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

Israel cover image

Israel

May 7, 2026

Tel Aviv 1:10 pm

22°C

People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs neighborhood of Haret Hreik on May 6, 2026.

Israel strikes Beirut in breach of Lebanon ceasefire

Israel has continued to carry out strikes in southern Lebanon but had not targeted Beirut since the ceasefire took effect.

Amirhossein KHORGOOEI / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Israel fears Trump seeking Hormuz win while sidestepping Iran nuclear issue

While President Donald Trump keeps pressuring Iran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Israel fears the American leader will decide to cut his losses and sideline the nuclear threat.

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

A man sits watching as Lebanese first responders search for human remains among the rubble the day after a house was targeted in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, on May 1, 2026.

Culture

Lebanon's churches, mosques and archaeological sites damaged in Israeli strikes

Israeli strikes in Lebanon have damaged a growing number of cultural and religious sites, as sites in Israel have also sustained damage from Hezbollah and Iranian attacks.

Latest News

Analysis

Can Bennett, Lapid unite Israel’s opposition to unseat Netanyahu?

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid (L) speaks to outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, during a meeting at the Knesset (parliament), in Jerusalem on June 30, 2022. - Final approval of the parliament dissolution bill was initially expected by midnight but was postponed to June 30 as coalition and opposition lawmakers sparred over last-minute legislative details, several sources familiar with the parliamentary said. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Iron Dome in Gulf: How Iran war turned UAE-Israel defense ties operational

AFP via Getty Images

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Analysis

Without exit strategy, Israel faces emboldened Hezbollah, limited options on Iran

Ibrahim AMRO / AFP via Getty Images

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

Turkey warns France over Cyprus troop deployment: What to know

Members of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), from the British Army's 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, No. 2 Company, patrol along the buffer zone separating the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus and the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the divided capital Nicosia on Feb. 17, 2026.

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

Members of Israeli security forces and emergency services inspect the site of a reported attack on an Israeli bus.

How West Bank flare-ups could impact Israeli election

Confronted with a wave of terror attacks, Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz adopt a more hawkish approach to security in the West Bank.

Avi Ohaion/GPO

Israel’s Lapid meets with Jordanian, Turkish leaders at UN General Assembly

Ahead of addressing the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Prime Minister Yair Lapid met in New York with two important allies of Israel: Jordanian King Abdullah II and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Knesset

Split endangers Arab Knesset representation

Balad's decision to part from its Joint List partners Hadash and Ta’al might cost it dearly.

Israel cyber

Cybersecurity powerhouse Israel remains open to hackers

Numbers show that Israeli institutions, ministries, municipalities and companies are increasingly targeted by attempted cyberattacks, mostly from Iranian hackers.

RONEN ZVULUN/AFP via Getty Images

Lapid sticks to high ground en route to Israeli elections

The calm and unprovocative demeanor of Prime Minister Yair Lapid is earning him growing support within the Israeli electorate.

Israeli Charge d'Affaires Irit Lillian is seen with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglo (C), Israel, May 2022.

Israel nominates first ambassador to Turkey since 2018

The nomination of senior diplomat Irit Lillian as Israel's new ambassador to Ankara clearly signals Jerusalem's commitment to rehabilitating bilateral ties.

Jewish pilgrims are stuck between Belarusian and Ukrainian border crossings after Kyiv refused their entry citing coronavirus concerns, Sept. 16, 2020.

Russia, Ukraine exchange barbs over Israeli pilgrimage to Uman

Moscow and Kyiv are exchanging accusations of endangering Israeli Jews wishing traveling to the Ukrainian town of Uman for the annual Jewish New Year pilgrimage.

GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

Lapid’s coalition crumbles ahead of Israeli elections

Unlike opposition head Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Yair Lapid has failed to unite his camp ahead of the November elections.

A torched observation post is seen outside a religious Jewish school following night clashes between Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews, Lod, Israel, May 11, 2021.

Arab Israelis deplore growing violence, political indifference

The recent killing of an Arab Israeli journalist highlights the depth of the problem of violence and crime within the Israeli Arab community.

Mother (C) of slain Israeli Maj. Bar Falah, killed overnight during operational activity adjacent to the Gilboa crossing, mourns during his funeral, Netanya, Israel, Sept. 14, 2022.

Israel continues West Bank raids

Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz face a tough choice: How to avoid the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, and at the same time prevent terrorist attacks on Israelis.

Kobi Gideon/GPO

Emirati foreign minister visits Israel

Celebrating two years since the normalization of diplomatic ties, Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has met in Israel with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

Interim Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid arrives to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Chancellery, Berlin, Germany, Sept. 12, 2022.

Israel’s Lapid soars in polls but has no camp behind him

Recent polls show growing electoral support for Prime Minister Yair Lapid, even though parties within the center-left camp might chose to back his rival Defense Minister Benny Gantz.