Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-18 at 08:05
Update: 2025-11-18
Description
HEADLINES
Russia Returns Military Police to Golan Border
UNSC Backs Gaza Reconstruction, I.S.F. Authorized
Saudi F-35 Sale Triggers Israeli Alarm
The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the 3:00 a.m. update from the newsroom.
A Russian military delegation has arrived in Syria in a rare visit aimed at restoring the presence of Russian military police on the border with Israel, a move that could affect how security on the Golan Heights is managed and how incidents near the frontier are handled.
In Washington, US officials are pressing the Lebanese armed forces to concentrate on disarming Hezbollah rather than clashing with Israel. The push comes amid heightened rhetoric after a Lebanese army leaflet attacking the “Israeli enemy” in the south drew criticism from US lawmakers. The visit of Lebanese army commander Rodolphe Haykal to the United States over the weekend was canceled, and Republican senators criticized the Lebanese high command in the wake of the pamphlet. The US position is that progress against Hezbollah is essential to regional stability and to any broader effort to reduce tensions along the border.
On the Gaza front, the United Nations Security Council voted 13–0 to back President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza reconstruction, with Russia and China abstaining. The resolution authorizes an International Stabilization Force to enter Gaza, oversee de‑militarization and governance, and it creates a Board of Peace to supervise reconstruction. Support for the measure came from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, and Pakistan, who argued that the plan could provide a legitimate path to postwar governance and humanitarian relief while anchoring conditions for Palestinian self‑determination alongside reform. Israel has stressed that any future framework must preserve its security needs, including the demilitarization of Hamas as a prerequisite for lasting peace.
Separately, attention remains fixed on a potential sale of F‑35 stealth jets to Saudi Arabia. The proposal is being weighed in Washington, a development that Israel views with concern because it could alter the regional military balance and challenge the country’s qualitative military edge. US officials and lawmakers have emphasized the importance of ensuring any such deal aligns with broader regional stability and security guarantees.
Indonesia signaled support for the UN plan and indicated it could contribute to Gaza peacekeeping efforts, potentially deploying up to 20,000 troops to assist in stabilization, focusing on health and infrastructure. Jakarta reiterated its long‑standing view of a two‑state solution and noted that it does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, highlighting the diverse international responses to the Gaza question.
In other developments, a Jewish‑Russian citizen with Israeli citizenship who was detained in Tripoli, Libya, was released after reportedly entering via Tunisia and attempting to pray in a synagogue without authorization. The case illustrates the broader, fragile security environment in the region and the reach of international diplomatic efforts.
On the technology and business front, Israel’s startup sector drew significant attention, with more than $800 million raised in a short period, led by major rounds in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Notable investments included substantial funding rounds in several prominent companies, underscoring ongoing investor confidence in Israel’s tech ecosystem despite the broader geopolitical pressures.
In Brussels, Europol disclosed that it is in contact with the Hind Rajab Foundation, a group led by a former Hezbollah member that has lodged claims of war crimes against Israelis abroad. NGO Monitor criticized the relationship, arguing that relying on a group with terror connections risks credibility in law enforcement, and highlighting the need for careful verification of sources.
Public opinion remains divided on the Palestinian state question in the context of regional normalization. A poll cited by World Israel News found that a sizable portion of Israelis oppose Palestinian statehood even in exchange for a Saudi‑brokered peace agreement, reflecting concern over security and political implications of any such arrangement.
Regionally, voices in Lebanon continue to frame the Hezbollah challenge as central to their political and security calculations, underscoring how broader regional rivalries feed into domestic debates and policy planning.
Finally, in diplomatic and political developments, the Security Council’s Gaza reconstruction blueprint, backed by a broad coalition of states, represents a significant international undertaking to move from ceasefire to reconstruction, even as questions about the specifics of governance, security arrangements, and Palestinian statehood language remain in play.
We will continue to monitor these threads and report new developments as they emerge.
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://t.me/newssil/180289
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108992
https://t.me/ILtoday/15878
https://www.timesofisrael.com/mamdani-says-he-wants-to-sit-down-with-trump-to-discuss-affordability/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/indonesia-welcomes-un-security-councils-adoption-trumps-gaza-plan-ministry-says
https://t.me/newssil/180288
https://t.me/newssil/180287
https://t.me/newssil/180286
https://t.me/ILtoday/15877
https://t.me/newssil/180285
https://t.me/newssil/180284
https://t.me/ILtoday/15876
https://t.me/newssil/180283
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bksqiqkg11l
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-final-day-of-case-1000-cross-examination-pm-says-ex-lawyers-cancer-impacted-memory/
https://t.me/newssil/180282
https://t.me/newssil/180281
https://t.me/newssil/180280
https://t.me/newssil/180278
https://worldisraelnews.com/trump-teases-exciting-announcements-on-gaza-deal/
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108991
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108990
https://t.me/newssil/180277
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108989
https://t.me/newssil/180276
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108988
https://t.me/newssil/180275
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/11/18/trump-gaza-peace-plan-un-security-council-approval/
https://t.me/newssil/180274
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/11/18/trump-us-will-sell-f-35-jets-to-saudi-arabia/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-874254
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-874042
https://worldisraelnews.com/israelis-reject-palestinian-statehood-in-exchange-for-saudi-peace-deal-poll/
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-874236
Russia Returns Military Police to Golan Border
UNSC Backs Gaza Reconstruction, I.S.F. Authorized
Saudi F-35 Sale Triggers Israeli Alarm
The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the 3:00 a.m. update from the newsroom.
