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

Israel cover image

Israel

May 17, 2026

Tel Aviv 1:38 am

19°C

talks

Lebanon-Israel ceasefire extended 45 days as US opens security talks

The Pentagon will host Israeli and Lebanese military delegations for a round of separate security talks later this month.

US President Donald Trump talks to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as he departs the Al Bateen Executive Airport on May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Analysis

‘A reckless act’: Netanyahu sparks UAE fury by claiming secret visit

Just as UAE-Israeli relations were deepening through cooperation against Iran, the Israeli prime minister publicly embarrassed Abu Dhabi by revealing his March visit.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Israel's Netanyahu suing New York Times over column on Palestinian rape

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof's accusations of systematic sexual abuse and rape of Palestinian prisoners, calling the claims a "blood libel."

Latest News

Analysis

Israel’s drone dilemma: Hezbollah’s low-cost threat reshapes Lebanon front

Artillery units are positioned near the Lebanese border in northern Israel, May 4, 2026.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

EU ministers agree to sanction violent West Bank settlers: What to know

Two men stand next to the burned remains of a Palestinian vehicle in the Wadi al-Rakhim area of Susya village in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on May 1, 2026.

Netanyahu fears being left out as Trump pursues Iran diplomacy

Ronen Zvulun / AFP via Getty Images

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

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

RAMADI, IRAQ - SEPTEMBER 06: U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker speaks to tribal leaders during a key development meeting between Iraqi and American government officials and Sunni sheikhs September 6, 2007 in Ramadi, Anbar Province, Iraq. Crocker speaks fluent Arabic. He and commanding General David Petraeus are due to give a report to Congress next week on the state of the war in Iraq. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

The Takeaway: US should keep embassy open in Iraq despite risk, says Ryan Crocker

Former ambassador to Iraq says US needs ‘strategic patience’ in support of prime minister; Netanyahu under siege over COVID; Palestinians ready for international conference after US elections, even if Trump wins; Hamas counting on Iran and Sudan.

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish youth walks past a barrier set up by Israeli police on the road in the religious Israeli city of Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, amid measures put in place by Israeli authorities in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19, on September 8, 2020. - In March, Bnei Brak was an initial "rebel" against the government's coronavirus rules, compelling authorities to deploy soldiers to help police impose containment measures. But after infection rates peaked across the country, Israel on Monday impose

Israeli police, ultra-Orthodox clash over coronavirus restrictions

Clashes between the ultra-Orthodox and police have intensified over lockdown orders that, among other things, call for the avoidance of public prayers.

Palestinian demonstrators are separated by Israeli police barriers from Israelis celebrating Jerusalem Day, that marks the anniversary of the "reunification" of the holy city after Israel captured the Arab eastern sector from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War, outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's old city on June 5, 2016.

Israel occupied east Jerusalem in 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognized by the international community. / AFP / AHMAD GHARABLI (Photo credit should read AHMAD GHA

Ex-Shin Bet analysts recruited to fight coronavirus within Israeli-Arab society

It is difficult to understand why the Israeli authorities are recruiting ex-Shin Bet analysts to participate in an information campaign planned to combat the coronavirus in the Israeli-Arab community.

(L-R) Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan pose as they visit the Holocaust memorial prior to their historic meeting in Berlin, on October 6, 2020. (Photo by MICHELE TANTUSSI / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MICHELE TANTUSSI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli, Emirati diplomats meet in Germany

The meeting was the countries' first since signing a normalization agreement last month.

United Arab Emirates

A view of the platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea is pictured from the Israeli northern coastal city of Caesarea on December 19, 2019. - Israel has approved the export of gas from its offshore reserves to Egypt, a spokeswoman said on December 17, with a major reservoir expected to begin operations imminently.
The approval by Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz was part of a long process under which Israel will transform from an importer of natural gas from Egypt into an exporter

Chevron becomes operator of two Israeli natural gas fields

US gas and petrol giant Chevron is now the owner of Nobel Energy and the operator of Israel natural gas fields Tamar and Leviathan.

'Black Flag' anti-Netanyahu movement turning Israel upside down

The Blue and White party is challenged by the anti-Netanyahu Black Flag movement, which is gaining tremendous momentum.

Israeli police are confronted by protesters during a demonstration amid a second lockdown in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, on September 26, 2020, to protest the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. - Thousands of Israelis gathered in Jerusalem to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a day after the country tightened its lockdown aimed at slowing coronavirus spread. (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP) (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Get

Is Israel heading toward civil war?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s growing incitement, the deepening economic crisis, the battle over demonstrations and ultra-Orthodox coronavirus infections are taking Israel several steps closer to a civil war.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 13: David Friedman, US Ambassador to Israel speaks during a briefing at the White House August 13, 2020 in Washington, DC. Trump spoke on a range of topics including his announcement earlier in the day of a new peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

US ambassador to Israel warns Biden win could undermine consensus on Iran

Ambassador David Friedman is the latest sitting US official to promote the president's policies ahead of the 2020 election.

Israeli El Al airline aircrafts are pictured on the tarmac at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, east of Tel Aviv, on September 24, 2020. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

American-Israeli yeshiva student takes reins of El Al

Israeli authorities approved the sale of almost 43% of Israel’s national carrier El Al to 27-year-old Eli Rozenberg, whose American father critics say is behind the purchase.

TOPSHOT - A view shows aftermath of recent shelling during the ongoing fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, in the disputed region's main city of Stepanakert on October 4, 2020. (Photo by Karo Sahakyan / Armenian Government / AFP) (Photo by KARO SAHAKYAN/Armenian Government/AFP via Getty Images)

Armenia accuses Israel of arming Azerbaijan

Armenia has recalled its ambassador, claiming that Israel supplies its rival Azerbaijan with weapons.

Digital anti-Netanyahu demonstrations attract thousands of Israelis

The Darkenu civil movement stages digital demonstrations that attract hundreds of thousands of viewers.

Israeli protesters sit on the ground during a demonstration against the Israeli prime minister and against the second nationwide lockdown imposed by the government in a bid to stem the increase of COVID-19 coronavirus cases, in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, on October 1, 2020. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Anti-Netanyahu groups stage ‘neighborhood protests’

Following restrictions on demonstrations, anti-Netanyahu groups are now staging “neighborhood protests’’ across the country.