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

Israel cover image

Israel

July 12, 2026

Tel Aviv 6:18 pm

30°C

Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images

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.

Latest News

Explainer

Lebanon's latest damage estimate outlines reconstruction challenge

Froun

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

Demonstrators shout slogans as a man shows a banner which reads "boycott Israel" during an anti-Israel protest in front of Chamber of Commerce Israel-Catalunya in Barcelona May 31, 2010. Israeli marines stormed a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza on Monday and 10 pro-Palestinian activists were killed, triggering a diplomatic crisis and plans for an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council. REUTERS/Albert Gea (SPAIN - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR2ELSN

Academic boycott of Israel creates snowball effect

Israeli academics fear that the recent decision by the American Studies Association to join the boycott against Israel is another step in a trend that cannot be stopped.

A Bedouin man, wearing a T-shirt reading which reads: "Don't destroy my home", stands in the village of Alsra, one of the dozens of ramshackle Bedouin Arab communities in the Negev desert which are not recognised by the Israeli state, in southern Israel August 18, 2013. For decades Arab Bedouins have eked out a meagre existence in the Negev desert, largely under the Israeli government's radar, but now many will have to make way for new developments. Israel has already invested around $5.6 billion to build m

Israeli Bedouin relocation plan put on hold

The representative of the unrecognized Bedouin localities is not encouraged by the shelving of the governmental relocation plan: "In the end, the Bedouin will be forced to accept a solution that they do not want."

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a joint news conference with French President Francois Hollande (not pictured) at his residence in Jerusalem November 17, 2013. President Hollande assured Israel on Sunday that France would continue to oppose an easing of economic sanctions against Iran until it was convinced Tehran had ended a pursuit of nuclear weapons. REUTERS/Alain Jocard/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX15HKF

Netanyahu delivers hard-line speech at Likud convention

Speaking at the Likud Party convention, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reverted to his old rhetoric on the Palestinian issue, giving no reason to believe that he is heading toward a historic decision.

A Jewish settler stands in front of Israeli soldiers during a protest at the site of a stabbing attack by a Palestinian, at Tapuach junction, near the West Bank city of Nablus April 30, 2013. A Palestinian man stabbed and shot dead an Israeli settler in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, the Israeli ambulance service and police said. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTXZ5CW

Poll: Settlers would consider leaving West Bank for 'genuine peace'

A survey indicates that Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state will encourage settlers to leave their homes in the framework of a future peace agreement.

Al-Monitor breaking barriers in Middle East

At a panel marking the first-year anniversary of ''Israel Pulse,'' academics and Al-Monitor contributors emphasized the importance of having a multinational news site, which initiates discussion that concerns all peoples of the region.

Balloons painted with the phrase "Boycott to Israel" are seen during a Euroleague basketball game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Barcelona in Barcelona February 5, 2009. The game was earlier disrupted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators. REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino (SPAIN) - RTXB9QH

Academic boycott of Israel should open dialogue

The vote by the American Studies Association to boycott Israeli academic institutions is a protest that should be heard at the highest levels of the US government.

Pedestrians look at billboards with the pictures of Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu (L), in Ankara March 25, 2013. Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday an Israeli apology for the 2010 deaths of nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists that was brokered by U.S. President Barack Obama met Turkey's conditions and signalled its growing regional clout. The billboard reads, "Israel apologized to Turkey. Dear Prime Minister (Erdogan), We ar

Turkey-Israel ties await 'normalization'

For now, both Turkey and Israel may prefer the status quo.

Palestinian tunnel workers rest at the entrance of a smuggling tunnel dug beneath the Gaza-Egypt border in the southern Gaza Strip August 26, 2013. Egyptian security forces have stepped up a crackdown campaign on smuggling tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip since July, Hamas officials said. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTX12WWX

Hamas, Israel develop unwritten understanding for coexistence

Common interests have resulted in Israel and Hamas establishing channels of communication for cooperation.

A worker rolls the tops of newly prepared cigarettes filled with marijuana at a plantation near the northern town of Nazareth May 28, 2013. Marijuana is an illegal drug in Israel. Medicinal use of it was first permitted in 1993, according to the health ministry. Today cannabis is used in Israel to treat 11,000 people suffering from illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease and post traumatic stress disorder, according to Israel's health ministry. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL -

Israel debates legalizing medical marijuana

The Israeli medical community is debating the use of medical marijuana for veterans who suffer from lasting post-war trauma.

Palestinian policemen loyal to Hamas keep guard as a fuel tanker arrives to Gaza's power plant in the central Gaza Strip December 15, 2013. Israel allowed the entry of 450,000 litres (119,000 U.S. gallons) of fuel, paid for by Qatar, into the Gaza Strip on Sunday to enable the Palestinian territory's sole power plant to resume operations. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (GAZA - Tags: ENERGY SOCIETY) - RTX16JDL

Israel benefits from Hamas' decline

Hamas finds itself in one of its lowest points ever, abandoned by Cairo, Tehran and Damascus and forced to keep a quiet border with Israel.

Prominent Palestinian human rights advocate hanan Ashrawi is protected by a Palestinians who tries to keep Israeli riot police from pushing her during scuffles which broke out May 27 at the Ras Al-Amud settlement complex under construction in Arab East Jerusalem. Israeli police say they had to use force to prevent the Palestinian demonstrators from pushing their way into the construction site during a demonstration against the continuing building restarted after months of suspension.

JWH/GB - RTRPJGB

Attack on Hanan Ashrawi unfair

Daoud Kuttab responds to Shlomi Eldar’s criticism of the PLO Executive Committee member, urging the Israeli columnist to address the occupation instead of attacking a Palestinian figure defending the rights of her people.

A Palestinian uses a torch to light a sign that reads "no to the blockade" during a protest against the blockade on Gaza in Gaza City November 30, 2013. Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza in 2007 after Islamist group Hamas seized control of the territory in a brief civil war with Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (GAZA - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS) - RTX15YUD

No Israeli-Palestinian peace without Gaza

US officials are engaged in wishful thinking if they believe that Israel only needs to reach a peace agreement with Abu Mazen.