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

Israel cover image

Israel

July 15, 2026

Tel Aviv 1:14 pm

31°C

Analysis

As Trump prioritizes Hormuz, Israel fears Iran rebuilding nuclear program while preserving ballistic missile threat

Israel is worried that the United States is centering the Strait of Hormuz, deprioritizing the threat of a nuclear Iran.

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

Israelis turn out to cast their ballots on election day for the 20th Knesset on March 17, 2015 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Explainer

Israel's next election: Who's leading in polls and what's at stake?

After months of negotiations and speculations, the coalition announced that general elections will take place on Oct. 27.

Latest News

Analysis

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

Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images

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

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

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.

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

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)

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

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict In Russian

Jewish immigrants, Palestinians and Israeli-Arabs from Russia keep up their passion and links to the Russian language and culture.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he speaks at the annual Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) conference in Tel Aviv May 29, 2012. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR32SUA

Israelis Invest in Cybersecurity

Americans could learn from Israel about the demands of cybersecurity in the 21st century.

A Hamas militant teaches young Palestinians on how to use an rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher at a military-style exercise run by Hamas during summer vacation in Gaza June 10, 2013. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY) - RTX10ITJ

Hamas Considers New Blend Of Resistance, Politics

In the last of a three-part series on Hamas, its leaders seek to balance their tradition of uncompromising resistance to Israel with more nuanced considerations of governance.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - MAY 11: (ISRAEL OUT) Demonstrators march through the streets to protest against Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid's budget cuts on May 11, 2013 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Thousands of Israelis took to the streets to protest against austerity measures presented this week as part of the state's new budget. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

Former Israeli Minister Predicts Violent 'Israeli Spring'

"Don't belittle the chances of an Israeli Spring," warns former Labor party minister Ra'anan Cohen, addressing Israel's lack of economic vision and deepening social gaps.

Israeli lawmaker Danny Danon (L), a deputy parliament speaker, stands near an Israeli police officer in front of the Dome of the Rock on the compound known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City July 20, 2010. Danon, a lawmaker of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing party, on Tuesday visited the flashpoint religious site in Jerusalem revered by Jews and Muslims, a move that has sparked violence in the past. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLIT

Netanyahu Not Really Considering Two-State Solution, Says Danon

Israel's Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon lets the cat out of the bag.

A drag queen singer in heavy makeup performs in front of tens of thousands of participants, during the opening of the annual Gay Pride parade in the Mediterranean city of Tel Aviv on June 8, 2012. AFP PHOTO/JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP/GettyImages)

Israeli Politicians Address Gay Pride at Parade

Israeli politicians participated in numbers at Friday's Gay Pride Parade in Tel Aviv, but words are not enough and hugs have to be transformed into deeds.

United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping soldiers from Austria stand on an observation tower near the Quneitra border crossing between Israel and Syria, in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights June 10, 2013. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, may prevail in the more than two-year-old uprising against him, Israel's intelligence minister said on Monday. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (POLITICS) - RTX10ISS

UN Forces in the Golan Perpetuate Israeli Occupation

The withdrawal of the Austrian UNDOF forces from the Golan Heights should remind Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the UN is not in charge of Israel's security in an occupied territory.

Hamas militants stand for prayer before a protest in the northern Gaza Strip April 2, 2013. Israeli prison guards fired tear gas to quell disturbances by Palestinian inmates on Tuesday after a prisoner serving a life sentence over an attempt to bomb an Israeli cafe died of cancer. Maysara Abu Hamdeya's death threatened to raise tensions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Palestinians, who view jailed brethren as heroes in a fight for statehood, have held several protests in recent weeks in support of

Hamas' Iranian Stockpiles Falling

By supporting the Syrian rebels, Hamas might have jeopardized for good its relations with its main weapon supplier Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi (L) sits with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu during the opening of a ministerial meeting in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah, by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on May 13, 2013. The OIC urged its member states to make generous contributions at this week's main donors conference on Mali to be held in Brussels, which aims to raise funds to repair the damage caused by the war against Islamists in the African country. AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo c

US Needs Iran, Turkey For Diplomatic Surge in Syria

The latest UN report on Syria calls for a “diplomatic surge” to end the war, which has reached “new levels of brutality.”

Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Jerusalem May 23, 2013. REUTERS/Jim Young (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTXZXGE

US Still Believes 'Business With Bibi Is Possible'

The US seems to believe that Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not the main obstacle to peace.

Israeli border police run in front of Dome of the Rock during a protest after Friday prayers at a compound known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City February 22, 2013. Palestinian protesters have said they fear for the life of Samer al-Issawi, who has been on intermittent hunger strike for over 200 days, and three other hunger strikers jailed by Israel. Their cases have been at the centre of intensified clashes with Israeli soldiers throughout the Israeli-oc

Rebuilding Israel's Temple Mount

For hundreds of Israelis, the task of renewing the Temple at "its original place," has become a life mission.

Palestinian protesters hold the Syrian national flag to show their support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a demonstration outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City June 7, 2013. A few dozen protesters took part in the demonstration after Friday prayers to mark the 46th anniversary of the 1967 Middle East war, when Israel captured East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Golan Heights. REUTER/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS) - RTX10F5Y

Israel's 'Victory' in Six-Day War Was a Loss

After the Six Day War, 46 years ago this week, Israeli occupation should not be seen as a victory but a loss.