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July 27, 2026

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Analysis

Why US carriers unlikely to rush back to Beirut as Trump lifts Lebanon flight ban

The White House is set to allow US airlines to fly to Beirut for the first time in decades, but experts say the move is more about politics than planes as Washington creates new openings for Lebanon's battered economy.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Ahead of Trump meeting, Netanyahu lays groundwork for Israel to rejoin Iran war

Reports of an Iranian espionage ring and nuclear centrifuges movement could help Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu make the case to the Israeli public and Donald Trump to rejoin the war, ahead of a critical election in October.

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

Latest News

Explainer

As Turkey rivalry heats up, Greece to acquire $4B Israeli air defense system

David's Sling.

Trump says Saudi nuclear deal 'totally subject' to Israel normalization

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Israel fears US deal would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium

US President Donald Trump (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands as they arrive to speak to journalists during a joint press conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 29, 2025.

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

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man reacts after police fined him for defying government restrictions set in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Mea Shearim neighborhood of Jerusalem April 6, 2020. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC2YYF9YPX0X

Coronavirus tests alliance between Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox

Ultra-Orthodox politicians feel that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using them as scapegoats over coronavirus failures.

Israel to require people to wear face masks in public

Israelis prepare to observe Passover under a curfew after the Israeli government issued new restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Israeli soldiers deliver food to residents in Bnei Brak, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish town badly affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and which Israel declared a "restricted zone" due to its high rate of infections, near Tel Aviv, Israel April 5, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC2BYF9AZODO

Ultra-Orthodox welcome soldiers’ help in battle against coronavirus

When the ultra-Orthodox residents of Bnei Brak realized that the army was there to help them against the coronavirus, their negative attitudes changed almost overnight.

A Palestinian man walks in al-Fari'ah refugee camp amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the Israeli-occupied West Bank March 31, 2020. Picture taken March 31, 2020. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta - RC29WF9H3Y8K

In Israel, Arabs feel sidelined in struggle against coronavirus

The Arab community has been disappointed with Israeli government communications about the coronavirus.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for a speech at his Jerusalem office, regarding the new measures that will be taken to fight the coronavirus, March 14, 2020. Gali Tibbon/Pool via REUTERS - RC2WJF9D9S2R

Netanyahu puts settlers before Israel, again

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blew up coalition talks following right-wing attacks against him for letting Blue and White control the committee that appoints Supreme Court justices.

Houses in the Israeli settlement of settlement of Kedumim are seen in the foreground as part of the Palestinian city of Nablus is seen in the background (far left) in the Israeli-occupied West Bank February 20, 2020. Picture taken February 20, 2020. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC2R7F9HN66O

Intel: Netanyahu, Gantz strike West Bank annexation deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, struck a deal today to annex parts of the West Bank as part of their bid to form a unity government.

A labourer walks past electoral campaign posters bearing the portraits of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), leader of the Likud party, and retired Israeli general Benny Gantz (R), one of the leaders of the Blue and White (Kahol Lavan) political alliance, in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, on April 3, 2019, ahead of the general election scheduled for April 9. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel awaits its two prime ministers

Having made the toughest decision of his life, Benny Gantz is about to enter a unity government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Coronavirus leading Israel into a Passover like no other

With Passover approaching, the Israeli government appears set to implement extraordinary measures to try to keep the novel coronavirus from spreading beyond control as families gather for the holiday.

A man passes under a "Don't Panic" banner hanging at the entrance of Shuk HaCarmel (Caramel) market in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv on March 24, 2020 after Israel barred residents from leaving home for non-essential reasons and stopped night-time public transport, tightening already strict measures to fight the spread of coronavirus. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Tel Aviv, the city that never stops, now paralyzed

Although Tel Aviv is known as "the city that never stops," its entire entertainment and tourism scene — plays, other performances, bars, restaurants and hotels, the seashore — have come to a halt as a result of the coronavirus.

Israeli Arabs left to rely on 'self-help' for coronavirus testing

The discrepancy in the Israel government's approach to coronavirus testing in Jewish and Arab communities has put the burden on Arab Knesset members and local Arab authorities to organize to try to keep infections under control in Arab towns and villages.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - FEBRUARY 17: Workers hang a Blue and White Party billaboard showing its leader Benny Gantz and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as part of the party's campaign on February 17, 2020 in Tel Aviv, Israel. In two weeks Israelis will head to the polls for the third election in less than a year. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Netanyahu gets cold feet on unity government for Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed away from the unity government plan even after Blue and White leader Benny Gantz agreed to many of his conditions.

Palestinian workers returning from Israel arrive at a testing site for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), outside the Israeli-controlled Tarqumiya checkpoint near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank March 26, 2020. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma - RC2RRF9ZN4LX

Coronavirus restrictions expose deficit in Palestinian-Israeli Oslo Accord

The coronavirus outbreak exposed a largely unknown deficit in the Oslo Accords: the existence of large areas outside the authority of Palestinian and Israeli powers.