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Likud primary results near: Eli Cohen leads, Ohana-Levin race tightens with 80% of votes counted

BY AVI SOLOMON — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:20:39 GMT

With 80% of the votes counted, Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen appears to have secured the top slot, followed by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Justice Minister Yariv Levin.

Katz's West Bank plan raises questions on pressure in Israeli society after Kusra events - analysis

BY GIORGIA VALENTE/THE MEDIA LINE — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 07:45:43 GMT

The Kusra siege has drawn rare US criticism and intensified debate over Israel’s failure to restrain violent factions as the government considers transferring civilian law enforcement from the IDF.

US-Hamas channel has value, but only if terrorists disappear from Gaza’s future - editorial

BY JPOST EDITORIAL — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 05:59:00 GMT

Washington has found value in talking directly to Hamas, but those contacts will only serve Israel’s interests if they lead to disarmament, destroyed tunnels, and Hamas’s removal from Gaza’s future.

As Netanyahu weighs reserved slots, officials consider how party list will change prior to election

BY ANNA BARSKY — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 07:57:24 GMT

Former finance minister Moshe Kahlon and MK Tsega Melaku are two of the names under consideration for Netanyahu's reserved slots.

Five Thai workers injured, one seriously, in detonation of previously undiscovered ordnance

BY ELI ASHKENAZI AND JERUSALEM POST STAFF — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 07:39:33 GMT

Israel Police responded to the scene of the incident and have begun an investigation into the circumstances of the explosion.

Jerusalem Reform synagogue vandalized, Pride flags torn down in latest attack

BY DEBORAH DANAN/JTA — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 04:33:15 GMT

MK Gilad Kariv called those responsible “incited hooligans” and accused the Israeli government of contributing to hostility toward Reform and other liberal Jewish denominations.

Smotrich calls on Netanyahu to conquer Gaza, establish military government and settlements

BY LEO FEIERBERG BETTER — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 05:58:26 GMT

"There is no one in the world who will do the work for us. There is no country in the world that will send its soldiers to shed their blood and forcibly disarm Hamas," he told the students.

Scientists use AI to create viruses not found in nature, simultaneously raising alarms, enthusiasm

BY DANYA SAPERSTEIN — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:13:05 GMT

The viruses created in the Stanford Lab are bacteriophages, which exclusively target bacteria and may pose a solution to the rising global problem of antibiotic-resistant infections.

Trump approval drops as majority of Americans fear prolonged Iran conflict - poll

BY REUTERS — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:53:28 GMT

After returning to the White House last year with just under half the country approving of his presidency, Trump's popularity this year took a hit after he ordered strikes on Iran.

Trump confirms IRGC backchannel, threatens to 'bomb the s***' out of Oman if it 'gets in the way'

BY MIRIAM SELA-EITAM — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:19:12 GMT

Later on Monday, Trump told reporters that Iran won't make the deal he thinks is needed, and that Washington will not extend the MoU.

UK Prime Minister Burnham messaged someone posing as White House chief of staff - report

BY ESTHER DAVIS — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 03:25:19 GMT

The British embassy in Washington raised the incident with the White House out of concern that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles' phone had been hacked for a second time.

What Australian trauma doctors found when they came to Israel

BY JERUSALEM POST STAFF — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 18:08:39 GMT

An Australian trauma delegation’s visit to Israel highlights how medical collaboration can deepen ties between the two countries despite political tensions.

IDF's Zamir meets top US comm. to promote cooperation on Lebanon, Hezbollah strategy - exclusive

BY YONAH JEREMY BOB — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:55:43 GMT

The return of the American coordinator signals progress in attempts to deploy the Lebanese Army and expel Hezbollah from some areas in southern Lebanon.

Arad residents protest alleged Gur Hassidic ‘takeover’ of city amid rising violence

BY RAMI SHANI — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 10:05:30 GMT

A rally is planned in the city for Thursday amid escalating tensions, arrests, and accusations of selective police enforcement.

US won't accept 'pragmatic' Iran leadership without real change, Huckabee tells 'Post' - interview

BY AMICHAI STEIN — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:37:56 GMT

“President Trump’s been incredibly clear that he’ll stay with his commitment that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” Huckabee said. “They’re not going to be able to be a continued threat."

Azerbaijan chief rabbi asks Knesset to reconsider recognition of Armenian Genocide - exclusive

BY MATHILDA HELLER — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:16:35 GMT

Rabbi Shneur Segal, Chief Rabbi of the Ashkenazi Jewish Community of Azerbaijan, sent the letter to Ofir Katz, Chairman of the Likud Faction, on Monday following the Israeli government's vote.

Conscience or convenience: What's behind Israel's recognition of Armenian Genocide? -opinion

BY DR. ELINA BARDACH-YALOV — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:44:01 GMT

The moral question, however, never changed. If recognizing the Armenian tragedy is a moral imperative today, why was it not one in 2006, or in 1996?

WATCH: IDF arrests two terrorists, raids 100 sites in Duvdevan West Bank counterterror operation

BY JERUSALEM POST STAFF — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:19:25 GMT

The military said that both terrorists were suspected by the Shin Bet of planning and promoting terrorist plots to harm the citizens of the State of Israel and the IDF.

Netanyahu faces test of party control as Likud primaries close with 53.5% turnout

BY KESHET NEEV — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:22:30 GMT

The primaries come amid fierce internal tensions over changes that have expanded Netanyahu’s control over the party’s Knesset slate, which have made the primaries more competitive than in past years.

Economy Minister Barkat hires private investigators to ensure there is no fraud at Likud primaries

BY LIAT RON — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 22:34:51 GMT

Barkat's team believes that there is a plot in the Likud to ostracize him and prevent him from running again, with fears of possible fraud during the party's primaries.

Israel should kill ‘30-40’ Gazans every night, Ben-Gvir says on ex-hostage’s podcast

BY JERUSALEM POST STAFF — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:07:52 GMT

"I think that we need to do targeted strikes in Gaza every night, take out 30, 40 - not just those who endanger us in that moment," Ben-Gvir said.

Likud ministers back Netanyahu's reserved slots as party holds primaries

BY KESHET NEEV AND SAM HALPERN — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 21:15:11 GMT

Likud ministers defended Netanyahu's reserved party-list slots as some 140,000 registered members were eligible to vote in Monday's primaries.

Hormuz crossings rise slightly from weekend, remain in single digits, data shows

BY REUTERS — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 06:08:46 GMT

Some vessels could be passing through the strait with their transponders switched off and they are not considered in the tally.

Ireland is green with envy against Israel - opinion

BY NIGEL LITHMAN — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Their relations have gone from bad to worse, and in the years since October 7, the Irish have launched a tirade of invective against the State of Israel and its leaders.

Five years after Taliban takeover, Afghan women remain trapped in deepening rights crisis

BY ARSHAD MEHMOOD/THE MEDIA LINE — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 04:54:52 GMT

The Afghan women who spoke to The Media Line said that words could hardly capture the hardships they have endured in exile, while their loved ones continue to face difficult conditions back home.

Mamdani, not Trump, may be Netanyahu’s more useful campaign asset - analysis

BY HERB KEINON — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 19:54:28 GMT

From Trump and Modi to Khamenei and Mamdani, Netanyahu’s campaign billboards reveal a striking shift in the political appeal he is selling to Israeli voters.