Skip to main content

Israel

Vox’s coverage of Israel, from the Israel-Palestine conflict to Israel’s elections to its relationship with the US and more. You can find more coverage of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel here or by following Vox’s storystream of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war.

World Politics
Israel just approved hundreds of new settlement homes in East JerusalemIsrael just approved hundreds of new settlement homes in East Jerusalem
World Politics

”I was told to wait until Trump takes office,” the deputy mayor of Jerusalem told Israel Radio.

By Jennifer Williams
World Politics
Why Trump’s team invited leaders of Israel’s settler movement to attend the inaugurationWhy Trump’s team invited leaders of Israel’s settler movement to attend the inauguration
World Politics

The new president is sending a clear message.

By Jennifer Williams
World Politics
The way Putin and Netanyahu are responding to Trump is really pretty unusualThe way Putin and Netanyahu are responding to Trump is really pretty unusual
World Politics

Trump’s unique style and attitudes are creating some striking diplomatic scenarios.

By Zeeshan Aleem
World Politics
The growth of Israeli settlements, explained in 5 chartsThe growth of Israeli settlements, explained in 5 charts
World Politics

The numbers can be hard to grasp. These maps and charts should help.

By Jennifer Williams and Javier Zarracina
World Politics
The real reason for Netanyahu’s showdown with ObamaThe real reason for Netanyahu’s showdown with Obama
World Politics

Netanyahu’s fight with the US is a result of the rightward shift in Israeli politics.

By Yochi Dreazen
World Politics
The UN resolution on Israel doesn’t include sanctions — but could still hurt Israel’s economyThe UN resolution on Israel doesn’t include sanctions — but could still hurt Israel’s economy
World Politics

It gives the green light to activist groups to accelerate campaigns aimed at striking Israel’s economic interests.

By Zeeshan Aleem
Politics
“Kerry has finally decided to take no for an answer”: why he gave his big Israel speech“Kerry has finally decided to take no for an answer”: why he gave his big Israel speech
Politics

Why John Kerry’s big speech on Israel and Palestine matters, explained by an expert.

By Dylan Matthews
Politics
Kerry’s bombshell Israel speech is one of the most puzzling things I have seen in politicsKerry’s bombshell Israel speech is one of the most puzzling things I have seen in politics
Politics

Why divide Democrats and unite Republicans just when Trump is about to take over?

By Matthew Yglesias
Israel
Vox Sentences: Kerry: without two states, Israel “can be Jewish, or it can be democratic”Vox Sentences: Kerry: without two states, Israel “can be Jewish, or it can be democratic”
Israel

John Kerry has some real talk for Israel.

By Dara Lind and Dylan Matthews
World Politics
John Kerry just delivered the sharpest attack on Israeli settlements of any top US officialJohn Kerry just delivered the sharpest attack on Israeli settlements of any top US official
World Politics

The nearly 80-minute speech was striking.

By Jennifer Williams
Israeli settlements, explained in 8 minutes
Video

The maps the explain the settler movement in the West Bank.

By Johnny Harris
Politics
Read: John Kerry’s dramatic speech attacking Israel’s settlement policyRead: John Kerry’s dramatic speech attacking Israel’s settlement policy
Politics

Here’s a full transcript of the secretary of state’s controversial Wednesday speech.

By Jeff Stein
World Politics
The controversial new UN resolution on Israel, explained in under 600 wordsThe controversial new UN resolution on Israel, explained in under 600 words
World Politics

It’s important to understand what the measure blasting Israeli settlements does and doesn’t do.

By Yochi Dreazen
World Politics
Obama just took a parting shot at Israel — and Trump — at the UNObama just took a parting shot at Israel — and Trump — at the UN
World Politics

The US just voted to abstain on a vote condemning Israeli settlements. That’s big.

By Jennifer Williams
World Politics
Obama was just spared from a major fight over Israeli settlementsObama was just spared from a major fight over Israeli settlements
World Politics

The hotly anticipated UN Security Council vote exposed rifts in US-Israeli relations.

By Zeeshan Aleem
World Politics
Israel just announced it will take in wounded civilians from AleppoIsrael just announced it will take in wounded civilians from Aleppo
Play
World Politics

“We see the tragedy of terrible suffering of civilians.”

By Jennifer Williams
World Politics
Trump’s pick for Israel ambassador thinks liberal Jews are “worse” than Nazi collaboratorsTrump’s pick for Israel ambassador thinks liberal Jews are “worse” than Nazi collaborators
World Politics

He wants the most radical revision of Israel policy in history.

By Zack Beauchamp
The Big Idea
Obama’s best chance to influence the Israeli-Palestinian dispute will come after he leaves officeObama’s best chance to influence the Israeli-Palestinian dispute will come after he leaves office
The Big Idea

Issuing last-minute “parameters” to guide a peace agreement won’t achieve much

By Tony Karon
World Politics
Trump could kill off what’s left of the Israeli-Palestinian peace processTrump could kill off what’s left of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process
World Politics

President-elect Trump just gave a green light to Israeli settlement building.

