Ben Caspit

Ben Caspit is a columnist for Al-Monitor's Israel Pulse. He is also a senior columnist and political analyst for Israeli newspapers and has a daily radio show and regular TV shows on politics and Israel. On Twitter: @BenCaspit

Lapid’s Washington visit brings Israel little assurance on Iran

Jerusalem noted that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken referred to "every possible option" on Iran, but is still sceptic over the Americans adopting a tough approach.

Ben Caspit | Israel | Oct 15, 2021

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid appears during a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the State Department in Washington, Oct. 13, 2021.

After Merkel’s visit, Israel still waiting on submarine deal

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett tried to persuade outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel to finalize the deal for the IDF to purchase three next-generation submarines.

Ben Caspit | Israel | Oct 12, 2021

Israel still fears US approach to Iran

The meeting this week at the White House of the US-Israel Strategic Consultative Group did not reassure Jerusalem — on the contrary.

Ben Caspit | Israel | Oct 8, 2021

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) meets Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (R) in Rome, Italy, June 27, 2021.

Cyprus assassination attempt paints picture of emboldened Iran

Israel suspects that a plot to kill Israeli businesspeople in Cyrus reflects an alarming change in Iranian strategy.

Ben Caspit | Israel | Oct 5, 2021

Bennett’s government at work to expand Abraham Accords

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his Cabinet are hard at work to upgrade the Abraham Accords for normalization, and extend them to more countries in the region.

Ben Caspit | Israel | Oct 1, 2021

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett addresses the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, United Nations headquarters, New York, Sept. 27, 2021.

Israel’s Bennet makes first speech to UN

Contrary to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett chose to deliver a straightforward, calm and gimmick-free first speech to the General Assembly.

Ben Caspit | Israel | Sep 28, 2021

Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett addresses the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 27, 2021 at U.N. headquarters in New York City.

Israel assesses frayed ties with US Jews, Democratic Party

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his government are confronted with the double challenge of rehabilitating ties with the Democrat Party and mending the rift with the American Jewish community.

Ben Caspit | Israel | Sep 24, 2021

US President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 27, 2021.

Israel recaptures remaining escapees in prison break fiasco

Israeli security forces have redeemed their image after successfully capturing the six Palestinian prisoners who escaped last week from a high-security jail.

Ben Caspit | Israel | Sep 20, 2021

Israeli soldiers patrol near a hole in a security fence in the West Bank town of Jenin, on Sept. 6, 2021, following the break out of six Palestinians from an Israeli prison.

100 days in, Bennett’s government challenged on Iran, Gaza

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett registered several achievements since he founded the government 100 days ago, but is still not perceived as a true leader.

Ben Caspit | Israel | Sep 17, 2021

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett listens during a meeting with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House, Washington, Aug. 27, 2021.

Bennett, Lapid shift stance on Gaza

Despite his past support for attacking Hamas, the meeting between Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's plan to rehabilitate Gaza signal a very different policy.

Ben Caspit | Israel | Sep 14, 2021

Ben Caspit

Lapid’s Washington visit brings Israel little assurance on Iran

After Merkel’s visit, Israel still waiting on submarine deal

Israel still fears US approach to Iran

Cyprus assassination attempt paints picture of emboldened Iran

Bennett’s government at work to expand Abraham Accords

Israel’s Bennet makes first speech to UN

Israel assesses frayed ties with US Jews, Democratic Party

Israel recaptures remaining escapees in prison break fiasco

100 days in, Bennett’s government challenged on Iran, Gaza

Bennett, Lapid shift stance on Gaza

Popular Articles

Scientists reconstruct facial features of 2,000-year-old mummies

Turkey requests to buy 40 US F-16 fighter planes

Israel still fears US approach to Iran

Intel: US lifts Iran-related sanctions, says no connection to nuclear deal

Palestinian video game strikes Israel’s nerve

Recent Podcasts

Khamenei may still prefer a nuclear deal over a nuclear weapon, says Ken Pollack

International security expert Eviatar Matania: 40% of global cyber investments reach Israel

Iran unlikely to consider crossing nuclear weapons threshold unless attacked, says Ali Vaez

"The eighteen days of the revolution were the best days of my life," says Egyptian novelist Alaa Al Aswany

Welcome to Reading the Middle East with Gilles Kepel