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Israel

May 19, 2026

Tel Aviv 12:21 pm

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Men gather around the husk of a destroyed pickup truck that was driven by a local shepherd who was reportedly struck by Israeli forces and buried by locals at a grave nearby, in the Najaf desert in southwestern Iraq, on May 12, 2026.

What we know about secret Israeli bases in Iraq

Iraqi authorities have said there are no longer any hostile forces operating in its territory.

Somaliland’s first ambassador to a foreign country formally, Mohamed Hagi, presented his diplomatic credentials in Jerusalem to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, on May 18, 2026.

Israel accredits Somaliland's first ambassador: What to know

Israel was the first country to recognize the breakaway region on the Horn of Africa last year.

talks

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

Latest News

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

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

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 (C) attends a weekly cabinet meeting in Haifa, Israel November 27, 2016. REUTERS//Dan Balilty/Pool - RTSTI2W

Will Netanyahu’s collective blame sink Israel?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's collective blame strategy will punish many Israeli Arabs who had no connection to the wildfires and will only aggravate tensions between Jews and Arabs.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Education Minister Naftali Bennett with pupils during a visit at the "Tamra HaEmek" elementary school on the first day of the school year, in the Arab Israeli town of Tamra, Israel September 1, 2016. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - RTX2NR9F

Israeli education minister declares math 'state of emergency'

The TIMSS math results for 2015 show Israel dropping nine places, but does this necessarily mean that Israeli students are doing poorly in math?

Israeli soldiers from the 605 Combat Engineering Corps battalion take part in a training session on the Israeli side of the border between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights June 1, 2016. REUTERS/Baz Ratner/File Photo - RTX2O7HR

Is Israel being pulled into Syrian war?

With growing tension in the Golan Heights and fears of the Syrian civil war spilling over, the IDF is establishing special commando units able to confront IS-affiliated militants.

How a Palestinian park surrounded by settlements is promoting organic farming

A Palestinian family has turned the site of an old house into an organic farm and a park for visitors to enjoy the beauty of the land, despite the site being in close proximity to Israeli settlements and checkpoints.

Israeli lawmakers attend a preliminary vote on a bill at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem November 16, 2016. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RTX2TXTG

Israel's Knesset dominated by extremist bills

Despite the objection of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Settlement Regularization bill, and despite the objection of President Reuven Rivlin to the law against the muezzin call, the right-wing camp advances both law proposals in the Knesset.

A Palestinian youth takes part in a rally in the West Bank city of Nablus marking the 48th anniversary of the founding of the Fatah movement January 3, 2013. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS ANNIVERSARY) - RTR3C2NH

Why Israel is closely following Fatah convention

As Fatah starts its convention Nov. 29, Israeli intelligence sources warn that the Palestinian youth might turn their anger over the corrupt Palestinian political system to Israel.

A resident stands next to burnt cars from Thursday's fire in the northern city of Haifa, Israel November 25, 2016. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - RTST83G

How will Israel punish suspected wildfire arsonists?

Israeli politicians are asking to revoke the citizenship of the Palestinian arsonists, even though international law prohibits leaving a person without citizenship.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas heads a Palestinian cabinet meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah July 28, 2013. REUTERS/Issam Rimawi/Pool/File Photo - RTX2O7X6

PA's 'Trump team' lays plans for next four years

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has formed a steering committee to prepare for Donald Trump’s presidency as speculation about his intentions continues.

Men ride on a vehicle amidst dust after a strike on the rebel held besieged al-Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria, November 26, 2016. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail - RTSTFC7

Putin not waiting for Trump to press advantage in Syria

Russian president seeks gains in Syria in the final weeks of the Obama administration; Saudi Arabia encouraged by Trump’s take on Iran; Liberman as gatekeeper between Trump and Netanyahu.

Egyptians, Gazans move to strengthen economic ties

During the Ain Sokhna conference in Egypt, Palestinian businessmen put forth the decade-old idea of a free trade zone between both parties, in a bid to ease the Israeli siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (L) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Israel, November 10, 2016. Sputnik/Pool/Dmitry Astakhov/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - RTX2T1QJ

Will Russia replace US in Palestinian prisoner swap deal?

The Russian ties with Turkey and Iran may help it to embark on secret negotiations with Hamas to release Israeli soldiers detained in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli soldiers of the Caracal battalion walk together during a 23-kilometre march marking the end of their training in Israel's Negev desert, near Kibbutz Sde Boker February 14, 2013. The "Caracal" battalion, two-thirds of whose members are women, was established in 2004 with the purpose of incorporating female soldiers in combat units. The main mission of Caracal is routine patrols on Israel's border with Egypt to intercept infiltrators and smuggling from the Sinai desert. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside (ISRAE

Rabbis speak out against women's enlistment in IDF

The national-religious sector, well represented in the Israel Defense Forces, maintains strong opposition to enlistment by women, and recent proposals to encourage religious women to enlist have met stiff resistance from a group of rabbis.