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:Two major stories explain the rise of Labour in the UK: the first is Britons' disillusionment with the Tories
By global affairs editor John Lyons in London
Amid a period of global instability, the apparent Labour landslide shows the UK has lurched to the centre-left while much of Europe is moving to the right. Two major stories are now emerging.
Analysis
analysis:The UK election is Labour's to lose — and in the meantime, Nigel Farage is coming for the Tories' votes
By global affairs editor John Lyons
With even the conservative bastions of British media predicting a bruising defeat for the Tories at next week's UK election, perhaps this is a sign Britons grappling with the cost of living would prefer bland stability over charisma.
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Analysis
analysis:An Australian psychologist travelled to Gaza. What she saw were 'frozen' children
By global affairs editor John Lyons
Hamas has had its day of reckoning over the violent October 7 attacks, but Israel's day of reckoning for its eight-month-long response is still to come. The question is, has its response been proportional?
Analysis
analysis:Two bitter rivals are dealing with internal crises. What happens next will have ramifications for the rest of the world
By global affairs editor John Lyons
Two of the great adversaries of our time are facing significant internal turmoil with the death of the Iranian president and fresh allegations of war crimes against Israel's leaders. The consequences will play out on the global stage.
Analysis
analysis:In Iran, presidents come and go — the real source of the regime's power is the supreme leader
By global affairs editor John Lyons
Iran's notorious security enforcement machine — led by the Revolutionary Guard — will be on high alert across the country following the deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian.
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Analysis
analysis:Biden's tough words forced Netanyahu to make a choice this week — and he chose two far-right kingmakers
By global affairs editor John Lyons
Joe Biden's growing criticism of Israel has left Benjamin Netanyahu having to choose between Israel's strongest supporter, which bankrolls its military, and two far-right politicians.
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Analysis
analysis:A shock vote at the UN and a fit of pique by Bibi reveals the new low in American-Israeli relations
By global affairs editor John Lyons
Washington's decision to allow a vote at the United Nations Security Council that Israel did not want indicates a new low between the United States and Israel.
The Forever War
By John Lyons, Mayeta Clark, and Maddy King
Four Corners challenges some of Israel’s most powerful political and military voices about the country’s strategy and intentions.
Duration: 45 minutes 57 seconds
Inside Israel's war: We challenge its powerful voices on why Netanyahu won't stop
Four Corners talks to insiders in Israel's defence and intelligence establishment to challenge them about one of the most controversial wars in modern times.
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Inside 'the dream' where Israelis and Palestinians live together harmoniously, even as war rages on
Known in Arabic as Wahat al-Salaam and in Hebrew as Neve Shalom, Israel's only community shared intentionally between Jews and Palestinians hopes to show the wider world that a shared society is possible.
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Analysis
analysis:The horrors facing Gaza's surviving children are unspeakable. How can this go on?
By global affairs editor John Lyons in Jerusalem
The horrors of Gaza are almost unspeakable. As difficult as all this is to read and to watch, it's important the world does not look away, writes John Lyons.
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Analysis
analysis:The power of a gun: Israeli settlers who commit violence know they have virtual immunity
By global affairs editor John Lyons
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
By global affairs editor John Lyons
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
By global affairs editor John Lyons in Jerusalem
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.
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Analysis
analysis:The question of genocide in Gaza is a battle for reputation and history
By global affairs editor John Lyons
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.
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Analysis
analysis:There has been a proxy war playing out, but now the UK and US have jets in the sky
By global affairs correspondent John Lyons
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.
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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?
By global affairs editor John Lyons
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
By global affairs editor John Lyons
Since October 7, fear abounds among both Israelis and Palestinians. Now there are two major questions being discussed in Israel, writes John Lyons.
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An Israeli reservist thought he killed a Hamas terrorist. The man's true identity has rocked a nation
By global affairs editor John Lyons and Orly Halpern in Jerusalem
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.
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Analysis
analysis:Two wars, two leaders, one common thread: What Gaza and Ukraine have in common
By global affairs editor John Lyons in Jerusalem
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.
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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
By global affairs editor John Lyons
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.
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Analysis
analysis:Netanyahu's private moment spoke volumes. What is the prime minister's vision for Israel and Palestinians?
By global affairs editor John Lyons
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.
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Analysis
analysis:Even in the darkness of this war, four parties can make an agreement
By global affairs editor John Lyons
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
By global affairs editor John Lyons
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?
By global affairs editor John Lyons
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.