Israel - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Israel cover image

Israel

July 10, 2026

Tel Aviv 8:27 pm

27°C

Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

As US-Iran fighting resumes, Israel weighs 3 options with restraint winning, for now

Despite Israel's military readiness to resume strikes on Iran, officials say looming elections make Netanyahu more likely to stay out unless Tehran forces his hand.

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

Former Israeli army chief of staff Gadi Eizenkot speaks during the launch of the Yashar party's election campaign in Hod Aharon, in central Israel, on June 30, 2026.

New Israeli election poll puts Eisenkot ahead of Netanyahu: What to know

Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party has now bypassed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud in the polls, cementing his status as Netanyahu’s main opponent.

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (not shown) for bilateral talks at Beştepe Presidential Compound during the NATO Summit on July 08, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey. Leaders from NATO's 32 countries, plus NATO allies like Ukraine, gathered in the Turkish capital to discuss a range of issues involving spending targets, defense industrial production, and support for Ukraine, among other topics. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump declares MoU with Iran 'over' as Hegseth cancels trip to Israel

Trump said diplomacy with Tehran was “a waste of time” after renewed attacks around Hormuz, as US defense chief reportedly cancels Israel visit.

Latest News

Explainer

Lebanon's latest damage estimate outlines reconstruction challenge

Froun

Analysis

Trump's F-35 push for Turkey runs into CAATSA — and Israel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) welcomes US President Donald Trump (R) upon his arrival on Air Force One at Etimesgut Air Base near Ankara, on July 7, 2026, before attending the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)

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

Israel, Greece conduct military drills ahead of NATO summit in Turkey

ABIR SULTAN / AFP via Getty Images

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

Abramovich yacht

Israel implements some but not all sanctions against Russian oligarchs

Israel’s leadership said that the country will not enable Russian oligarchs to bypass Western sanctions, but at the same time it did not commit clearly to adopt all the sanctions.

Sisi & Bennett

Israel, Egypt launch new flight route ahead of Passover

Following up on the September meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Jerusalem and Cairo announced the opening of a flight route between Tel Aviv and Sharm el-Sheikh.

RONEN ZVULUN/AFP via Getty Images

Mixed feelings in Israel over Bennett’s mediation efforts on Ukraine

The Israeli opposition is criticizing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett as overeager to drag Israel into the Russia-Ukraine quagmire.

JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Israel, Emirates coordinate positions against Iran nuke talks

The issue of the Vienna talks are sure to be discussed in today's Washington meetings between IDF senior commanders and their American counterparts.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett gives a speech during a ceremony for the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah for Israeli soldiers, Jerusalem, Nov. 29, 2021.

Israel-Iran conflict escalates to drone war

Tehran blames Israel for attacking last month one of its bases in the west of Iran, allegedly destroying hundreds of drones.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish children.

Israel's ultra-Orthodox reject housing in new Negev town

Ultra-Orthodox leaders search for a solution to the housing crisis in the sector, but they are not in favor of the solution proposed by the government to establish a new ultra-Orthodox town in the Negev region.

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

Citizenship law deepens rift between Israel's Arab parties

The Joint List was hoping to use the vote on the controversial citizenship Law to embarrass its rival Muslim coalition party Ra’am.

Shlomi Amsalem/GPO

Israel vows country won’t become safe haven for sanctioned Russian oligarchs

Speaking at a press conference in Slovakia, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid stated that Russia won’t be able to bypass Western sanctions through Israel.

An Ukrainian flag waves in front of smoke rising from a bombed warehouse in the town of Stoyanka, west of Kyiv, on March 4, 2022.

Analysis

Bennett, Erdogan seek to fill diplomatic vacuum over Ukraine

Qatar’s role in Iran diplomacy even more vital with pause in Vienna nuclear talks.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

Israel needs long-term plans to absorb Ukrainian immigration wave

Israel’s government has made short-term housing plans for the thousands of Ukrainian and Russian Jews expected to immigrate to Israel, but absorption will be a long and difficult road.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett welcomes a group of orphans from the Alumim orphanage in the Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr, on arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel, March 6, 2022.

Germany’s Scholz behind Israel’s Bennett shuttle diplomacy on Ukraine

Associates of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett emphasize that his traveling to Moscow and Berlin and his contacts with all the parties were conducted with the US administration in the picture and with its blessing.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid meets with Jordanian King Abdullah II, Amman, Jordan, March 10, 2022.

Bennett government shakes off Netanyahu’s shadow on foreign policy

The coalition government's foreign policy on Russia, Iran, the United States, Turkey and the Palestinians differs significantly from that of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.