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

Israel cover image

Israel

June 29, 2026

Tel Aviv 12:35 am

25°C

Members of the Jerusalem Armenian community hold placards as they march during commemorations for the 94th anniversary of mass killings of their kin under the Ottoman Empire, Jerusalem's Old City, April 24, 2009.

Explainer

Israel's Armenian genocide recognition marks new front against Turkey

Analysts say the expected vote for recognition is not morally motivated, but intended to spite the Turkish leader.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C, back) looks on as (L/R, front row) Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, State Department Chief of Staff Daniel Holler, and Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh sign a framework agreement at the US Department of State in Washington, DC, on June 26, 2026. Lebanon, Israel and the United States on Friday signed a trilateral framework agreement aimed at paving the way for a peace deal between the two long-time Middle East adversaries. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP

US brokers deal for limited Israeli withdrawal in south Lebanon

The deal establishes a US-facilitated military coordination group to oversee the creation of two initial pilot zones in southern Lebanon.

Jalaa MAREY / AFP via Getty Images

Iran vows to respond to Israeli military using neighboring airspace: What to know

Iran’s military headquarters said it “considers responding to these dangerous actions as its right” after alleging that Israeli jets have been operating in the airspace of neighboring countries near Iran.

Vance

Analysis

Vance turning us into 'punching bag': Israel fumes over alleged IRGC-CENTCOM channel in Doha

The US-Iran decision to launch direct talks between the IRGC and CENTCOM in Qatar deepens the rift between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while heightening Israeli fears that Washington is shifting toward Doha and Tehran.

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

Latest News

Israel, Turkey, Iran offer aid as Venezuela’s 2 quakes kill at least 188

Responders arrive to a demolished building at San Bernardino after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Venezuela and other regions in the Caribbean on June 24, 2026 in Caracas, Venezuela.

Explainer

Pro-Palestine Democrats win in NYC elections: What it means

Congressional candidate Claire Valdez, Congressional candidate Brad Lander, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier raise their hands during a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) rally at King's Theater on June 18, 2026 in New York City.

Analysis

Pilot zones at center of Israel-Lebanon talks as Trump pressures Netanyahu

Lebanese army forces deploy in the village of Bir al-Salasel in southern Lebanon on June 15, 2026. Iran's foreign ministry on June 15 said the US must ensure that Israel commits to stopping the war in Lebanon under a deal agreed upon with the US to end the Middle East war. Lebanon was pulled into the conflict in early March when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader, prompting Israeli strikes and a ground invasion. (Pho

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

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) escorts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into the White House in Washington, U.S., February 15, 2017.REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RTSYUJN

Trump’s Mideast envoys moving to next phase

With President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entangled in domestic scandals, a dramatic launching of a peace process might serve them well in terms of media coverage.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) attends the Likud party meeting in the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, in this March 28, 2016 file picture. REUTERS/Nir Elias/Files - RTX29L3P

Outsiders target Israeli Likud Party’s agenda

The organizers of the "New Likud" estimate that some 12,000 people have joined the Likud Party because of them, with the goal of creating a bloc powerful enough to influence the party's direction from the inside.

Leader of the northern Islamic Movement Sheikh Raed Salah gestures after leaving the district court in Jerusalem October 27, 2015. The Arab Israeli Muslim leader, seen by Israel as a powerful voice stoking Palestinian anger over a Jerusalem holy site, was ordered jailed for 11 months on Tuesday for comments he made in 2007. Sheik Raed Salah, leader of the Islamic Movement's northern section was convicted for incitement to violence in 2013, the Justice Ministry said, charges he denied. His attorney said he w

How Israel's arrest of Islamic Movement leader could backfire

The Israeli right has made the leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, Raed Salah, the focus of its fight against terrorism, but the move misses crucial parts of fighting against incitement to violence.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) sits next to Education Minister Naftali Bennett during the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem, 30 August 2016. REUTERS/Abir Sultan/Pool - RTX2NKHK

The Israeli right's hypocrisy on discrimination

Israeli right-wing politicians, though quick to criticize others for what they deem anti-Semitism, support discrimination against Arabs.

RAMALLAH, WEST BANK - AUGUST 7: In this handout image supplied by the office of the Palestinian president, King Abdullah II of Jordan is greeted by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his visit on August 7, 2017 in Ramallah, West Bank. (Photo by PPO via Getty Images)

Palestinians may be on verge of charting new political path

It appears that President Mahmoud Abbas wants to convene the Palestinian National Council, after a hiatus of more than 20 years, which would allow the Palestinian movement to move toward a change in leadership.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen on monitors before the evening news bulletin at Channel 10's control room in Jerusalem November 18, 2015. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo - RTX2SI5L

Journalists fear for safety as Netanyahu ups war on media

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attacks on the media are creating a climate that threatens journalists' lives.

Supporters of Sheikh Raed Salah, head of Islamic Movement's northern branch, protest in the Israeli-Arab town of Umm el-Fahm against the initial approval of a bill to enforce lowering the volume of mosque loudspeakers calling worshippers to prayer, November 17, 2016. The placards reads " The mosque's call to prayer will not be silenced" REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RTX2U4XL

Why did Israel now decide to arrest Islamic Movement leader?

Police waited three weeks before detaining Sheikh Raed Salah, leader of the outlawed Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement, fearing that his arrest during the Al-Aqsa crisis might lead Israeli Arabs to riot.

Jordan's King Abdullah II welcomes Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during a reception ceremony at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan March 28, 2017. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed - RTX336E2

Israel pushes security ties while Cairo, Amman embassies sit empty

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to care little about Israel’s diplomatic ties with Egypt and Jordan so long as security ties are maintained.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, August 13, 2017. REUTERS/Dan Balilty/Pool - RTS1BLBB

Netanyahu pushes law making it easier to declare war

A law Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to advance would allow the security Cabinet to declare war without approval of the entire government.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, August 13, 2017. REUTERS/Dan Balilty/Pool - RTS1BLB2

Has US sacrificed Israel for Syria deal?

Israel feels the Trump administration is not seriously taking into account Israel's concerns about Iran's regional aspirations.

Tulkarm aims to renovate century-old Ottoman train tunnel

The Ottoman Empire’s Hejaz Railway, initially seen as Sultan Abdulhamid's folly, played a key role in World War I and later in Palestine's history.

Jordan's King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wave during a reception ceremony in the West Bank city of Ramallah, August 7, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTS1ARSU

Jordanian king’s Ramallah visit more than morale booster

Jordanian King Abdullah's two-hour visit to Ramallah was meant to send a number of signals to multiple parties.