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December 30, 2025

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At Mar-a-Lago, Netanyahu seeks Iran strike approval while Trump presses Gaza plan

US President Donald Trump is expected to push Israel to enter the second phase of his Gaza peace plan, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will focus on securing Trump’s approval for a potential strike on Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Analysis

Gaza realities test Trump’s 2025 Middle East ambitions

During its first year, the second Trump administration confronted wars in Gaza and Sudan, forged new ties with Syria and grappled with the growing nuclear threat from Iran.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participates in a joint news conference with US President Donald Trump (not seen) in the State Dining Room at the White House on Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington.

Analysis

In 2025, Netanyahu saved his coalition but stalled on Gaza, Iran, Lebanon

With 2025 ending, Israelis are frustrated over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to fully end the Gaza war, solve the Hezbollah problem, reach a deal with Syria or find a way to constructively impact talks on the Iranian nuclear program.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

US President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem on Oct. 13, 2025.

Analysis

Trump has upper hand over Netanyahu, but is it enough for Gaza?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been stalling on the implementation of the second phase of President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, but at the end of the day, Trump has much more leverage over Netanyahu.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Latest News

Maersk resumes Red Sea passage after two-year halt amid easing Houthi threat

A ship sails along Egypt's Suez Canal near Ismailia, April 16, 2025.

Facing Israeli pushback, Turkey recalibrates public messaging on Gaza force

Saeed Jaras / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Daoud Kuttab

Palestine Columnist

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

Rasha Abou Jalal

In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Abeer Ayyoub

In Istanbul, reporting on Palestine

Naima Morelli

In Rome, reporting on Middle East culture

Fatima AbdulKarim

In Ramallah, reporting on the West Bank

A Palestinian woman sits outside her home in Jabalia refugee camp, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the northern Gaza Strip May 5, 2020. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem - RC2CIG93IB6K

Intel: Amid US funding gap, UN Palestinian refugee agency seeks $93M in coronavirus aid

As the coronavirus continues its spread through the impoverished West Bank and Gaza Strip, the United Nations refugee agency for Palestinians is seeking emergency funding to help with what it calls the worst financial crisis in the organization’s 70-year history.

The Muslim Ibrahimi Mosque, adjoining the Jewish Tomb of the Patriarchs, is seen closed during Friday prayer over concerns of the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma - RC2ONF9J9POW

Israel expands settlement projects around Hebron’s mosque

Israel has approved a project near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron in another step toward annexation.

Netanyahu’s future coalition, without the settlers?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu got the recommendation of 72 Knesset members for him to form and lead Israel’s next government, but the list does not include the signatures of his allies from the Yamina party.

Palestinian police officers check the identity card of a vehicle's occupant during a home-confinement order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 7, 2020. Picture taken April 7, 2020. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma - RC2X0G91R5K3

Rights group criticizes arrests in Palestinian territories

Amnesty International said Palestinian authorities arrested five people in March and April without proper cause.

A festive Ramadan float drives through a street in East Jerusalem to bring celebrations to people under the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) movement restrictions, May 3, 2020. Picture taken on May 3, 2020 REUTERS/ Ammar Awad - RC2NHG90NRE2

In Israel, coronavirus crisis improves Jewish-Arab relations

Contrary to past emergency situations, the COVID-19 crisis seems to have helped improve the relationship between the Jewish and Arab communities.

A view shows the Jewish settlement of Modiin Illit in the background and the Israeli barrier in the foreground in the village of Bilin, where a Friday anti-Israel weekly protest is held, as the area is seen empty of Palestinian demonstrators amid concerns of the spread of the coronavirus disease, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RC2PNF9HQOZQ

Israel announces major settlement construction project

Israel officially plans to build new settlement housing units in the West Bank as the country builds momentum for annexation with some US support.

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign stop at Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi, U.S., March 8, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid - RC2YFF9OJ3JY

Intel: Biden vows to reopen Palestinian delegation in Washington

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on Tuesday that he would move to reopen the Palestinian delegation in Washington, which President Donald Trump closed in 2018.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman delivers remarks during the AIPAC convention at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, U.S., March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner - RC2YBF9NTU8X

US ambassador’s annexation comments please Israeli right

Israel's political right is delighted by US Ambassador David Friedman's support for the nascent government's annexation plans.

GAZA, Feb. 24, 2020 -- Militants in the Gaza Strip fire rockets to Israeli cities on Feb. 24, 2020. Israeli war jets on Monday struck posts that belong to Palestinian militant group in Gaza Strip for the second day in a row, according to Palestinian security sources. Israeli army said in a press statement that it has began targeting Islamic Jihad posts in Gaza. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua via Getty)

Gaza rocket shakes calm on border with Israel

After 40 days of calm and with ongoing contacts to arrange a prisoner-swap deal a rocket was fired from Gaza at Israel’s southern communities.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 30: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden addresses the 4th National J Street Conference at the Washington Convention Center September 30, 2013 in Washington, D.C. J Street is a nonprofit advocacy group made up primarily of Jews based in the U.S. which says it aims to promote American leadership in ending the Arab-Israeli and Israel-Palestinian conflicts through diplomacy. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images)

Intel: J Street launches push to include Palestinian rights in Democratic Party platform

The left-leaning lobby group J street endorsed a letter today featuring 32 foreign policy professionals urging the Democratic National Committee to make Palestinian rights part of its 2020 platform.

A demonstrator holding a Palestinian flag stands amongst Israeli border police members during a protest against Israeli settlements and the U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, in Jordan Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank February 25, 2020. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta - RC2O7F96E3FQ

Can Jordan stop Israeli annexation?

The next two months will be politically fraught if the Israeli coalition agreement allows a vote on annexation, but how much can Jordan do?

Israel, PA agree on return of construction workers

Israel and the Palestinian Authority have agreed on the conditions for the return of some 50,000 workers, mostly in the construction sector.