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May 18, 2026

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Lebanon-Israel ceasefire extended 45 days as US opens security talks

The Pentagon will host Israeli and Lebanese military delegations for a round of separate security talks later this month.

US President Donald Trump talks to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as he departs the Al Bateen Executive Airport on May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Analysis

‘A reckless act’: Netanyahu sparks UAE fury by claiming secret visit

Just as UAE-Israeli relations were deepening through cooperation against Iran, the Israeli prime minister publicly embarrassed Abu Dhabi by revealing his March visit.

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

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."

Latest News

Analysis

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

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

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

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

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

Yahya Sinwar (L) the new leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and senior political leaders of the Islamist movement Khalil al-Haya (C) Ismail Haniyeh (R) attend the opening of a new mosque in Rafah town in the southern Gaza Strip on February 24, 2017. / AFP / SAID KHATIB (Photo credit should read SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images)

What will Hamas charter change mean for Israel?

Israeli experts disagree on whether expected amendments to Hamas' charter will significantly change the movement’s attitude toward Israel and whether it is wise to open a direct dialogue with the movement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attends a joint news conference with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, Japan, December 7, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon - RTSV1FS

Zarif gives Netanyahu lesson in Jewish scripture

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments on ancient Persia have angered Iranian officials.

A person wearing a costume of U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man during an annual parade marking the Jewish holiday of Purim, in Jerusalem March 13, 2017. REUTERS/Nir Elias TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTX30SHZ

Is Trump planning a two-state regional conference?

In order to “close a deal’’ between Israel and the Palestinians, President Donald Trump wants to convene a regional two-state conference later in the year.

American army vehicles drive north of Manbij city, in Aleppo Governorate, Syria March 9, 2017. REUTERS/Rodi Said - RTS126K2

US puts off announcing decision on Raqqa until after Turkey referendum

The US military wants to work with local forces against the Islamic State in Raqqa, but still is working out many of the details, including who should hold what ground after IS is defeated.

General Khalifa Haftar, commander in the Libyan National Army (LNA), leaves after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, November 29, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov - RTSTRVH

Putin gets some payback with 'alternative project' for Libya

Why Putin backs Hifter; Barzani’s Sinjar dilemma; Israel’s missing Gaza policy; GCC moves to the margins on Syria.

Israel's Knesset bans mini-skirts in new dress code

The Knesset has published a dress code instructing elected officials and staff to avoid casual attire.

HEBRON, WEST BANK - DECEMBER 13: Israeli soldiers patrol the desert streets December 13, 2002 in the Palestinian town of Hebron, West Bank. The Israeli Army imposed a curfew all over Hebron, after Palestinian gunmen killed two Israel Defense Forces soldiers December 12 at a roadblock near the Tomb of the Patriarchs, a Jewish and Muslim holy site in the center of the West Bank city of Hebron. The two soldiers, Maor Kalfon, 19, a male, and Cpl. Keren Yakobi, 19, a female, were part of a Military Police unit

Why Israel arrested Hamas-affiliated MPs in West Bank

This week Israel arrested Hamas member of parliament Samira Halaika in an attempt to pressure Hamas into a prisoner exchange deal.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attends during signing of agreements ceremony with Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir (unseen) at the El-Thadiya presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt October 5, 2016. Picture taken October 5, 2016. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh - RTX2Q29F

Can Arab Quartet advance two-state solution?

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi might propose that President Donald Trump meet with the Arab Quartet in order to advance the two-state solution.

Ayelet Shaked, Israel's new Justice Minister of the far-right Jewish Home party, attends a ceremony at the Justice Ministry in Jerusalem May 17, 2015. REUTERS/Gali Tibbon/Pool/File Photo - RTX2RPZJ

Could Israel’s justice minister become prime minister?

Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked has been a popular Cabinet member, but as a woman in a small, right-wing religious party, she has many obstacles to overcome on her way to the prime minister’s office.

Will Abbas stop paying Gaza employees’ salaries?

Donor states are threatening to stop transferring funds destined to pay the salaries of former Palestinian Authority employees in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) speaks with Cabinet Secretary Avichai Mandelblit during the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem December 20, 2015. REUTERS/Gali Tibbon/Pool - RTX1ZGHK

When Israel's Court has to prevent Palestinian land theft

The Israeli High Court will have to decide on the legality, constitutionality and morality of stealing Palestinian lands.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in Sydney, Australia, February 26, 2017. REUTERS/Jason Reed - RTS10BWD

Talk of deploying international troops divides Palestinians

Recent talk of a suggestion to deploy international troops in the Palestinian territories has sparked angry reactions from many in the Gaza Strip, although some in the Palestinian Authority support the idea.