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Israel

July 12, 2026

Tel Aviv 9:20 am

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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.

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Lebanon's latest damage estimate outlines reconstruction challenge

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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

Israeli security forces patrol along the security fence in the village of Muqeibila near the West Bank town of Jenin on Sept. 6, 2021, following the escape of six Palestinians from an Israeli prison.

Palestinian prison break embarrasses Israeli government

The last thing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett needed right now was a spectacular escape of six Palestinian prisoners from a high-security jail.

Pnina Tamano Shata, the first Israeli Jewish woman of Ethiopian origin to be elected to the Knesset, talks to AFP journalists during an interview, Hadera, Israel, Feb. 4, 2020.

Israeli female ministers introduce reforms, shake up agenda

With nine female ministers, the government of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett includes the highest number ever of women in an Israeli Cabinet.

Israeli-made Spike missiles, which are capable of striking North Korea's underground facilities with satellite-guidance system, are on parade during a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the founding of South Korea's Armed Forces at an air base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, on Oct. 1, 2013.

Why Serbia wants to buy SPIKE missiles from Israel

While prospects for actual conflict use are slim, Belgrade hopes that by buying Israeli weapons it can alleviate some of the pressure it may face from Washington over Kosovo and ties with Russia and China.

Isaac Herzog, a veteran of Israel's left-wing Labor party, delivers a speech after being sworn in before parliament as the Jewish state's 11th president, replacing Reuven Rivlin, in Jerusalem, on July 7, 2020.

Israel’s president takes lead on ties with Jordan, Palestinians

President Isaac Herzog has been busy these past few days on the Arab and Palestinian fronts, secretly visiting Jordan and speaking on the phone first with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and then with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Police officers search as they investigate an area where six Palestinian prisoners managed to escape from Gilboa prison overnight on Sept. 6, 2021 near Kibbutz Beit HaShita in the Gilboa region, Israel. The prisoners, who include Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade leader Zakaria Zubeidi, are believed to have escaped through a tunnel overnight.

Israel vows to capture escaped Palestinian prisoners

After the escape of six Palestinian prisoners and following riots in prisons and in the West Bank, Israel expects more violence.

Eritrean children play at an Israeli school.

Israeli parents protest children of migrants in Tel Aviv schools

Some Israeli parents are demanding the Tel Aviv municipality keep the children of illegal immigrants concentrated in one school in the south of the city.

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

Chinese-operated port opens in Israel despite American concerns

The Biden administration is relaying to Jerusalem the same fears expressed by former US administrations over Chinese investments in Israel.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Protesters accuse IDF of tying soldiers' hands after deadly clash

In the wake of the death of IDF soldier Barel Hadaria Shmueli, hundreds of Israeli service members have been demanding the rules for live fire engagement be loosened.

Opposition and Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid attends a press conference, Tel Aviv, Israel, May 6, 2021.

Straight talk from Israel's Lapid includes criticism of US

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid does not stop for a minute, including controversial remarks on Poland, on the US Consulate in Jerusalem and on Afghanistan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses lawmakers during a special session to vote on a new government at the Knesset, Jerusalem, June 13, 2021.

Netanyahu goes after Bennett, with IDF paying the price

In his zeal to attack Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, opposition head Benjamin Netanyahu and associates are even ready to tarnish the IDF and its commanders.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett looks on during a plenum session on the state budget on Sept. 2, 2021.

Boxed in: Bennett, Abbas can’t win despite ‘goodwill gestures’

Domestic politics are complicating any moves toward better ties, and Hamas is seeking an advantage by stoking resistance.

Fatima Shbair/Getty Images

Israel asks Egypt to pressure Hamas to end border violence

In a meeting yesterday between senior Israeli and Egyptian defense officials, Israel asked Egypt to pressure Hamas to stop the ongoing nightly demonstrations by the Gaza border.