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Israel

June 23, 2026

Tel Aviv 4:00 pm

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Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Tyre, Lebanon, on June 9, 2026.

Analysis

As US reshapes Lebanon strategy, Israel finds itself sidelined

The deal advanced between Washington and Tehran sees a linkage between the Iranian and Lebanese theaters and creates a deconfliction mechanism — without consulting Israel beforehand.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Former Israeli Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot gives a press conference in Tel Aviv, on December 4, 2018.

Can political novice Eisenkot defeat Netanyahu in upcoming elections?

The former military chief of staff is emerging as the prime minister's strongest rival in upcoming elections, overtaking former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in recent polls.

US President Donald Trump holds a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Palm Beach, Florida, Dec. 29, 2025.

Analysis

How Netanyahu used Lebanon strikes to push back on Trump’s Iran deal

The latest ceasefire in Lebanon leaves Netanyahu squeezed between Washington and domestic pressure.

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

Latest News

'Let Syria take care of Hezbollah': Trump criticizes Israel, leans on Sharaa to help in Lebanon

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 16: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the G7 summit, on June 16, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Leaders from the Group of 7 (G7) countries convened in Evian, France, near the Swiss border, for their annual summit to discuss challenges to peace and security for Ukraine and Europe, the situation in the Middle East, and other geopolitical issues. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Get

Explainer

Ben-Gvir's move to run separately in Israel elections revives debate over party alliances

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir takes part in the Jerusalem Day celebrations on May 14, 2026, in the Old City of Jerusalem.

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 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd R) attends the weekly cabinet meeting with Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan (L), Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure Yuval Steinitz (2nd L), Israeli Minister of Transportation Yisrael Katz (3rd L) and Cabinet Secretary Tzachi Braverman (R) at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem September 16, 2018. Sebastian Scheiner/Pool via Reuters *** Local Caption *** - RC17A51E1F20

Israeli Cabinet cheers Trump, ignores IDF warnings

While IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot warns of a new wave of terrorism in the West Bank, the Security Cabinet prefers to cheer President Donald Trump on his decisions against the Palestinians.

Russian servicemen watch the launch of the S-300 air defence system missile during the International Army Games 2016 at the Ashuluk military polygon outside Astrakhan, Russia, August 7, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov - S1AETUBLCHAA

Intel: US warns Russia over S-300s for Syria

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon attend a ceremony for the signing of a housing agreement in Sderot, Israel April 9, 2018. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC1C2300B0A0

Kahlon aligns with Regev with eye toward early Israeli elections

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon has signed on to Culture Minister Miri Regev’s racist agenda against Israel’s Arab citizens not because of his ideology but in cynical preparation for early elections.

Israeli Arabs and their supporters take part in a rally to protest against Jewish nation-state law in Rabin square in Tel Aviv, Israel August 11, 2018. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RC1DEE0EF780

Under nationality law, Israeli court favors Jews

The resolution handed down recently by the Jerusalem District Court demonstrates the true ramifications of the nationality law and how Jews would be favored in courts.

Palestinians ponder reasons for punishing US measures

Washington keeps heaping injuries and insults onto Palestinians, who have various theories about the motivation behind the measures.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C), Minister of Jerusalem and Environmental Protection Zeev Elkin (L) and Cabinet Secretary Tzachi Braverman (R) attend a special cabinet meeting marking Jerusalem Day, at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem May 13, 2018. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/Pool - RC1396C81E50

Jerusalem mayoral race heating up

After Elkin missed out on the ultra-Orthodox deal, it’s not clear that Netanyahu would go out of his way to support him – he’ll certainly prefer his personal interests with the ultra-Orthodox. If residents of East Jerusalem would vote, they would decide who the next mayor would be.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia July 11, 2018. Yuri Kadobnov/Pool via REUTERS - UP1EE7B1DI9W0

Friction heats up between Russia, Israel over downed aircraft

Jerusalem is worried that the conflict with Moscow caused by the downing of a Russian jet in Syria will paralyze IDF activities and enable Iran to transfer arms to Hezbollah.

Israeli culture scene target of domestic censorship, international boycotts

Major Israeli film festivals are operating under an impossible Catch-22: on one front, Culture Minister Miri Regev threatens to slash funds of works that contradict her right-wing worldview, and on another front, Israeli cultural institutions are viewed as part and parcel of an occupying government uninterested in peace.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attends the meeting of the Palestinian Central Council, in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RC1137856820

For Abbas, it’s not too late to negotiate

Israel’s next prime minister should not give up on meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and reaching a peace agreement, even if it means a limited one to be implemented only in the West Bank.

Meet the woman who could lead Israel’s right-wing camp

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, seen as the person who would replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the leader of Israel's right wing, comes under major fire from the center-left.

Jewish worshippers take part in Slichot, a prayer in which Jews offer repentance and ask God to forgive their sins, ahead of Yom Kippur, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City September 16, 2018. Picture taken September 16, 2018. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RC14F980CC00

How Israeli right lays claim to religion

The recently adopted nationality law is only the latest example of a long string of efforts to exploit and pressure Israelis by linking political views to religious beliefs.

A Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft takes off from Central military airport in Rostov-on-Don, Russia March 6, 2014. Picture taken March 6, 2014. REUTERS/Sergey Pivovarov - UP1EE9I1LVW24

Plane shot down over Syria puts Russia-Israel relations to the test

A Russian plane downed by Syrian missiles responding to an Israeli strike has strained relations between Moscow and Tel Aviv and sent both sides into crisis-management mode.