HEADLINES
Israel Advances Reserve Tax Break Amid War
Trump Assad Talks Signal Regional Realignment
Macron Declares Annexation Red Line West Bank

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good evening. This is your 4:00 PM briefing, pulling together what matters most across the Middle East and the broader global arena as the Gaza war enters its subsequent phase and regional diplomacy moves to the foreground.

In Jerusalem, the government moved forward with a bill that would provide tax benefits to members of the Israel Defense Forces’ reserve units. The measure, which advances in parliament, comes amid a broader effort to ease the financial and logistical burdens on service members as the country sustains a long-running wartime effort. The move coincides with the Religious Zionist Party returning to coalition votes after a pause that stretched for about a week, a development that reestablishes parliamentary discipline during a moment of intense security demands and ongoing military campaigns.

In organizational life abroad, the World Zionist Organization announced a leadership change, naming Rabbi Doron Perez to serve as the new chairman, with a rotating arrangement alongside Yaakov Hagoel. The leadership shift signals a continuity of the Zionist movement’s activity both in Israel and in diaspora communities, at a time when support networks and political advocacy are in flux amid regional and global tensions.

On the international diplomacy front, a notable shift in regional geopolitics is taking shape as American and regional leaders navigate a post-October 7 environment. A visit by President Trump and a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have drawn attention. Analysts say the encounter signals a recalibration of regional dynamics and a rethinking of Israel’s strategic concerns, particularly regarding the Golan Heights and broader security calculations. Observers caution that such talks underscore the fluidity of alignments in a volatile neighborhood, where partnerships and rivalries are continually redrawn.

Across Europe and the broader international community, French President Emmanuel Macron made clear that any Israeli plans for annexation in the West Bank would constitute a red line, provoking a firm European reaction. The remarks came as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited Paris in a bid to sustain a fragile truces framework and to push for a pathway toward statehood. Macron reiterated that several Western partners view partial or full annexation as destabilizing, and he underscored a shared concern over settlement activity and international law. In a related development, France and the Palestinian Authority said they would establish a joint committee to draft a new Palestinian constitutional framework. Paris also announced humanitarian aid to Gaza for 2025, highlighting the international community’s ongoing emphasis on civilian relief and political process even as the war endures.

France’s stance sits within a broader Western conversation about Gaza and future governance. The European posture reflects a continuing push for a two-state framework and a more formalized Palestinian constitutional process, alongside questions about security guarantees and stabilization on the ground. The panel of Western reactions comes as the United States weighs its options for a postwar framework in Gaza, including the possibility of an international stabilization force. Officials from Washington have signaled skepticism about the immediacy or feasibility of such a force, even as administration and allied partners press for a durable ceasefire and a clear path to Palestinian governance.

In the United States, the debate over Gaza’s ceasefire postwar architecture remains unsettled. A proposed International Stabilization Force remains cited in some plans, but American officials have expressed doubts about whether such a mechanism can be deployed and operate effectively given the region’s complexities. The discourse continues alongside American efforts to coordinate humanitarian relief, hostage recovery, and regional diplomacy as American policymakers balance the imperative of stopping renewed violence with the realities on the ground.

Meanwhile, Israeli officials pushed back against reports they supported safe passage for Hamas terrorists through Rafah. The government’s line emphasizes that decisions about movement and exile for militants in a post-conflict environment are tightly bound to security assessments and international coordination, and it rejects characterizations that suggest a permissive stance toward Hamas-related movements in Rafah.

In a related security update, the Israeli Air Force has been preparing for a high-intensity scenario as part of lessons drawn from the October 7 events. Reports describe a plan to create a “target bank” of facilities and sites in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria and along the Jordanian border. The objective, according to defense officials familiar with the program, is to enable rapid, high-volume strike capacity in a mass incursion scenario, with the expectation that dozens of targets could be attacked in the initial hours of a sustained assault and hundreds more in the following days. The Air Force and related units are examining ways to activate this capability in a way that preserves command and control even if surrounding operations become stressed. Officials caution that this is a planning step for defense in depth and deterrence, not a forecast of immediate action, but it underscores the seriousness with which security planners view the wartime and postwar threat environment.

In domestic political theater, attention remains on the resignation of a senior figure associated with strategic affairs. Ron Dermer announced his departure from the government, reflecting on a 26-year tenure that covered some of the most consequential moments in Israel’s recent history, including the October 7 attack and the ensuing two-and-a-half-year war across multiple fronts. Dermer’s resignation rhetoric—thanking colleagues, praising leadership, and stressing commitment to the Jewish state’s security and future—frames a moment of transition in Israel’s diplomacy apparatus, with responsibilities among other senior figures and the National Security Council shifting as the new era takes hold.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and key coalition partners continue to navigate a complex political landscape as security imperatives intersect with political timing. New leadership appointments, shifting alliances inside the coalition, and ongoing negotiations around policy tools—ranging from economic incentives for security forces to governance adaptations in the aftermath of a protracted conflict—illustrate a government pursuing stability amid upheaval in the region.

In parallel, the global community is watching how Western states integrate their support for security with commitments to humanitarian relief and political resolution. The United States, France, and other partners continue to articulate conditions for a lasting ceasefire, a credible peace process, and credible governance for the Palestinians. The gulf between immediate military needs and long-term political solutions remains wide, and the international conversation, including questions about governance, security arrangements, and regional normalization, shows no sign of abating.

Also of note, a separate legal and political narrative continues to unfold around allegations and investigations within Israel’s broader security and political establishment. Prosecutions, investigations, and high-level resignations are shaping the domestic political climate, even as the country works to keep the focus on security and stability in the face of regional volatility.

Turning to the broader regional picture, the United States continues to host discussions with Turkey and Syria on stabilizing Gaza and integrating regional security arrangements. The evolving Turkish role in the postwar architecture of the region highlights Ankara’s desire for greater influence, while Egypt and Israel study and respond to shifting regional dynamics and international expectations about peace and security in Gaza and the West Bank.

As this hour closes, the sense across capitals remains that the war’s human toll is keenly felt, that the security calculus remains urgent, and that diplomacy—however fragile—continues to be pursued with caution, resolve, and a commitment to preventing further escalation. We will monitor these developments closely, bring you clarity on the implications for civilians and for regional stability, and report as the situation evolves.

That is the latest from the track of ongoing events. We will have further updates as new information becomes available. This is your four o’clock briefing.

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.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-873537
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-873536
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-873535
https://www.jpost.com/dias