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

Israel cover image

Israel

September 27, 2026

Tel Aviv 9:46 am

26°C

ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Can Netanyahu turn Israel's UN isolation into strength at home?

The absence of a Trump meeting would have been awkward for Netanyahu, who has long portrayed himself to Israeli voters as uniquely close to the US president.

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

Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu waves to delegates leaving before his UN speech

Delegates walk out as Netanyahu touts Iran war, slams Qatar and Turkey at UN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's statement that the Golan Heights will "remain Syrian territory," while praising US President Donald Trump, whom he did not meet on the trip.

Leader of the Arab Israeli party Ra'am (United Arab List) Mansour Abbas (R) and Israeli politician Yoav Segalovitz (L) attend a news conference in Nazareth on August 31, 2026. Abbas announced that Segalovitz, an Israeli Jew, will join his party for the upcoming Israeli elections. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP via Getty Images)

Israel election committee bars two Arab lists from upcoming vote: What to know

Israel's Central Elections Committee barred the Arab-majority Raam party, the Arab joint list party and two Arab politicians from participating in the Oct. 27 elections.

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Why Netanyahu is distancing himself from Trump ahead of Israeli election

No meeting has been announced between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit in New York.

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

Latest News

UAE's Gargash expects 'prolonged' war, calls for Iran-Gulf security talks

Gargash

United Arab Emirates

Analysis

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

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

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

How Netanyahu is leveraging Houthi threat in secret Saudi normalization push

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)

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

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

OLIVER BUNIC/AFP via Getty Images

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

Nationality law makes Israel's Druze second-class citizens

The Druze community in Israel has condemned the Jewish Nationality Law, which effectively demotes them to second-class citizens despite their military and other service to Israel.

Wales' Gareth Bale (C) takes part in a kick-about with Jewish and Arab children in the northern city of Haifa March 29, 2015. Bale forgot all about his recent troubles at Real Madrid when scoring twice in a superb Wales victory over Israel on Saturday that kept them on course for next year's Euro 2016 finals in France. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - GF10000042594

The Sabbath revolution shakes Israeli sports

New regulations that condition government funding for sports associations on not holding competitions on the Sabbath threaten to financially destroy entire organizations.

Palestinian children walk outside of the United Nations' school in the Askar refugee camp, near Nablus in the Israeli occupied West Bank, on January 17, 2018 after the White House froze tens of millions of dollars in contributions. - The agency provides Palestinian refugees and their descendants across the Middle East with services including schools and medical care, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long accused it of hostility toward Israel and called for its closure. (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH / A

Israel’s 'UNRWA dilemma'

Israel is worried about UNRWA's announcement that due to cuts in US funding, it will not be able to open schools in the West Bank for the academic year scheduled to begin Sept. 1.

Abbas appears set to compromise for Fatah-Hamas reconciliation

A Fatah delegation is in Cairo to discuss reconciliation with Hamas, carrying a broad mandate from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to compromise on control of security forces in Gaza.

Israeli lawmaker in uphill battle to rein in local corruption

Knesset member Roy Folkman heads a not very popular battle against corruption in local politics.

Israeli protesters seek return to destroyed West Bank settlements

Settlers are now demanding to cancel the disengagement out of four West Bank settlements destroyed in the framework of the 2005 Gaza withdrawal.

Israeli Druze feel abandoned over new Nationality Law

The Israeli Druze community feels that the Nationality Law turns them into second-class citizens, ignoring their loyalty and contribution to the state.

EU condemns Israel's new nationality law

The European Union is concerned by Israel's new law defining a Jewish nation-state, protesting that it is discriminatory and will hinder a two-state solution.

Turkish aid agency caught in Netanyahu-Erdogan crossfire

Israel's National Security Council has advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to react to the recent vitriol from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with sanctions against a Turkish aid agency.

PA rebuffs Israeli bill to cut prisoners' payments

The PA's Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, and several factional bodies and activists launched a national campaign against a newly approved Israeli bill deducting the stipends of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails from the PA tax revenues.

Jewish Arab village in the spotlight after Israel passes nationality law

The Swiss Embassy picked the Jewish Arab village of Neve Shalom as the venue for its Independence Day events in protest of Israel's recently adopted nationality law.

Performing marriage lands Israeli rabbi in police detention

The case of Rabbi Dov Haiyun, who was detained by police for officiating a wedding, demonstrates the hold of the Orthodox establishment on the lives of Israeli citizens.