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Israel

May 7, 2026

Tel Aviv 12:22 pm

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People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs neighborhood of Haret Hreik on May 6, 2026.

Israel strikes Beirut in breach of Lebanon ceasefire

Israel has continued to carry out strikes in southern Lebanon but had not targeted Beirut since the ceasefire took effect.

Amirhossein KHORGOOEI / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Israel fears Trump seeking Hormuz win while sidestepping Iran nuclear issue

While President Donald Trump keeps pressuring Iran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Israel fears the American leader will decide to cut his losses and sideline the nuclear threat.

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

A man sits watching as Lebanese first responders search for human remains among the rubble the day after a house was targeted in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, on May 1, 2026.

Culture

Lebanon's churches, mosques and archaeological sites damaged in Israeli strikes

Israeli strikes in Lebanon have damaged a growing number of cultural and religious sites, as sites in Israel have also sustained damage from Hezbollah and Iranian attacks.

Latest News

Analysis

Can Bennett, Lapid unite Israel’s opposition to unseat Netanyahu?

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid (L) speaks to outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, during a meeting at the Knesset (parliament), in Jerusalem on June 30, 2022. - Final approval of the parliament dissolution bill was initially expected by midnight but was postponed to June 30 as coalition and opposition lawmakers sparred over last-minute legislative details, several sources familiar with the parliamentary said. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Iron Dome in Gulf: How Iran war turned UAE-Israel defense ties operational

AFP via Getty Images

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Analysis

Without exit strategy, Israel faces emboldened Hezbollah, limited options on Iran

Ibrahim AMRO / AFP via Getty Images

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

Turkey warns France over Cyprus troop deployment: What to know

Members of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), from the British Army's 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, No. 2 Company, patrol along the buffer zone separating the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus and the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the divided capital Nicosia on Feb. 17, 2026.

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

Benny Gantz, leader of Blue and White party, delivers a statement during the party faction meeting at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem November 25, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC2EID9DIU6B

Gantz’ silence on incitement could cost him premiership

As long as the center-left does not start integrating Arabs on their party lists for the Knesset, the political balance will not change and Israel would still be trapped by political deadlock.

03 October 2019, ---, Jerusalem: Israeli Former Minister of the Interior Gideon Sa'ar attends the Likud party faction meeting, ahead of the swearing-in of the 22nd Israel's parliament (Knesset). Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa (Photo by Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Netanyahu’s rival accelerates campaign for party leadership

Gideon Saar wants to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: He’s more hawkish than Netanyahu; he campaigns for a new status quo with the ultra-Orthodox; and he stresses the importance of engaging Israel’s Arab citizens in dialogue.

The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (not pictured) meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Lisbon Portugal, December 4, 2019. Patricia de Melo Moreira/Pool via REUTERS - RC2KOD9W408V

National-religious leaders call on Netanyahu to quit

The leadership of the religious-Zionism stream fears that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will take down with him the whole right-wing camp.

Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest against the detention of a member of their community who refuses to serve in the Israeli army, in Jerusalem November 28, 2018. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC1F0E35C7C0

Instead of forced enlistment, Israeli leadership must dialogue with ultra-Orthodox

Instead of demanding that the ultra-Orthodox enlist in the army — like the secular parties insisted during election campaigns — Israel’s political leadership must open a dialogue with the ultra-Orthodox leadership about academic studies and the labor market.

Israeli legislator Stav Shaffir poses for a photograph in Tel Aviv February 15, 2015. Whether on the left, in the centre or on the right of the spectrum, women are filling senior positions in Israel's major parties, influencing the style, tone and manner of politics, even if it remains a tough-talking game. On the left of the spectrum there is Shaffir, 29, who was the youngest woman to serve in the Israeli parliament when she was first elected in 2013. A former leader of the social protests that took over T

Israeli left must unite to survive

The Democratic Camp and Labor-Gesher may need to join together to survive a third round of elections in which the Blue and White Party is perceived as the key to Netanyahu’s defeat.

Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett looks at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to an Israeli army base in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, November 24, 2019. Atef Safadi/Pool via REUTERS - RC2UHD9FXFTH

Israel's new defense minister pushes Jewish settlement in Hebron

Exploiting to the fullest the short opportunity he got to serve as defense minister, Naftali Bennett has no qualms about pushing for more Jewish settlements in the volatile West Bank city of Hebron.

Israel restricts human rights work in its territories

Israel expelled Human Rights Watch Director Omar Shakir from its territories, accusing him of supporting the boycott of Israel, which opened a debate about Israel’s restrictions against rights workers.

Palestinians condemn Israeli closures of institutions in Jerusalem

Israeli authorities are cracking down on Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem, which Palestinians argue is aimed at obliterating the Palestinian character of the holy city amid calls to the international community to protect Palestinians and their institutions.

Rattled by Pompeo's settlement stance, PA turns to international community

The Palestinian Authority is seeking international support against the Israeli settlements in response to the US secretary of state's statement that the settlements aren't necessarily illegal.

Israel v. Netanyahu: The real letter of indictment

The damaging strategic policy decisions made by indicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are even more criminal than the corruption-related charges for which he has been indicted, causing damage to Israel's defense and diplomacy.

Withholding Palestinians’ remains not befitting Israel

Caretaker Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, perhaps trying to maximize his time in office, has offered up discarded ideas on security that put Israel in the position of violating human rights and dignity.

New Israeli election would complicate Palestinian vote

While both Palestinians and Israelis seem to be headed for elections, the Israeli political crisis could heavily obstruct the Palestinian contest, further pro-settlement interests and aggravate the situation in the Gaza Strip.