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

Israel cover image

Israel

April 30, 2026

Tel Aviv 10:28 am

23°C

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

A Hezbollah flag flutters on the Lebanese side of the border fence with Israel, near the northern Israeli settlement of Shtula, July 20, 2021.

Israel weighs risks, options for dealing with Hezbollah’s precise missiles

Hezbollah is expanding its missile capability — what are Israel's options?

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz meets with French Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly, Paris, France, July 28 2021.

Israel’s Gantz in Paris, to repair diplomatic damage caused by NSO affair

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz met July 28 with his French counterpart Florence Parly, in an attempt to reassure Paris over NSO affair allegations.

This picture shows a view of ongoing work at a construction site in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, Israel, July 12, 2021.

Affordable housing for Jaffa’s Arab residents: too little, too late

With the prices of houses skyrocketing in the center of Israel, even projects designed for the low-income Arab population of Jaffa have become too expensive for them.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks as he chairs the weekly Cabinet meeting, Jerusalem, June 27, 2021.

Fourth coronavirus wave in Israel rattles Bennett’s leadership

New Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is challenged by his own ministers over the management of the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Rabi Aaron Leibowitz (C), the founder of Hashgach Pratit — Hebrew for private supervision — which checks if restaurants abide by kosher practices, signs a certificate for the new bar Eitan Steinberg in the center of Jerusalem, June 8, 2016.

Israeli government advances ground-breaking reform for private kosher certification

New Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana is not afraid of the ultra-Orthodox parties; he advances an unprecedented reform on kosher certification.

Members of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement, parade with a drone in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 28, 2021.

Lockheed, Israel's Rafael team up to build laser air defense weapon

Israel's Defense Ministry aims to field a ground-based laser capable of shooting down rockets by 2024.

People and children gather at a Red Sea beach near the Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company's (EAPC) oil terminal by Israel's southern port city of Eilat on Feb. 10, 2021.

Israel suspends fuel-transport deal with UAE

The environmental decision to halt the fuel-transport deal with the Emirates created the first real diplomatic crisis between the countries since the signing of the Abraham Accords.

weapons

Iranian intelligence says it busted alleged Israeli spy network

Iranian officials said the alleged Mossad operatives planned to use weapons during riots in Iran and were arrested at the western border.

This picture shows a road sign in Rastan, central Homs province, Syria, Aug. 15, 2018.

Israel concerned over possible new Russian policy on Syria

Israel is perplexed over the recent statement by Russian Rear Adm. Vadim Kulit concerning the interception in Syria of alleged Israeli missiles.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (L) talks with Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides during a Foreign Affairs Council meeting at the EU headquarters, Brussels, Belgium, July 12, 2021.

Israel sides against Turkey in Cyprus dispute

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said after his meeting with Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides that Israel is concerned over what it considers a Turkish provocative move in northern Cyprus.

Houses in the unrecognized bedouin village of Sawaneen are seen, southern Negev Desert, Israel, June 8, 2021.

Bedouins excluded from Israel’s high-tech industry

Israelis who are employed by high-tech companies live a comfortable life, which Bedouin youths can only dream of.

Muweis canal of Nile River in northern Egypt

How water has become a flashpoint in the Middle East

Al-Monitor reporting shows the increased risks and relevance of water security for Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia; Iran and Iraq; and Israel and Jordan.