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Israel

September 3, 2026

Tel Aviv 3:29 pm

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Analysis

Israel favors status quo as tensions in Iran's leadership fuel escalation risk

Israel would prefer to preserve the current balance of pressure — with US naval blockades and economic measures continuing without a return to active fighting — per a senior Israeli security source.

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

Mecca Alliance

Israel, Greece sign $3.5 billion air-defense deal: What to know

Against the backdrop of growing tensions with Turkey, Israel signed one of its largest-ever defense industry deals to supply Greece with advanced air defense systems.

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

Latest News

Israel, Hamas bide their time as Gaza peace plan stalls

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

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

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

Four insights on municipal elections in Israel

Municipal elections in Israel reflect more and more the public’s mood and political inclinations ahead of the general elections.

Jerusalem artist offers amulets for modern evils

Eitam Tubul’s light-hearted art project proposes amulets for modern misfortunes such as hangovers, awkward silences or email hacking.

U.S. President Donald Trump talks with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer and Tree of Life Synagogue Rabbi Jeffrey Myers as he arrives with (L-R) his daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner and first lady Melania Trump outside the synagogue where a gunman killed eleven people and wounded six during a mass shooting Saturday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 30, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RC1951277440

Trump, Netanyahu use synagogue shooting to cement alliance

President Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s government are using this week’s massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue to cement support for each other.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem October 28, 2018. Oded Balilty/Pool via REUTERS - RC18EB7B0910

Netanyahu needs Hamas to rule Gaza, not Abbas

In order to preserve himself politically, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs an arrangement with Hamas.

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.