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August 27, 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

Israeli schoolgirls in 'shorts rebellion' against sexist dress code

Israeli girls are protesting over instructions banning female students from coming to school wearing shorts.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a leadership meeting in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank May 19, 2020. Alaa Badarneh/Pool via REUTERS - RC2WRG9N14TF

Palestinian leaders' confused messaging over next steps with Israel

Some say President Mahmoud Abbas' announcement that the Palestinian Authority is ending agreements with Israel is nothing but a leap in the dark, while PA officials stress that the decision represents the beginning of a new phase.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - MAY 14: A passenger has her temperature checked before being allowed entry to Ben Gurion Airport on May 14, 2020 near Tel Aviv, Israel. Authorities are preparing for the full reopening of the airport, Israel's main gateway, by June 1, 2020 as coronavirus cases across the country continue to decline. According to reports only visitors from countries with low infection rates and compulsory protective equipment laws will be granted entry while Israelis will need to report to the Health Minis

Israel advances bill for Shin Bet tracking of coronavirus carriers' phones

Israel’s government publishes a proposal for a law with a sunset date of three months that would enable the Shin Bet to track where the mobile phones of coronavirus carriers have been.

Co-leader of Blue and White party, Gaby Ashkenazi, speaks to supporters at his election campaign event in Tel Aviv, Israel September 15, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC1D28A42640

Israel’s new foreign minister has other, higher ambitions

For Gabi Ashkenazi, his appointment as Israel’s new foreign minister is just the first step in his expected political soar.

Israeli-Chinese ties scrutinized by US

Washington might soon demand that Israel pick a side in the security and trade conflict between the United States and China.

A man takes part in a training session at Cybergym, a cyber-warfare training facility backed by the Israel Electric Corporation, at their training center in Hadera, Israel July 8, 2019. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC1118AE8A50

Israel, Iran trade cyber jabs

The April cyberattack on Israel’s water system and a May attack on an Iranian port might be the opening salvoes of a cyber war between Israel and Iran.

ATHENS, GREECE - 2019/09/14: An Etihad Airways Airbus 320 leaving Athens airport. (Photo by Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

First commercial flight between UAE and Israel lands in Tel Aviv

The Etihad Airways cargo plane brought COVID-19 aid to Palestinians via Ben Gurion airport.

United Arab Emirates

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.