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Ben Caspit

Ben Caspit

Al Monitor

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Secret US-Hamas talks shock Israel but will Netanyahu dare challenge Trump?

Secret US-Hamas talks shock Israel but will Netanyahu dare challenge Trump?

Israeli officials would have gladly done without the "help," but are staying out of Trump's way, seeing "no stability, no certainty, no way to predict...

yesterday 2

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

With Trump losing interest, Israel likely to buy time, extend phase one of deal

With Trump losing interest, Israel likely to buy time, extend phase one of deal

As US envoy Steve Witkoff shifts focus to Russia and Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas deal faces mounting hurdles ahead of phase 2 this Saturday, making it...

28.02.2025 5

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Will US-Russia rapprochement increase odds of Israel striking Iran?

Will US-Russia rapprochement increase odds of Israel striking Iran?

Israeli leaders hope the thaw in relations will lead Moscow to stem strategic cooperation with Tehran, leaving Iran vulnerable to an attack on its...

21.02.2025 6

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Can Netanyahu rebuff Trump's envoy on Gaza talks as second phase looms?

Can Netanyahu rebuff Trump's envoy on Gaza talks as second phase looms?

US special envoy to the region Steve Witkoff is pushing the Netanyahu government to enter talks on the second phase of the deal, which should see the...

18.02.2025 7

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Trump, Netanyahu have 'full understanding' on Iran as Israel mulls strikes on nuclear sites

Trump, Netanyahu have 'full understanding' on Iran as Israel mulls strikes on nuclear sites

A senior Israeli diplomatic source confirmed to Al-Monitor, on condition of anonymity, that Israel and the United States have reached a “full...

14.02.2025 20

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Can Hamas defy Trump's ultimatum as Gaza ceasefire teeters?

Israel is considering introducing a transitional phase to salvage the deal and ensure the continued release of hostages. However, for this to proceed,...

11.02.2025 10

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Will Trump's Gaza plan scuttle fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire?

Strong negative responses to Trump's plan to transfer Palestinians from Gaza may provide Hamas an excuse not to release more hostages, Israeli...

07.02.2025 10

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Could Trump’s Gaza plan be negotiating tactic for Saudi-Israel deal?

On a visit to the White House, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surely didn't imagine that President Donald Trump would propose the United States...

05.02.2025 2

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Inside Witkoff's Gaza visit: Trump's envoy assures Israel on next steps

After taking US envoy Steve Witkoff on an "excellent tour" of Gaza, Israeli officials hope he will persuade President Donald Trump of their vision for...

31.01.2025 4

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Inside Witkoff's Gaza visit: Trump's envoy assured Israel on next steps

After taking US envoy Steve Witkoff on an "excellent tour" of Gaza, Israeli officials hope he will persuade President Donald Trump of their vision for...

31.01.2025 4

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Netanyahu teeters between Trump’s demand to end war, coalition threats

The Israeli right says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu caved to Hamas by allowing hundreds of thousands of Gazans to return to the north.

28.01.2025 4

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

With clock ticking in Lebanon and Gaza, are Israel’s ceasefire deals near collapse?

As implementation deadlines approach this Saturday and Sunday, Israel doubts Hamas' ability to meet its obligations and says some Hezbollah...

24.01.2025 5

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Netanyahu goes all in on Trump: Accepts Gaza deal, shifts to Saudi Arabia and Iran

Netanyahu did everything within his power to delay the deal in the months leading up to the US presidential elections. Diplomatic sources say the...

17.01.2025 50

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

As Gaza deal looms, will Netanyahu choose Trump or Israel’s far right?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be finding it difficult to play the same stalling game with President-elect Donald Trump he has been...

14.01.2025 7

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Italy FM says new Syria leader pledged to stop 'illegal immigration'

Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa told visiting Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Friday that he was ready to stem "illegal immigration" to...

10.01.2025 10

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Possible strike on Iran, pressure on Hamas: Israel holds breath for Trump

The Israeli government is hoping for carte blanche from President-elect Donald Trump on several issues, including combatting Hamas and attacking...

10.01.2025 7

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Israel sees surge in Iran weapons smuggling to West Bank via Jordan

With its proxies in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria all but paralyzed, Iran is encouraging a Palestinian uprising against Israel in the West Bank.

07.01.2025 10

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

How Israel’s Yemen strikes could be prelude to target Iran nuclear sites

Israel is debating whether to seize the detected window of opportunity and target not only the Houthis in Yemen but also Iran’s entire nuclear...

27.12.2024 4

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Israel’s Netanyahu sends mixed messages on hostage deal

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Wall Street Journal he continues to reject as hostage deal that would include ending the war in Gaza.

24.12.2024 4

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

'We may end up missing Assad': Israel grapples with Turkey’s rising influence in Syria

Reports of Turkish preparations to invade northern Syria, coupled with Israeli officials’ statements of support for the Kurds, further strain the...

17.12.2024 5

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Israel builds flexible presence in Syria as window opens to strike Iran

Israeli leaders keep stressing that the military presence in the buffer zone and on Mount Hermon is temporary, but a lot will depend on who will...

13.12.2024 6

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Israel cheers disintegration of Iran-axis, mulls collapse of Assad's Syria

While pleased about the seeming collapse of the Iran-led "axis of resistance," Israeli leaders are concerned about its speed and Syria's possible...

06.12.2024 10

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Could Israel preserve Lebanon ceasefire while retaliating against Hezbollah?

While retaliating against what it considers violations by Hezbollah, Israel insists the ceasefire accord with Lebanon is still on.

