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Israel

May 21, 2026

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NICOSIA, CYPRUS - APRIL 24: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrives for an informal meeting of European Union leaders on April 24, 2026 in Nicosia, Cyprus. The EU heads of state and government are meeting over two days to discuss the conflict in Iran and the Middle East, including freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the effects of high fuel prices, and how Europe may contribute to de-escalation and a peace agreement. (Photo by Byron Smith/Getty Images)

Syria's Sharaa renews ban on Israeli imports in customs law: What to know

The renewal comes even as Damascus pursues US-backed security talks with Israel aimed at reducing tensions along the border.

Somaliland’s first ambassador to a foreign country formally, Mohamed Hagi, presented his diplomatic credentials in Jerusalem to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, on May 18, 2026.

Somaliland's first ambassador to Israel announces embassy in Jerusalem: What to know

Israel was the first country to recognize the breakaway region on the Horn of Africa last year.

A bride and group couple rides in a military jeep arriving for a public mass wedding ceremony at Imam Hossein Square in Tehran on May 18, 2026. Iran said on May 18 that it had responded to a new US proposal aimed at ending the war, adding that diplomatic exchanges continue despite Iranian media reports describing Washington's demands as excessive. Washington and Tehran have been swapping proposals in an effort to end the conflict which the US and Israel launched on February 28, but they have held only a sin

Analysis

Israel pushes for full Iran blockade as it awaits Trump's next move

Israel’s preferred strategy, sources told Al-Monitor, calls for a comprehensive naval, economic, land and air blockade of Iran, alongside tighter sanctions and covert activity aimed at destabilizing the regime.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Latest News

What we know about secret Israeli bases in Iraq

Men gather around the husk of a destroyed pickup truck that was driven by a local shepherd who was reportedly struck by Israeli forces and buried by locals at a grave nearby, in the Najaf desert in southwestern Iraq, on May 12, 2026.

Lebanon-Israel ceasefire extended 45 days as US opens security talks

talks

Analysis

‘A reckless act’: Netanyahu sparks UAE fury by claiming secret visit

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.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Israel's Netanyahu suing New York Times over column on Palestinian rape

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

Is proposed site in Gaza really a hospital, or spy station?

Some Palestinian authorities have pledged to obstruct plans to build what they fear could be a US-Israeli military intelligence camp, while Hamas says the facility will be a field hospital in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on as he chairs the weekly cabinet meeting at his Jerusalem office December 15, 2019. Gali Tibbon/Pool via REUTERS - RC2MVD9F1YP9

Netanyahu’s plan for winning an outright majority in the Knesset

If he wants his right-wing ultra-Orthodox bloc to win 61 seats so he can form an immunity coalition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will need Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked to run as part of the New Right list and pass the electoral threshold.

Israelis protest in support of the Kurdish people opposite to the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel October 13, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC17449A4DA0

Israel’s love of Kurds weaponized by their foes

Israel's support of Kurdish autonomy in Syria is not always welcomed — at least publicly — by Syria's Kurds.

FILE PHOTO: Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beitenu leaves his party headquarters following the announcement of exit polls in Israel's parliamentary election, in Jerusalem September 18, 2019. REUTERS/Oren Ben Hakoon/File Photo. ISRAEL OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN ISRAEL - RC12937027A0

The ultra-Orthodox dilemma on slamming Liberman

Ultra-Orthodox politicians fear that any attacks against Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman would actually reinforce him within secular electorate.

Mosque minarets are seen next to an election campaign banners depicting Ahmad Tibi, from of the Hadash-Ta'al party in the Israeli-Arab village of Taibe, northern Israel April 3, 2019. Picture taken April 3, 2019. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RC1D1EEB7CC0

2020 elections: Israeli-Arab party aspires to 15 seats

Arab Joint List Knesset members are in an excellent mood: They believe that grassroots campaigning could garner them 15 seats in the upcoming March elections.

A picture taken on February 27, 2018 shows a view of the mobile and temporary dwellings of Palestinian families living near the Israeli settlement of Susya, which have been warned to evacuate due to being in the so-called "Area C" in the occupied West Bank near Yatta south of the city of Hebron. / AFP PHOTO / HAZEM BADER (Photo credit should read HAZEM BADER/AFP via Getty Images)

France to support Palestinian agriculture in West Bank areas under Israeli control

The Palestinian government and the French Development Agency signed agreements that will support the development of agriculture and water networks in Area C.

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - MAY 08: israeli minister of defense Avigdor Liberman greeting the Veterans of the Red army celebrating and comemorating victory over Nazi Germany 73 yeras ago at the Isreali Parlament (The Knesset) on May 8, 2018 in Jerusalem, Israel. Total numbers of deaths during World War II vary but the Soviet Union bore an incredible brunt of casualties during WWII. An estimated 16,825,000 people died in the war, over 15% of its population, many of them were jewish soldiers and Partisan fighters. In

Israelis from Russia: A voyage from atheism to religion

Despite the secular campaign by Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman, and despite their atheist upbringing, a significant number of Jews who immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union have become religious.

Police check the IDs of suspected prostitutes in Tel Aviv. (Photo by Antoine GYORI/Sygma via Getty Images)

Sex workers fall victim to Israeli government paralysis

Due to the paralysis of successive transitional governments in Israel, millions of shekels allocated to the Welfare Ministry to help sex workers get out of the business have gone unused and might therefore be returned to the Finance Ministry.

Could Israeli legal system force Netanyahu to resign?

Faced with the cases against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and the Supreme Court justices will be unable to ignore the precedent that booted indicted politicians.

Will Netanyahu go to prison?

If convicted, Benjamin Netanyahu would become the second Israeli prime minister to serve jail time.

Israel to further tighten the noose on Hamas

As a part of the financial restrictions on Hamas, Israel issued a decision to economically pursue Palestinian and foreign figures whom Israel accuses of funding terrorism, and added the president of the Arab Organization for Human Rights on the list of those pursued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on as he sits next to Benny Gantz, leader of Blue and White party, during a memorial ceremony for late Israeli President Shimon Peres, at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem September 19, 2019. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC140183F6E0

Demands for term limits rise as Netanyahu clings to power

Benjamin Netanyahu's endless fight to keep the premiership has prompted calls for change from Israelis exhausted from three elections in one year.