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April 30, 2026

Tel Aviv 3:29 pm

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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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks before parliament votes to approve the new government, Jerusalem, June 13, 2021.

Netanyahu now in role of shadow prime minister

Acting from the opposition benches as a shadow prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu succeeded in blocking the approval by the Knesset of the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law amendment.

Palestinians receive their financial aid, $100 per needy family, offered by Qatar, at a post office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, June 27, 2020.

Israel, Hamas edge toward agreement on mechanism for Qatari aid money

Talks on prisoner exchange and border restrictions complicated by Hamas resumption of incendiary balloon attacks.

An Israeli F35I fighter jet takes part in the "Blue Flag" multinational air defence exercise at the Ovda air force base, north of the Israeli city of Eilat, on Nov. 11, 2019.

Israel activates third squadron of F-35 fighter jets

Israel’s third squadron of F-35 fighter jets are set to be activated next week at Nevatim airbase.

Fatima Shbair/Getty Images

Israeli army bombs Hamas site after balloons start fires

The Israeli army said its warplanes struck a Hamas manufacturing site in the Gaza Strip.

Amir Levy/Getty Images

Settlement evacuation compromise rocks Israeli coalition

The deal made with settlers on the evacuation of the Evyatar outpost and the upcoming Knesset vote on the controversial citizenship law are already destabilizing the coalition.

Doug Mills/New York Times/Getty Images

In Biden meeting, Rivlin clears way for Bennett visit to White House

In his warm meeting with President Joe Biden, President Reuven Rivlin prepared the ground for an upcoming first visit in Washington by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Chief economist at Israel's Ministry of Finance Shira Greenberg (L) and Morocco's Director General of the Customs and Indirect Tax Administration at the Ministry of Economy and Finance Nabil Lakhdar exchange a signed agreement on the first Israel-Morocco direct commercial flight at the Royal Palace, Rabat, Morocco, Dec. 22, 2020.

Israel, Morocco take baby steps on diplomatic, social, economic ties

Diplomatic relations are not advancing as rapidly as those with the Emirates and Bahrain, but Israel sees positive trends in ties with Morocco.

Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi delivers speech at the Imam Reza shrine in the city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran, on June 22, 2021.

The Takeaway: Iran deal on front burner before Raisi takes office

Also: Bibi plots his comeback, a woman boxing coach trains men in Egypt, and the latest from Gaza, Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey.

Yair Lapid

Lapid calls shots as new Israeli government shapes foreign policy

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has spoken boldly of correcting "mistakes" between the United States and Israel.

Israeli parliament member and former Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat meets voters during the election campaign for the Likud party, at Mahane Yehuda market, Jerusalem, March 19, 2021.

Israeli opposition entangled in succession battle

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu keeps appearing in public as if he had not been defeated, but his rivals within the Likud party are already preparing for battle.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sits in the Knesset before parliament votes to approve the new government, Jerusalem, June 13, 2021.

Netanyahu plots comeback

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not giving up on his hopes to topple newly appointed Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Israeli Foreign Ministry/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Lapid opens Israeli Embassy to UAE

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has inaugurated Israel’s embassy in Abu Dhabi, his first task in his historic visit to the United Arab Emirates.