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Israel

June 18, 2026

Tel Aviv 2:39 am

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EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 16: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the G7 summit, on June 16, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Leaders from the Group of 7 (G7) countries convened in Evian, France, near the Swiss border, for their annual summit to discuss challenges to peace and security for Ukraine and Europe, the situation in the Middle East, and other geopolitical issues. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Get

'Let Syria take care of Hezbollah': Trump criticizes Israel, leans on Sharaa to help in Lebanon

President Donald Trump insisted he has a great relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but criticized the scale of Israel’s strikes in Lebanon.

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir takes part in the Jerusalem Day celebrations on May 14, 2026, in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Explainer

Ben-Gvir's move to run separately in Israel elections revives debate over party alliances

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the far-right Jewish Power party, has refused to merge with the far-right Religious Zionism party ahead of the elections.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Analysis

'He knew it was over': Inside Netanyahu’s response to Trump’s Iran deal as Israel recalibrates

Despite all his efforts, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu realized there is nothing he could do to prevent President Donald Trump from signing a deal with Iran.

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

Latest News

Analysis

Erdogan-Netanyahu war of words signals deeper rivalry for regional influence

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Turkish House in New York on Sept. 19, 2023.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

Squeezed by Trump and Iran war, how vulnerable is Netanyahu in polls?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted by President Donald Trump at the White House, Washington, DC, July 7, 2025.

Mazal Mualem

By Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

'Pilot zones' offer litmus test for Lebanon to clear Israel border of Hezbollah

Smoke rises following Israeli bombardment in southern Lebanon close to the Beaufort Castle as seen from a position across the border in the Upper Galilee, in northern Israel on June 4, 2026.

Analysis

'A complete disaster': Israel scrambles for clarity as Trump touts emerging Iran deal

US President Donald Trump talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset, Jerusalem, Oct. 13, 2025.

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

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

Israeli Interior Minister, Eli Yishai one of the three leaders of the Shas ultra-orthodox Sephardi party gestures during the First High-Tech Conference for Israel's Haredi Sector on January 15, 2013 in Jerusalem. AFP PHOTO/GALI TIBBON (Photo credit should read GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images)

Will first-ever primaries shake up Israel’s ultra-Orthodox?

For the first time since the establishment of Israel, an ultra-Orthodox party will hold primaries to determine its list for the next election instead of relying on rabbis to name them.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Israel's defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman (L) during a special Cabinet meeting to mark Jerusalem Day in 1Ein Lavan Spring located in the outskirts of Jerusalem 02 June 2016. REUTERS/Abir Sultan/Pool - RTX2FADW

Palestinian paper faces backlash for interview with Israeli minister

Palestinian paper Al-Quds, based in Jerusalem, recently published an interview with Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, angering some Palestinians who saw it as a normalization of ties with Israel.

Israel defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman (C) during a special Cabinet meeting to mark Jerusalem Day in Ein Lavan spring located in the outskirts of Jerusalem ,02 June 2016. REUTERS/Abir Sultan/Pool - RTX2FADS

Israel's defense minister offers Palestinians big stick, tiny carrots

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman's "carrot-and-stick" plan promises Palestinians big punishments alongside negligible benefits, very much like the policies of the European colonial powers in Africa.

Israel Navy soldiers stand on the Rahav, the fifth submarine in the fleet, as it docks in Haifa port January 12, 2016. The Dolphin-class submarines, widely believed to be capable of firing nuclear missiles, were manufactured in Germany and sold to Israel at deep discounts as part of Berlin's commitment to shoring up the security of the country set in part as a haven for Jews who survived the Holocaust. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - RTX221FX

The billion-dollar deal that is stirring up Israeli army

Senior IDF officers say that Israel should not have purchased three new submarines from Germany, but rather invested the money in air and ground defense.

Is Israeli Zionist Camp facing its last chance?

The Zionist Camp might be facing its very last chance to save itself from oblivion by reinventing its image and uniting the center-left electorate.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - JANUARY 23: (ISRAEL OUT) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Former Israel Minister for Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman at his election campaign headquarters on Janurary 23, 2013 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Netanyahu was re-elected for a third term and will return to office, according to exit polls. Israel had the highest turnout of voters since 1999. (Photo by Lior Mizrahi /Getty Images)

How Netanyahu is keeping secret his move to help Palestinians

Israel's failure to publicize a decision that benefits the Palestinians shows just how preoccupied Israel’s right-wing government is about a settler backlash.

A mosque in the Palestinian West Bank village of Abdullah Ibrahim (rear) is seen behind houses in West Bank Jewish settlement of Efrat, near Bethlehem December 22, 2011. Israel on Wednesday said four European U.N. Security Council members should support a resumption of stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks because their criticism of the Jewish state, including it's construction of new settlements, could sideline them from negotiations. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR2VJOQ

Why 30 Palestinians celebrated Jewish holiday with settlers

After a group of Palestinians accepted the invitation to celebrate the Sukkot holiday with residents of Efrat settlement, four of them were arrested by the Palestinian security service.

Israel's Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan (3rd L) and police commissioner Roni Alsheich (3rd R) speak to members of the media at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City as Palestinians mark the first Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on the nearby compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount June 10, 2016. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RTSGVL8

Will populists sideline liberals in Israel's Likud?

Three Likud ministers advance equal rights for the Israeli-Arab population, whereas other ministers and many Knesset members opt for a populist, discriminating discourse.

How Arab women are reshaping Israel's film industry

Several films directed by and starring Israeli-Palestinian women have recently won big awards at film festivals, reshaping the local film industry.

New UN secretary-general considers special mission to Palestine

New UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will present innovative and proactive ideas for the United Nations to deepen its involvement in advancing the two-state solution.

Palestinian labourers sort plastic containers before they are recycled in a factory in Abasan in the southern Gaza Strip October 25, 2009. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (GAZA POLITICS ENVIRONMENT) - RTXPZTI

How Gaza’s plastic factories are betting on recycling

Plastic factories in the Gaza Strip seek to develop the local production of products through recycling, and break the reliance on imported goods.

Israeli far-right activist betrayed by his own

Last year, far-right activist, journalist and former Knesset member Sharon Gal launched hate campaigns against those defending democracy and freedom of expression, only to become a victim of the monster he created.