HEADLINES
Saudi Israel ties widen over Palestinian state
Lebanon Israel border sparks US diplomacy setback
Hamas popularity climbs in Gaza after ceasefire

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 an hourly update on events shaping security and policy across the Middle East, with attention to Israeli security concerns and Jewish communities worldwide.

In Washington, politics intersect with security as the US House of Representatives moved to compel the release of Epstein files, a step that follows weeks of partisan debate. President Donald Trump urged Republicans to pass the measure, arguing it is a matter of transparency, while opponents caution that the issue should not distract from other national security priorities. The development comes as American officials reiterate vigilance in the region, where security commitments and regional alignments continue to evolve against a backdrop of long-standing tensions and ongoing conflict dynamics.

Across the Middle East, Saudi Arabia’s leadership signaled a willingness to broaden engagement with Israel through the Abraham Accords framework, but with an insistence on a path to a Palestinian state. The Saudi crown prince’s remarks suggest a recalibration of regional diplomacy, where normalization could be linked to substantial political concessions, a point that Saudi officials and regional observers view as potentially consequential for the broader effort to stabilize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In parallel, discussions between Washington and Riyadh over defense technology and regional security indicate that the United States remains deeply involved in shaping any security architecture that might accompany such shifts, including potential access to advanced aircraft and technology.

In New York and Tel Aviv alike, conversations about weapons sales and defense cooperation featured prominently. President Trump indicated that Saudi Arabia would receive F-35 stealth fighters, a move described as desirable by some Israeli officials who see continued modernization of allied airpower as essential to maintaining qualitative military edge in the region. Israeli leaders have long viewed access to high-end aircraft as a component of deterrence, even as they emphasize the need for durable political arrangements that reduce the likelihood of out-of-area escalation.

On the border front, significant friction persists between Lebanon and Israel, drawing in American diplomacy and multinational peacekeeping efforts. The Times of Israel reports that the United States canceled planned meetings with Lebanon’s army commander Rudolf Haykal after a Lebanese statement criticizing Israel’s actions near the border, a setback in a relationship that has relied on US security assistance to bolster state institutions in Lebanon. The Lebanese army’s statement, which condemned what it called Israel’s violations of Lebanese sovereignty, followed an incident involving a UNIFIL patrol and renewed Israeli air activity in the south. The arrangement brokered by the United States and France, intended to deter Hezbollah and preserve stability along the Litani River reach, remains under strain as both sides accuse the other of provocations and violations.

Across Lebanon, reports and statements about an attack attributed to Israel near Ain al-Hilweh, the large Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon, have dominated headlines. Lebanese sources described a higher casualty count in the wake of the strike, with conflicting accounts about targets and the exact location of the damage. While Israel has repeatedly asserted its right to conduct preemptive actions against threats in its vicinity, the precise attribution and scope of this latest episode remain disputed. Observers note that any significant escalation would test the fragile balance brokered by regional and international partners and would sharpen debate over the role and effectiveness of monitoring organizations in preventing flare-ups along the Lebanon-Israel line.

In parallel, regional diplomacy continues to churn as Erdogan in Turkey signaled talks with Ukraine’s leadership, with Turkish officials confirming discussions aimed at stabilizing a broader security and economic agenda. This visit comes as Ankara engages allies and partners across Europe and the Middle East, navigating a complex landscape shaped by security concerns, refugee flows, and evolving military cooperation arrangements.

On the Palestinian track, public opinion in Gaza and the West Bank remains a critical variable. A poll from the Palestinian center for surveys and policy analysis indicated rising popularity for Hamas in Gaza since the ceasefire, with a majority of Gazan respondents supporting Hamas’s conduct in the conflict and opposing dismantling Hamas’s weapons. A substantial portion of West Bank residents also viewed Hamas’s October 7 decisions as justified. These sentiments complicate any efforts to return to negotiations and underscore the fragility of support bases on both sides of the conflict.

Security within Israel itself continues to evolve in response to both external threats and internal challenges. A spate of incidents against transit workers, including assaults on Arab bus drivers in the West Bank, has spurred government plans to bolster security on public transportation and to deploy rapid-response units in major cities. In Jerusalem and other urban centers, authorities have pressed for increased protection of transit networks as violence in crowded public spaces raises concerns about civilian safety and the ability of essential services to operate without disruption. At the same time, authorities emphasized that maintaining public order requires a balanced approach to prevent further escalation and to protect minorities and workers who serve communities across the country.

In the realm of domestic and public discourse, antisemitism and threats of violence continue to draw attention. A spate of high-profile international incidents—ranging from a Cannes arrest after threats to blow up a synagogue to a case in which a neo-Nazi leader admitted to planning mass harm against Jewish children in New York—highlights ongoing vigilance required by Jewish communities and law enforcement worldwide. These incidents reinforce the importance of strong policing, community resilience, and international cooperation to counter hateful extremism wherever it appears.

On the diplomatic front, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated the seriousness with which Israel views Iran’s regional posture, signaling that Israeli strategy will continue to confront what it terms a coordinated network of proxies and state-backed pressure across multiple fronts. Analysts note that Israel’s security calculus emphasizes deterrence, precision targeting, and the readiness to respond decisively to imminent threats, while also seeking to preserve lines of communication with major powers and regional partners to prevent misinterpretation and unintended escalation.

Beyond the immediate conflict matrix, senior Israeli officials and civil servants have begun practical planning to adapt to shifting regional dynamics. The Defense Ministry and related ministries are advancing a five-year plan for security, settlement, and infrastructure along border areas, including Jordan. This kind of inter-ministerial coordination reflects an ongoing effort to translate strategic goals into on-the-ground measures that strengthen resilience, improve intelligence-sharing, and ensure readiness to respond to a spectrum of threats.

On the economic and diplomatic front, public diplomacy and high-level visits continue to shape perceptions and relationships. Israeli President Isaac Herzog hosted nearly 200 German influencers to reinforce ties and broaden understanding of Israel beyond the security narrative, signaling a sustained effort to build bridges with European partners and to underscore shared interests in innovation, culture, and people-to-people ties. In parallel, coverage of discussions with US leaders about defense cooperation and regional stability highlights a continuing alignment of interests between Washington and Jerusalem, even as disagreements over settlement policy and Palestinian statehood persist.

Looking ahead, regional actors will likely seek to balance aspiration with caution: Saudi willingness to engage on normalization, conditioned on progress toward a Palestinian solution; Israel’s insistence on security guarantees and strategic depth; and US diplomacy working to keep channels open with key interlocutors while avoiding escalation. For Jewish communities and allies worldwide, vigilance remains essential as antisemitic incidents continue to challenge social cohesion, while political shifts create new opportunities and new risks in a volatile regional landscape.

That is the latest from a fast-evolving calendar of events impacting security, policy, and public life across Israel, the broader Middle East, and the communities watching from abroad. This is a moment in which calculated restraint, verified information, and steady reporting will continue to illuminate the path forward for international audiences seeking clarity in a complex region.

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/defense-news/article-874378
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