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April 30, 2026

Tel Aviv 1:22 am

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President Donald Trump gives a speech during the State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn on April 28, 2026, in Washington.

Trump speaks with Netanyahu, Putin as Iran pressure campaign escalates

President Donald Trump spoke by phone separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing the situation in Iran and the possibility of extending the ceasefire.

DENIS LOVROVIC/AFP via Getty Images

Israel rejects Ukraine's claim that Russian shadow fleet vessel docked in Haifa

Ukraine alleges the vessel unloaded wheat taken from occupied territories in Haifa, while Israel says ship had not entered the port.

ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Despite Trump pressure to limit Israel's Lebanon attacks, Aoun-Netanyahu meeting still unlikely

As President Donald Trump pressures Israel to limit its strikes in Lebanon, Hezbollah is taking advantage of the situation.

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

Turkey's submarines and fast-attack craft ships participate in the live-fire phase of the Blue Homeland-2026 (Mavi Vatan) tactical military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, in Antalya on April 9, 2026.

Turkey’s military spending jumps to $30B, leads Mideast growth in 2025

Newly released data shows Ankara’s military spending hit $30 billion, while Saudi Arabia remained the region’s top spender and Israel’s outlays declined in 2025.

Latest News

Why US, Israel are freezing France out of Lebanon talks

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to journalists as he arrives for an informal meeting of the European Council in Nicosia, Cyprus, April 24, 2026.

Analysis

Why Saudi Arabia, Egypt are wary of Turkey’s proposed 4-way defense pact with Pakistan

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted the third meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on the margins of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, on April 17, 2026.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

Israel fears Trump angling for Lebanon deal to offset Iran missteps

US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa (R) holds a signed "Make America Great Again" hat while (L-R) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanon Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad listen to US President Donald Trump speak during a meeting with Lebanon Ambassador to the US and Israel Ambassador to the US, at the White House in Washington, DC on April 23, 2026. US President Donald Trump met Lebanese and Israeli envoys at a new round of peace talks Thursday, with Beirut seeking a one-month extension of a

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

Israel's Netanyahu says he was treated for prostate cancer: What we know

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds the hand of his wife Sara as they attend a ceremony commemorating Israel's Remembrance Day for fallen soldiers, or Yom HaZikaron, at the Military Cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on April 21, 2026. (Photo by Ilia YEFIMOVICH / POOL / 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

Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands behind a glass panel (due to quarantine regulations) at the Knesset (Israeli parliament) from the guest bleachers of the plenum hall during a plenum session on the state budget on Sept. 2, 2021.

Netanyahu's dominance over Likud holds for now

Despite challenges from some Likud seniors, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu retains his status as party leader and the right's most popular politician.

This picture shows the Mughrabi ramp, leading from the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound that includes the Dome of the Rock Mosque (background) in Jerusalem's Old City, on Sept. 10, 2021.

Jewish Israelis flock to Temple Mount in greater numbers

Despite warnings from some rabbis that visits are forbidden, more Jewish Israelis are ascending the Temple Mount than ever.

A split image shows Israeli alternate prime minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid arriving to attend the first weekly cabinet meeting of the new government in Jerusalem, on June 20, 2021, and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde during a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu after their meeting at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Ankara, Turkey on Oct. 13, 2020.

Israeli, Swedish foreign ministers talk on phone after seven years of silence

Bilateral diplomatic relations between Israel and Sweden had deteriorated after Stockholm recognized Palestine in 2014, but now both countries seem eager to rehabilitate ties.

Israeli soldiers patrol near a hole in a security fence in the West Bank town of Jenin, on Sept. 6, 2021, following the break out of six Palestinians from an Israeli prison.

Israel recaptures remaining escapees in prison break fiasco

Israeli security forces have redeemed their image after successfully capturing the six Palestinian prisoners who escaped last week from a high-security jail.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett listens during a meeting with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House, Washington, Aug. 27, 2021.

100 days in, Bennett’s government challenged on Iran, Gaza

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett registered several achievements since he founded the government 100 days ago, but is still not perceived as a true leader.

Benny Gantz, Yaid Laid and Naftali Bennett

Israel’s Gantz keeps eye on premiership

Defense Minister Benny Gantz' statements and actions of the past few weeks indicate that he has matured politically and is still hoping to be premier one day.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Israel’s Bennett, Sheikh Jarrah twins make TIME 100 list

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Muna and Mohammed Al-Kurd were among the notable figures in TIME Magazine's list of top newsmakers.

MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/AFP via Getty Images

Israel’s natural gas wealth fund disappoints

Despite grand promises that billions of dollars would pour into Israel's sovereign wealth fund from maritime natural gas fields, little money has arrived.

JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Gantz says Israel could accept new nuclear deal with Iran

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz also said Israel wants to see a “viable US-led plan B” if talks between Tehran and world powers fall through.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett chairs the weekly cabinet meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offices in Jerusalem, on Sept. 11, 2021.

Bennett rules out meeting Abbas, but not economic cooperation

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Tuesday that he will not meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, but he showed willingness to support economic and business ties with the Palestinian Authority.

JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images

Capture of escaped Palestinian prisoners divides Arab-Israelis

Minister of Public Security Omer Bar-Lev thanked Arab-Israelis for assisting in the capture of escaped Palestinian prisoners, but not all of them are comfortable with the situation.

SEBASTIAN SCHEINER/AFP via Getty Images

Egypt’s embrace of Bennett highlights divisions in Israeli cabinet

While coalition partners from the center and left congratulated Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, figures on the right are busy criticizing him over Gaza.