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August 31, 2026

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrive for a joint press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Feb. 4, 2025.

Analysis

Why Turkey welcomes Israel-Syria talks despite mounting red lines

Turkey supports US-backed Israel-Syria talks but sees little prospect of a lasting accommodation until the Israeli elections.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Ammar Ammar / AFP via Getty Images

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.

Latest News

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

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

Exclusive

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.

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

Labourers work on the construction of the stage and setting where this year's Eurovision Song Contest shows will be hosted at the Expo Tel Aviv, Israel April 15, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC177BA01C00

Israel fears Islamic Jihad will ruin Eurovision

Israel fears that escalation in the Gaza Strip and rockets by Islamic Jihad will chase away the thousands of tourists expected to come to Tel Aviv for the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.

Part of an election campaign billboard depicting Moshe Kahlon, Israeli finance minister and leader of Kulanu party, is seen in Tel Aviv, Israel April 8, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC1CCF67A810

Israel’s finance minister gets second chance

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon is bitter over what he sees as voter disloyalty, but his party still has four Knesset seats that will enable him to keep his job.

Israel, Hamas hesitant over Islamic Jihad provocations

On the backdrop of attempts to reach an arrangement with Hamas and ahead of an especially sensitive month, Israel minimizes retaliation against the provocations of Islamic Jihad.

How the Holocaust became part of Israel’s identity

Over the years, the memory of the Holocaust has shaped the new Israeli identity with notions of victimhood rather than lessons of tolerance.

Rudolf_Kastner_at_Kol_Yisrael,_early_1950s_-_cropped.jpg

Hungarian Jew's role in Holocaust still torments Israelis

Six decades after his assassination, the question of whether Israel Kastner was a hero or a villain during the Holocaust continues to torment Israelis.

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they pose on the West Wing colonnade in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis - RC1AE2447D80

Are Trump, Netanyahu planning to 'buy off' the Palestinians?

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are responsible for the dire economic straits of the Palestinian Authority, yet they think that an economic package for the Palestinians will achieve two goals: prevent the PA from collapse and get the PA to accept their terms.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves after an inauguration ceremony of Israel's 21st Knesset, or parliament, in Jerusalem April 30, 2019. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC113E52F170

New Knesset convenes in shadow of Netanyahu's legal limbo

After the swearing in of Israel's 21st Knesset, the Blue and White party will focus its attacks against the government on the corruption charges facing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

More Druze risk prison to reject military service in Israel

A campaign launched years ago continues to have an impact as more Arab Druze in Israel are refusing to join the army despite the risk of imprisonment.

Israel’s new housing minister – minister of West Bank settlements?

United Right member Bezalel Smotrich may receive the Israeli Cabinet's housing portfolio in order to promote construction in West Bank settlements.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Education Minister Naftali Bennett with pupils during a visit at the "Tamra HaEmek" elementary school on the first day of the school year, in the Arab Israeli town of Tamra, Israel September 1, 2016. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - S1AETYTKZEAA

How the Green Line became a red line in Israeli education

Significant number of voters in the 2019 elections were taught in school that the State of Israel extends from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River and that anyone challenging this view is denying the truth.

Israel tries rescuing PA from collapse, after instigating crisis to begin with

Israel must now face the economic crises of the Palestinian Authority, which was generated by the decision of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut Palestinian tax revenues over stipends to families of assailants.

A freed prisoner is seen after he was released by Israel in what Damascus described as Russian-mediated reciprocation for the repatriation of the body of a long-missing Israeli soldier, at the Quneitra crossing, Syria, in this handout released by SANA on April 28, 2019. SANA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THIS IMAGE - RC1435271320

Did Netanyahu cut deal with Assad?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that the release of two Syrian prisoners was merely a goodwill gesture and not a part of a deal with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.