December 25, 2025 – Israel Headlines

Story gist: Israel’s Knesset passed a preliminary vote on a political probe into the October 7 attack. Netanyahu’s coalition advanced the inquiry amid calls from victims’ families for justice.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Haaretz frames Netanyahu as poisoning the inquiry to evade responsibility for the ‘catastrophe,’ using accusatory tone and emphasis on his blame. Center Reuters neutrally reports the coalition’s push for a contentious probe with families demanding justice, balancing perspectives. Right-leaning Jerusalem Post factually states the Knesset’s vote passage, omitting controversy or criticism.

Story gist: Leaders of Israel, Greece, and Cyprus held a summit. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the meeting and expressed support for Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the summit to warn Turkey.

Bias summary: No left-leaning outlets covered the story, omitting pro-Turkey, pro-Gaza, or anti-Israel perspectives. Center outlet (Times of Israel) emphasizes Netanyahu’s proactive use of the summit to warn Turkey, highlighting Israeli strategy. Right-leaning Jerusalem Post leads with Erdogan’s criticism and Gaza backing, focusing on his antagonism toward Israel.

Story gist: Israel approved 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The UK, Canada, and Germany condemned the decision.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like The Guardian lead with condemnation by UK, Canada, and Germany, emphasizing criticism of Israel and framing settlements critically. Center outlets like BBC focus neutrally on Israel’s approval action, noting ‘occupied’ status without highlighting international backlash. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting potential defenses of Israel or downplaying the settlements’ significance.

Story gist: Israel struck southern Lebanon as a deadline for Hezbollah to disarm approached. Lebanon denied any army link to Hezbollah after the strike.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like The Guardian frame the story by leading with Israel’s strikes tied to the Hezbollah disarmament deadline, emphasizing Israeli action. Center outlets like Reuters center on Lebanon’s denial of army-Hezbollah links post-strike, maintaining neutrality. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting potential focus on Hezbollah threats or Israeli defensive needs.

Story gist: Reported texts from Qatargate suspects reveal an orchestrated pro-Qatar influence effort by aides of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called it the most serious act of treason in Israeli history and demanded Netanyahu’s resignation.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Haaretz emphasizes texts exposing scope of pro-Qatar influence operation by Netanyahu’s aides, framing it as orchestrated corruption. Center Times of Israel highlights opposition leader Bennett’s treason label and resignation call against Netanyahu. Right-leaning coverage absent, missing defenses of Netanyahu or downplaying of allegations.