Join our Community

Support ToI and remove all ads

Learn more

English
Français
עברית

Get The Daily Edition
Account
Sign In
- Sign in
- Join our Community

Open Search form

Israel & the Region
Jewish Times
Israel Inside
Tech Israel
Real Estate Israel
The Blogs
Podcasts
Video
Newsletters
Partners

Input search

English
Français
עברית

Latest Articles
Latest Alerts
Israel & the Region
Jewish Times
Israel Inside
Tech Israel
Real Estate Israel
The Blogs
Podcasts
Video
Newsletters
Partners
Community
- Join our community
- Sign in
- About The Times of Israel
- Advertise on The Times of Israel
- Contact us
- Download our App
  - For IOS users
  - For Android users
- Get the Daily Edition
- Follow us
- © 2026 The Times of Israel , All Rights Reserved
  
  Terms and conditions Privacy policy

Input search

The Daily Edition

What Matters Most On Monday, May 18, 2026

Facebook
Twitter

View previous edition

View next edition

People walk past a mural depicting a US aircraft carrier under missile attack in downtown Tehran, Iran, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Tehran says it created new body to manage Hormuz Strait

Trump says US attack on Iran called off after Gulf assurances that deal now possible

By Jacob Magid, Agencies, Lazar Berman and ToI Staff

After US official said to warn of ‘conversation through bombs,’ president claims attack planned for Tuesday will be back on if deal blocking Iran from obtaining nukes not reached

FILE - This undated photograph released by the United Arab Emirates' state-run WAM news agency shows the under-construction Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi's Western desert. (Arun Girija/Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation/WAM via AP, File)

Drone strike hits Abu Dhabi nuclear plant; UAE, Saudi Arabia and UN watchdog condemn

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads the weekly cabinet meeting on May 17, 2026. (Screenshot/GPO)

Netanyahu speaks with Trump amid reports Israel, US preparing Iran strikes

By Lazar Berman, Nava Freiberg and Stav Levaton

US President Donald Trump speaks about prescription drug prices in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Live updates (closed)

May 18: Trump claims Gulf allies requested he hold Iran attack for 2-3 days because deal ‘very close’

Government forms team to draft plan for confiscation of Old City properties; Arab residents at risk of eviction * 10 injured, one of them critically, after bus crashes into tree in Tel Aviv

9:54 pm

Trump: Gulf allies told me deal 'very close,' Iran attack should be held off for 2-3 days; says he told Israel
8:53 pm

Two suspects in San Diego Islamic Center shooting are dead, police source says
8:14 pm

Irish president's sister is among activists aboard the intercepted Gaza flotilla

Israeli troops begin intercepting boats in the Global Sumud Flotilla off the coast of Cyprus on May 18, 2026. (Screenshot/Global Sumud Flotilla)

Irish president's sister among those intercepted

Israeli Navy intercepts vessels in Gaza-bound flotilla off Cyprus coast

By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies

Livestream abruptly ends after Israeli commandos board boat; at least 39 of over 50 boats intercepted; Netanyahu says organizers failed to get desired publicity

Promoted ContentHN City

Free live webinar: Be a part of Jerusalem’s future for only 15% down

The Duet Project will be home to a brand-new Modern Orthodox community in Jerusalem. Hear from experts on buying & financing, plus an exclusive look at the vision behind The Duet.

Analysis

The only Iran deal Trump can get is no better than Obama’s ‘horrible’ JCPOA

The US president pulled out of his predecessor’s 2015 agreement, saying it didn’t address Tehran’s ballistic missiles or proxies. Neither will any conceivable deal, even after weeks of bombing and a month of threats

US President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One, Friday, May 15, 2026, at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Inside story

IDF struggles to throttle endless feed of soldiers posting misdeeds on social media

Troops keep recording their own misconduct, including smashing a statue of Jesus in Lebanon, but the army claims progress in curbing posts that fuel international criticism and risk operational security

An Israeli soldier takes a photograph with his mobile phone during clashes with Palestinian demonstrators in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, October 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)

IDF troops of the Golani Brigade operate in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo issued on April 27, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

IDF warns of severe personnel shortages, last window to solve crisis with legislation

By Emanuel Fabian

Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's Daily Briefing (ToI)

ToI podcastDaily Briefing May 18: As personnel crisis looms, IDF needs Knesset legislation