By Sarah Wildman
World Politics
4 foreign policy crises that could erupt under President Trump4 foreign policy crises that could erupt under President Trump
Play
World Politics

From NATO to the Middle East, the world will be in for four years of uncertainty and risk.

By Zack Beauchamp, Yochi Dreazen and 1 more
Video
Settlers are taking over East Jerusalem one house at a timeSettlers are taking over East Jerusalem one house at a time
Video

Why Israelis are buying homes in Palestinian neighborhoods.

By Johnny Harris
Shimon Peres believed in a new Middle East. He died stuck in the old one.
World Politics

His dream of peace with the Palestinians is further away than ever.

By Yochi Dreazen
The head of Hezbollah has found someone he hates even more than Israelis
World Politics

Sectarian rhetoric is getting pretty intense.

By Jennifer Williams
Video
What I learned from visiting 15 Israeli settlementsWhat I learned from visiting 15 Israeli settlements
Play
Video

Why Israeli settlements don’t feel like a conflict zone.

By Johnny Harris
Israel
Vox Sentences: New York governor: “You boycott Israel, I, uh, I boycott you!”Vox Sentences: New York governor: “You boycott Israel, I, uh, I boycott you!”
Israel

Muhammad Ali, 20th-century and black icon; Iraq is about to retake Fallujah; New York flips the script on BDS.

By Dara Lind and Dylan Matthews
Israel
Vox Sentences: The scariest man in Israeli politics is now the country’s defense ministerVox Sentences: The scariest man in Israeli politics is now the country’s defense minister
Israel

The most right-wing government in Israeli history; security forces turn against protesters in Iraq; new Nutrition Facts labels coming in 2018.

By Dara Lind and Dylan Matthews
Israel
Israel’s right-wing defense minister resigned — because the government is too right-wingIsrael’s right-wing defense minister resigned — because the government is too right-wing
Israel

It’s a sign of the times in Israel.

By Zack Beauchamp
Israel
A new poll finds that liberal Democrats are turning away from IsraelA new poll finds that liberal Democrats are turning away from Israel
Israel

For the first time in 15 years of polling, more liberal Democrats sympathize with the Palestinians over Israel.

By Zack Beauchamp
Israel
How Bernie Sanders’s Jewish outreach coordinator started a major controversy over IsraelHow Bernie Sanders’s Jewish outreach coordinator started a major controversy over Israel
Israel

She called Israel’s Prime Minister an “arrogant, deceptive, cynical, manipulative asshole,” among other things.

By Zack Beauchamp
Politics
Bernie Sanders just shattered an American taboo on IsraelBernie Sanders just shattered an American taboo on Israel
Politics

He stood up for Palestinians’ humanity.

By Zack Beauchamp
Politics
Here is Clinton and Sanders’s remarkable exchange on Israel-Palestine — and why it mattersHere is Clinton and Sanders’s remarkable exchange on Israel-Palestine — and why it matters
Politics

They had a debate about not just Israel but about Palestinians — something that rarely happens.

By Max Fisher
Israel
Israel’s debate over an execution in Hebron mirrors America’s debate over FergusonIsrael’s debate over an execution in Hebron mirrors America’s debate over Ferguson
Israel

What Americans might find familiar in Israel’s controversy over a soldier caught on camera executing a wounded Palestinian.

By Max Fisher
Politics
Hillary Clinton’s AIPAC speech: hard-line pro-Israel rhetoric, status quo Obama policiesHillary Clinton’s AIPAC speech: hard-line pro-Israel rhetoric, status quo Obama policies
Politics

The former secretary of state walked a subtle line in her speech.

By Max Fisher
Israel
Israel’s day of terror: what we knowIsrael’s day of terror: what we know
Israel

Three attacks within two hours.

By Zack Beauchamp
Politics
Netanyahu bet the future of US-Israel relations on the GOP. Now he has a Trump problem.Netanyahu bet the future of US-Israel relations on the GOP. Now he has a Trump problem.
Politics

Trump’s willingness to deviate from the GOP’s pro-Israel orthodoxy exposes a big problem in Netanyahu’s America strategy.

By Zack Beauchamp
Israel
A new mini documentary on Israel’s last election tells us something important about IsraelA new mini documentary on Israel’s last election tells us something important about Israel
Israel

Specifically, about what really matters to Israeli voters.

By Zack Beauchamp
The Israel-Palestine conflict: a 10-minute history
Video
By Johnny Harris and Max Fisher
Israel
Israeli officials fear a looming disaster: the collapse of the Palestinian AuthorityIsraeli officials fear a looming disaster: the collapse of the Palestinian Authority
Israel

But some analysts think the threat of this happening is overstated.

By Jennifer Williams
I’m an American Jew. Here’s what happened when I joined the Israeli military.
Features

After a back injury ended my football prospects, I joined the IDF in search of a challenge. But the experience was more difficult physically, mentally, and politically, than I’d ever imagined.

By Joseph Lenoff