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

Israel cover image

Israel

June 24, 2026

Tel Aviv 5:08 am

21°C

Lebanese army forces deploy in the village of Bir al-Salasel in southern Lebanon on June 15, 2026. Iran's foreign ministry on June 15 said the US must ensure that Israel commits to stopping the war in Lebanon under a deal agreed upon with the US to end the Middle East war. Lebanon was pulled into the conflict in early March when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader, prompting Israeli strikes and a ground invasion. (Pho

Analysis

Pilot zones at center of Israel-Lebanon talks as Trump pressures Netanyahu

With the fifth round of talks set to begin Tuesday, Israel is prepared to withdraw from at least one “pilot zone,” allowing the Lebanese army to take control of the area.

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

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Tyre, Lebanon, on June 9, 2026.

Analysis

As US reshapes Lebanon strategy, Israel finds itself sidelined

The deal advanced between Washington and Tehran sees a linkage between the Iranian and Lebanese theaters and creates a deconfliction mechanism — without consulting Israel beforehand.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Former Israeli Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot gives a press conference in Tel Aviv, on December 4, 2018.

Can political novice Eisenkot defeat Netanyahu in upcoming elections?

The former military chief of staff is emerging as the prime minister's strongest rival in upcoming elections, overtaking former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in recent polls.

Latest News

Analysis

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

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

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

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

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

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

Longtime Sharon associate calls on parties to close peace deal

Former Knesset member Majallie Whbee, a close associate of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, deplores Israeli leaders for not seizing the moment: “We have a window of opportunity of just a few years to complete an agreement.”

Israeli Prime Minister Menahem Begin (3rd R) listens to Israeli Agriculture Minister Ariel Sharon (C) during a visit to the West Bank settlement of Alon Moreh February 27, 1981 in this handout photo released by the Government Press Office. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a dominant figure for decades in shaping the Middle East, suffered a massive brain haemorrhage on January 4, 2006, and doctors battled to save his life. ISRAEL OUT REUTERS/ Herman Chanania/Government Press Office/Handout - RTR17SBE

Ariel Sharon's decisions shaped today's Israel

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the founding father of the settlements, realized one day that the burden of the occupations was far too big and initiated the historic disengagement from the Gaza Strip.

Israeli parliament member Hilik Bar (L) gestures as he sits next to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah October 7, 2013. Abbas held a rare meeting with the group of Israeli parliamentarians on Monday, warning that this could be the last chance to reach a deal to end decades of Israeli-Palestinian conflict and create two independent states living side-by-side. REUTERS/Abbas Momani/Pool (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX142QN

Israeli legislature battles over Jordan Valley

Labor Knesset member Hilik Bar has presented a bill against annexing any territories within Judea, Samaria and Gaza, heading off a proposed annexation of the Jordan Valley.

Palestinian children inspect a house which witnesses said was damaged in an Israeli strike, in the central Gaza Strip December 25, 2013. A Gaza sniper shot dead an Israeli civilian over the border on Tuesday and Israel hit back with air strikes on two Hamas training camps which hospital officials said killed a Palestinian girl near one of the targets. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTX16TQH

Despite rockets, Israel-Hamas confrontation unlikely

Despite the potential for renewed violence between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, Hamas claims it is waiting to be better prepared for a larger future conflict.

An Israeli soldier rests after completing a 45 km march near the Jewish settlement of Tomer in the Jordan Valley January 2, 2014. Control of the Jordan Valley is one of a number of contentious issues on which Israelis and Palestinians are in dispute in current peace talks. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Israel on Thursday to help re-energise peace negotiations. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTX16ZUQ

Israel's march of folly to the Jordan Valley

The Jordan Valley is the key to solving the refugee issue and to building a future Palestinian airport, thus the Israeli bill proposing to annex this region is the de facto end to a peace agreement.

Knesset (parliament) member Israeli Arab Ahmad Tibi campaigns seeking reelection ahead of Israel's general elections in the Israeli Arab town of Umm al-Fahm on January 14, 2013. Arab-Israelis, descendants of the 160,000 Palestinians who stayed on after the creation of Israel in 1948, make up 20 percent of the population. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD GHARABLI (Photo credit should read AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images)

Ahmad Tibi: Netanyahu does everything to prevent an agreement

Knesset member Ahmad Tibi warns Israel that PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will not concede on East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine nor on the refugees issue.

A MEMBERS OF THE ACTORS COMPANY 'IMBAL PINTO DANCE' FROM ISRAEL PERFORM DURING THE INTERNATIONAL THEATER FESTIVAL (FIT). A members of the actors company 'Imbal Pinto Dance' from Israel perform during the International Theater Festival (FIT) in Caracas, April 8, 2004. The troupe is one of 16 companies taking part in the festival. REUTERS/Howard Yanes - RTRH3EA

Israeli actors refuse to perform across Green Line

This week’s refusal by three Israeli theater stars to perform across the Green Line raises the dilemma of commitment to one’s art or one’s conscience.

Ahmad Khalaf (4th R) looks on as a religious leader together with others release a dove outside the al-Aqsa mosque the day after he was released from an Israeli prison, in Jerusalem's old city December 31, 2013. Israel freed 26 Palestinian prisoners, on Tuesday, days before U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was due back in the Middle East to press the two sides to agree a framework peace deal.REUTERS/Ammar Awad (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX16Y77

Despite prisoner release, any Israeli settlement construction may end talks

Palestinian Authority Minister for Prisoner Affairs Issa Karake has declared that if Israel insists on more settlement construction following the latest prisoner release, the negotiations will be over.

A general view shows Manger Square, near the Church of Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus, during Christmas celebrations in the West Bank town of Bethlehem December 24, 2013. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (WEST BANK - Tags: RELIGION) - RTX16TEF

Was Jesus a Palestinian, a Jew or both?

The Israeli Foreign Ministry was quick to respond to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' claim that Jesus was Palestinian.

Mourners react at a mosque during the funeral of three-year-old Palestinian girl Hala Bhairi, who medics said was killed by shrapnel from an Israeli strike, in the central Gaza Strip December 25, 2013. A Gaza sniper shot dead an Israeli civilian over the border on Tuesday and Israel hit back with air strikes on two Hamas training camps which hospital officials said killed the Palestinian girl near one of the targets. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTX16TQV

Death of Gaza child renews fears of war

The recent Israeli shelling of the Gaza Strip, which led to the death of a 3-year-old girl, has renewed residents’ fears of another military confrontation.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (2nd L) says goodbye to officials before boarding his plane to return to Israel, in Amman June 29, 2013. Kerry extended his Middle East peace mission on Saturday, shuttling between Jerusalem and Amman for more talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on reviving their stalled negotiations. REUTERS/Jacquelyn Martin/Pool (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX116CF

Jordan readies for possible framework agreement

Jordan is taking care to make its positions clear ahead of an expected US “framework proposal” in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Released Palestinian prisoner Samer al-Issawi gestures as he celebrates in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Issawiya December 23, 2013. Israel on Monday freed al-Issawi from jail, to complete a deal agreed earlier this year over his release in exchange for him ending a lengthy hunger strike that almost killed him. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTX16SOH

Issawi’s release places individual hunger strikes in spotlight

Samer Issawi's release set off exuberant celebrations in the streets, but more importantly has refocused the spotlight on his fellow hunger strikers in prison.