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

Israel cover image

Israel

June 30, 2026

Tel Aviv 5:50 am

21°C

KAREN MINASYAN / AFP via Getty Images

Turkey, Azerbaijan slam Israel’s Armenian genocide recognition as Yerevan mum

Ankara accused Israel of weaponizing history as Armenia avoided public comment amid delicate regional diplomacy.

AFP via Getty Images

Traffic plummets through Strait of Hormuz after Iran, US trade fire

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had recovered somewhat before renewed fighting between Iran and the United States saw traffic drop sharply over the weekend.

A car drives past an United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) outpost in the village of Khan Arnabah, Quneitra, southern Syria, April 29, 2026.

Syria slams Israeli 'violations' in south as ground clashes intensify: What to know

In a rare incident, the Israeli military said it fired at armed men in southern Syria, without identifying the attackers.

Latest News

Explainer

Israel's Armenian genocide recognition marks new front against Turkey

Members of the Jerusalem Armenian community hold placards as they march during commemorations for the 94th anniversary of mass killings of their kin under the Ottoman Empire, Jerusalem's Old City, April 24, 2009.

US brokers deal for limited Israeli withdrawal in south Lebanon

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C, back) looks on as (L/R, front row) Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, State Department Chief of Staff Daniel Holler, and Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh sign a framework agreement at the US Department of State in Washington, DC, on June 26, 2026. Lebanon, Israel and the United States on Friday signed a trilateral framework agreement aimed at paving the way for a peace deal between the two long-time Middle East adversaries. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP

Iran vows to respond to Israeli military using neighboring airspace: What to know

Jalaa MAREY / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Vance turning us into 'punching bag': Israel fumes over alleged IRGC-CENTCOM channel in Doha

Vance

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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) shakes hands with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on May 15, 2016 during a meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem.Ayrault met Netanyahu before meeting Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas ahead of a France-sponsored Middle East peace process summit in Paris on May 30. Israel has rejected the initiative, the Palestinians support it and the United States has been cold. REUTERS/ MENAHEM KAHANA/Pool - RTSECIN

Is Israel's opposition leader siding with Bibi against French initiative?

It seems that Zionist Camp leader Isaac Herzog is more interested in entering the coalition and becoming foreign minister than he is at promoting the French initiative to advance the two-state solution.

Young Palestinian entrepreneurs use their computers at Gaza Sky Geeks office, in Gaza City January 18, 2016. Picture taken January 18, 2016. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa - RTX242SL

Israeli, Palestinian teens open back channel via Facebook

What started as verbal hostilities between Israeli and Gazan teenagers turned into meaningful online dialogue when mutual accusations gave way to curiosity about each other's lives.

Palestinians wait to show their permits to Israeli security officers as they make their way to attend the fourth Friday prayer of Ramadan in Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque, at an Israeli checkpoint in the West bank city of Bethlehem July 10, 2015. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma - RTX1JTWR

Magnetic card system restricts Palestinian visits to Jerusalem

Israel is issuing magnetic travel permits to Palestinians that only permit a certain number of visits to Jerusalem and Israel each year.

Workers conduct an onshore gas and oil inspection in Batroun, northern Lebanon, October 2, 2013. Lebanon launched an onshore oil and gas survey on Wednesday, hoping that promising results from surveys of its Mediterranean waters can be matched by similar prospects onland. To match LEBANON-ENERGY/ REUTERS/Mohammed Azakir (LEBANON - Tags: ENERGY BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT POLITICS) - RTR3FIVP

Can Lebanon make progress on oil, gas exploration efforts?

A litany of more pressing crises has led to a delay in efforts to advance work on Lebanon's nascent oil and gas sector.

Bibi's feud with defense minister reaches new heights

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, who openly opposes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies, is now encouraging senior IDF officers to express opinions that conflict with those of the Israeli political leadership.

Why opposition leader is pushing coalition negotiations with Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hasn’t yet made a concrete proposal for Labor to join his coalition, but controversy over the possibility is already shaking up the party.

A protester holds a sign, which reads: "Only one solution: stop occupation", during a demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians, in Brussels, Belgium, October 18, 2015. REUTERS/Eric Vidal - RTS4Z1P

How Palestinians plan to mark 50 years of occupation

For June 2017, Palestinian leadership is planning a major Palestinian and international political and public campaign on 50 years of the occupation.

How one professor poked Israeli establishment in the eye

Despite criticism by the Israeli right, the prestigious Israel Prize has been awarded to David Shulman, the co-founder of the anti-occupation NGO Ta'ayush.

Israeli left wing demonstrators march holding placards protesting the right wing incitement against President Reuven Rivlin and human rights activists in Tel Aviv. December 19, 2015. An ultra-nationalist Israeli group has published a video accusing the heads of four of Israel's leading human rights organisations of being foreign agents funded by Europe and supporting Palestinians "involved in terrorism". The sign (C) reads, "The right will not silence me." REUTERS/Baz Ratner - RTX1ZETU

How politics is redefining 'left' and 'right' in Israel

Israel's political right and left were once defined by their approach to the Palestinian issue, but now the distinction is being applied to almost every area of debate.

Palestinian Hamas militants march in front of a mock burnt Israeli bus during an anti-Israel rally in Gaza city April 28, 2016. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem - RTX2C2ZR

Is third intifada on its way to becoming history?

What has been described as a third intifada now seems to be declining as Palestinian attacks decrease, though Hamas insists otherwise.

Gaza farmers dodge bullets to harvest crops

Although the truce that ended the 2014 Gaza war is still in force, the Israeli army has recently escalated its actions against farmers in the buffer zone between the Strip and Israel.

In Israel, life imitates satire

Polls indicate that a majority of Israelis do not object to the occupation, yet many of them are clamoring to watch a play mocking the policy.