A Russian military delegation has arrived in Syria in a rare visit aimed at restoring the presence of Russian military police on the border with Israel, a move that could affect how security on the Golan Heights is managed and how incidents near the frontier are handled.
In Washington, US officials are pressing the Lebanese armed forces to concentrate on disarming Hezbollah rather than clashing with Israel. The push comes amid heightened rhetoric after a Lebanese army leaflet attacking the “Israeli enemy” in the south drew criticism from US lawmakers. The visit of Lebanese army commander Rodolphe Haykal to the United States over the weekend was canceled, and Republican senators criticized the Lebanese high command in the wake of the pamphlet. The US position is that progress against Hezbollah is essential to regional stability and to any broader effort to reduce tensions along the border.
On the Gaza front, the United Nations Security Council voted 13–0 to back President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza reconstruction, with Russia and China abstaining. The resolution authorizes an International Stabilization Force to enter Gaza, oversee de‑militarization and governance, and it creates a Board of Peace to supervise reconstruction. Support for the measure came from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, and Pakistan, who argued that the plan could provide a legitimate path to postwar governance and humanitarian relief while anchoring conditions for Palestinian self‑determination alongside reform. Israel has stressed that any future framework must preserve its security needs, including the demilitarization of Hamas as a prerequisite for lasting peace.
Separately, attention remains fixed on a potential sale of F‑35 stealth jets to Saudi Arabia. The proposal is being weighed in Washington, a development that Israel views with concern because it could alter the regional military balance and challenge the country’s qualitative military edge. US officials and lawmakers have emphasized the importance of ensuring any such deal aligns with broader regional stability and security guarantees.
Indonesia signaled support for the UN plan and indicated it could contribute to Gaza peacekeeping efforts, potentially deploying up to 20,000 troops to assist in stabilization, focusing on health and infrastructure. Jakarta reiterated its long‑standing view of a two‑state solution and noted that it does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, highlighting the diverse international responses to the Gaza question.
In other developments, a Jewish‑Russian citizen with Israeli citizenship who was detained in Tripoli, Libya, was released after reportedly entering via Tunisia and attempting to pray in a synagogue without authorization. The case illustrates the broader, fragile security environment in the region and the reach of international diplomatic efforts.
On the technology and business front, Israel’s startup sector drew significant attention, with more than $800 million raised in a short period, led by major rounds in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Notable investments included substantial funding rounds in several prominent companies, underscoring ongoing investor confidence in Israel’s tech ecosystem despite the broader geopolitical pressures.
In Brussels, Europol disclosed that it is in contact with the Hind Rajab Foundation, a group led by a former Hezbollah member that has lodged claims of war crimes against Israelis abroad. NGO Monitor criticized the relationship, arguing that relying on a group with terror connections risks credibility in law enforcement, and highlighting the need for careful verification of sources.
Public opinion remains divided on the Palestinian state question in the context of regional normalization. A poll cited by World Israel News found that a sizable portion of Israelis oppose Palestinian statehood even in exchange for a Saudi‑brokered peace agreement, reflecting concern over security and political implications of any such arrangement.
Regionally, voices in Lebanon continue to frame the Hezbollah challenge as central to their political and security calculations, underscoring how broader regional rivalries feed into domestic debates and policy planning.
Finally, in diplomatic and political developments, the Security Council’s Gaza reconstruction blueprint, backed by a broad coalition of states, represents a significant international undertaking to move from ceasefire to reconstruction, even as questions about the specifics of governance, security arrangements, and Palestinian statehood language remain in play.
We will continue to monitor these threads and report new developments as they emerge.
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://t.me/newssil/180289
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108992
https://t.me/ILtoday/15878
https://www.timesofisrael.com/mamdani-says-he-wants-to-sit-down-with-trump-to-discuss-affordability/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/indonesia-welcomes-un-security-councils-adoption-trumps-gaza-plan-ministry-says
https://t.me/newssil/180288
https://t.me/newssil/180287
https://t.me/newssil/180286
https://t.me/ILtoday/15877
https://t.me/newssil/180285
https://t.me/newssil/180284
https://t.me/ILtoday/15876
https://t.me/newssil/180283
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bksqiqkg11l
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-final-day-of-case-1000-cross-examination-pm-says-ex-lawyers-cancer-impacted-memory/
https://t.me/newssil/180282
https://t.me/newssil/180281
https://t.me/newssil/180280
https://t.me/newssil/180278
https://worldisraelnews.com/trump-teases-exciting-announcements-on-gaza-deal/
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108991
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108990
https://t.me/newssil/180277
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108989
https://t.me/newssil/180276
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108988
https://t.me/newssil/180275
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/11/18/trump-gaza-peace-plan-un-security-council-approval/
https://t.me/newssil/180274
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/11/18/trump-us-will-sell-f-35-jets-to-saudi-arabia/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-874254
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-874042
https://worldisraelnews.com/israelis-reject-palestinian-statehood-in-exchange-for-saudi-peace-deal-poll/
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-874236
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