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

Israel cover image

Israel

September 19, 2026

Tel Aviv 3:27 am

25°C

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looks on as he attends a trade agreement signature ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris on August 24, 2026. (Photo by LOU BENOIST / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

How Netanyahu is leveraging Houthi threat in secret Saudi normalization push

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to capitalize on Riyadh's need for intelligence assistance to make normalization headway ahead of the October elections.

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

OLIVER BUNIC/AFP via Getty Images

Serbia opens factory to assemble Israeli-made drones: What to know

Serbian President Vucic said the factory will put together “state-of-the-art” Israeli-designed drones and employ around 100 workers.

Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787-9 'Dreamliner' aircraft

Israel, Morocco agree to exchange ambassadors, open embassies

The move will mark the first time Morocco and Israel have exchanged ambassadors.

ISRAEL-ENTERTAINMENT-TELEVISION-POLITICS-GOVERNMENT-MASS-MEDIA-D (L to R) Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff, co-creators of the hit Israeli TV show "Fauda", attend a demonstration against the Israeli government's plans to shut-down public broadcaster KAN, in Israel's Mediterranean coastal city of Tel Aviv on January 25, 2023. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Culture

Israeli show ‘Fauda’ tops Netflix in Lebanon, hits top 10 across Arab states

The show was created by Israeli journalist Avi Issacharoff and actor Lior Raz, drawing on their experiences serving in the Israeli military’s elite Duvdevan unit.

Latest News

Explainer

Why France is pushing to keep UNIFIL in Lebanon beyond 2026

UN peacekeepers stand next to an armored vehicle during a patrol in southern Lebanon, Feb. 22, 2026.

Exclusive

Lacking deterrence, Israel’s security establishment opposes attacks on Houthis

Fighters loyal to the Houthi authorities, brandish their weapons during a rally to recruit more fighters, in Sanaa on September 10, 2026. The country relapsed into war in July after years of calm, drawn into the regional conflict triggered by the US-Israeli offensive against Iran that began at the end of February. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP via Getty Images)

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

Analysis

Europe’s West Bank trade ban fires warning shot at Israel’s economy

Jewish settlement of Kedumim, in the West Bank

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

Once Netanyahu’s top challenger, Bennett loses ground to Eisenkot: What to know

Erik Marmor

Mazal Mualem

By Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

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

Members of the Palestinian security forces stand guard outside the Legislative Council building in the occupied-West Bank town of Ramallah, on January 16, 202. - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas announced yesterday dates for the first Palestinian elections in more than 15 years, setting legislative polls for May 22 and a July 31 presidential vote.
Abbas's Fatah party, which controls the Palestinian Authority based in the occupied West Bank, and the Hamas Islamists, who hold power in Gaza, have for years

Hamas leaders in West Bank warn of Israeli intimidation ahead of elections

Israeli intelligence warned a prominent Hamas leader in the West Bank against running in the Palestinian elections.

The Takeaway: Timing of return to nuclear deal depends on Iran

Blinken reiterates Biden policy to return to nuclear deal, once Iran is in compliance; Israel readies its war room as possible last resort.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - NOVEMBER 12: IDF Chief Aviv Kochavi makes a statemnent on November 12, 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Israeli Air Force kills Islamic Jihad Commander, Abu Al-Ata in his home in Gaza. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Israeli military draws up new plans against Iran, top commander says

IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi said attack plans should be "on the table" given Iran's recent violations of the nuclear accord.

Netanyahu hopes for Moroccan royal visit in Israel before March elections

For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a visit to Israel by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI could generate great support amid Israeli voters of Moroccan origin in the upcoming March 23 elections.

A member of an Israeli tech delegation uses his phone in a video call during an evening meeting with Emirati counterparts at a hotel in Dubai on October 25, 2020. - Israel and the United Arab Emirates agreed on October 19 to visa-free travel, an unprecedented arrangement between Israel and an Arab state, signed after the first ever official UAE delegation landed in Tel Aviv. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Emirati investors highly interested in Israeli high-tech, agro-tech

According to estimates, $1 billion in investments between Israel and the United Arab Emirates were made in the last two months of 2020.

United Arab Emirates

An elderly man from the Negev looks on after registering to vote at the village of Shaqib al-Salam, near the southern Israeli city of Beersheva, on March 1, 2020, on the eve of general elections. The campaign banner in the background is for bedouin member of the parliament (Knesset) Said Al-Khroumi, candidate for the Arab Joint List. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP) (Photo by HAZEM BADER/AFP via Getty Images)

Polls show surprising support for Jewish parties among Arab voters

In the unlikely event that the Joint List splits up, many disappointed Arab voters would turn to Jewish parties rather than the coalition's Arab components.

US envoy previews Biden's Israeli-Palestinian policy at the United Nations

Washington plans to reestablish diplomatic missions with the Palestinian Authority and defend Israel from "bias" at the UN.

Israel reopens liaison office in Morocco

The mission's reopening comes a month after Israel and Morocco agreed to establish diplomatic and economic ties.

United Arab Emirates

Indian Jews bring traditional celebrations to Israel

Members of the Jewish-Indian Bene Israel community are eager to share their Malida ceremonies and traditions with other Israelis, and this year they're doing it over Zoom.

Israeli minister makes first ever visit to Sudan

Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen met with a top Sudanese leader, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and invited him to visit Israel.

Israeli military: Palestinian attacker shot and killed by soldiers

Israeli and Palestinian officials offer differing accounts of West Bank violence.

Following Netanyahu, Israeli politicians flock to TikTok

With an election campaign practically virtual, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli politicians flock to TikTok.