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August 26, 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)

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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

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

Democratic Party platform criticizes possible Israeli annexation of West Bank, Saudi role in Yemen

Parts of the platform approved at the Democratic National Convention this week have been both praised and criticized by Israel- and Iran-focused groups in Washington.

Netanyahu’s maneuvers leave Blue and White clueless on budget, elections

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s constant machinations and tricks leave Blue and White in the dark as to whether he intends to push for new elections next week.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-R) and his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (C-L) speak to journalists upon the latter's arrival in the capital Amman on March 13, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Khalil MAZRAAWI (Photo credit should read KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP via Getty Images)

Jordan worries Israel-UAE deal will scuttle two-state solution

Jordan has always been a staunch supporter of the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative, but that might not mean much anymore after Israel and the UAE agreed to normalize ties under a historic US-brokered deal.

United Arab Emirates

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - MARCH 09: U.S Vice President Joe Biden gives a speech at the office meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on March 9, 2016 in Jerusalem, Israel. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is on a two day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories. (Photo by Ilia Yefimovich/Getty Images)

Netanyahu fears that Biden as president would renew Iran deal

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains a friendly relationship with US presidential candidate Joe Biden, but fears that if elected, President Biden would return to talks with Iran.

US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu give joint statements to press in the prime minister's office in Jerusalem on March 9, 2016.
Biden implicitly criticised Palestinian leaders for not condemning attacks against Israelis, as an upsurge in violence marred his visit.

/ AFP / POOL AND AFP / DEBBIE HILL (Photo credit should read DEBBIE HILL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Takeaway: Will US presidential election impact Israeli decision on annexation?

Five takes on the UAE Deal: Israel as ‘belle of the ball’; a ‘nonsense’ deal; a business windfall; Egypt’s missed opportunities.

Teachers, rabbis at odds over satirical Israeli TV show

Conservative activists are protesting the popular comedy show "The Jews are Coming," though supporters say its irreverence is crucial to Israeli society.

Israel calls out Hezbollah on tribunal decision

Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that the verdict in the Rafic Hariri case clearly shows Hezbollah’s responsibility for the murder.

LGBT pride banners vandalized in several cities in Israel

There were at least five attempts to remove LGBT pride flags in Israel during the past year; some of them involved vandalism.

Israel’s spy chief visits UAE for talks

Mossad chief Yossi Cohen's visit to the United Arab Emirates is the first such trip by an Israeli official since the two countries announced their historic deal last week.

United Arab Emirates

An Israeli F35 I takes part in the "Blue Flag" multinational air defence exercise at the Ovda air force base, north of the Israeli city of Eilat, on November 11, 2019. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Intel: Israel still opposes any potential US sale of F-35 fighter aircraft to UAE

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday denied reports that his government’s historic agreement with the United Arab Emirates included a potential US sale of F-35 fighter aircraft to the UAE in exchange for the Gulf country’s recognition of the Jewish state.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs building is pictured in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, on June 23, 2020. - Sudan is close to finalising a deal with the United States to compensate the victims of 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 224 people. The twin bombings took place in August 1998 when a massive blast hit the US embassy in downtown Nairobi, shortly followed by an explosion in Dar es Salaam. (Photo by ASHRAF SHAZLY / AFP) (Photo by ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel, Sudan confirm they are in talks toward peace agreement

Senior figures in Sudan and Israel confirmed today that both countries are advancing toward a peace agreement, perhaps even by the beginning of 2021.

Israeli and German jets fly over Munich Olympics massacre site, Dachau concentration camp

The joint exercises this week mark the first ever between Israel and Germany on German soil.