HEADLINES
Trump meets Assad signals historic Syria pivot
UN plan links Gaza security to statehood
IDF reveals six failures before Oct 7

The time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is your 3:00 PM update. In a sign of shifting strategic thinking, the Trump administration is pursuing a recalibration of Middle East policy with Syria and Saudi Arabia at the center. President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Assad, noted by officials as the first time a Syrian leader has visited the White House, and he also conferred with Saudi leaders in a broader effort to forge a regional framework aimed at stabilizing security dynamics and advancing a path toward peace. The meetings were held behind closed doors, with officials emphasizing a focus on diplomacy, security guarantees, and a redefined regional balance.

Weeks of diplomacy carry into Jerusalem, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced questions about an anticipated national inquiry into the October 7 attacks as bereaved families turned their backs during portions of his address. Netanyahu did not address the state inquiry plan for roughly the first twenty minutes of his speech, keeping the discussion on other security and governance issues at the outset. Separately, Israel’s High Court is hearing a petition to guarantee Knesset access to security prisoners, a case that could redefine the limits of parliamentary oversight in matters of detention and security policy. The petition raises questions about checks and balances in a high-stakes security environment.

On the security front, a new IDF review—described in some outlets as a meta-investigation—lays out six major failures identified in the lead‑up to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. The findings touch on intelligence gaps, planning shortcomings, and decision-making processes across multiple command echelons, and they have prompted calls for sweeping reforms in doctrine, procedures, and organizational culture. In parallel, investigators have revealed a separate case of concern: a Tel Aviv resident was arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran, accused of photographing locations around the city, including a missile impact site in Ramat Gan, with authorities seizing digital evidence and cryptocurrency payments in connection with the activity.

The Gaza file remains a focal point for diplomacy and military planning. A draft United Nations Security Council resolution, discussed amid US proposals, introduces a multi-national security mechanism and incorporates elements of a broader Trump plan, including a clause that if Palestinian reform takes hold and conditions are met, it could advance the prospect of a Palestinian state. The proposal also contemplates a redefined framework for Gaza security, with the Israel Defense Forces withdrawing from the territory in a staged fashion aligned to agreed milestones and timeframes, and with security guarantees and verification by relevant parties, including guarantor states and the United States. In a related development, a Saudi outlet cited an American official as telling Prime Minister Netanyahu that Washington would prefer Hamas fighters exit Gaza or relocate to areas under Hamas control or other destinations, signaling a potential pathway for reducing direct Israeli operational pressure.

Internationally, the environment of security and accountability continues to unfold. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has urged Israel to protect Buxton’s jird, a rodent endemic to central Israel that remains vulnerable to extinction, amid plans to develop land in the central region. Israeli authorities say they will survey proposed nature reserves and habitat areas to determine borders and conservation needs, while noting that large parts of the Negev dune belt already receive protection. In Vatican news, the Swiss Guard is under scrutiny after an antisemitic incident at St. Peter’s Square, an episode that has drawn renewed attention to sensitivity around religious and ethnic tensions in global security circles. Separately, Israel’s security and legal establishment is grappling with domestic cases and broader governance questions, including reports of a leaked video related to the Sde Teiman inquiry and moves by the attorney general and others to ensure procedural integrity.

In the realm of domestic politics and law, the attorney general has urged the Supreme Court to block a judge’s appointment in the ongoing Sde Teiman leak investigation, a development that underscores ongoing tensions over oversight and judicial independence. In the sports world, Israeli authorities are investigating a separate and disturbing case: two Israeli soccer players were arrested on suspicion of raping an American tourist, a case that has drawn condemnation and calls for accountability as the legal process unfolds.

On the broader regional stage, the administration also took a step by removing sanctions from Syrian leadership figures as part of its recalibrated approach to Damascus, signaling a willingness to engage more directly with the Assad government as part of a broader regional settlement. The change marks a notable shift in US policy toward Syria and signals a policy arc that weighs diplomacy, regional security arrangements, and the management of protracted conflicts alongside broader strategic concerns about Iran and its allies.

As events continue to unfold, analysts say the current period is defined by a delicate balance between diplomacy and deterrence, with major powers testing ideas about governance, accountability, and security arrangements that could reshape relationships across the region. We will keep you informed with developments as they become clear, and provide additional context on how these moves affect regional stability, Israeli security considerations, and US policy objectives in the weeks ahead.

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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