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

Israel cover image

Israel

July 14, 2026

Tel Aviv 2:32 am

24°C

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

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Oman opens airspace to Israeli flights, following Saudi Arabia

Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has thanked the Sultan of Oman and the Biden administration for an airspace agreement that will shorten Israeli flight times to Asia considerably.

A Palestinian man flashes the victory sign as he faces an Israeli military vehicle, during a raid on the occupied-West Bank city of Nablus, on February 22, 2023. - Israeli troops killed at least 10 Palestinians in a raid on Nablus, while more than 80 suffered gunshot wounds, the Palestinian health ministry said. (Photo by ZAIN JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

At least 10 Palestinians killed, dozens injured in Israel West Bank raid

Clashes are occurring regularly in the Palestinian territory as tensions further rise.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (R) and Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen give a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 16, 2023.

Analysis

Ukraine war at year 1: Israel, Ukraine find common ground on Iran

Sharing concerns over Moscow-Tehran military cooperation, Jerusalem and Kyiv’s interests are now converging.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara attend a toast for the new Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana (unseen) after the new government is sworn in at the parliament, Jerusalem, Dec. 29, 2022.

Netanyahu advances judicial overhaul in Israel's Knesset

The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the first step in getting its judicial reform adopted by the Knesset.

A view of the platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea is pictured from the northern coastal beach of Nasholim, Israel, Aug. 29, 2022.

Israel's NewMed gas group to build facility in East Med

The move comes as Israel is seeking to export more gas to Europe.

A general view shows a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, at the United Nations headquarters, New York, Feb. 20, 2023.

Israel rebukes UN Security Council anti-settlement statement, criticizes US support

Members of the UN Security Council issued on Monday a rare joint statement, the first in nine years, condemning recent Israeli measures for West Bank settlement expansion.

A road sign points the way to the West Bank settlement of Homesh, northern Samaria, West Bank, April 19, 2005.

Biden ices Netanyahu as differences grow over settlements, judicial overhaul

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows that at some point there would be a heavy diplomatic price to pay vis-a-vis the Biden administration over his government’s push for settlement expansion.

Israel protest

Report: $4 billion flew out of Israel over judicial reform fears

The report from the Israeli news outlet Ynet follows warnings from global financial juggernauts JP Morgan and HSBC.

Cohen, Zelenskyy meet in Kyiv

Israeli foreign minister meets Ukraine's Zelenskyy in Kyiv

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is the first high-level Israeli to visit Kyiv since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Doosan Mobility Innovation's DS30W hydrogen fuel cell drone is displayed at CES 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 6, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

How Israel’s HevenDrones latest hydrogen-powered drone can help UAE

The lightweight aerial vehicle for defense or commercial use is the latest fruit of diplomatic normalization between the two countries, and will be featured at IDEX next week.

West BAnk settlement

The Takeaway: Settlement plans test Biden’s Israel approach

Plus, the family of an American held by Syria grows more concerned after the earthquake, and the US expresses alarm over Tunisia's wave of recent arrests.

A view of the platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea is pictured from the Israeli northern coastal beach of Nasholim, on Aug. 29, 2022.

Explainer: Israel is now an oil exporter with Energean deal, how significant?

Experts told Al-Monitor that the export is not a significant development despite the media buzz, though it may have good public relations value for Israel’s energy sector.