HEADLINES
Goldin identified, remains returned for burial
Six arrested in Detroit ISIS plot
Normalization talks stall amid West Bank violence

The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the hour’s news overview from the region and beyond.

Israel’s presence in global sport drew notice as athletes from the Otzma Bat Yam club earned gold and silver at the World Championships in jiu-jitsu and sambo, with two 19-year-old competitors, Yanai Kadosh and Vladi Polotsky, making their senior debuts. The performances underscore a continued emphasis on young athletes rising onto the world stage, even as security and regional questions dominate headlines.

In diplomacy, a sharp exchange over who bears responsibility for violence continued to echo in Ankara and Jerusalem. Israel’s defense minister dismissed Turkey’s decision to pursue genocide charges against Prime Minister Netanyahu and senior IDF leaders as unfounded, labeling the warrants as ridiculous. The episode underscores the fraught nature of Turkish-Israeli rhetoric as both sides weigh next steps in broader regional dynamics.

Within domestic and regional politics, liberal Zionist voices pushed back against Yesh Atid’s withdrawal from the World Zionist Organization, arguing the move could affect international Jewish communal leadership. Observers noted the split reflects wider debates inside Israel about engagement with global Jewish institutions and the balance between political coalitions and diaspora relations.

Across the Gulf and beyond, questions about Saudi-Israeli normalization persisted ahead of Washington discussions. Reports pointed to ongoing violence in the West Bank, a lack of positive policy moves from Jerusalem, and a wary Saudi public, all factors that keep normalization plans uncertain despite years of diplomatic outreach.

In sports and culture, Hapoel Jerusalem captured the Winner Cup in a tense final against Hapoel Tel Aviv, marking the team’s seventh title in the competition’s history. The win adds to a calendar of domestic achievements that often serve as lifts during a period when security concerns remain at the forefront.

Turning to the human dimension of the conflict, the case of Hadar Goldin, the IDF officer abducted in Gaza in 2014, moved toward a full accounting. After 11 years in captivity, Goldin’s remains were formally identified and returned to Israel for burial. The government and Goldin’s family spoke of a long, painful struggle and vowed to honor his legacy, as authorities promised to pursue the return of all remaining hostages.

Security and law enforcement also dominated headlines in the United States, where six individuals were arrested in a Detroit-area plot described as an IS-style plan to attack Jews. Prosecutors said the men used encrypted communications to plot travel to Syria for ISIS affiliations, underscoring ongoing concerns about homegrown extremism and the potential for international links to influence domestic plots.

In the realm of interfaith and civil society, a Muslim interfaith visit to Israel led by a prominent NYC imam highlighted efforts to build bridges and identify common ground beyond rejection of violence, signaling continued engagement between communities across faiths amid a challenging security landscape.

The government announced a major investment in the Negev, earmarking 310 million dollars to transform Beer-Sheva and surrounding areas. The plan aims to strengthen the ecosystem linking academia, industry, and the military, while promoting cyber technologies, employment, tourism, and the revitalization of Beer-Sheva’s Old City. Officials said the initiative could accelerate regional development and contribute to long-term strategic resilience.

Cybersecurity and technology remained a focal point as well. Pro-Hamas cyber actors claimed a breach of Israeli-Australian defense projects, illustrating persistent vulnerabilities in defense-related information systems even as industry moves forward with stricter safeguards. In the same vein, Israel studies microwave-based air defenses as part of a broader push to counter aerial threats, reflecting a trend toward rapid-neutralization capabilities in asymmetric warfare.

Global defense and policy developments included India’s interest in joint production of Israeli missile systems, highlighting a deepening defense relationship that has grown substantially over the past decade. In Washington, former US officials signaled continued interest in security cooperation with Israel, a thread that runs through broader discussions about how to shape policy toward Gaza and the wider region.

On the diplomatic front, Jared Kushner’s visit to Israel for Gaza talks indicated continuing US engagement with Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding a plan to end the Gaza war, anchored by a 20-point framework introduced in September. The plan envisions a ceasefire, hostage handovers, and the eventual stand-up of a multinational security presence inside Gaza, with public statements indicating Washington would not compel Israel to accept foreign troops on its soil, including a nuanced position on Turkish involvement.

In parallel, the spyware sector drew attention as NSO Group appointed former US ambassador David Friedman as executive chairman in a bid to regain access to US markets after earlier sanctions. Friedman praised NSO’s engineers and defended its mission as keeping the public safe, while the company said it would maintain regulatory compliance and pursue new partnerships, including with US law enforcement, amid a climate of intense scrutiny over surveillance technology. The broader debate over digital security and human rights continued to shape discussions about how such tools should be deployed.

Finally, Iran faced a domestic water crisis reported by authorities, with water levels in several major cities dropping sharply, including Tehran and Mashhad, highlighting environmental stress as part of broader regional tensions.

These developments together sketch a region grappling with ongoing security threats, enduring hostages and missing persons, shifting diplomatic alignments, and a transformative push in science, technology, and urban development. The week ahead is likely to bring further twists as Washington, Jerusalem, and regional partners navigate a complex mosaic of risks and opportunities.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

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<a href="https://worldisraelnews.com/netanyahu-to-face-knesset-d