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Israel

July 14, 2026

Tel Aviv 3:50 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

A general view shows Manger Square, near the Church of Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus, during Christmas celebrations in the West Bank town of Bethlehem December 24, 2013. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (WEST BANK - Tags: RELIGION) - RTX16TEF

Was Jesus a Palestinian, a Jew or both?

The Israeli Foreign Ministry was quick to respond to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' claim that Jesus was Palestinian.

Mourners react at a mosque during the funeral of three-year-old Palestinian girl Hala Bhairi, who medics said was killed by shrapnel from an Israeli strike, in the central Gaza Strip December 25, 2013. A Gaza sniper shot dead an Israeli civilian over the border on Tuesday and Israel hit back with air strikes on two Hamas training camps which hospital officials said killed the Palestinian girl near one of the targets. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTX16TQV

Death of Gaza child renews fears of war

The recent Israeli shelling of the Gaza Strip, which led to the death of a 3-year-old girl, has renewed residents’ fears of another military confrontation.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (2nd L) says goodbye to officials before boarding his plane to return to Israel, in Amman June 29, 2013. Kerry extended his Middle East peace mission on Saturday, shuttling between Jerusalem and Amman for more talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on reviving their stalled negotiations. REUTERS/Jacquelyn Martin/Pool (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX116CF

Jordan readies for possible framework agreement

Jordan is taking care to make its positions clear ahead of an expected US “framework proposal” in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Released Palestinian prisoner Samer al-Issawi gestures as he celebrates in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Issawiya December 23, 2013. Israel on Monday freed al-Issawi from jail, to complete a deal agreed earlier this year over his release in exchange for him ending a lengthy hunger strike that almost killed him. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTX16SOH

Issawi’s release places individual hunger strikes in spotlight

Samer Issawi's release set off exuberant celebrations in the streets, but more importantly has refocused the spotlight on his fellow hunger strikers in prison.

A demonstrator waves an Israeli flag as another holds a placard during a protest calling for the release of Jonathan Pollard from a U.S. prison, outside Israeli President Shimon Peres' residence in Jerusalem March 19, 2013. Some 1000 supporters protested a day ahead of Obama's visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank. Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, has been serving a life sentence in the United States since he was caught spying for Israel in the 1980s. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM -

Peace, not Pollard, is the issue

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempt of pulling Jonathan Pollard into the US diplomatic efforts in the peace process testifies to Israel seeking to serve its own interests rather than a peace deal with the Palestinians.

Dayan: 'Kerry causes damage by insisting on a solution now'

While some in the Israeli right looked for an alternative to the two-state solution, former Yesha head Dani Dayan prefers the status quo since ''there is no solution to the conflict at the moment.''

U.S. President Barack Obama waves after addressing Israeli students at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem March 21, 2013. Obama appealed directly on Thursday to the Israeli people to put themselves in the shoes of stateless Palestinians and recognise that Jewish settlement activity in occupied territory hurts prospects for peace. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3FA2D

Obama should see peace process through

History suggests that only a resolved American president, such as former Presidents Jimmy Carter or George Bush, Sr., can persuade the Israelis to come to an agreement with the Palestinians.

Talks with Palestinians return to Israel's public discourse

Pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from opponents within and outside his coalition has grown in sync with advances in talks with the Palestinians.

Palestinian demonstrators protest near the Israeli border fence with Gaza as the Israeli army shoots tear gas, December 27, 2013. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS) - RTX16V3B

Israel, Hamas caught in 'the Gaza trap'

Israel and Hamas are trapped in the same dilemma: avoiding escalation on the Israeli-Gaza border requires cooperation between them, but such cooperation portrays each side as weak.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) meets with Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean in the West Bank city of Bethlehem December 24, 2013. REUTERS/Luay Sababa/Pool (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX16TGU

Romanian FM: Obama should intervene in Israeli-Palestinian talks

Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean is doubtful about Israelis and Palestinians arriving to an agreement soon, unless US President Barack Obama intervenes.

An entrance to a tunnel exposed by the Israeli military is seen near Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, just outside the southern Gaza Strip October 13, 2013. Israel displayed on Sunday what it called a Palestinian "terror tunnel" running into its territory from the Gaza Strip and said it was subsequently freezing the transfer of building material to the enclave. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST MILITARY) - RTX149RZ

Israel uses storm to locate Gaza tunnels

A new report indicates that Israeli intelligence took advantage of the recent storm that hit the Gaza Strip to locate Hamas-operated tunnels by tracking storm damage and sinkholes.

Young Knesset member: Pension funds are Israel's time bombs

Knesset member Michal Biran warns of the collapsing pension system: "If we don't adopt emergency measures, then everyone who saves up today for their pension will remain without a pension when they get older."