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

Israel cover image

Israel

September 5, 2026

Tel Aviv 12:01 am

27°C

Ammar Ammar / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Playing for time: Despite US pressure, Israel stalls Lebanon talks until after election

Ahead of the eighth round of talks in Rome, the Israeli military reported clearing Hezbollah's underground stronghold at Ali al-Taher after besieging the ridge for months.

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

Israeli soldiers arrive in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which has faced escalating Israeli settler violence over the past month, on Aug. 29, 2026.

Analysis

As Israeli settler attacks mount, Trump avoids public pressure on Netanyahu

President Donald Trump has stayed silent amid a spate of settler attacks on Palestinians and their property in the West Bank.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Anwar AMRO / AFP via Getty Images

Israel to release 5 Lebanese prisoners ahead of next talks: What to know

Israel said the detainees are "civilians who are not members of a terrorist organization" and "were not involved in terrorism," concluding, "There is no reason to continue holding them in Israel."

missile

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

Latest News

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

Mecca Alliance

Analysis

Why Turkey welcomes Israel-Syria talks despite mounting red lines

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.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

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

Ammar Ammar / AFP via Getty Images

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

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

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

Why Jerusalem momentum could generate early elections in Israel

With the start of the Knesset’s summer session and the ongoing investigations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the early election pendulum is gathering momentum.

Will Russia provide the 'new Kissinger' for Iran-Israel diplomacy?

Moscow works back channels between Tehran and Jerusalem; hard-line Saudi stance toward Iran adheres to Wahhabi line favored by conservative clerics.

Russia acting as buffer between Israel, Iran

Moscow is being called on to deliver on its promised role as Mideast mediator.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attends a NATO foreign ministers meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium April 27, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman - RC18A51D8CE0

Will Abbas meet with Pompeo?

The current assessment among Palestinian officials is that they should not turn down the American offer to meet with Mike Pompeo, the new secretary of state.

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 22: (ISRAEL OUT) An Israeli woman casts her vote for the municipality elections at a polling station on October 22, 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel. Elections for 191 local authorities are being held today, including in Jerusalem where the Haredi-backed Moshe Leon will challenge incumbent Mayor Nir Barkat in the mostly highly-anticipated race. (Photo by Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images)

Israeli, Palestinian candidates share electoral list in Jerusalem first

For the first time in history, Palestinians and Israelis are joining hands and running in the same electoral list in Jerusalem's municipal elections.

A demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli troops at a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's decision on Jerusalem, near the border with Israel in the southern Gaza Strip March 16, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa - RC1D250522B0

US advances confidence-building measures toward Palestinians

The Palestinian leadership in Ramallah refuses to negotiate with US administration envoys, but might be willing to indirectly discuss an interim agreement.

A Palestinian securityman stands outside Kerem Shalom, the main passage point for goods entering Gaza, after it was shut down by Israel, in the southern Gaza Strip January 14, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa - RC192449C1D0

Economic disobedience looms in Gaza

Gaza’s private sector is threatening to start acts of economic disobedience in a bid to pressure the Palestinian Authority and Israel into alleviating the economic crisis plaguing the enclave.

Likud party members vote during a Likud Central Committee meeting in Airport City, Israel December 31, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC15A92D2000

New Israeli party highlights influence of Likud's 'DNA'

Knesset member Orly Levy-Abekasis will join a growing list of right-wing party leaders who emerged from the Likud and who hold power throughout the ranks of the Israeli government.

A Palestinian demonstrator holds placard during a protest against a promise by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to re-locate U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, in the West Bank near Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim, January 20, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RC1261704EA0

Why US must also open East Jerusalem embassy

Opening a US Embassy in Jerusalem could actually advance peace, if it is accompanied by the opening of a US Embassy to Palestine in East Jerusalem.

Birds fly on a foggy day near the Dome of the Rock, located in Jerusalem's Old City on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, Jerusalem, January 2, 2018. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RC1FAC4E2C00

Will Israel accept UAE donations to East Jerusalem?

Former Fatah member Mohammed Dahlan appears to have caught Israel by surprise with an announcement of a $70 million donation from the UAE for the Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem.

United Arab Emirates

Members from Jewish religious parties attend a session of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem December 15, 2010. The session was held to debate a bill that if passed into law, would allow the state to certify the validity of all conversions to Judaism conducted by the Israeli army without the Chief Rabbinate's approval. The bill passed its preliminary reading on Wednesday. The political debate over the legislation underscored divisions on religious issues within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanya

Netanyahu on collision course with US Jews over conversion to Judaism

A special commission is proposing to limit the Israeli Chief Rabbinate’s involvement in conversion to Judaism, establishing a special authority for this issue.

Egypt enraged at Netanyahu over Gaza

Egypt blames Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for sparking the latest escalation on the Gaza border by sabotaging Palestinian reconciliation efforts.