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Israel

September 20, 2026

Tel Aviv 5:29 pm

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive to hold a joint press conference in Jerusalem, Oct. 24, 2023.

Analysis

After France's settlement ban, Israel sees no warming of ties with Macron government

Israeli diplomats say France’s decision to ban imports from West Bank settlements has brought bilateral relations to an unprecedented low point.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

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.

Latest News

Culture

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

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)

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

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

Netanyahu calls for 'snapback sanctions' against Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today with US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook — the perfect opportunity for the premier to show his tight ties with Washington and control of the Iranian file.

Israeli Alternate Prime Minister and Defence Minister Benny Gantz attends a cabinet meeting of the new government at Chagall State Hall in the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in Jerusalem on May 24, 2020. (Photo by ABIR SULTAN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ABIR SULTAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Trapped by Netanyahu, Gantz loses popularity

Supporters of Blue and White leader Benny Gantz have not forgiven him for joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and their disappointment could mean the end of his political career.

TOPSHOT - Protestors wave Palestinian flags in front of Israel consulate in Istanbul on May 15, 2018 during a protest against the killing, the day before, of 59 Palestinians in clashes and protests, on the same day as the United States formally moved its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv in defiance of international outrage. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo credit should read OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel goes after Turkish projects in Jerusalem

Jerusalem Municipality destroyed a plaque marking Turkey’s contribution to the restoration of a cemetery in the city as Israeli concerns over the Turkish activities in East Jerusalem persist.

Arab Israeli Sheikh Raed Salah delivers a sermon during a prayer outside a mosque in the Israeli city of Lod, 30 kms west of Tel Aviv, as a protest against house demolitions in the city on January 29, 2010. Hundreds of people protested against the demolition of Arab-Israeli homes in Lod. Jamal Zahalka, an Arab MP among the protesters said a total of 40,000 Arab homes in Israel were threatened with demolition. AFP PHOTO/JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Calls to prayer rile some residents of mixed Israeli town

Some residents of Lod complain that the ubiquitous Muslim calls to prayer are a nuisance, though others say the multicultural city will never silence them.

Israel’s Gantz warns Hamas on retaliating against annexation

A spokesperson for the militant group said Israel's planned West Bank annexation would be seen as a "declaration of war."

Israeli alternate Prime Minister and Defence Minister Benny Gantz attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem while wearing a protective mask due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on June 7, 2020. - Netanyahu urged world powers to reimpose tough sanctions against Iran, vowing to curb Tehran's regional "aggression" hours after another deadly strike on pro-Iranian fighters in Syria. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Gantz calls July annexation target 'not sacred'

With two days to go before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's target annexation date, Defense Minister Benny Gantz says other issues such as the coronavirus crisis are more urgent.

Israel’s Arab communities claim state turns blind eye to crimes

Crimes continue to take place in the Palestinian villages and towns of Israel, while the Israeli government fails to pursue them legally.

Despite ultra-Orthodox objection, Israeli government advances cannabis laws

The cannabis laws now being promoted at the Knesset are nothing short of a revolution, which would not have been possible under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s previous right-wing, ultra-Orthodox governments.

Israeli police man a checkpoint at the entrance of the central Israeli Elad city on June 24, 2020, as the government imposed a partial lockdown on several neighbourhoods following a recent increase in coronavirus cases. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Netanyahu announces anti-coronavirus cooperation between Israel, UAE

Private companies from Israel and the United Arab Emirates plan to cooperate on developing technologies to battle COVID-19.

United Arab Emirates

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wearing a face mask, attends a government Cabinet meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues, in Jerusalem, June 21, 2020. Abir Sultan/Pool via REUTERS - RC2LDH94S2ER

Netanyahu unapologetic on demanding tax exemptions

Despite soaring unemployment and an economic crisis in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the time to demand retroactive tax exemptions for himself.

Netanyahu’s damage control strategy ahead of annexation vote

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing contradictory estimates from security agency chiefs on whether annexation will generate massive uprisings in the West Bank and Arab retaliation.

Mossad chief meets with Jordanian king, relates message from Netanyahu

According to reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen to Jordan, in an attempt to appease King Abdullah over the annexation plan.