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

Israel cover image

Israel

August 26, 2026

Tel Aviv 5:17 am

24°C

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

UN adopts five anti-Israel resolutions

Israel noted that fewer UN members voted this year in favor of the pro-Palestinian, anti-Israeli resolution, which comes up for vote annually each December.

Is Israel on its way to fourth election?

Voting for the disbandment of the Knesset, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and his Blue and White party put themselves on a collision course with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A houbara bustard walks at Al-Marzoom Hunting reserve, 150kms west of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on February 2, 2016. / AFP / KARIM SAHIB (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Israelis, Emiratis connect over cinema, concern for nature

While trade is a pillar of the nascent ties between Israel and the Emirates, civil groups on both sides are finding plenty of common goals and joint projects to pursue.

United Arab Emirates

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 11: Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) arrive before participating during a town hall hosted by the NAACP on September 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. Also pictured is CNN Commentator Angela Rye. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

The Takeaway: Is Israel ready to welcome the Squad?

Israeli minister says it is time to ramp up outreach to Democrats; Amberin Zaman gets the scoop on Turkey-Israel channel; Biden administration needs to lay out Saudi policy early; four Mideast takeaways from Obama’s book.

Israel receives advanced warship amid heightened tensions with Iran

The Saar 6 can fire missiles, launch helicopters and deploy Israel's Iron Dome technology. Its arrival comes following the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist, allegedly by Israel.

Israel transfers over $1 billion in tax revenues to Palestinians

The Palestinian Authority suspended the transfers in May, worsening the cash-strapped government's financial woes.

Bahrain trade minister on three-day trip to Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi each met today with Bahrain Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, who arrived in Israel leading a delegation of 40 businesspeople.

A Palestinian girl walks towards an alley leading to the Qaqaa Bin Amr mosque, in the mostly Arab east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan, on September 15, 2020. - Israeli authorities suspended a demolition order on the two-story building in the Silwan neighbourhood, and granted those in charge of it 21 days to challenge the demolition order. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Court throws out school discrimination suit as Israel tests nationality law

An Israeli court’s decision against Arab children demanding to be reimbursed for traveling to a distant Arabic-speaking school illustrates the dangerous implications of the 2018 nationality law.

Israel's Blue and White party plans vote to dissolve Knesset

Defense Minister Benny Gantz said there will be early elections unless the government passes a budget.

הדמיה הרכבל לכותל - קרדיט הרלי.jpg

Jerusalem cable car taken to Israel's highest court

Israel's High Court is set to rule on a controversial cable car project in Jerusalem that would alter the city's landscape.

Iran MPs vote for nuclear deal breaches after scientist’s assassination

Four days after a top Iranian nuclear scientist was assassinated, the country’s conservative parliament overwhelmingly adopted a draft bill calling for significant breaches of Tehran’s obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal.

Netanyahu, alone at the top, makes a friend on the beach

Having distanced aides and security chiefs he no longer trusts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become a very lonely leader.