December 29, 2025 – Israel Headlines

Story gist: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu proposed reopening the Rafah border crossing for two-way traffic ahead of a meeting with U.S. President-elect Trump. Coalition members including Ben Gvir and Smotrich objected to the proposal.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Haaretz frames Netanyahu’s consideration as a proactive ‘gesture’ tied to Trump, emphasizing his initiative. Center outlet Times of Israel neutrally reports the proposal and specific objections by Ben Gvir and Smotrich as a ‘report.’ Right-leaning Jerusalem Post highlights the proposal’s rejection by coalition members, stressing internal opposition and failure. Left emphasizes diplomacy, right underscores division.

Story gist: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to visit President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. The visit comes amid reported differences between them on a Gaza deal.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like The Washington Post frame the story with a skeptical tone, emphasizing differences that will ‘test’ Netanyahu-Trump ties. Center outlets like Axios highlight the visit’s ‘crucial’ role for advancing a Gaza deal, focusing on potential progress. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting perspectives that might portray the meeting as strengthening alliance or downplaying tensions.

Story gist: Winter rain flooded camps in Gaza over the weekend. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu headed to the United States for a meeting.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like CNN emphasize human suffering with emotive terms like ‘death and despair’ from ‘harsh’ weather in Gaza, omitting Netanyahu’s U.S. trip. Center outlets like AP offer neutral facts, balancing floods and Netanyahu’s travel. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting potential focus on Netanyahu’s diplomatic efforts or downplaying Gaza conditions.

Story gist: Israel’s Defense Ministry handed the first combat-ready Iron Beam laser interception system to the IDF.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Haaretz frames it as ‘deploys first laser air defense system,’ emphasizing initial deployment. Center outlet Aviation Week focuses technically on ‘Rafael Delivers First Production’ system, highlighting manufacturer and production milestone without broader implications. Right-leaning Jerusalem Post stresses ‘deploys…nationwide,’ amplifying scope and national defense readiness. All positive, but right emphasizes scale most.

Story gist: Brigitte Bardot, French actress and animal rights activist, died aged 91.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like The Guardian frame the story around Bardot’s style legacy, highlighting fashion icons such as off-the-shoulder tops and hair-do. Center outlets like BBC use neutral, factual headlines listing her professions and age at death. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting any perspective that might emphasize her activism or controversies.