Feature 50,000 Israeli expats fly home to vote in potential boon to Netanyahu rivals Israel prohibits voting from abroad with limited exceptions, and Israelis who spoke to Al-Monitor said they are especially motivated to fly home this year. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Analysis How Israel opposition infighting is boosting Netanyahu days before election Discord within the opposition, including its reluctance to name a single candidate for prime minister ahead of the Oct. 27 election, is working in Netanyahu’s favor. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
In first, Israel’s Netanyahu says he held call with Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa It is the first publicly disclosed contact between the leaders of Israel and Syria, which lack formal relations and have fought several wars. Sharaa’s government began US-mediated talks with Israel in 2025. Syria
Sisi says Egypt has no ‘territorial ambitions’ after Israel’s Smotrich threatens Sinai The Egyptian president’s remarks follow a warning from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that Israel would seize the Sinai Peninsula if Egypt attacks. Egypt
Exclusive Rights, faith groups urge Congress to block $2.8B bomb sale to Israel By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Gaza's 15-month war in numbers: Over 46,000 killed, nearly 1.9M displaced Though the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will mean an end to the fighting, the devastating consequences of the war will drag on for years in both Gaza and Israel. Palestine
Gaza celebrates end of longest Israel-Hamas war with overwhelming joy Though their losses are incalculable, the people of Gaza were overjoyed by the announcement of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. Palestine
Trump, Biden vie for credit as Gaza ceasefire awaits Israel’s approval The president-elect’s nominees for top positions are talking tough as the ceasefire with Israel hangs in the balance. United States
After Gaza deal, Trump's top adviser says Saudi-Israel normalization 'huge priority' Trump’s next national security adviser, Mike Waltz, emphasized on Wednesday that the incoming administration will place Saudi-Israel normalization atop its agenda now that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas seems imminent. United States
How the Gaza ceasefire deal came together At the last minute, negotiators in Doha managed to seal the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that had eluded the Biden administration for more than 15 months. United States
Gaza ceasefire deal reached between Israel and Hamas Three Americans — Keith Seigel, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Edan Alexander — are among the hostages set to be released from Hamas captivity. Palestine
Who is Julia Sebutinde, pro-Israel judge in line for ICJ presidency? The International Court of Justice’s vice president, Julia Sebutinde, seems likely to fill the shoes of outgoing head Nawaf Salam. Israel
Despite war, Israeli startups raise over $12B in 2024 Despite Israel’s economic stagnation last year, a new report found that high-tech — which accounts for 16% of all Israeli jobs — saw its gross domestic product rise 2.2% in 2024, bucking the wider economic trend in Israel. Israel
Analysis As Gaza deal looms, will Netanyahu choose Trump or Israel’s far right? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be finding it difficult to play the same stalling game with President-elect Donald Trump he has been playing for months with President Joe Biden. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Turkey’s ruling party hits out at Israel’s support for Kurdish-led SDF Ankara breaks its silence as Erdogan’s ruling party delivers the first official response to Israel’s support for the Kurdish-led SDF. Turkey
Tactic or bluster? Trump’s Hamas threat hangs over Gaza talks President-elect Donald Trump is threatening “all hell will break out” if Hamas doesn’t release the remaining hostages before he takes office. Is the Palestinian militant group prepared to call his bluff? United States
Israeli settlers vandalize Palestinian property across West Bank: What we know The attacks follow the deadly shooting of Israelis in the territory and coincide with raids by both Israeli and Palestinian forces against armed groups. Palestine
