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

Israel | Sep 27, 2023

Analysis

As Netanyahu bends on Saudi nuclear bid, Israeli experts sound alarm

Israeli nuclear experts and security seniors object to the path Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be taking toward allowing Saudi Arabia to establish a nuclear program on its soil.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 78th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City on September 22, 2023. Netanyahu called for arch-enemy Iran to face a "credible" threat of nuclear attack to stop the clerical state from obtaining an atom bomb. "Above all -- above all -- Iran must face a credible nuclear threat. As long as I'm prime minister of Israel, I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons," Netanyahu told the assembly (Ph

Israel | Sep 22, 2023

Can Netanyahu deliver US, Saudi demands for normalization with Israel?

Although advancing talks with the Saudis on normalized relations with Israel, the Biden administration doubts whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can persuade his hard-line coalition to agree to significant steps vis-a-vis the Palestinians.

US President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly meeting in New York City, September 20, 2023.

Israel | Sep 15, 2023

Analysis

Israel-Saudi normalization stuck as Netanyahu struggles to boost Palestinian Authority

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows that to obtain normalization with Saudi Arabia, he must bypass his hard-line coalition partners and offer the Palestinians significant benefits.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a press conference in Nicosia on September 3, 2023. (Photo by Iakovos Hatzistavrou / POOL / AFP) (Photo by IAKOVOS HATZISTAVROU/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel | Sep 12, 2023

Analysis

Israel's Mossad chief sets new red lines for Iranian leadership, Russia

Mossad chief David Barnea warned the Iranian leadership directly and Moscow more subtly, but his real message was for American ears.

Israel | Sep 8, 2023

Analysis

Israel's security brass advocates Saudi deal as way to calm tensions with Palestinians

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears trapped between security establishment advice to proceed with a Saudi deal plus concessions to the Palestinians and allied hardliners' rejection of any compromise with Ramallah.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on April 19, 2023. SPA

Israel | Sep 6, 2023

Analysis

To appease Biden, Israel’s Netanyahu floats judicial compromise, Saudi progress

With his trip to the United States just around the corner, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is willing to do almost anything, including halting the judicial overhaul, to get a photo op with President Joe Biden.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves 10 Downing Street after meeting Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, London, March 24, 2023.

Israel | Sep 1, 2023

Analysis

Unprecedented breakdown in Israel-US channels as Netanyahu bars ministers from visiting Washington

Under strict orders from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant did not go anywhere near Washington or the Pentagon on his US visit this week. “Such things have never happened,” a senior Israeli security source told Al-Monitor.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the inauguration of the new light rail line for the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, in Petah Tikva, on August 17, 2023. (Photo by AMIR COHEN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by AMIR COHEN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel | Aug 29, 2023

Israel publicizing secret meeting with Libya FM damages Arab ties

When Foreign Minister Eli Cohen revealed his meeting last week with Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush, it dealt a serious blow to Israel’s clandestine relations with Arab and Muslim countries.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen addresses a joint press conference after talks with his German counterpart at the Foreign Office, Berlin, Germany, Feb. 28, 2023.

Israel | Aug 25, 2023

Does Israel’s government want to curb deadly crime wave in Arab sector?

Despite electoral promises, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has nothing to show in terms of stopping spiraling violence in Arab Israeli towns and villages.

Arab Israelis demonstrate against organized crime and calling on the Israeli police to stop a wave of intra-communal violence, Umm al-Fahm, March 12, 2021.

Israel | Aug 22, 2023

Israel's ruling right hunts for scapegoats in West Bank attacks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had attacked his opponents for not doing enough against Palestinian terrorism, but his own government is now failing to curb a wave of attacks in the West Bank.

Ben Caspit

As Netanyahu bends on Saudi nuclear bid, Israeli experts sound alarm

Can Netanyahu deliver US, Saudi demands for normalization with Israel?

Israel-Saudi normalization stuck as Netanyahu struggles to boost Palestinian Authority

Israel's Mossad chief sets new red lines for Iranian leadership, Russia

Israel's security brass advocates Saudi deal as way to calm tensions with Palestinians

To appease Biden, Israel’s Netanyahu floats judicial compromise, Saudi progress

Unprecedented breakdown in Israel-US channels as Netanyahu bars ministers from visiting Washington

Israel publicizing secret meeting with Libya FM damages Arab ties

Does Israel’s government want to curb deadly crime wave in Arab sector?

Israel's ruling right hunts for scapegoats in West Bank attacks

Podcasts

Will Armenia’s land border with Iran be Azerbaijan’s next target after Nagorno-Karabakh, asks analyst Benjamin Poghosyan

Ben Caspit

As Netanyahu bends on Saudi nuclear bid, Israeli experts sound alarm

Can Netanyahu deliver US, Saudi demands for normalization with Israel?

Israel-Saudi normalization stuck as Netanyahu struggles to boost Palestinian Authority

Israel's Mossad chief sets new red lines for Iranian leadership, Russia

Israel's security brass advocates Saudi deal as way to calm tensions with Palestinians

To appease Biden, Israel’s Netanyahu floats judicial compromise, Saudi progress

Unprecedented breakdown in Israel-US channels as Netanyahu bars ministers from visiting Washington

Israel publicizing secret meeting with Libya FM damages Arab ties

Does Israel’s government want to curb deadly crime wave in Arab sector?

Israel's ruling right hunts for scapegoats in West Bank attacks

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Podcasts

Will Armenia’s land border with Iran be Azerbaijan’s next target after Nagorno-Karabakh, asks analyst Benjamin Poghosyan