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John Lyons
John Lyons is the Global Affairs Editor of the ABC. John has previously been the Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, Executive Producer of the Nine Network's Sunday program and Head of Current Affairs and Investigations at the ABC.
He has been a foreign correspondent in Washington, New York, the Philippines and the Middle East. His latest books are Balcony Over Jerusalem and Dateline Jerusalem. He's won three Walkley Awards and has been the Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year.
Latest by John Lyons
Analysis
analysis:The power of a gun: Israeli settlers who commit violence know they have virtual immunity
Biden's executive order authorising sanctions on four violent Israeli settler leaders will probably be meaningless. Settlers know they have virtual immunity for such actions, writes John Lyons.
Analysis
analysis:Jump on a plane to Israel and you'll see one of the enduring ways life has changed since October 7
Many Israelis say that they will never forgive Palestinians for what Hamas did. It's this "never forgiving" that puts the two sides further apart than ever in this decades-old conflict, writes John Lyons.
Analysis
analysis:As soon as the ruling was made on Gaza, both sides went into full media-management mode
The International Court of Justice's ruling on South Africa's accusation that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians is not a knockout victory for either side — and both are claiming victory, writes John Lyons.
Analysis
analysis:The question of genocide in Gaza is a battle for reputation and history
A compelling legal and public relations battle is underway at the International Court of Justice as two nations battle for reputation and the history books, writes John Lyons.
Analysis
analysis:There has been a proxy war playing out, but now the UK and US have jets in the sky
There has been a diplomatic dance going on as the West backs Israel and Iran uses its proxies across the region, but now Western superpowers have jets in the sky.
Analysis
analysis:With the killing of Saleh al-Arouri, it appears that Israel has struck in the heart of Hezbollah territory. So what will Iran do?
With the assassination of one of Hamas' most senior leaders in Lebanon, it appears that Israel has taken the fight against Hamas into the heart of Hezbollah territory, writes John Lyons.
Analysis
analysis:The two major questions being discussed in Israel as the Gaza war rages on
Since October 7, fear abounds among both Israelis and Palestinians. Now there are two major questions being discussed in Israel, writes John Lyons.
An Israeli reservist thought he killed a Hamas terrorist. The man's true identity has rocked a nation
When Yuval heard the shots ring out, he jumped out of his car and raced into the fray. But a tragic case of mistaken identity left him bleeding to death on the street.
Analysis
analysis:Two wars, two leaders, one common thread: What Gaza and Ukraine have in common
In an increasingly troubled world, there are two men who have a clear incentive to keep their wars going – Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin, writes John Lyons.
Analysis
analysis:There are two wars going on in Gaza right now — the one Israelis are watching, and the one the rest of the world sees
Each evening, Israelis are sitting down to watch their prime-time television news to see what's happening in the war. And each evening, the pattern is much the same, writes John Lyons.
Analysis
analysis:Netanyahu's private moment spoke volumes. What is the prime minister's vision for Israel and Palestinians?
Benjamin Netanyahu is now one of the globe's most important leaders. This is what history tells us about his approach to the crisis in Israel and Gaza, writes John Lyons.
Analysis
analysis:Even in the darkness of this war, four parties can make an agreement
If all goes to plan, guns in and around Gaza are set to fall silent as Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners are released and aid is delivered. Even in the darkness of this war, four parties can make an agreement, writes John Lyons.
Analysis
analysis:A former PM once dressed in drag to assassinate a Palestinian leader. His old unit is still key to Israel's plans
These elite agencies have one role: to ensure that from now on Israel is not unprepared and does not lose this new war with Hamas, writes John Lyons.
Analysis
analysis:A confronting question that needs an answer: Is the killing of almost 1,000 children a week self-defence?
In this war between Israel and Hamas, we are in unprecedented territory. The civilian death toll has become so heavy so quickly, and yet Western leaders aren't expressly calling for a ceasefire, writes John Lyons.
Analysis
analysis:Why isn't the Israeli army invading Gaza? One of the major reasons is Qatar
The behind-the-scenes role Qatar is playing is a key factor in why the Israeli army has still not begun a ground invasion of Gaza, writes John Lyons.
Analysis
analysis:Imagine cutting Canberra in half and putting the population of Brisbane into it before dropping 6,000 bombs
If we do not understand the pain and misery on both sides of this war, then we cannot begin to think of how to help stop the never-ending cycle of pain and misery in Gaza, writes John Lyons.
Analysis
analysis:While all eyes are on the bigger war with Gaza, small confrontations are erupting all over Israel
Usually in times of war Israelis put aside political differences. This time it's different — support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has crashed, writes John Lyons.
Jordan and Egypt unwilling to accept Palestinian refugees as organisations call for urgent access to deliver aid to Gaza — as it happened
Look back on the latest updates as King Abdullah II of Jordan says neither Jordan nor Egypt are willing to accept any Palestinian refugees.
Egypt-Gaza border to reopen, Australians 'strongly encouraged' to move quickly — as it happened
The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza will be reopened to allow foreign nationals out of the embattled Palestinian city, according to the US Secretary of State.
Analysis
analysis:The biggest winner of the Israel-Gaza war may just be Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin would be relishing the way that the Israel-Gaza war has knocked Ukraine from international consciousness, writes John Lyons.
Israeli army 'waiting for political decision' on Gaza invasion as Netanyahu convenes emergency cabinet — as it happened
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convenes Israel's expanded emergency cabinet for the first time, saying the national unity on display sends a message at home and abroad as the country gears up to "demolish Hamas" in Gaza.
Analysis
analysis:A reeling Israel is on the brink of razing Gaza – and the outlook is grim
Israel is preparing to carry out a ground operation with a mission to "destroy Hamas". But what then? What is the political reality and make-up of Gaza and what would it look like without Hamas, asks John Lyons.
'Hardest decision I've ever had to make': Aussie families torn apart at Tel Aviv airport
Tal Raymond, Dana Elhadad and their two young children were among the first Australians at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport for a Qantas repatriation flight on Friday, but not all of them got on board.
Israel Defense Forces warn over 1 million Gazans to relocate to the south — as it happened
Israel tells civilians living in northern Gaza to head south, warning them the military will operate "significantly" in Gaza City in the coming days.
Analysis
analysis:On Jerusalem streets, there's an ominous sense that something big is about to happen
Here in Jerusalem, there's an ominous, almost eerie sense that something big is about to happen. But it is important that a humanitarian catastrophe be avoided. Civilians are civilians — whether Israeli or Palestinian, writes John Lyons.