By Jessica Steinberg and Emanuel Fabian

An ATV driven by a settler runs over sheep in the West Bank, May 17, 2026. (Screenshots/X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Police investigating after West Bank settler filmed running over sheep with ATV

By Nurit Yohanan and ToI Staff

Assailant also appears to beat Palestinian man; incident, caught on video, comes a day after a settler was filmed beating a dog in a Palestinian village

Death penalty law for West Bank Palestinians convicted of deadly terrorism comes into effect

By Jeremy Sharon

‘Terrorists who murder Jews will not sit in prison in pleasant conditions… they will pay the heaviest price’ says Defense Minister Katz

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir hoists a bottle of bubbly wine in celebration after lawmakers approved legislation mandating the death penalty for West Bank Palestinians convicted of deadly terrorist acts, March 30, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Israel demolishes a structure inside the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem on January 20, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Israel approves new defense complex on site of former UNRWA East Jerusalem HQ

By Stav Levaton

From the blogs

A terrible question: Will Israelis trust the vote?

The next elections will be a test of survival for Israeli democracy itself, a test of whether there is still a state here, or merely rule by factions and loyalists

Kally Rubin Kislowicz

Acute onset aliyah-induced shyness and me

I limited my Hebrew small talk to ’slicha’ (excuse me) and ’todah’ (thank you), and it mostly worked. Until the day I brazenly attempted sarcasm in Hebrew

No cheesecake without sustainability

Understandably, Israel has let key issues, including the climate crisis, renewable energy, cleantech, and more, drop off the public radar. But there’s no easy fix

Illustrative: Police investigate the scene of a shooting incident in Ramla, central Israel, May 11, 2026. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

Mayor of Arab town in north shot and seriously hurt, alongside his deputy

By ToI Staff and Ariela Karmel

Suheil Milhim, council head of Jadeidi-Makr, in serious condition, deputy moderately injured; local resident arrested as suspect; Herzog: ‘Serious and shocking’ event

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) leads the weekly cabinet meeting on May 17, 2026 (Screenshot/GPO); Former prime minister Naftali Bennett arrives for a meeting with supporters in Jerusalem, May 13, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Report: Netanyahu revealed secret UAE visit to avoid being upstaged by election rival Bennett

By Stav Levaton

Having learned Bennett was about to visit the Gulf nation, PM said to have rushed to publicize his own trip, enraging Abu Dhabi, which has denied it took place

Illustrative: Bulldozers clear sand dunes and extract clay in the desert south of Samawah, Iraq, December 21, 2025. (AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP)

Israel built two covert military bases in Iraq to support Iran strikes – report

By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of Choukine on May 17, 2026. (Abbas FAKIH / AFP)

4 IDF troops wounded, one severely, by roadside bomb in south Lebanon

By Emanuel Fabian and Lazar Berman

Amid growing public anger over Hezbollah drone toll, Netanyahu claims he warned of the danger six years ago, but doesn’t say why it wasn’t addressed

President Isaac Herzog (right) with Somaliland’s first ambassador to Israel, Dr. Mohamed Hagi, during a ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, May 18, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

First Somaliland ambassador in history presents credentials to Herzog

By Lazar Berman

Dr. Mohamed Hagi, adviser to Somaliland’s president and architect of ties with Israel, to serve as top envoy; Herzog hails ‘important new partnership’ that will benefit region

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic arrives at the Brdo-Brijuni, Process Leaders' Meeting in Golem, Albania, 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of the capital, Tirana, Albania on October 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Vlasov Sulaj)

Anti-Israel Croatian president refusing to sign off on new Israeli envoy — report

By Michael Horovitz

Coalition seeks to fast-track 2 key bills through committee, bypassing legal review

By Ariela Karmel

Marathon committee sessions expedite bills to split AG’s role and overhaul media before expected Knesset dissolution and early elections, despite legal adviser’s opposition

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi attends a Knesset Finance Committee meeting, in Jerusalem, May 12, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich holds a press conference ahead of the vote on the state budget at the Knesset in Jerusalem, March 29, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Smotrich denies bid to hike retirement age to 70; officials say it’s part of contingency plan

By Sharon Wrobel

Shas MK Moshe Arbel submits his formal letter of resignation from the Knesset to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, on May 17, 2026. (Courtesy Amir Ohana)

