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
US nixes Israel meeting after Netanyahu says US withholding weapons The White House rejects Benjamin Netanyahu's claims that it has withheld weapons and ammunitions over the "past few months." Israel
Polls show soaring Palestinian support for Barghouti as Hamas, Abbas stumble New polling of Palestinian adults suggests that Hamas has been more popular than Fatah in the West Bank, while Fatah is more popular than Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Palestine
As Netanyahu protests, Blinken says Israel arms shipments moving 'normally' The top US diplomat said one shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel's military remains under review, though most weapons shipments continue. Israel
In Lebanon, Hochstein calls for 'urgent' end to Israel-Hezbollah escalation US special envoy Amos Hochstein met with the army commander and other top officials in Beirut to discuss the cross-border escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, one day after his trip to Israel. Lebanon
Hamas figure says 'no one has any idea' how many hostages left alive Hamas criticized US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent remarks on the cease-fire and blamed Israel for the failure to reach a deal, while a senior official said the group wants more clarity on the Biden administration proposal. Palestine
Hamas open to direct channel on cease-fire, says former hostage negotiator After months of failed talks, Israel's former back-channel negotiator Gershon Baskin says it’s time to bypass the mediators and open a direct line of communication with Hamas. Israel
Houthi attacks caused 90% drop in Red Sea shipping, Pentagon finds The Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency found that the attacks impacted at least 65 countries and forced at least 29 major energy and shipping companies to change their routes. Yemen
Analysis As Hamas wavers on deal, Israel's main front moves to Lebanon's Hezbollah As Netanyahu plays for time, the Israeli military has recommended to the government that troops wrap up their activities against Hamas in the southern Gaza city within a month and move on to deal with Hezbollah in the north. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Hezbollah-Israel clashes intensify as fears grow of all-out war in Lebanon The situation on the Israel-Lebanon border is worsening, all while US efforts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza have yet to lead to a deal. Lebanon
Pentagon hosts Lebanon’s army chief in bid to avert Israel-Hezbollah war The Biden administration wants the Lebanese Armed Forces to deploy near the Israel-Lebanon border to help defuse a potentially explosive conflict with Hezbollah. But first, Lebanon's top general needs to be able to pay his soldiers their salaries. Lebanon
Erdogan and Biden may meet at NATO's US summit in July, ambassador says Amid widening differences over Gaza, Turkey postponed in April the Turkish president’s visit to the White House that was planned for May. Turkey
Movement for PLO reform faces opposition from Ramallah leadership Players from the Palestinian diaspora and elsewhere are pushing hard for reforms to the Palestine Liberation Organization, causing enough of a stir that President Mahmoud Abbas appears to be worried. Palestine
