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Israel

July 14, 2026

Tel Aviv 3:24 pm

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Israelis turn out to cast their ballots on election day for the 20th Knesset on March 17, 2015 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Explainer

Israel's next election: Who's leading in polls and what's at stake?

After months of negotiations and speculations, the coalition announced that general elections will take place on Oct. 27.

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.

Latest News

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

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)

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

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 businessman Shaul Elovitz arrives to attend the hearing for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial for corruption

First witness testifies in Netanyahu trial

On a doubly dramatic day in Israel, the first witness testified in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trail and President Reuven Rivlin began consultations on who will be tasked to form the next government.

A picture taken from the Mount of Olives on Jan. 20, 2018, shows a Muslim tourist viewing Jerusalem's Old City and the Dome of the Rock.

Israel prepares for wave of Muslim tourists

With the signing of the Abraham Accords and the opening of Emirati, Bahraini and Moroccan diplomatic missions, Israel is now preparing for an unprecedented wave of Muslim tourists.

Amir Levy/Getty Images

Arab legislator's speech marks historic moment in Israeli politics

In his prime-time speech, Arab Knesset member Mansour Abbas cleverly laid the groundwork for an Arab party to join it.

Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab Party (Ra'am), delivers a speech in Nazareth, Israel, April 1, 2021.

Netanyahu’s fans hail historic speech by Israeli Arab legislator

Likud’s enthusiasm over the speech of Arab legislator Mansour Abbas might be opportunist and not candid, but it is changing Israeli politics and society irreversibly.

Naftali Bennett, leader of the Israeli right-wing Yamina ('New Right') party, addresses supporters at his party's campaign headquarters in the Mediterranean coastal city of Tel Aviv early on March 24, 2021, after the end of voting in the fourth national election in two years.

Israel’s Bennett faces dilemma of his life

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows that without Yamina leader Naftali Bennett he has absolutely no chances of forming the next government.

The 120-seat Knesset (Israeli parliament) chamber is virtually empty as the debate over Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza Strip disengagement plan enters its second day Oct. 25, 2004 in Jerusalem, Israel.

Israel’s new parliament most divided yet

Multitude of parties and internal division are a sure recipe for a chaotic 24th Knesset.

Reuven Rivlin votes March 23

Israel’s president calls for unconventional alliances

Associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lash out against President Reuven Rivlin after Rivlin called on Israeli politicians to consider out-of-the-ordinary alliances.

Mansour Abbas (C), head of Israel's conservative Islamic Raam party, speaks to supporters during a political gathering to congratulate him on the electoral victory in the northern Israeli village of Maghar on March 26, 2021.

Israeli Arab politicians now part of the game for composing next government

After years of being sidelined, Arab politicians are being courted by parties from both the right and the left as they try to convince them to join a coalition.

Lisa Peterson

US rights report keeps Trump language on Israel, Palestinian territories

The Israel section of the annual rights report included a section on “Israel, West Bank and Gaza," rather than "Israel and the Occupied Territories."

Palestinians who work in Israel wait in line to receive the first dose of a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine by Israeli medical workers in Meitar crossing checkpoint between the West Bank and Israel on March 9, 2021 in Meitar, Israel. More than two months after starting a world-leading COVID-19 vaccination campaign for its own citizens, Israel began administering the Moderna vaccine to Palestinian laborers from the West Bank who enter Israel or Israeli settlements for work.

Israel endorses international plan to vaccinate 7,000 Gaza traders

Israel has greenlighted an international operation to vaccinate against the coronavirus 7,000 Palestinian traders from the Gaza Strip who regularly travel through Israel and the West Bank.

Tikun Olam

Stars help peel back curtain from Israeli cannabis industry

Former Minister Tzipi Livni is the latest in a long list of public figures and celebrities joining the rapidly growing medical cannabis industry in Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the Likud party, addresses supporters at the party campaign headquarters in Jerusalem early on March 24, 2021, after the end of voting in the fourth national election in two years.

With Netanyahu vulnerable, Israel again ignored by Washington on Iran

Knowing he is politically vulnerable, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is silent on Washington’s intention to return to the nuclear deal with Tehran.