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

Israel cover image

Israel

September 26, 2026

Tel Aviv 8:44 pm

26°C

ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Can Netanyahu turn Israel's UN isolation into strength at home?

The absence of a Trump meeting would have been awkward for Netanyahu, who has long portrayed himself to Israeli voters as uniquely close to the US president.

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

Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu waves to delegates leaving before his UN speech

Delegates walk out as Netanyahu touts Iran war, slams Qatar and Turkey at UN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's statement that the Golan Heights will "remain Syrian territory," while praising US President Donald Trump, whom he did not meet on the trip.

Leader of the Arab Israeli party Ra'am (United Arab List) Mansour Abbas (R) and Israeli politician Yoav Segalovitz (L) attend a news conference in Nazareth on August 31, 2026. Abbas announced that Segalovitz, an Israeli Jew, will join his party for the upcoming Israeli elections. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP via Getty Images)

Israel election committee bars two Arab lists from upcoming vote: What to know

Israel's Central Elections Committee barred the Arab-majority Raam party, the Arab joint list party and two Arab politicians from participating in the Oct. 27 elections.

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Why Netanyahu is distancing himself from Trump ahead of Israeli election

No meeting has been announced between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit in New York.

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

Latest News

UAE's Gargash expects 'prolonged' war, calls for Iran-Gulf security talks

Gargash

United Arab Emirates

Analysis

After France's settlement ban, Israel sees no warming of ties with Macron government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive to hold a joint press conference in Jerusalem, Oct. 24, 2023.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

How Netanyahu is leveraging Houthi threat in secret Saudi normalization push

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looks on as he attends a trade agreement signature ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris on August 24, 2026. (Photo by LOU BENOIST / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

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

Serbia opens factory to assemble Israeli-made drones: What to know

OLIVER BUNIC/AFP via Getty Images

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

How Damascus Gate became the symbol of the intifada

Confrontations between Palestinians and Israelis at Damascus Gate have heightened the symbolic importance of the largest gate of Jerusalem's Old City.

The remaining Republican U.S. presidential candidates, (L-R) Governor John Kasich, former Governor Jeb Bush, Senator Ted Cruz, businessman Donald Trump, Senator Marco Rubio and Dr. Ben Carson pose before the start of the Republican U.S. presidential candidates debate sponsored by CBS News and the Republican National Committee in Greenville, South Carolina February 13, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst - RTX26TL7

US presidential candidates clash over Middle East peace process

US presidential candidates are offering substantive differences when it comes to Israel policy.

Will Israelis, Palestinians stop unilateralism?

Both the Israeli and the Palestinian side tend to favor unilateral steps instead of negotiating a compromise that the parties have been avoiding for years.

Why the Damascus Gate is more important than ever

Over the past few months, East Jerusalem's Damascus Gate has become a focal point for young Palestinians seeking to kill Israeli security officers and to avenge their friends.

Netanyahu's bag of tricks to deflect criticism

The "suspension bill" targeting Arab-Israeli parliamentarians is yet another element in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy of incitement to deflect attention from international criticism of his policies.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) chats with members of his party during a meeting of his Likud party meeting in the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem February 8, 2016. A bill that opponents say targets Israeli human rights groups critical of Israel's policies towards the Palestinians was set to win initial approval in parliament on Monday with the support of the country's right-wing. It is widely expected to receive preliminary approval in the Knesset late on Monday. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RTX

Does Israel's new 'suspension bill' suppress democracy?

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hails the "suspension bill" authorizing the Knesset to suspend Knesset members in certain cases, critics claim that the proposal is anti-democratic.

The fourth U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft arrives at the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada in this April 24, 2013 photo released on May 8, 2013. Picture taken April 24, 2013. Daniel Hughes/U.S. Air Force/Handout via Reuters (UNITED STATES - Tags: MILITARY TRANSPORT) ATTENTION EDITORS - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, A

Israeli air force debates purchase of F-35 fighter planes

As the Syrian, Lebanese and Turkish skies grow ever more crowded with Russian, American, British and Saudi fighter jets, Israel has decided to purchase more F-35s of its own.

Ultra-Orthodox see chance to retake Jerusalem mayor's office

With municipal elections two years away, the ultra-Orthodox are already working to unite behind a candidate as Jerusalem's current mayor, Nir Barkat, considers a run on Israel's national scene.

Sentence 'suspended' for Palestinian journalist on hunger strike

Palestinian journalist Muhammad al-Kik has been on a hunger strike for the past three months in protest of his administrative detention, and his life is now in real danger.

How bragging could backfire on al-Qassam Brigades

The Hamas military wing's recent display of a tank may be something Israel could use as a pretext to justify action against Hamas and Gaza.

Arab Knesset members punished for helping their constituency

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Knesset member Jamal Zahalka explains why he and his colleagues met with families in Jerusalem, claiming he is being punished for doing his parliamentary work.

How to reverse engineer Israeli-Palestinian peace

With Israelis and Palestinians dubious of the "peace process," a new approach is needed to restore some hope in resolving their conflict.