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Lebanon, Israel eye third round of talks, but no Netanyahu-Aoun meeting in sight

The US appears to be pushing for a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the Lebanese government says it won't happen while Israel continues to launch attacks on Lebanon.

Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP via Getty Images)

EU says energy costs tied to Hormuz crisis have surged past $35B

Global energy price increases tied to the Hormuz disruption are driving higher import costs in Europe, despite limited reliance on gas flowing through the strait.

Amirhossein KHORGOOEI / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Israel fears Trump seeking Hormuz win while sidestepping Iran nuclear issue

While President Donald Trump keeps pressuring Iran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Israel fears the American leader will decide to cut his losses and sideline the nuclear threat.

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

Latest News

Pentagon says Iran ceasefire continues despite UAE attack

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on April 24, 2026.

Macron casts doubt on Trump’s Hormuz operation as France-US gap grows

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 18: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R), French President Emmanuel Macron (L), and European leaders at the White House on August 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump hosted President Zelensky at the White House for a bilateral meeting and an expanded meeting with European leaders to discuss a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Diplomatic Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Joyce Karam

Editor-in-Chief

Rosaleen Carroll

News Reporter and Supporting Editor

In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East

Paul J. Saunders

In Washington, DC, reporting on Russia in the Middle East

PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat (R) shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (L), as U.S. President Bill Clinton stands between them, after the signing of the Israeli-PLO peace accord, at the White House in Washington September 13, 1993. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) - GM1E99D1UCD01

Trump’s Israeli-US deal is not a peace plan

Donald Trump's 'deal of the century' may have started out as a peace plan, but his administration's conflict with the Palestinian leadership turned it into a plan to give Israel the green light to annex one-third of the West Bank.

A demonstrator holds up a cane and a Palestinian flag during a protest against the U.S. president Donald Trumpís Middle East peace plan, in Jordan Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta - RC2OPE9BEIP8

Trump’s peace plan: platform for Israeli unity government?

The peace plan presented by US President Donald Trump could serve as a platform and incentive for Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to accept the formation of a unity government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Palestinian demonstrators gesture in front of Israeli forces during a protest against the U.S. president Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan, in Jordan Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta - RC2PPE9PRZMB

How long can Abbas hold firm on security coordination with Israel?

Israel's security establishment is well aware of the pressure being exerted on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to halt security coordination with Israel, which is why Israel must exert intense efforts to assist him.

Jordan fears long-term threat to its national security following Trump’s peace plan

No sooner had President Donald Trump unveiled his Middle East peace plan than Jordan reacted, warning against the dangerous repercussions such deal will have on the kingdom and on the region as a whole.

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi discusses the Trump administration Middle East peace plan proposal during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 28, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst - RC27PE9N3OF6

Democratic leaders hold fire on Trump’s Mideast peace plan

Pro-Israel Democrats are holding their fire on President Donald Trump’s Israeli-Palestinian peace proposal despite some reservations.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech following the announcement by the U.S. President Donald Trump of the Mideast peace plan, in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank January 28, 2020. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta - RC27PE95MPTR

Abbas caught between rock and hard place as Trump unveils Mideast plan

A strong Palestinian response to the Mideast peace plan requires national unity, which is currently lacking among Palestinian factions.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Istanbul, Turkey, January 24, 2020. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RC2EME9CRYDD

Intel: Turkey downplays Erdogan’s phone call with Trump

The White House disclosed Jan. 28 details of a call between President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

TOPSHOT - This picture taken on January 27, 2020 in Iran's southwestern city of Bandar-e Mahshahr shows a Caspian Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft which landed on a highway after it overshot the highway during its approach. No casualties were reported according to state television. - The jet was flying from Tehran's Mehrabad Airport with 135 passengers plus the plane's crew. A state TV reporter travelling on the plane told the broadcaster that the aircraft's "back wheel had broken off, as we saw it

Iran’s air safety questioned after multiple flight incidents

Panicked Iranians are nervously debating safety onboard domestic airliners after three airplanes nearly crashed in three consecutive days.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talk outside the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 27, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC2GOE93MYSF

Intel: How indictment charges could spoil Netanyahu’s peace deal lovefest with Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was indicted on corruption charges Jan. 28, just before the premier was set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House for the unveiling of the long-awaited US peace plan.

Why Putin needs to be part of Trump-Netanyahu peace plan

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should learn from past mistakes and offer Russian President Vladimir Putin a role and a place in the Middle East, alongside US President Donald Trump.

U.S. President Donald Trump listens as he welcomes Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 27, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RC2GOE9UL51N

Intel: How Democratic lawmakers are trying to get ahead of Trump’s Mideast peace plan

As President Donald Trump met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White opposition leader Benny Gantz to discuss the imminent release of his Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, pro-Israel Democrats signified reservations about the White House’s long-awaited proposal.

UNITED STATES - MAY 4: Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., speaks with a school group on the House steps at the Capitol after a series of votes on repeal and replace of Obamacare on Thursday, May 4, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Ex-Foreign Affairs chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen embraces UAE lobby

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is the only ex-lawmaker currently registered as a foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates