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

Israel cover image

Israel

May 15, 2026

Tel Aviv 2:13 am

22°C

Israel's Netanyahu suing New York Times over column on Palestinian rape

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof's accusations of systematic sexual abuse and rape of Palestinian prisoners, calling the claims a "blood libel."

Artillery units are positioned near the Lebanese border in northern Israel, May 4, 2026.

Analysis

Israel’s drone dilemma: Hezbollah’s low-cost threat reshapes Lebanon front

While Israeli and Lebanese delegations are set to meet in Washington for the third time, the Israeli military faces a growing threat from Hezbollah’s cheap yet highly lethal drones.

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

Latest News

EU ministers agree to sanction violent West Bank settlers: What to know

Two men stand next to the burned remains of a Palestinian vehicle in the Wadi al-Rakhim area of Susya village in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on May 1, 2026.

Netanyahu fears being left out as Trump pursues Iran diplomacy

Ronen Zvulun / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

CIA report on Iran missiles undercuts Netanyahu as war euphoria dissipates

Traffic passes a billboard depicting Iranian ballistic missiles in service, with text in Arabic reading "the honest [person's] promise" and in Persian "Israel is weaker than a spider's web," Valiasr Square, Tehran, April 15, 2024. ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images.

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

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 (L) attends the inauguration ceremony of a police station in the Arab-Israeli town of Jisr ez-Zarqa November 21, 2017 REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC1D4A2BB050

Netanyahu's mixed messages to Israeli Arabs

Inaugurating two police stations in the Arab sector is a tiny step in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should have done many years ago to assist the Israeli Arab population.

Israeli forces are seen near a border fence between the Israeli-occupied side of the Golan Heights and Syria, November 4, 2017. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RC19166D7D10

IDF prepares for 'new' Syria

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman is asking for an increased budget for the Israel Defense Forces to prepare itself against new threats developing along its northern border with Syria.

Israeli Justice minister Ayelet Shaked delivers a speech during the swearing-in ceremony for the incoming Israeli president of the Supreme Court, Esther Hayut, at the Israeli Presidential residence in Jerusalem on October 26, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / THOMAS COEX (Photo credit should read THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)

What's behind Israel's sudden enthusiasm to investigate attacks on Palestinians?

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked's push for a fast-paced inquiry into the case of an Israeli soldier's alleged abuse of a Palestinian was not about justice, but about bringing down Breaking the Silence.

Labourers work at a construction site in the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the occupied West Bank February 7, 2017. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RC12AE21CA10

Israel sets the stage for further division of the West Bank

There are signs that Israel is moving ahead with its plan to establish the E1 area aimed at breaking up the West Bank and expanding the Israeli borders of Jerusalem.

Israeli ultra-Orthodox party giving up on fight against Mizrahi discrimination

The Shas Party has abandoned the very fight for which it was created: discrimination of the Ashkenazi establishment against girls of Mizrahi origin.

Pro-Palestinian protesters rally outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague January 14, 2009. A Palestinian rights group called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Wednesday to investigate Israel for committing war crimes during its 19-day-old offensive in the Gaza Strip. REUTERS/Ronald Fleurbaaij (NETHERLANDS) - GM1E51F025302

Israel has good reason to fear ICC

If, as Israel claims, its actions in the West Bank are lawful, why is the US administration fighting the Palestinian effort to have the matter heard at the International Criminal Court?

Are Israel, Saudi Arabia about to upgrade relations?

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Abu Dhabi Prince Mohammed bin Zayed are dramatically changing relations with Israel.

The Palestine Liberation Organization office is seen in Washington, U.S., November 19, 2017. U.S. State Department official said that under legislation passed by Congress, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson could not renew a certification that expired this month for the PLO office. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas - RC1155BD2A70

Palestinians point finger at Israel for crisis with US

Palestinians blame Israel's ambassador to the United States for acting to close the PLO Washington office.

How Saudi regional moves impact Israel

The Saudi desire to change its role from a behind-the-scenes player to a forefront leader pushes it to engage in the US-led Mideast peace initiative.

Jordan, PA unite forces with Israel to fight natural disasters

Israel, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and other countries participated in a two-day firefighting exercise to build a regional disaster response system, yet some Palestinians criticized the drills as increasing normalization with Israel.

Palestinian members of al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, display a home-made drone during a military parade marking the 27th anniversary of Hamas' founding, in Gaza City December 14, 2014. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY ANNIVERSARY) - GM1EACE1NTL01

Are Hamas drones really a threat to Israel?

Hamas is highly motivated to develop its drone capabilities, according to an urgent report by Israel's state comptroller.

(FILES) Israeli Labor party leader Shimon Peres (l) addresses 20 November 1977 in Jerusalem the Knesset (parliament) as Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat (c) and Israeli Foreign minister Yitzhak Shamir (2nd-r) listen during Egypt's President historic visit to Israel. Talks between Sadat and Begin continued and after various delays an unexpected breakthrough occurred in September 1978 after talks at Camp David in the USA under the guidance of US President Carter, when Begin and Sadat signed two peace agreeme

Forty years after historic visit to Israel by Egypt's Sadat, both countries further apart

When visiting Jerusalem 40 years ago, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat had a vision for Israeli-Palestinian peace, but he was led astray.