The Blogs: Israel’s largest ultra-Orthodox party? Likud | Shuki Friedman

On 23 August 2026, Israel and Syria held US-mediated talks. Syria says the talks addressed de-escalation and keeping Syria out of tensions between Israel and Türkiye, and its news agency says the aim was to ease tensions. Syria's foreign minister said security talks with Israel had been frozen since the Iran war, that he expects them to resume soon, and that the door is open for diplomacy despite a lack of trust. Haaretz writes that Syria told Israel it will not limit its military buildup in the security deal talks. Reforma writes that the contacts resumed after an attack on an air base.

US envoy Barrack said an Israeli strike on a Syrian airfield could have been a pre-election ploy. An Israeli newspaper criticised Netanyahu over the Syria strikes and warned of a "pointless conflict" with Türkiye, and Daily Sabah wrote that Netanyahu is clinging to an anti-Türkiye campaign while Likud declines.