Former Shas minister Moshe Arbel resigns from Knesset; defied party line on key issues

Nova exhibit banner in London taken down over police’s fear of attacks

London police request organizers of event memorializing massacre put banner up only when it opens on Wednesday to avoid giving away location to potential protesters, attackers

The camping area from the Supernova desert rave, recreated for the 'Nova 6.29' exhibit, remembering the 360 people who were gunned down by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 (Courtesy Tribe of Nova)

Police officers stand in front of supporters of British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, during the 'Unite The Kingdom' rally in central London on May 16, 2026. (Toby Shepheard / AFP)

London police: 20 right-wing, 12 anti-Israel protesters arrested in dueling rallies

By AFP and ToI Staff

A birthday party on May 16, 2026 in memory of Johnny Siman Tov, who was killed on October 7, 2023 in Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside his wife and three young children (Courtesy)

Nir Oz marks birthday of Johnny Siman Tov, killed on October 7

By Jessica Steinberg

Wild boars gather in a residential area in the northern Israeli city of Haifa on December 5, 2019 (Menahem Kahana/ AFP)

Inside storyMayor accused of seeing solution as only 'shoot-shoot-shoot'

Haifa’s war on wild boars drops off the grid, as key oversight quietly disappears

Nature and Parks Authority has pulled out of joint project aimed at reducing human-wildlife friction, sparking fears that the city’s streets will become an unchecked hunting ground

More Headlines

Four pilots parachute toward the ground as a plume of smoke rises above a plain near Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, where two US Navy jets collided at an air show on May 17, 2026. (Screenshot: X/Shane Ogden)

4 crew members eject safely after two US Navy jets collide during air show in Idaho

By Rebecca Boone and MATTHEW BROWN

Waste fishing tackle from drones collected by Tal Raz. (Courtesy)

In boon for marine life, Agriculture Ministry bans fishing drones

The coal-fired Orot Rabin power station in Hadera, central Israel, seen from the Hadera Stream National Park, April 25, 2025. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)

Court petitioned against ‘deadly’ lifeline granted to coal-fired power station

Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. pose outside Nasdaq in Times Square in New York on August 13, 2025 as World Liberty Financial and ALT5 Sigma ring the Nasdaq Stock Market opening bell. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

How Trump and Iran use the same industry networks for their growing crypto empires

By Tom Wilson and Gavin Finch

People worship to Christian music at Rededicate 250, a mostly conservative Christian prayer gathering in honor of the United States' 250th anniversary, on the National Mall in Washington, DC, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Mass DC prayer event with top White House officials seeks to reclaim US Christian roots

Phallic keychains depicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that were passed out by a protester during an anti-government demonstration in Jerusalem, leading to his arrest by police on May 16, 2026. (Protest Detainee Legal Support Front)

Police arrest man over phallic keychains portraying Netanyahu as ‘dicktator’

By Charlie Summers

View Edition by Date

April	May 2026					June
Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa	Su
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31

The Times of Israel

Daily Edition

Free to Your Inbox

The email is either missing or invalid.

By signing up, you agree to our terms You hereby accept The Times of Israel Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and you agree to receive the latest news & offers from The Times of Israel and its partners or ad sponsors.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Israel & the Region
Jewish Times
Israel Inside
Tech Israel
Real Estate Israel
The Blogs
podcasts
video

terms and conditions
privacy policy
about us
advertise with us
Jobs at The Times of Israel
contact us

Community

Join our community
Sign in

Get the Daily Edition

Enter your email address

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Whatsapp Follow us on X Follow us on Youtube Follow us on Telegram Follow us on Threads Follow us on Bluesky

© 2026 The Times of Israel, all rights reserved

Concept, design & development by

Developed by

Powered by

Never miss breaking news on Israel

Get notifications to stay updated

You're subscribed

Register for free
and continue reading

Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.

Email address

Please use the following structure: example@domain.com

Or Continue with

By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.

Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition

Register to continue

Email address

Or Continue with

Log in to continue

Email address

Something went wrong.
Please try again in a few minutes..

Sign in or Register

Email address * Password *

Incorrect password. Please try again or choose an option below.

I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link

Or Continue with

check your email

Check your email

We sent an email to you at .

It has a link that will sign you in.

Click the link in that email to complete your registration.