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

Israel cover image

Israel

May 25, 2026

Tel Aviv 2:51 pm

25°C

AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

As Pakistan military chief holds Iran talks, Israel's Netanyahu fears being left out

US President Donald Trump's comment that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would do "whatever I want” is troubling the premier's inner circle ahead of the elections in October.

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

Burak Kara/Getty Images

Ireland joins EU push to ban trade with Israeli settlements amid flotilla backlash

European frustration with Israel intensified this week after a far-right Israeli minister posted a video of the mistreatment of international activists detained in the country.

Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP via Getty Images

Israel targets Turkey charity amid Gaza flotilla tensions

The request, published in Israeli media, marks a further escalation in tensions with Turkey amid disputes over Gaza aid operations.

Latest News

Interview

Ahmad Tibi says Arab parties in Israel can block Netanyahu without joining next government

Arab-Israeli Knesset member Ahmed Tibi takes part in a demonstration against rising crime rates against Arab-Israelis in Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 31, 2026.

Ahmad Tibi

Ahmad Tibi

Israeli Arab lawmaker

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

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)

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

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.

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

Municipality employees work next to a house that the Israeli military said was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Beersheba, southern Israel October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Amir Cohen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC1F454D7B10

Israeli residents near Gaza abandoned by the government

Israeli residents near Gaza are paying the price for the government’s lack of an effective policy on rocket fire from the Strip.

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 26: Progressive challenger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez celebrartes with supporters at a victory party in the Bronx after upsetting incumbent Democratic Representative Joseph Crowly on June 26, 2018 in New York City. Ocasio-Cortez upset Rep. Joseph Crowley in New York’s 14th Congressional District, which includes parts of the Bronx and Queens. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images)

Democratic newcomers challenge pro-Israel status quo

Three Democratic candidates willing to challenge the bipartisan orthodoxy on Israel are likely to win seats in Congress next year.

Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh shakes hands with Egyptian senior security official Ayman Badie during their meeting in Gaza City October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem - RC1129B69360

Hamas political, military leaderships disagree on Israel arrangement

Hamas political and military branches disagree on whether the group should pursue an Egypt-mediated arrangement with Israel, or keep up the violent demonstrations near the border fence.

Palestinian employees queue outside a cash machine outside the Bank of Palestine as they wait to withdraw their salaries, in Gaza City on April 9, 2018. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP) (Photo credit should read MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images)

Israel to improve bank transactions for its Palestinian workers

The governor of the Palestinian Monetary Authority, Azzam al-Shawa, announced an agreement with the Bank of Israel on a new mechanism creating an Israeli government body to handle Palestinian bank transactions.

Israeli artists campaign against 'Loyalty in Culture' law

Stars of the Israeli entertainment industry prefer not to confront powerful Culture Minister Miri Regev on the "Loyalty in Culture" law, designed to defund cultural institutions "undermining the state’s values and symbols."

Kurdish film festival screens, then withdraws, Israeli movie

Israeli filmmakers were surprised to learn that their film had been selected to be shown at the Duhok International Film Festival, only to be notified later that it was removed from the competition after being screened.

Israeli minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked (R) arrives ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem September 12, 2018. Thomas Coex/Pool via Reuters - RC1589D288D0

Netanyahu protects Supreme Court’s power, for now

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports weakening the broad interpretive authority the Supreme Court applies, but he does not seek a full-on clash with the judicial system while he himself is under police investigation.

A campaign poster depicting ultra-Orthodox Jewish candidate in Jerusalem's mayoral election Yossi Daitsh is seen between buildings as an ultra-Orthodox man walks past, in Jerusalem October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RC11A312FA80

Israel's ultra-Orthodox parties divided as municipal elections approach

Numerous ultra-Orthodox candidates in the upcoming municipal elections reflect the growing splits within and among Israel's ultra-Orthodox parties, divisions that threaten to siphon the sector's political power.

Israeli intervention in Jerusalem provokes Coptic Christians

A recent run-in shines a spotlight on age-old disputes between Christian denominations in the Middle East.

Why Hamas wants to distance itself from recent rocket launch

Although no Gaza faction claimed responsibility for the rocket that recently hit southern Israel, some Palestinians believe it was launched by Hamas or Islamic Jihad to deliver a message to Israel without getting Gaza dragged into a major confrontation.

UN gives thumbs-up for Palestine to lead Group of 77

The UN General Assembly is granting Palestine additional membership rights during its one-year chairmanship of the Group of 77.

Palestinians cover cartons containing vegetables before exporting them to Israel, at the Kerem Shalom crossing in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip March 12, 2015. Israel imported its first fruit and vegetables from the Gaza Strip in almost eight years on Thursday, in a partial easing of an economic blockade maintained since the Islamist group Hamas seized control of the Palestinian territory. Twenty-seven tonnes of tomatoes and five tonnes of eggplants were trucked across the border under an Israeli plan t

How Palestinian exports of $1 billion impact trade deficit

Governmental and nongovernmental parties in Palestine are trying to support the export sector in a bid to reduce the trade deficit and dependency on the Israeli economy.