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Israel

June 29, 2026

Tel Aviv 9:22 pm

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Traffic plummets through Strait of Hormuz after Iran, US trade fire

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had recovered somewhat before renewed fighting between Iran and the United States saw traffic drop sharply over the weekend.

A car drives past an United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) outpost in the village of Khan Arnabah, Quneitra, southern Syria, April 29, 2026.

Syria slams Israeli 'violations' in south as ground clashes intensify: What to know

In a rare incident, the Israeli military said it fired at armed men in southern Syria, without identifying the attackers.

Members of the Jerusalem Armenian community hold placards as they march during commemorations for the 94th anniversary of mass killings of their kin under the Ottoman Empire, Jerusalem's Old City, April 24, 2009.

Explainer

Israel's Armenian genocide recognition marks new front against Turkey

Analysts say the expected vote for recognition is not morally motivated, but intended to spite the Turkish leader.

Latest News

US brokers deal for limited Israeli withdrawal in south Lebanon

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C, back) looks on as (L/R, front row) Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, State Department Chief of Staff Daniel Holler, and Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh sign a framework agreement at the US Department of State in Washington, DC, on June 26, 2026. Lebanon, Israel and the United States on Friday signed a trilateral framework agreement aimed at paving the way for a peace deal between the two long-time Middle East adversaries. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP

Iran vows to respond to Israeli military using neighboring airspace: What to know

Jalaa MAREY / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Vance turning us into 'punching bag': Israel fumes over alleged IRGC-CENTCOM channel in Doha

Vance

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

Israel, Turkey, Iran offer aid as Venezuela’s 2 quakes kill at least 188

Responders arrive to a demolished building at San Bernardino after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Venezuela and other regions in the Caribbean on June 24, 2026 in Caracas, Venezuela.

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 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu draws a red line on the graphic of a bomb used to represent Iran's nuclear program as he addresses the 67th United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. Headquarters in New York, September 27, 2012. The red line he drew represents a point where he believes, the international community should tell Iran that they will not be allowed to pass without intervention. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR38I7P

Israel Must Invest to Deter Iran

Alon Ben David writes that investing in preparing a military option against a potential Iranian nuclear weapon is not an "adventurous fantasy."

A general view of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, is seen during a session boycotted by the opposition parties in Jerusalem June 17, 2009. Israel's parliament is expected to give its initial approval to the 2009 and 2010 state budgets later on Wednesday. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (JERUSALEM POLITICS BUSINESS) - RTR24QNR

Israel Defense Budget Can Be Cut

Idan Grinbaum calls for a serious public debate and major cuts in the Israel defense budget.

Labour party leader Shelly Yachimovich addresses supporters at her party's headquarters in Beit Berl, north of Tel Aviv January 23, 2013. Hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerged the bruised winner of Israel's election on Tuesday, claiming victory despite unexpected losses to resurgent centre-left challengers. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR3CTBJ

How Did Yachimovich Lose The Israeli Center to Lapid?

Yair Lapid, leader of Yesh Atid and the big winner in the Israeli elections, succeeded where Labor leader Shelly Yachimovich failed, by accurately capturing the frustrations and hopes of centrist voters, writes Mazal Mualem.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) arrives to the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem January 27, 2013. REUTERS/Ariel Schalit/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3D101

Israel's Prime Minister Has Several Fronts to Worry About

Warnings that Syria's chemical weapons may fall into the wrong hands are raising concerns in Israel of a regional conflict, writes Ben Caspit.

Open Letter to Yaakov Peri: 'Don't Forsake Our Political Path'

Akiva Eldar writes to his friend Yaakov Peri, calling upon the former head of Shin Beth and renowned peacemaker, not to forsake peace once he officially enters the Israeli parliament.

Israeli Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), Haif Mayor Amram
Mitzna (C) and Labour party chairman Binyamin Ben-Eliezer attend a
funeral ceremony for former Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban in
Herzliya November 18, 2002. Mitzner and Ben-Eliezer will run as
candidates as the Labour party votes for it next leader tomorrow.
REUTERS/Ofer Vaknin

RKR - RTRE13S

Ben-Eliezer Slams Yachimovich For the Labor Party's Failure

Veteran Knesset Member Binyamin (Fouad) Ben-Eliezer talks about his frustration and anger over the election results and the missed opportunities by Labor Party leader Shelly Yachimovich in a special interview with Mazal Mualem.

Intel Israel: Pioneer Employer of Women

Intel Israel General Manager Maxine Fassberg tells Tali Heruti-Sover about her struggles in the male-dominated high-tech industry — which needs "equal opportunities for men and women alike to enter the industry and move on side by side."

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal (R) and Mohammad Nazzal, a member of the Hamas leadership, speak to media after their meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah at the Royal Palace in Amman January 28, 2013. REUTERS/Majed Jaber (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3D30A

Hamas Vows Crackdown On Collaborators With Israel

The Hamas government in Gaza has vowed to end the presence of Gazans who collaborate with Israel in 2013, while trying to repair its reputation in dealing with the accused, reports Adnan Abu Amer.

A riot police officer walks under a banner depicting Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi holding the Israeli and American flags in each hand, reading: 'My family (Israel) and my clan (U.S.)' at the presidential palace in Cairo January 25, 2013. Hundreds of youths fought Egyptian police in Cairo on Friday on the second anniversary of the revolt that toppled Hosni Mubarak and brought the election of an Islamist president who protesters accuse of riding roughshod over the new democracy. Opponents of Mursi and his

Israel Cannot Count on Egypt To Deal with Hamas

As Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is preoccupied with the political crisis in Egypt, Israel should take the initiative in jump-starting talks with the Palestinians, writes Shlomi Eldar.

Israeli anchor Yair Lapid poses for a portrait in this undated handout photo released to Reuters by Israel's Channel Two News on January 8, 2012. Lapid, a popular Israeli television news anchor, announced on Sunday he was quitting his job to run for parliament, a move seen as posing challenges for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and for his main centrist and left-of centre rivals. REUTERS/Channel 2 News/Handout (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS MEDIA) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISI

Yair Lapid Should Call Abu Mazen

Shlomi Eldar writes that soon, Yair Lapid should call Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and that social justice in Israel will only result from renewed peace talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testifies on the September attack on U.S. diplomatic sites in Benghazi, Libya during a hearing held by the House Foreign Affairs committee on Capitol Hill in Washington January 23, 2013. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3CUXG

Al-Monitor Week in Review: 5 Key Trends, from Mali to Qatar

A commentary and review of Al-Monitor’s coverage of the demonstrations in Egypt, the rise of "al-Qaeda 3.0," the linkages between Libya and Mali, Qatar’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood and Israel’s elections.

Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid (There's a Future) party, speaks to members of the media outside his home in Tel Aviv January 23, 2013. Lapid, a former television news anchor whose new centrist party stormed to second place in Israel's election, may well be the kingmaker holding the keys to the next coalition government. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR3CUU2

Lapid as Foreign Minister Would Boost US-Israel Ties

Nadav Eyal writes that Yair Lapid, who has no foreign policy experience, would nonetheless boost US-Israeli ties as foreign minister.