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August 31, 2026

Tel Aviv 2:05 am

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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

More settlements, no peace

Rampant settlement construction has got to stop for any Mideast peace plan to be feasible.

As hunger strike ends, Gaza arrangement proceeds

Now that the Palestinian prisoners' hunger strike has ended, safely reelected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can move forward with an arrangement with Hamas.

Netanyahu’s anti-indictment plan pushed forward

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already secured a coalition that should get him safely through the following months of police investigations and possible indictment.

Labor chief will not resign despite electoral disaster

Israel's Labor seniors are reeling as chairman Avi Gabbay refuses to take responsibility for the party's electoral defeat.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh speaks during a cabinet meeting of the new Palestinian government, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank April 15, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RC18BBEC7170

Shtayyeh government to focus on economy of resistance

New Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh is trying to connect with the Palestinian people to prepare them for austerity measures to withstand the economic pressure being exerted by Israel and the United States.

Netanyahu facing greater ultra-Orthodox political appetite

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have a hard time finding common ground between the large ultra-Orthodox bloc in the Knesset and secular hard-liner Avigdor Liberman.

Will new Sudanese regime stop arms flow to Gaza?

The toppled regime of Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir had turned a blind eye to the smuggling of weapons through Sudan to Gaza, and Hamas is hoping that any successor government will adopt a similar attitude.

Why Israelis lost faith in rail service

A sudden halt in train service throughout Israel stranded thousands of commuters, who have lost all faith in the country’s rail system amid an escalating conflict between its management and the labor union.

Avi Gabbay, leader of the Labour party speaks as his party candidates stand behind him during an election campaign event in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near the Gaza Strip border, in southern Israel March 7, 2019. Picture taken March 7, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC15F4569300

Will Israeli left unite after election defeat?

The resounding defeat of the Israeli left at the April 9 elections must serve as a wakeup call for lifting the banner of real equality among all Israelis along with a respectful and serious dialogue to end the Palestinian conflict.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hugs U.S. President Donald Trump as they talk during meetings at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Barria - RC15FD644460

Netanyahu faces coalition tightrope

Benjamin Netanyahu needs to form a coalition that will not harm his relationship with President Donald Trump, but also one that will protect him in case he is indicted.

Netanyahu needs to cut deal with Hamas now

Since Avigdor Liberman won’t allow a Gaza arrangement on his watch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to wrap up a deal before offering Liberman the defense minister position.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) speaks during a U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. February 7, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Thayer - RC1FD9326580

Frustrated Democrats go on offense after Netanyahu win

Democrats are racing to salvage the prospect of Palestinian statehood after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured a fifth term with promises to annex the West Bank.