December 31, 2025 – Israel Headlines

Story gist: Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump and his top aides asked Netanyahu to change policy in the occupied West Bank, referring to him as a ‘wartime prime minister’ before Netanyahu returned to Israel.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like The Washington Post frame Trump positively boosting Netanyahu as a ‘wartime prime minister.’ Center outlets like Axios emphasize Trump and aides pressuring policy change in the ‘occupied West Bank.’ Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting conservative viewpoints on the Trump-Netanyahu alliance.

Story gist: Israel recognized Somaliland on December 31, prompting global outcry and an emergency U.N. meeting. Israel defended the move at the U.N. amid concerns over Gaza motives.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like The Washington Post frame Israel’s recognition as provoking global outcry and an emergency U.N. meeting, emphasizing negative international reaction. Center outlets like Reuters balance with Israel’s defense alongside concerns tying the move to Gaza. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting potential emphasis on Israel’s strategic sovereignty interests or criticism of U.N. response.

Story gist: Israel plans to bar 37 aid groups from Gaza. Ten nations warned about suffering there.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like The Guardian describe a ‘ban’ on ‘dozens’ of agencies ‘as 10 nations warn about suffering,’ emphasizing humanitarian crisis and criticism. Center outlets like BBC neutrally state Israel to ‘bar 37 aid groups’ without warnings or tone. Right-leaning coverage absent, missing potential focus on Israel’s security reasons or Hamas links.

Story gist: Saudi Arabia stated an airstrike in Yemen targeted arms supplied by the UAE. The incident occurs amid a rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE with economic fallout.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like the New York Times emphasize Saudi claims of targeting UAE arms in a Yemen airstrike, highlighting the accusation. Center outlets like Forbes frame it as a broader Saudi-UAE rift with economic impacts. Right-leaning coverage is absent, missing potential emphasis on geopolitical alliances, U.S. interests, or criticisms of Gulf interventions.

Story gist: Protests spread across Iran for a third day after the currency hit a record low. Iranian officials stated they would listen to protesters’ legitimate demands amid widespread dissent.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Guardian emphasizes Iranian government’s concession to protesters’ ‘legitimate demands’ after ‘widespread dissent,’ using sympathetic tone toward demonstrators. Center BBC focuses neutrally on protests’ spread, duration, and economic cause (currency low). Right-leaning outlets absent; their perspective, potentially stressing regime stability or foreign interference, is missing from coverage.