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Israel

August 30, 2026

Tel Aviv 12:45 am

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Analysis

Israel’s Lebanon dilemma: Confront Hezbollah without angering Trump, triggering Iran

Israeli sources point out that the pilot project for Israel's withdrawal and the Lebanese military taking control over the area is not working because of the government's reluctance to search for Hezbollah's weapons in private homes.

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

A boy walks carrying a table on his back past salvage workers scrapping the rubble of a building that was destroyed during Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza City on Aug. 16, 2026. — Photo by Omar Al-Qattaa / AFP via Getty Images

Israel, Hamas bide their time as Gaza peace plan stalls

As the Israel-Hamas ceasefire approaches the one-year mark in October, the Board of Peace is under pressure to deliver results in the Gaza Strip.

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.

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Israel recalibrates Syria policy, explores path to security deal

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)

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

Ex-defense minister: Israel in ‘worst possible’ Gaza situation as Hamas gains strength

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.

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.

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

Supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu protest outside his residence following Israel's Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit's indictment ruling in Jerusalem November 21, 2019. The placards in Hebrew read, "Strong in security Strong in Economy ". REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC2UFD9PGBE1

Election 2020: Netanyahu's quest for immunity

Unlike the campaigns for elections held in April and September, in the next election cycle the issue of immunity from criminal trial for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be squarely on the table for his opponents as well as himself to use.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem December 8, 2019. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC2ZQD929P8U

Netanyahu hangs on, drags Israel toward third election

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence on a rotation agreement and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz' rejection of an indicted partner have Israel headed for a third election.

Pressure mounts against importing Israeli gas to Jordan

While Jordan is expected to start receiving natural gas from Israel in a matter of weeks, demands that the government cancel the deal are growing.

Will political crises lead to a Hamas-Israel prisoner swap?

A desire by Hamas to improve it's standing among Palestinians and the current political predicament of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might make a prisoner swap more inevitable in the near term.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem December 8, 2019. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC2ZQD9CG4UT

Will Israel's right-wing camp lose its leader soon?

The right-wing camp, including the ultra-Orthodox, national-religious and settlers, have considered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as its leader for so long that it is now finding itself in a crisis.

Will Israel-Hamas arrangement divorce Gaza from West Bank?

According to recent statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, Israel and Hamas are close to reaching a long-term agreement, including over control of Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the swearing-in ceremony of the 22nd Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem October 3, 2019. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC13F4927B00

Decision of third elections doesn’t reflect instability in Israel

The insistence of the Blue and White party not to form a government with an indicted prime minister and the ensuing decision to hold third elections, actually testify to the stability of Israel's governing institutions.

Israeli legislator Orly Levy-Abeksis (L) campaigns at a shopping mall in the town of Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem February 22, 2015. Whether on the left, in the centre or on the right of the spectrum, women are filling senior positions in Israel's major parties, influencing the style, tone and manner of politics, even if it remains a tough-talking game. One of the most prominent is Levy-Abeksis, number two on the list for Yisrael Beitenu, a far-right nationalist party that is expected to win 5 or 6 seats in

What happened to Israel's once-rising political star?

Gesher leader Orly Levy-Abekasis promised Israeli voters a social issues-oriented agenda, but she has been little seen or heard since her election to the Knesset in September.

Islamic Jihad militants attend the funeral of Palestinian Jehad Hararah who was killed at the Israeli-Gaza border fence, in Gaza City March 23, 2019. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem - RC1B410D6340

Egypt firms up truce positions between Israel, Gaza factions

Cairo brought together leaders of the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad political bureaus this month to ensure they're all on the same page regarding the truce with Israel.

Jordan digs deep to plant trees in Palestine

A Jordanian campaign called Plant Your Resilience is planting trees to protect West Bank land from confiscation by Israel.

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Eliot Engel (D-NY) speaks during a media briefing after a House vote approving rules for an impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., October 31, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts - RC1D56F1D9A0

Democratic lawmakers reckon with 2020 rhetoric on Israel aid

Presidential candidates who want to place conditions on Israeli military aid have prompted pro-Israel House Democrats to go on the offensive.

Israel's Foreign Ministry, Netanyahu's private candy store

Instead of appointing experienced and professional diplomats to fight Israel’s diplomatic battles, many of them find themselves without any jobs.