideon Saar decided not to recommend a candidate for composing the next government, thus opening the way for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take the first crack at the mission.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (C) speaks with Mansour Abbas, leader of the Arab Joint List, during consultations on who might form the next coalition government, at the president's residence in Jerusalem, April 5, 2021.

Arab-Israeli parties recommend no one to assemble next government

Contrary to last year, neither the Arab Joint List nor Mansour Abbas' Raam party recommended to the president any candidate for the formation of the next government.

A Palestinian artist adds the final touches to a mural painting calling on people to vote during the upcoming elections (legislative in May and presidential in July) in a street in Gaza City, on March 24, 2021.

Israel tight-lipped on Palestinian elections

Official Israel is mindful not to make public statements on the upcoming Palestinian elections, yet some reports suggest it is working behind the scenes to encourage their postponement or cancellation.

Israeli businessman Shaul Elovitz arrives to attend the hearing for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial for corruption

First witness testifies in Netanyahu trial

On a doubly dramatic day in Israel, the first witness testified in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trail and President Reuven Rivlin began consultations on who will be tasked to form the next government.

A picture taken from the Mount of Olives on Jan. 20, 2018, shows a Muslim tourist viewing Jerusalem's Old City and the Dome of the Rock.

Israel prepares for wave of Muslim tourists

With the signing of the Abraham Accords and the opening of Emirati, Bahraini and Moroccan diplomatic missions, Israel is now preparing for an unprecedented wave of Muslim tourists.

Amir Levy/Getty Images

Arab legislator's speech marks historic moment in Israeli politics

In his prime-time speech, Arab Knesset member Mansour Abbas cleverly laid the groundwork for an Arab party to join it.

Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab Party (Ra'am), delivers a speech in Nazareth, Israel, April 1, 2021.

Netanyahu’s fans hail historic speech by Israeli Arab legislator

Likud’s enthusiasm over the speech of Arab legislator Mansour Abbas might be opportunist and not candid, but it is changing Israeli politics and society irreversibly.

Naftali Bennett, leader of the Israeli right-wing Yamina ('New Right') party, addresses supporters at his party's campaign headquarters in the Mediterranean coastal city of Tel Aviv early on March 24, 2021, after the end of voting in the fourth national election in two years.

Israel’s Bennett faces dilemma of his life

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows that without Yamina leader Naftali Bennett he has absolutely no chances of forming the next government.

The 120-seat Knesset (Israeli parliament) chamber is virtually empty as the debate over Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza Strip disengagement plan enters its second day Oct. 25, 2004 in Jerusalem, Israel.

Israel’s new parliament most divided yet

Multitude of parties and internal division are a sure recipe for a chaotic 24th Knesset.