03.12.2024 8

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

As Lebanon ceasefire holds, Israel sees opportunity to apply Syria model against Hezbollah

Israeli security chiefs warn that Hezbollah is likely to violate the US-mediated ceasefire deal.

29.11.2024 4

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Could Trump intervene against ICC arrest warrants to help Netanyahu?

Associates of the Israeli prime minister had hoped that the incoming US administration could pressure the International Criminal Court into not...

22.11.2024 5

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

As Netanyahu warms to Israel-Lebanon deal, US role comes into play

Sources are saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is willing to reach a deal with Hezbollah, while realizing that the "rise or fall" of any...

19.11.2024 4

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Israel euphoric over Trump's cabinet: Will he pick annexation or Saudi deal?

"Everything is ready [for advancing annexation plans]...we just have to get Trump's approval and carry it out," a senior source in Israel's...

15.11.2024 3

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

With Trump back, Putin works through Netanyahu to strike Israel-Lebanon deal

Russia's President Vladimir Putin indicated in recent days that Moscow is in contact with all parties in the Middle East to push for an end to the...

12.11.2024 6

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Gaza and Lebanon for Iran: Inside Netanyahu’s gamble on Donald Trump

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly has high hopes for President-elect Donald Trump, but is nervously watching the new administration take...

08.11.2024 2

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Kamala Harris, Donald Trump sent messages to Israel to end Lebanon war by Jan. 20

Both US presidential candidates push Israel to end its war against Hezbollah as quickly as possible, yet Prime Minister Netanyahu might have other...

05.11.2024 3

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

With cease-fire elusive, Israel security brass push for unilateral halt in Lebanon

Biden administration envoys persist in trying to broker a deal to end Israel's escalation in Lebanon, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu...

01.11.2024 2

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Israel’s Netanyahu 'dreams' of Trump victory to deal Iran final blow

Though the Israeli government's stated war goals include avoiding a regional war and an ongoing confrontation with Iran, the reelection of former...

28.10.2024 3

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Pentagon's Iran leak shocks Israel but not delaying strike plans

Israel denies having changed its plans after the leak of Pentagon documents allegedly describing is preparations for a strike bigger than the one...

25.10.2024 2

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Inside US-Israel understanding to reward Netanyahu for not targeting Iran’s oil fields

The Israeli government might agree to refrain targeting Iranian oil sites in exchange for a security package offered by the Biden administration.

22.10.2024 9

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Israel army kills two attackers who crossed from Jordan

The Israeli military said its troops killed two armed assailants on Friday who had crossed into Israel from Jordan and lightly wounded two...

18.10.2024 2

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

With Sinwar gone, will Israel and Iran settle for deal in Gaza, Lebanon?

While some argue leveraging the Hamas leader's death to end the Gaza war and obtain the hostages' release, the Israeli prime minister may now have...

18.10.2024 30

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Hezbollah threatens to attack targets across Israel

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah threatened Tuesday to attack targets across Israel and said it would not be defeated by ongoing intense...

15.10.2024 2

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Israel lowers expectations on Iran strikes with eye on US election

Israeli leaders insist that a retaliatory strike against Iran is on its way, but reports say the attack could be a limited one and will focus on...

15.10.2024 3

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

As response looms, US tries to dissuade Israel from catastrophic attack on Iran

The United States, Saudi Arabia and other regional powers are waiting to see which strike option Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will chose to...

08.10.2024 4

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Israel, Hezbollah in deadly fighting on Lebanon border

Israeli forces battled Hezbollah militants in Lebanon on Wednesday, with Israel announcing the first death of a soldier since it launched...

02.10.2024 3

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Israel’s four options for retaliating against Iran

On the eve of the Jewish New Year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must decide how to respond to the Iranian missile attack against Israel.

02.10.2024 20

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Israel buoyant after killing Nasrallah, mulls risky Lebanon ground invasion

After the killing of the Hezbollah chief, Israeli security chiefs disagree on a potential ground incursion into southern Lebanon.

30.09.2024 2

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

From yes to no to maybe: Behind Netanyahu's shifting stance on Lebanon cease-fire

Multifront conflicts are damaging Israel's economy, making a declaration of victory in Gaza by the Israeli prime minister a possibility at the UN.

27.09.2024 4

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Israel's 2 goals in Lebanon: Decouple Hezbollah-Gaza, restore deterrence

"Our aspiration is to strike Hezbollah with a force that it has not yet experienced, while remaining below the threshold of regional war or...

24.09.2024 20

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

8 dead in Israeli strike, source says Hezbollah commander killed

A strike on Hezbollah's stronghold in Lebanon's capital Beirut on Friday killed eight people and wounded dozens of others, with a source close to...

20.09.2024 3

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Top Hezbollah commander 'killed' in Israel strike

A source close to Hezbollah in Lebanon said an Israel air strike Friday killed one of its top military leaders, with Israel confirming it had...

20.09.2024 3

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Pager attacks shake Hezbollah; are they prelude to Israel-Lebanon deal?

Despite US warnings about the unintended consequences of war with Hezbollah, Israel's leaders claim the extent and intensity of the fire can be...

20.09.2024 4

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Can Netanyahu both fire Gallant and go to war in Lebanon?

The Biden administration finds it hard to believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, while warning...

17.09.2024 3

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Israel confronts Iran’s ‘belt of fire’: What’s next after Syria missile facility raid?

Tensions are rising not only on Israel’s northern front along the border with Lebanon, but also on the border with Syria and further off, with Iran.

13.09.2024 3

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

First in 30 years, how Allenby Bridge attack could upend Jordan-Israel ties

Despite the strained relationship between Jordan's King Abdullah and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, neither of the governments wishes...

10.09.2024 4

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit