Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu projected optimism last month after speaking on the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump. He claimed they were on “the same side of every issue” from the current war in the Gaza Strip to Iran’s nuclear program. Trump concurred with Netanyahu, writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, that […]
Israel’s already complex relationship with Qatar has grown more complicated. Qatar, one of three Arab states U.S. President Donald Trump is due to visit next week on his second trip abroad since his inauguration in January, has in recent days been denounced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. First, Netanyahu accused Qatar of “playing both sides” […]
The families, friends and supporters of the hostages held by Hamas have implored Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to widen the war in the Gaza Strip. “The expansion of military operations puts every hostage at grave risk,” the families said in a recent statement. “We implore our decision makers: Prioritize the hostages. Secure a deal. […]
The Houthis, Israel’s ferocious enemy and Iran’s proxy, struck a raw nerve on the morning of May 4, forcing Israel to respond almost immediately. They fired a ballistic missile from distant Yemen that crashed into an orange grove perilously close to Ben Gurion Airport, one of Israel’s most strategic sites. The projectile left a big […]
Israel’s longest war since its creation drags on interminably, with no end in sight. Speaking of the 18-month-long conflict in the Gaza Strip a few days ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has no intention of finishing it any time soon. Acknowledging that indirect talks with Hamas on ending the war and freeing the […]
After two rounds of mostly indirect talks in Muscat and Rome over Iran’s controversial nuclear program, the United States and Iran have expressed optimism that progress is being made. The “constructive” atmosphere is such that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sounded upbeat following the last session on April 19. He told reporters that negotiations were […]
Donald Trump is trying to fix what he broke. In 2018, during his first term as U.S. president, Trump unilaterally pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, denouncing it as a terrible deal and imposing crippling sanctions on Iran’s economy. Last week, in an about-face,Trump dispatched a delegation to Oman to lay the ground […]
Israel and Turkey have taken the first concrete step to reduce tensions over their respective interests in Syria. Yesterday, Israeli and Turkish delegations conferred in Azerbaijan for talks to head off incidents that could degenerate into full-blown clashes between Israel and Turkey. “Under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a political-security delegation led by […]
Compared to his upbeat meeting with Donald Trump in Washington in February, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s most recent encounter with the U.S. president was generally disappointing. Netanyahu arrived at the White House on March 7, fresh from a successful visit to Hungary, whose illiberal president, Viktor Orban, is aligned with Israel and the United States […]
Rumblings of discontent rolled through the Gaza Strip this week, raising speculation that Hamas’ popularity, such as it is, could well be on the wane. In the past few days, hundreds of Palestinians have taken to the streets of Gaza City, Beit Lahiya, Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah to vent their frustration and anger over a […]