November 16, 2025 – Israel Headlines

Story gist: In Israel, former hostages thanked protesters for aiding their release and called for the release of the remaining three captives. Thousands protested across the country demanding a commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023, events and the release of all hostages.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Haaretz emphasizes mass protests and demands for an October 7 inquiry plus release of slain hostages, highlighting systemic accountability. Center outlet Times of Israel focuses on ex-hostages’ personal gratitude to protesters and direct calls for the last three captives’ release, maintaining neutral tone. Right-leaning The Australian narrows to a single family’s struggle for closure, omitting broader protests and inquiry demands, with an emotional, individual emphasis. No major omissions in lanes, but right lacks collective action framing.

Story gist: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right allies opposed a US plan offering a path to Palestinian statehood. They urged him to reject the proposal.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like Middle East Eye frame the story critically, emphasizing ‘far-right’ ministers pushing to reject a Palestinian state, highlighting extremism. Center outlets like The Times of Israel use neutral tone, detailing allies ‘up in arms’ over the US plan’s statehood offer without strong labels. Right-leaning Jerusalem Post employs milder ‘right-wing’ terminology, focusing on demands to reject the state, omitting ‘far-right’ pejorative and US plan nuances for a supportive angle on Israeli positions.

Story gist: The United States declined to support a United Nations resolution proposing a Gaza peace plan based on former President Donald Trump’s ideas. The decision occurred at the UN Security Council amid ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like The Washington Post frame the story as an opinion on a critical ‘crossroads’ for Gaza peace, emphasizing diplomatic urgency and potential for resolution. Center outlets like The Times of Israel use dramatic language, portraying the US stance as a direct ‘vote for Hamas and war,’ focusing on escalation risks. Right-leaning perspectives are absent, omitting potential defenses of Trump’s plan or criticisms of UN bias.

Story gist: Parents of freed hostage Itay Chen demanded a state inquiry into intelligence failures on October 7, 2023. They questioned the whereabouts of intelligence during the Hamas attack in southern Israel.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Haaretz frames the story critically, accusing Netanyahu of gaslighting Israelis over the October 7 investigation, emphasizing government deception. Center Ynetnews reports neutrally, mirroring the parents’ demand without added interpretation. Right-leaning Jerusalem Post highlights opposition leader Liberman’s attack on the government, focusing on political infighting and foreign influence claims rather than the families’ inquiry plea; no right-wing outlet defends the government’s position.