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

Israel cover image

Israel

June 24, 2026

Tel Aviv 6:27 am

22°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

A demonstrator waves an Israeli flag as another holds a placard during a protest calling for the release of Jonathan Pollard from a U.S. prison, outside Israeli President Shimon Peres' residence in Jerusalem March 19, 2013. Some 1000 supporters protested a day ahead of Obama's visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank. Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, has been serving a life sentence in the United States since he was caught spying for Israel in the 1980s. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM -

Peace, not Pollard, is the issue

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempt of pulling Jonathan Pollard into the US diplomatic efforts in the peace process testifies to Israel seeking to serve its own interests rather than a peace deal with the Palestinians.

Dayan: 'Kerry causes damage by insisting on a solution now'

While some in the Israeli right looked for an alternative to the two-state solution, former Yesha head Dani Dayan prefers the status quo since ''there is no solution to the conflict at the moment.''

U.S. President Barack Obama waves after addressing Israeli students at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem March 21, 2013. Obama appealed directly on Thursday to the Israeli people to put themselves in the shoes of stateless Palestinians and recognise that Jewish settlement activity in occupied territory hurts prospects for peace. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3FA2D

Obama should see peace process through

History suggests that only a resolved American president, such as former Presidents Jimmy Carter or George Bush, Sr., can persuade the Israelis to come to an agreement with the Palestinians.

Talks with Palestinians return to Israel's public discourse

Pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from opponents within and outside his coalition has grown in sync with advances in talks with the Palestinians.

Palestinian demonstrators protest near the Israeli border fence with Gaza as the Israeli army shoots tear gas, December 27, 2013. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS) - RTX16V3B

Israel, Hamas caught in 'the Gaza trap'

Israel and Hamas are trapped in the same dilemma: avoiding escalation on the Israeli-Gaza border requires cooperation between them, but such cooperation portrays each side as weak.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) meets with Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean in the West Bank city of Bethlehem December 24, 2013. REUTERS/Luay Sababa/Pool (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX16TGU

Romanian FM: Obama should intervene in Israeli-Palestinian talks

Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean is doubtful about Israelis and Palestinians arriving to an agreement soon, unless US President Barack Obama intervenes.

An entrance to a tunnel exposed by the Israeli military is seen near Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, just outside the southern Gaza Strip October 13, 2013. Israel displayed on Sunday what it called a Palestinian "terror tunnel" running into its territory from the Gaza Strip and said it was subsequently freezing the transfer of building material to the enclave. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST MILITARY) - RTX149RZ

Israel uses storm to locate Gaza tunnels

A new report indicates that Israeli intelligence took advantage of the recent storm that hit the Gaza Strip to locate Hamas-operated tunnels by tracking storm damage and sinkholes.

Young Knesset member: Pension funds are Israel's time bombs

Knesset member Michal Biran warns of the collapsing pension system: "If we don't adopt emergency measures, then everyone who saves up today for their pension will remain without a pension when they get older."

Israeli youths spread goodwill at a Jerusalem market

Dozens of young people roam a Jerusalem market every Thursday evening to help elderly people carry their grocery bags in exchange for life stories and tips on living.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with Larry Dub, lawyer for convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard January 18, who has served 13 years of a life sentence in an American jail. Netanyahu has urged U.S. President Bill Clinton to pardon Pollard on humanitarian grounds but U.S. security officials have opposed his early release.

DPS/WS - RTRL2WN

Netanyahu adds Pollard to Israeli-Palestinian equation

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to use the American espionage as leverage for releasing Jonathan Pollard, a deal which might facilitate the acceptance by the Israeli right of an agreement with the Palestinians.

Israeli right proposes taxing NGOs that back boycott

HaBayit HaYehudi Knesset member Ayelet Shaked endorses a bill designed to limit foreign donations to Israeli groups supporting a boycott against Israel.

Fans of Bnei Sakhnin shout slogans during a match against Beitar Jerusalem as part of the Israeli Premier League, at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem February 10, 2013. There was heightened security at Sunday's match following last week's arraignment of four fans in connection with racist incitement against the team's recruitment of Muslim players. REUTERS/Nir Elias (JERUSALEM - Tags: SPORT SOCCER POLITICS) - RTR3DLIL

Knesset member tries to shut out Arab-Israeli soccer club

Knesset member Miri Regev has called for suspending the Arab-Israeli Bnei Sakhnin soccer club from the Israeli league over the raising of Palestinian flags during a match, ignoring racist actions by Jewish rival fans.