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June 20, 2026

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US President Donald Trump holds a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Palm Beach, Florida, Dec. 29, 2025.

Analysis

How Netanyahu used Lebanon strikes to push back on Trump’s Iran deal

The latest ceasefire in Lebanon leaves Netanyahu squeezed between Washington and domestic pressure.

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

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 16: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the G7 summit, on June 16, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Leaders from the Group of 7 (G7) countries convened in Evian, France, near the Swiss border, for their annual summit to discuss challenges to peace and security for Ukraine and Europe, the situation in the Middle East, and other geopolitical issues. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Get

'Let Syria take care of Hezbollah': Trump criticizes Israel, leans on Sharaa to help in Lebanon

President Donald Trump insisted he has a great relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but criticized the scale of Israel’s strikes in Lebanon.

Latest News

Explainer

Ben-Gvir's move to run separately in Israel elections revives debate over party alliances

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir takes part in the Jerusalem Day celebrations on May 14, 2026, in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Analysis

'He knew it was over': Inside Netanyahu’s response to Trump’s Iran deal as Israel recalibrates

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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

Analysis

Erdogan-Netanyahu war of words signals deeper rivalry for regional influence

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Turkish House in New York on Sept. 19, 2023.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

Squeezed by Trump and Iran war, how vulnerable is Netanyahu in polls?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted by President Donald Trump at the White House, Washington, DC, July 7, 2025.

Mazal Mualem

By Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

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

Israel's Finance Minister Yair Lapid attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem May 13, 2013. Israel's cabinet members were discussing on Monday their approval of the 2013-2014 state budget. REUTERS/Uriel Sinai/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS) - RTXZKVZ

Infighting hurts Israel's center-left bloc

Infighting between Yesh Atid Party Chairman Yair Lapid and Labor Party Chairman Isaac Herzog divide the center-left bloc instead of moving it toward new electorates, strengthening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A man places signs for Israel and Palestine at the Council table before a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, at U.N. headquarters in New York, July 31, 2014. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT) - RTR40SYJ

After UN failure, Palestinians reach out to ICC

Israel estimates that the failure of the Palestinians to secure a majority at the UN Security Council stems from a series of tactical mistakes, reflecting the enormous internal pressure to which Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is subjected.

A Palestinian protester scuffles with an Israeli soldier during a protest against Israeli settlements in Maasara village near the West Bank city of Bethlehem December 26, 2014. REUTERS/ Mussa Qawasma (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR4JAOJ

Fatah official: Israel settlement policy 'ultimate test' for peace

A senior Palestinian source emphasizes that the settlement policy will be the ultimate test of Israeli peace policies.

Israel's Finance Minister Yair Lapid (L) and Minister of Economics and Trade Naftali Bennett (2nd L) walk together during the swearing-in ceremony, at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, in Jerusalem March 18, 2013. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new governing coalition took office after a parliamentary vote on Monday with powerful roles reserved for supporters of settlers in occupied territory. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3F5XP

Israel's new rules for social media in politics

The social network revolution, combined with the 2011 social protest and increased transparency in politics, have pushed aside veteran politicians in favor of fresh senior politicians such as Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett and, lately, Moshe Kahlon.

Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman leaves after giving a statement to the media at his Jerusalem office December 2, 2014. Israel appeared to be heading on Tuesday towards an early election after right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his major centrist coalition partner failed to patch up differences. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, head of the far-right Yisrael Beitenu party, told a news conference, "An election is a now a fact." REUTERS/ Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) -

Bibi's rivals suffer scandals

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is surrounded by rivals trying to topple him, yet two of them, Shas Party leader Aryeh Deri and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, must concentrate on their own political survival.

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY MAJEDA AL-BATSH
A bus owned by Israeli company Egged, the largest bus operating service in Israel passes old buildings in Jerusalem on December 3, 2014. Many Palestinian bus drivers no longer feel safe behind the wheel of Jerusalem's public buses as threats and attacks from Jewish extremists force many to quit their jobs in fear. AFP PHOTO / AHMAD GHARABLI (Photo credit should read AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images)

Jerusalem's Arab bus drivers speak out

Jerusalem has seemingly calmed down after several weeks of unrest, but Arab bus drivers tell Al-Monitor that they are constantly subjected to insults and attacks by extremist Jewish passengers.

Netanyahu's calls to Likud too little too late

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has personally asked Likud Party members to support more moderate candidates, he was too late to stop his party from being taken over by settlers and extreme right politicians.

Israeli singer Achinoam Nini, known as Noa perform in the framework of the International Book Fair in Guadalajara, Mexico on December 01, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Hector Guerrero (Photo credit should read HECTOR GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images)

Where have Israeli intellectuals gone?

Israeli society has lost its past esteem for intellectuals and writers, with celebrities, actors, singers and media figures serving as its moral compass.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem December 21, 2014. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR4IU96

'Anyone but Bibi' is not a diplomatic initiative

Tzipi Livni's past support for right-wing positions on reaching an agreement with the Palestinians requires that she and Isaac Herzog of Labor reveal a genuine plan for renewing talks.

Palestinian children play on a mattress near the ruins of houses which witnesses said were destroyed by Israeli shelling during the most recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, in the east of Gaza City December 1, 2014. According to housing minister Mufeed al-Hasayna, Gaza needs 8,000 tonnes of cement a day to meet demand. A new system set up with the United Nations to comply with Israeli requirements lets through at most 2,000, he said. At that rate, reconstruction would take more than 30 years, said Has

Israel must address growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza

The Israeli leadership must realize that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza increases every day, and react appropriately despite the upcoming elections that might delay a solution by almost half a year.

Europe, US to offer Israel, Palestine economic benefits

The French-British peace initiative will be formally launched after the Israeli elections, offering both sides economic benefits.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - JANUARY 23: (ISRAEL OUT) Former Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman visits the Likud party election campaign headquarters with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (not pictured) on Janurary 23, 2013 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Exit polls suggested that current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will return to office, although he performed worse than expected. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

Livni, Herzog fear the collapse of Liberman's party

Potential allies of Avigdor Liberman, such as Isaac Herzog, Tzipi Livni and Moshe Kahlon, might rethink their political attitude toward him, following corruption suspicions against some of his party members.