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August 28, 2026

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a press conference with US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club on Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida. — Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Netanyahu trails Eisenkot in new poll as Israel's right-wing bloc weakens

Israelis prefer former defense minister over the current prime minister to lead country, while the religious-nationalist People of Israel party is projected to win six Knesset seats.

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.

Latest News

Wreck of ship sunk by Israeli military in Irgun clash found after 78 years

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.

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

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

Armed troops to enforce stay-home order in Israel

Israeli soldiers are enforcing a partial lockdown in the country, where COVID-19 cases have surged.

A billboard of Israeli Parliament speaker Benny Gantz is pictured along a highway in the Mediterranean costal city of Tel Aviv, on March 29, 2020. - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his erstwhile rival Benny Gantz announced "significant progress" in talks towards forming an emergency unity government amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Netanyahu’s shameful civics lesson for young Israelis

The dismissiveness of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toward the courts, minorities rights and rule of law has seeped into the nation's matriculation exams.

Ayman Odeh (L), leader of the Hadash party that is part of the Joint List alliance, stands next to Ahmed Tibi of the Arab Movement for Change (Ta'al) party, as they and other alliance leaders address supporters at their electoral headquarters in Israel's northern city of Shefa-Amr on March 2, 2020, after polls officially closed. - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to lead his main challenger following elections with multiple exit polls putting his right-wing Likud several seats ahead of the

Israel's Arab parties recalculate as Gantz joins Netanyahu

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz' decision to join a government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has deeply disappointed the Arab public.

RAMAT GAN, ISRAEL - MARCH 01: Benny Gantz, Blue and White Party leader leaves after making a statement to the press on March 1, 2020 in Ramat Gan, Israel. Israelis will head to the polls tomorrow for the third time in less than a year. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

After Gantz, will Israeli Arabs ever return to the ballot box?

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz forming a unity government with Benjamin Netanyahu has deflated the hopes of Arab Israelis of participating in national politics as equals, raising doubts that they will follow the urging of their representatives to take part in future elections.

Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz looks on after speaking to supporters following the announcement of exit polls in Israel's election at the party's headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel March 3, 2020. REUTERS/Corinna Kern - RC20CF90OUIG

Netanyahu’s chief rival reverses, signals he’ll cut unity deal

Benny Gantz said he would serve in an emergency government led by rival Benjamin Netanyahu to help prevent a coronavirus crisis in Israel.

Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz seen during election campaign in Ramat Gan on February 25.
After 99 percent of votes counted, right-wing bloc led by Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu obtained 58 seats but 3 are missing to get a clear majority.
Israeli PM Netanyahu says today that Gantz is 'linking up with terrorists' supporters' alluding at possible union with Arab Alliance Joint List.
On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Jerusalem, Israel. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Gantz made a tough decision. Will he regret it?

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz slammed the door on his anti-Netanyahu partners to join a unity government with the Likud, but will he ever occupy the Prime Minister's Office?

March 27 Israeli Ambassador to Costa Rica Amir Ofek.jpg

Foreign Ministry rescues Israelis stranded abroad during pandemic

The Israeli Foreign Ministry, after being sidelined for years by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sees its vital role recognized as diplomats bring back young Israelis stranded abroad during the coronavirus crisis.

RAFAH, GAZA â MARCH 26: Members of Saraya al-Quds, armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, carry out disinfection works as a preventive measure against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Rafah, Gaza on March 26, 2020. (Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

As coronavirus spreads to Gaza, Israel can offer little

The nightmare scenario of the coronavirus reaching the Gaza Strip has become a reality, with Israel and Palestinians fearing a mega-catastrophe in the most crowded spot on earth.

Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz seen during election campaign in Ramat Gan on February 25.
After 99 percent of votes counted, right-wing bloc led by Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu obtained 58 seats but 3 are missing to get a clear majority.
Israeli PM Netanyahu says today that Gantz is 'linking up with terrorists' supporters' alluding at possible union with Arab Alliance Joint List.
On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Jerusalem, Israel. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Gantz opts for a coronavirus government

By candidating for the job of Knesset speaker, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz gave the sign that he is willing to join a Netanyahu-led unity government.

Israel's highest court steps in to force Knesset into action

After Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein defied the Israeli Supreme Court's order to hold a vote for his replacement, the court appointed a temporary speaker to do the job.

REFILE - CORRECTING DATE Mossad director Joseph (Yossi) Cohen attends a cybersecurity conference at Tel Aviv University, Israel June 25, 2019. Picture taken June 25, 2019. REUTERS/Corinna Kern - RC166C67F140

Mossad, Netanyahu’s secret weapon against the coronavirus

Israel’s Mossad received instructions to get ventilators and coronavirus test kits from wherever it can, at whatever price and by whatever means.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - AUGUST 3: Arab feminist group Women Against Violence founder Aida Touma-Suleiman listens during a conference organised by Abp Asbl (Association belgo palestinienne) on September 3, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. The Knesset is the unicameral parliament of the State of Israel in Jerusalem where members are elected for a four-year term. Since its creation in 1949, of the 19 elected chambers, 12 have been dissolved. In the 2015 parliamentary elections, of the 120 seats in the 20th Knesset, 13

Arab legislator to chair Knesset committee, undeterred by incitement

The appointment of Arab Knesset member Aida Touma-Suleiman to head the Welfare and Labor Committee generated racist reactions and incitement to hatred, but she is not upset.