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

Israel cover image

Israel

July 13, 2026

Tel Aviv 12:00 pm

30°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

RONEN ZVULUN/AFP via Getty Images

Netanyahu hunts for defectors from change bloc

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is combing Yamina for defectors to kill the incoming coalition government.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a special session of the Knesset, in which Knesset members elected Isaac Herzog as the new president, Jerusalem, June 2, 2021.

Expect dirty tricks in Netanyahu's last battle for survival

Most experts believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not open a new military front just to avoid his downfall, but will use every dirty political trick in the book to stay in power.

Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif poses for a photograph in Madrid on May 13, 2021.

Iran's Zarif: Netanyahu headed for 'dustbin of history'

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif weighed in after Israel's opposition formed a "change bloc" to unseat the longtime prime minister.

Mansour Abbas on June 2

Palestinian citizens of Israel divided over new government

After Ra'am became the first Arab party join an Israeli government in decades, some Palestinian citizens of Israel see the move as "historic" while others remain skeptical.

Israel's Yamina party leader, Naftali Bennett (L), smiles as he speaks to Yesh Atid party leader, Yair Lapid, during a special session of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, to elect a new president, in Jerusalem on June 2, 2021.

Israel's change coalition: What happens next?

Here’s what could happen next as the Knesset gears up to vote on a governing coalition aiming to unseat Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

YONATAN SINDEL/AFP via Getty Images

Netanyahu asks Israeli right to stop 'dangerous' coalition

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on lawmakers to oppose the broad-based governing coalition and accused his former aide, Yamina leader Naftali Bennett, of "selling out."

ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP via Getty Images

Israel’s new president brings spirit of compromise

Jewish Agency head Isaac Herzog was chosen Israel’s new president only hours before Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid announced the composition of a new government.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Despite agreements, fate of Israel’s new government still uncertain

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, senior Likud members and settler leaders are calling upon legislators in Yamina and New Hope to defect from the change bloc.

This combination of pictures shows (L to R) Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid party speaking during an interview in Jerusalem on March 7, 2021; Naftali Bennett of the Yamina party speaking to reporters at a conference in Jerusalem on March 15, 2021; and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party speaking during a ceremony marking Yom HaZikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, in Jerusalem on April 13, 2021.

Israel’s new government explained

If the eight-faction change government succeeds in getting sworn in, this is how it will look like.

Ra'am Party leader Mansour Abbas (L) signs a coalition agreement with Yair Lapid (L) and Naftali Bennett (C) in Jerusalem, June 2, 2021.

The Takeaway: Israel’s new government united in opposition to Bibi but not much else

Israeli Arab party leader Mansour Abbas makes history as dealmaker; will Hamas and Assad bury the hatchet; Does Hadi have a future in Yemen? Egypt, Sudan double down on military, economic ties; update on UN Iraq report; more!

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid in Knesset on June 2

Minutes before deadline expires, Israel gets new government

Minutes before his mandate expired, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid announced that he had called President Reuven Rivlin to tell him that Lapid had signed agreements providing the support needed to form a government that will oust Benjamin Netanyahu from power.

Pro Palestinian protesters face off with a group of Israel supporters and police in a violent clash in Times Square on May 20, 2021 in New York City.

Israeli-Hamas conflict continues to reverberate in US

US backers of Israelis, Palestinians argue their cases.