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May 18, 2026

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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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, centrist Blue and White leader, and Netanyahu's partner in his new unity government, talk during a swearing in ceremony of the new government, at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem May 17, 2020. Amos Ben Gershon/Knesset Spokesperson's Office/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT - RC2FQG9FD46U

Blue and White lawmakers said to support staged annexation

Blue and White Knesset members are reportedly pushing for a staged annexation plan that begins with two settlement blocs.

NGO workers speak to European Union heads of mission and other local envoys about the impact of Israeli annexation, during a diplomatic tour of Palestinian villages, near al-Mughayyir in the Israeli-occupied West Bank June 11, 2020. REUTERS/Rami Ayyub - RC2Y6H9D0HGZ

More world leaders take stand against Netanyahu’s annexation plan

Jordan's King Abdullah and leaders of the European Union are now focusing their anti-annexation efforts on the American administration.

People visit a beach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Ashkelon, as restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ease around Israel, May 16, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC2RPG9LGFQZ

Israel kicks party business off beaches

An Israeli court has ruled in favor of protecting Israel’s beaches from commercial use such as keeping tents and other equipment on them.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis issue joint statements in Jerusalem, June 16, 2020. Debbie Hill/Pool via REUTERS - RC2BAH9GJTED

Israel, Greek prime ministers showcase bilateral alliance

The visit in Israel of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reflects a growing convergence of interests between the two countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands at an overview of the Israeli settlement of Har Homa, located in an area of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, that Israel annexed to Jerusalem after the region's capture in the 1967 Middle East war, February 20, 2020. Debbie Hill/Pool via REUTERS - RC2E4F92VRA5

Netanyahu edges back to reality as support for annexation wanes

After warnings by the US administration that he needs to have Blue and White on board with his plan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may settle for a limited, symbolic annexation.

Supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu take part in a protest outside the Prime Minister's Residence, on the day when Netanyahu's corruption trial starts, in Jerusalem May 24, 2020. Heidi levine/Pool via REUTERS - RC23VG9UAW5L

Netanyahu's associates escalate campaign against legal system

Supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu increase their campaign against the legal system, Attorney General Avichai Mandeblit and the courts.

A cargo plane operated by Etihad Airways, carrying medical aid for Palestinians related to the coronavirus Covid-19 disease, prepares to land at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on June 9, 2020. - The United Arab Emirates flew its first publicly announced flight to Israel on May 20, 2020 when Etihad Airways sent medical supplies to help the Palestinians cope with the coronavirus pandemic. Except for Jordan and Egypt, Arab countries have no official relations with Israel but Gulf Arab nations like t

Palestinians reject aid from UAE again

The Palestinian Authority accuses the UAE of seeking to normalize ties with Israel after the UAE sends a medical aid flight to Israel.

United Arab Emirates

Battleground state Democrats warn against annexation after AIPAC greenlights criticism

Eight Senate candidates in battleground states are warning Israel against annexing the West Bank after the American Israel Public Affairs Committee greenlit the criticism.

Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil talks during a news conference in Cairo January 14, 2009. The Palestinian movement Hamas said on Wednesday it had given Egypt its views on an Egyptian ceasefire plan for Gaza and that it was now up to Cairo to present those views to Israel. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih (EGYPT) - GM1E51F09GI01

Hamas calls for ‘resistance’ against Israel’s West Bank annexation plans

A senior Hamas official called for the proposed annexation to be met with resistance among Palestinian groups.

Report: King Abdullah of Jordan refused phone call with Israeli PM due to annexation

Jordan-Israel relations continue to worsen over Israel's plan to annex parts of the West Bank in July.

Israel OK's transfer of Qatari financial aid to Gaza

Israel approved the transfer of $50 million to the Gaza Strip, apparently in exchange for Hamas keeping calm and refraining from resuming incendiary balloon terrorism.

Palestinians gesture as others hold a banner with pictures of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody, and Iyad al-Halaq, an unarmed autistic Palestinian who was shot dead by Israeli police, during a protest against racial inequality, in Gaza City June 11, 2020. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem - RC2X6H9B9II7

Palestinian activists press solidarity between Palestinians, Black Lives Matter

Palestinians raised photos of Iyad al-Hallaq, an autistic Palestinian shot by Israeli police, and George Floyd to make a comparison between racism against black people and Palestinians.