Amos Harel is one of Israel's leading media experts on military and defense issues. He has been the military correspondent and defense analyst for Haaretz for the last 12 years. In this role, he has written extensively about Israel's ongoing fight against terrorist organizations, its battles during the Palestinian Intifadah (uprising) and the last war in Lebanon.
Prior to his current position, Harel, 41, spent four years as night editor for the Haaretz Hebrew print edition, and from 1999-2005 was the anchorman on a weekly Army Radio program about defense issues. He also frequently appears in the Israeli and foreign media as a military pundit.
Along with Avi Issacharoff, Harel co-wrote "The Seventh War: How we won and why we lost the war with the Palestinians", a 2004 book about the second Intifadah. The book- a best-seller in Israel - has been translated into French and Arabic, and won the prestigious Chechic award in 2005, for outstanding security research.
Harel and Issacharoff's second book, "34 Days: Israel, Hezbollah and the War in Lebanon", about the war of 2006 was published in Hebrew in January 2008, and also became a best-seller. It was published in English, by Palgrave-Macmillan Books, in April 2008. "34 Days" also won the Chechic award in 2009.
Harel is a graduate of Tel Aviv University, with a bachelor's degree in Law. He is married with three children and lives in Hod Hasharon, in central Israel.
A Hebrew University lecturer's research suggests Israel worked to convince the Obama White House that it was seriously considering a unilateral attack on Iran
Israeli and American officials think Iran is trying to ‘wait out’ Trump's first term, and is banking on the wounded nuclear deal to shield it from a military strike until then
IDF ombudsman is told that in the past, several good officers would compete for every position. Now a special effort is being made to recruit them and in a good number of cases, the army settles for those who are less qualified
Three soldiers and dozens of Palestinians were killed in Rafah in August 2014; controversial 'Hannibal Directive' was used to thwart soldier’s abduction
Netanyahu, who has no clear goal on Gaza, prefers to be weak on terror and not find himself in an endless war in the Strip
The premier visited Egypt discreetly in May, Israel's Channel 10 reports, citing U.S. officials ■ Leaders reportedly discussed plan to resolve Gaza crisis, ease blockade and reach a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas
The government's silence about Gaza, compared to its regular running off at the mouth, has eroded the public’s faith in its leaders
Gaza factions' announcement that the current round is over may only be a temporary pause in fighting ■ Israel is not looking for war, but public pressure may lead to more severe steps
Hamas says a military demonstration for Hamas officials was taking place at the naval commando base in northern Gaza and Israeli troops mistakenly thought the gunfire was aimed at them
Officials say plan to 'go beyond broad parameters' and delve into pragmatic issues ■ Sources outside the administration say Trump's team thinks plan could be first to be endorsed by both Israel, Arab states
No Gaza deal unless civilians and bodies held by Hamas released, senior Israeli official says ■ Security cabinet will receive updates on UN envoy's efforts for long-term truce in exchange for blockade relief
Arab media outlets reported that Hamas leaders in the Strip have agreed to a proposal that includes a commitment to a long-term cease-fire with Israel in exchange for a substantial increase in the flow of goods
'Peace-keeping forces cannot substitute a diplomatic solution,' outgoing UNIFIL commander Maj. Gen. Michael Beary tells Haaretz ■ Israel's plan to buff up its defenses gets mired in politics
The coming days could be critical for negotiations ■ Reports indicate that Egypt put heavy pressure on Hamas, Palestinian Authority to formulate new reconciliation pact
Washington fears Iranian-led attack on troops in Iraq ■ Israeli politicians say fight to stop Iran in Syria proved successful, but military remains skeptical
While the intelligence community still thinks the probability of war initiated by Hezbollah is low, the main concern is that local events in Syria or Lebanon will trigger an escalation
Whether the IDF takes disciplinary steps against the Druze officers who are resigning, it must be attentive to the community, and safeguard against any crisis that develops among its soldiers
Energy Ministry unmoved as army recommends to situate natural gas rigs differently than initially planned
Assad left the Druze defenseless against ISIS ■ Is Israel's defense chief scrambling because of the security situation, or electoral considerations?
Israel, Hamas still seeking to avoid war ■ Crisis exacerbated by Palestinian Authority, which has shown little empathy for the people of Gaza