Israel - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Israel cover image

Israel

August 28, 2026

Tel Aviv 3:45 am

25°C

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)

Exclusive

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

Israel’s synagogues close doors for first time over coronavirus

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had avoided a complete nationwide lockdown, but with new COVID-19 cases continuing to rise, new directives have closed the nation's places of prayer.

Outrage as Knesset speaker resigns to avoid highest court order

The resignation of Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein has won Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu time to capitalize on the pandemic menacing Israel and cost Blue and White head Benny Gantz precious days to form his government.

Israelis hold national flags during a demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's caretaker government, accusing it of undemocratic measures, outside the parliament in Jerusalem March 23, 2020 REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC2QPF9E73ES

Political crisis proves Israel needs constitution

Ignoring Israel’s laws and rules and in order to avoid complying with the High Court’s directives, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein chose to resign.

Intel: US conducts separate military drills with UAE, Israel despite coronavirus

United Arab Emirates

JERUSALEM - MARCH 15: Muslims perform prayer outside the Al-Aqsa Mosque after the Islamic Waqf Department announced to close the enclosed prayer places as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Jerusalem on March 15, 2020. According to the statement, all prayers remain to be held in the [outdoor] courtyard and all doors will be open to worshipers. (Photo by Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Why Israeli, Palestinian religious leaders ignore coronavirus threat

Muslim and Jewish religious leaders in Israel and the West Bank are both guilty of conducting gatherings and prayers in public despite the coronavirus danger.

17 September 2019, Israel, Tel Aviv: Avigdor Liberman, Former Defense Minister of Israel and leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) right-wing party, tours down town Tel Aviv during the Israeli parliamentary elections. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa (Photo by Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Avigdor Liberman, key player of the Knesset takeover

Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman is the one pulling the strings behind recent developments and behind Blue and White's renewed drive to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he delivers a speech at his Jerusalem office, regarding the new measures that will be taken to fight the coronavirus, March 14, 2020. Gali Tibbon/Pool via REUTERS - RC2WJF92K7O8

Coronavirus: Netanyahu’s one-man show

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no qualms about testing the boundaries of democracy as he manages the coronavirus crisis in a quasi-centralized fashion.

Meet the women of the Knesset's Joint List

Out of the Joint List’s 15 members in the Knesset, four are women, and, despite the obstacles they face, they are determined to pursue their agendas in the Knesset.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - MARCH 20: An Israeli Fire Department crew man sprays disinfectants as he sanitize the entrance to Tel Aviv's Hospital children department on March 20, 2020 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Number of coronavirus in Israel continues to jump, after over 200 new cases have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

How Israel's media fails the country amid coronavirus, political crises

With political and health crises gripping Israel, the media has shirked its responsibility to challenge government officials and report the facts.

Yuli Edelstein, speaker of the Israeli Knesset, attends a plenum session at the lower house of parliament, Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, February 12, 2020. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse - RC20ZE9C9HN6

Chaos in Israel’s Knesset as speaker defies top court

The speaker of the Knesset rejects the Israeli High Court's firm suggestion that a vote be held for his position within two days; now the court must decide whether to order such a vote.

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)

Arab legislators at last to head major Knesset committees

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz took a courageous and historic move by pushing for two Arab legislators to head Knesset committees.

Palestinians jailed in Israel fear coronavirus outbreak

The Palestinian authorities are calling on Israel to release Palestinian inmates amid concerns of a potential coronavirus surge.