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Israel

July 12, 2026

Tel Aviv 1:52 pm

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Analysis

As US-Iran fighting resumes, Israel weighs 3 options with restraint winning, for now

Despite Israel's military readiness to resume strikes on Iran, officials say looming elections make Netanyahu more likely to stay out unless Tehran forces his hand.

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

Former Israeli army chief of staff Gadi Eizenkot speaks during the launch of the Yashar party's election campaign in Hod Aharon, in central Israel, on June 30, 2026.

New Israeli election poll puts Eisenkot ahead of Netanyahu: What to know

Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party has now bypassed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud in the polls, cementing his status as Netanyahu’s main opponent.

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (not shown) for bilateral talks at Beştepe Presidential Compound during the NATO Summit on July 08, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey. Leaders from NATO's 32 countries, plus NATO allies like Ukraine, gathered in the Turkish capital to discuss a range of issues involving spending targets, defense industrial production, and support for Ukraine, among other topics. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump declares MoU with Iran 'over' as Hegseth cancels trip to Israel

Trump said diplomacy with Tehran was “a waste of time” after renewed attacks around Hormuz, as US defense chief reportedly cancels Israel visit.

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Lebanon's latest damage estimate outlines reconstruction challenge

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Analysis

Trump's F-35 push for Turkey runs into CAATSA — and Israel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) welcomes US President Donald Trump (R) upon his arrival on Air Force One at Etimesgut Air Base near Ankara, on July 7, 2026, before attending the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)

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

Israel, Greece conduct military drills ahead of NATO summit in Turkey

ABIR SULTAN / AFP via Getty Images

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

Bedouins carry the body of Salah Abu Latif during his funeral in the Bedouin town of Rahat in southern Israel December 25, 2013. A Gaza sniper shot dead Latif over the border on Tuesday and Israel hit back with air strikes on two Hamas training camps which hospital officials said killed a Palestinian girl near one of the targets. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS OBITUARY) - RTX16TRK

Slow but steady escalation between Gaza, Israel

The growing economic crisis in the Gaza Strip and frustration over Hamas' rule play into the hands of small jihadist terror organizations, which fire at Israel and destabilize the status quo.

The rise and fall of Israeli PR king Rani Rahav

Public relations powerhouse Rani Rahav has represented most of Israel's rich and famous, until becoming himself the product he sells: a symbol of a society who cares little for the poor and cherishes fast money.

Palestinian villagers stand in front of Jewish settlers after they were detained in the West Bank village of Qusra near Nablus January 7, 2014. Palestinian villagers on Tuesday detained and beat up a group of Israeli settlers before freeing them, accusing the group of having thrown rocks at farmers tending their fields in the occupied West Bank. The incident added to simmering tensions between Israeli settlers and Palestinian villagers in the West Bank with the United States struggling to usher forward Isra

Israeli 'price tag' extremists determined to set the territories ablaze

Both Israeli and Palestinian extremists try to inflame a new cycle of confrontations: marginalized settler youth on one side, established Palestinian terror organizations on the other.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - JANUARY 09: Members of the press are seen through a cracked window while waiting for an update on Former PM Ariel Sharon's condition at the Tel Hashomer hospital on January 9, 2014 near Tel Aviv, Israel. according to Prof. Zeev Rotstein the director general of the Tel Hashomer hospital PM Ariel Sharon's condition is critical and he is suffering from a multiple organ failure,Sharon, 85, is hospitalised in Tel Hashomer hospital near Tel Aviv, and has been comatose since January 4, 2006 whe

No Palestinian tears for Sharon

Palestinians will not be mourning the loss of Israeli strongman Ariel Sharon, whom they remember as the "Butcher of Beirut."

Israeli parliament members Isaac Herzog (L) and Hilik Bar (C) shake hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as they attend a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah October 7, 2013. Abbas held a rare meeting with the group of Israeli parliamentarians on Monday, warning that this could be the last chance to reach a deal to end decades of Israeli-Palestinian conflict and create two independent states living side-by-side. REUTERS/Abbas Momani/Pool (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX142QP

Israel awaits Netanyahu verdict on Kerry framework

Israel waits to see Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position on a document of principles.

Pharaonic artefacts are seen on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, September 30, 2013. Visitors are gradually returning after the worst civil violence in Egypt's modern history, offering hope to an industry that has been brought to its knees, depriving millions of their livelihood and the economy of badly needed dollars. Picture taken September 30, 2013. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY TRAVEL) - RTX14AM8

Egypt conducts global search for stolen antiquities

Following successful diplomatic efforts to recover 90 smuggled artifacts from Israel last November, Egyptian authorities continue their efforts to crack down on the antiquities trade and repatriate stolen items.

Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman arrives at the Entebbe international airport 42km (25 miles) south of Uganda's capital Kampala, September 9, 2009. Lieberman, accompanied by business and military delegation, is on an official African visit to Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and Nigeria. REUTERS/James Akena (UGANDA POLITICS) - RTR27MUJ

Liberman looks to expands Israel-Africa ties

Israel has a pending request to join the African Union as a non-African observer member.

Israeli settler campaign mocks Kerry

In an interview with Al-Monitor, OneVoice CEO Laura Talinovsky condemns the defamation campaign led by the My Israel group against US Secretary of State John Kerry.

An African migrant sits with compatriots on the third day of protests against Israel's detention policy toward migrants it sees as illegal job-seekers, in Tel Aviv's Levinsky park January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST SOCIETY IMMIGRATION) - RTX17549

African refugees teach Israeli society lesson in civics

After years of ignoring the fate of African asylum seekers, the human dilemma has risen to the top of Israel's public discourse, forcing the authorities to confront it.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Finance Minister Yair Lapid leave after a joint news conference in Jerusalem July 3, 2013. Israel initiated a tender for two new private seaports to operate beside existing government-owned ports in Haifa and Ashdod in a bid to stir up competition and lower the costs of good in Israel. Each new port will cost about $1 billion to build. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX11AV6

Lapid on peace talks: 'Our role is to back the prime minister'

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid says that the main role of his party within the coalition is to make sure that the Israeli government remains committed to negotiations with the Palestinians, calling US Secretary of State John Kerry "a very fair mediator."

A general view shows the Israeli-Arab city of Umm al-Fahm December 26, 2012. Disillusioned, disappointed and divided, Israeli Arab voters will traipse to the polls next week in ever dwindling numbers, aware that none of their community will have any say in how the country is run. Picture taken December 26, 2012. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR3CHRA

Residents of Umm al-Fahm affirm Arab-Israeli identity

Residents of Umm al-Fahm say that, regardless of their affiliation with the Palestinian cause, they identify themselves as Israeli citizens and object to a land-swap plan that will annex them to a future Palestine, as Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman suggests.

An Israeli Arab woman sits holding a Palestinian flag during a protest to mark the right of return for refugees who fled their homes during the 1948 war that followed the creation of Israel, which celebrated its 62nd anniversary near the Israeli Arab village of Tira April 20, 2010. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR2D20I

Liberman’s land swap proposal shakes up peace talks

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman pulled out this week in perfect timing his 10-year-old plan for a land swap, which is both innovative and original and should give a boost to the stalemated peace talks.