Israel News

Why Gadi Eisenkot is rejecting the haredi political embrace that once helped Netanyahu win

POLITICAL AFFAIRS: Yitzhak Yosef’s embrace – and Eisenkot's effort to distance himself from it – reflects Israel's shifting political landscape.

Amid reports that the Shas Party could be willing to sit with him in government, Yashar Party head Gadi Eisenkot did not rule out that option entirely. Here, Eisenkot attends the Sagi Laws for Equality Confrence at the Peres Center in Jaffa earlier this week.

Grapevine July 17, 2026: Birds of a feather

MK Yisrael Eichler seen at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on January 19, 2026.

Military court indicts terrorist who killed Ido Zoldan in 2007 West Bank terror attack

IDF soldiers arrest twenty suspects in overnight raids across West Bank, July 8, 2026.

Silman declares Nile crocodile ‘cultivated wild animal’ to allow Ben-Gvir's 'crocodile prison' plan

A crocodile (Crocodylus Acutus) rests at the National Zoo of Managua November 13,2007.

Police arrest man from Bat Yam in connection to Japanika restaurant attacks in central Israel

The suspect is expected to appear before the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court on Friday, where police will request his detention be extended to facilitate the ongoing investigation into the incidents.

JULY 17, 2026ByESTHER DAVIS, HODAYA RAN

A view of a Japanika restaurant branch owned by businessman Barak Abramov that was damaged in a shooting in Herzliya, central Israel, July 14, 2026.

Netanyahu's coalition falls to 48 seats, opposition gets 62 seats after legislative blitz - poll

The poll found that 83% of voters oppose the inclusion of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties in the coalition that is formed after the elections, while only 8% support it.

JULY 17, 2026ByMOSHE COHEN

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi are seen in the Knesset plenum during a vote on the minister's communications reform, in Jerusalem, July 16, 2026

Bill to dissolve Knesset passes unanimously, officially beginning election recess

"We are completing a four year term, we have passed nine budgets, hundreds of laws," said Coalition whip Ofir Katz ahead of the bill's passing.

JULY 17, 2026ByIDAN KWELLER, JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a vote at the plenum hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on July 16, 2026.

'Strength of next generation': Israeli youth bridge teams claim three European silver medals

The achievement follows the two bronze medals recently won by Israel’s Open and Mixed Pairs teams at the European Championship for senior national teams.

JULY 17, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF

ISRAEL'S UNDER-16 national bridge team poses following a silver-medal finish at the European Championship in Latvia.

Israel's Yarden Garzon: ‘I’ll make it to the WNBA, I’m sure!’

After starring in high school and local youth leagues in Israel, women's basketball player Yarden Garzon was recruited by colleges in the United States and chose to attend Indiana.

JULY 17, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

Israeli guard Yarden Garzon is set to begin the next chapter of her career in Spain after starring for four seasons in the NCAA and pursuing her dream of reaching the WNBA.

Knesset passes bill to extend mandatory military service to 32 months to 'meet IDF's goals'

The passage of the bill comes amid the coalition's legislative blitz before the Knesset recesses ahead of the upcoming elections. Forty-three MKs voted in favor, with 12 against and one abstention.

JULY 16, 2026ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAM

A vote at the plenum hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on July 16, 2026.

Israeli gov't gives Jordan Valley farmers drones, rangers to deter 'Palestinian terror state'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Missions Minister Orit Strock both attended the ceremony at which the equipment was presented to support farms and outposts in the West Bank.

JULY 16, 2026ByEITAN ELIAS

Minister of Finance and Head of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich, Israel Ganz, Head of Binyamin Regional Council and Orit Strock, National Mission Minister at a faction meeting in the Jewish settlement of Givat Harel, in the West Bank, February 14, 2023.

Assaf Machnes's 'Where to?' wins top prize at Jerusalem Film Festival

The festival awarded prizes totaling approximately NIS 1 million across its Israeli and international competitions, as well as its short-film, experimental-film, and industry programs.

JULY 16, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN