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

Israel cover image

Israel

September 8, 2026

Tel Aviv 5:02 am

26°C

Israeli soldiers take positions during a military operation in the town of Qalqiya, in the occupied West Bank, Dec. 4, 2025.

Katz warns PA against 'Oct. 7-style' attack as West Bank violence rises

After a West Bank stabbing of an Israeli settler, Defense Minister Israel Katz warns the Palestinian Authority against launching an “Oct. 7-style” assault.

An excavator digs as rescuers search for survivors amid the rubble following an overnight Israeli airstrike on the village of Kfar Roummane, southern Lebanon, Sept. 7, 2026.

Lebanon says at least 12 killed in Israeli strikes as tensions rise in south

The escalation in southern Lebanon casts a shadow over upcoming Israel-Lebanon talks in Rome.

A woman walks past a model of a Lora missile, Israel's long range artillery missile at the Israel defence stall at the international DefExpo 2008 defence fair, in New Delhi on February 16, 2008. India kicked off South Asia's largest defence fair, with hundreds of global weapons firms offering their latest hardware to the country's technology-hungry military. About 450 weapons companies from 30 countries are present at the four-day "DefExpo" in New Delhi, with several big-ticket announcements expected. AFP P

Analysis

LORA missile test reveals limits of Germany’s Gaza criticism of Israel

The German navy tested Israel’s LORA ballistic missile as Berlin considers acquiring the system, deepening defense ties with Israel despite criticism of the Gaza war.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Raam

Analysis

How Jewish politician joining Arab party could reshape Israeli politics

Former Yesh Atid lawmaker Yoav Segalovitz, a Jewish centrist, has joined Raam, potentially paving the way for cooperation between the Arab Islamist party and opposition factions that have so far refused to work with it.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Latest News

Analysis

Playing for time: Despite US pressure, Israel stalls Lebanon talks until after election

Ammar Ammar / AFP via Getty Images

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

Analysis

As Israeli settler attacks mount, Trump avoids public pressure on Netanyahu

Israeli soldiers arrive in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which has faced escalating Israeli settler violence over the past month, on Aug. 29, 2026.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Israel to release 5 Lebanese prisoners ahead of next talks: What to know

Anwar AMRO / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Israel favors status quo as tensions in Iran's leadership fuel escalation risk

missile

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

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

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

Head of the Mossad Yossi Cohen attends a Fourth of July Independence Day celebration at the residence of the US ambassador to Israel in Herzilya Pituah, Israel, July 3, 2017.

Scandal threatens political ambitions of former Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen

Revelations over an alleged liaison with a married woman could threaten whatever political ambitions former Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen was harboring.

GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

The Takeaway: Israel fears Iran strike could ignite war with Hezbollah

Erdogan’s rescue plan for the lira, Turkey’s Africa drone market, Lebanon’s homeless cats and dogs, Gaza’s racism, Gulf stock markets and more — in less than 1,300 words!

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan meets with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Dec. 22, 2021, in Israel.

US national security adviser meets with Bennett, Lapid, Gantz in Israel

Facing growing pressure from Jerusalem on the Vienna talks, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan met yesterday in Israel with President Isaac Herzog and today with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

This studio illustration shows a smartphone with the website of Israel's NSO Group, which features Pegasus spyware, July 21, 2021.

After Pegasus affair, Israeli tech companies fear US blacklisting

It is still too early to tell if the Pegasus affair and US blacklisting of some cyberattack companies will harm the Israeli industry or actually boost global demands for such products.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Arab Knesset member shocks crowd, says Israel 'born Jewish'

Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas made big waves when he said that Israel was and will remain a Jewish state.

Iran scientist

Israeli army not ready to strike Iran's nuclear program

According to reports, the IDF does not have the means to effectively and seriously damage Iran's nuclear facilities right now.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid gives remarks after being welcomed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a the US Capitol, Washington, Oct. 12, 2021.

Is Israeli Foreign Minister Lapid's Yesh Atid a party of one?

Yesh Atid, which is the second-largest party in Israel, has been ruled since its inception by one person alone — Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.

Jewish cemetery Iran

Israelis long to reconnect with Arab, Islamic homelands

Many Israeli Jews with Middle Eastern origins remember a painful expulsion from their homelands and want to preserve and celebrate the history of those Jewish communities.

Israeli solders gather next to self-propelled Howitzers in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on the border with Syria, Nov. 28, 2020.

Israel knows attacking Iranian nuke program will bring war with Hezbollah

Israeli leadership is coping not only with the question of military preparedness for the possibility of attacking the Iranian nuclear program, but also with the implications of such an attack on Israel’s homeland security, its economy and its growth.

kanievsky

Ultra-Orthodox anti-vaxxers threaten leading Israeli rabbi

When the Grand Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky called on his followers to vaccinate children, vaccine opponents within the ultra-Orthodox community turned against him.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at the Jerusalem Post's annual coference, Jerusalem, Oct. 12, 2021.

West Bank terror attacks challenge Bennett

Recent terror attacks in the West Bank have put Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in a complicated spot with his right-wing base.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Future uncertain for US Palestinian affairs consulate in Jerusalem

Rumor has it that the United States has halted efforts to reopen a consulate for Palestinian affairs in Jerusalem.