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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

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the 11th Democratic candidates debate of the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign, held in CNN's Washington studios without an audience because of the global coronavirus pandemic, in Washington, U.S., March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - HP1EG3G050BEO

Intel: Biden warns against West Bank annexation as Israel lobbies Trump for green light

Former Vice President Joe Biden told campaign donors today that any Israeli annexation of the West Bank would “choke off any hope for peace,” according to a transcript of the presumptive Democratic nominee’s remarks seen by Al-Monitor.

Maccabi fans cheer for their team prior to the second leg of the Europa league second round qualifier football match between Maccabi Haifa and RC Strasbourg at the Sammy Hofer stadium in Haifa on August 1, 2019. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP) (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli soccer fans dream of returning to stadiums

Israeli soccer players have resumed training sessions and might even play again, but the fans are still kept away from the stadiums.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a swearing in ceremony of his new unity government with election rival Benny Gantz, at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem May 17, 2020. Adina Valman/Knesset Spokesperson's Office/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT - RC2DQG9LVAEP

Netanyahu asks to be excused from showing up at corruption trial

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose new government was sworn in Sunday, is trying to avoid having to appear before the court at the start of his corruption trial Sunday.

An Israeli flag carrier El Al Airlines plane is seen on the tarmac as Israel's airport authority announced a pilot programme revealing what passengers leaving Israel should except as air travel gradually returns to normal after weeks of bare minimum flights due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at Ben Gurion International Airport, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel May 14, 2020. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC27OG974QQK

Israel advances 'travel bubble' with other Mediterranean countries

Israel is in talks with Greece, Cyprus and a few other countries with low infection rates about creating travel corridors for resuming international flights.

Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz wears a protective face mask on his way to the swearing-in ceremony of a new unity government in the Knesset (Israel's parliament) in Jerusalem May 17, 2020. Alex Kolomoisky/Pool via REUTERS - RC2DQG90APEQ

Israel’s Benny Gantz, a defense minister with expiration date

New Defense Minister Benny Gantz has a year and a half in front of him to prepare for the role of prime minister.

Israeli pharmaceutical company Teva receives Chinese approval for new Huntington's treatment

The approval to provide the tablets in China that treat the deadly neurological disease is the second in the world after the United States.

Amiram Ben-Uliel is brought for a verdict in the case of the 2015 arson attack, which killed a Palestinian toddler and his parents in the Israeli-occupied West Bank village of Duma, at the Central Lod District Court in Lod, Israel May 18, 2020. Avshalom Sassoni/Pool via REUTERS - RC2VQG99KFXQ

Israeli man found guilty of murder in 2015 arson attack on Palestinian family

Amiram Ben-Uliel's actions sparked outrage among both Palestinians and Israelis, but his lawyers questioned the conditions under which he confessed to the crime.

MK Gabi Ashkenazi of Blue and White party at an election campaign event ahead of the coming Israeli elections, in Kfar Saba on Feb 12, 2020. (Photo by Gili Yaari/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Israel’s new foreign minister endorses Trump’s plan, mindful on annexation

Israel’s new Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi calls to advance the Trump administration plan, but is careful not to call advancing annexation moves.

SHEFA AMR, ISRAEL - MARCH 3: Member of the Joint List, Ahmed Tibi speaks during a program in Israel's northern city of Shefa-Amr on March 2, 2020, after polls officially closed in Israeli general elections. (Photo by Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Israeli opposition just as fractured as coalition

Though the Joint List won 15 Knesset seats in the March elections, the new unity government leaves it on the opposition benches once again.

Benny Gantz (C), A former IDF Chief and the head of Israeli Resilience party speaks to supporters during an election campaign event in Tel Aviv. Israelis will vote in a parliamentary election on April 9, choosing among party lists of candidates to serve in the 121-seat Knesset

Arab councils in Israel on strike over pandemic, economic crisis

Heads of Israeli-Arab local councils say they have no choice but to strike because no one in the government is listening to them.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R), wearing a protective face mask, arrives for the swearing-in ceremony at Israel's parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem on May 17, 2020 - As Israel was set to launch its new unity government Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to push on with controversial plans to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank. (Photo by Alex KOLOMIENSKY / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ALEX KOLOMIENSKY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel’s 'annexation government' sworn in

The new Netanyahu-Gantz unity government, which was sworn in May 17, is already facing controversy over Prime Minister Netanyahu's focus on rushing annexation of parts of the West Bank.

Flags of EU, Israel and Germany flutter next to the Bundestag ahead of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin speech in Germany’s lower house of parliament to commemorate the victims of the Nazi dictatorship, January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi - RC2LPE9P7DWC

Israel counting on European friends to thwart EU sanctions

Israeli diplomats are engaging with European Union members considered more friendly to Israel in order to thwart attempts to punish Israel over annexation plans.