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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-31 at 06:08
HEADLINES
US Egypt gas deal stalls over pricing
Classified US assessment flags Israeli rights violations
Ein Habesor locals defend moshav probe finds
The time is now 2:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the 2:00 AM update on events shaping the region. United States officials say energy talks with Israel remain unsettled as Washington presses for a finalization of a multibillion dollar gas export deal with Egypt. The US Energy Secretary Chris Wright canceled his planned visit to Israel after Israel’s Energy Minister Eli Cohen refused to approve the roughly 35 billion dollar export agreement until Israel’s pricing and energy interests are secured, highlighting lingering disagreements over how regional energy arrangements are structured and priced.
In Jerusalem, Haaretz reports a corporate dispute tied to a broader investigation surrounding the Qatargate case. The paper says Chaim Levinson was dismissed after alleged payments of about 200,000 shekels were traced from a suspect connected to the case to a company under which Levinson had an ownership stake, with transfers occurring between 2019 and 2024. The report is part of a wider look at ethics and transparency in coverage during a period of intensified regional reporting.
Across the Atlantic, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has condemned an anti-Israel art exhibit on Governor’s Island as antisemitic, saying that activism cannot excuse hatred. The installation, which Adams described as unsanctioned by local authorities, was taken down within hours of its installation.
In Washington’s political arena, the Republican Jewish Coalition appears to be facing a leadership test at its Las Vegas summit. Editorial commentary notes a rising cohort of Jewish Republicans and the potential influence this could have on legislative priorities and the US-Israel alliance in the longer term, even as the party grapples with its internal debates about strategy and policy.
Turning to Europe, Nice’s mayor Christian Estrosi remains outspoken in his defense of Israel. He has kept Israeli flags displayed at City Hall and installed a hostage banner after an administrative court ordered their removal. Estrosi emphasizes that his stance reflects a humanitarian duty to uphold democratic values and combat antisemitism, and he notes that he has faced threats and intimidation as a consequence. The city of Nice and its mayor have long carried a symbolic role in Franco-Israeli relations, with Estrosi linking his defense of Israel to a broader fight against antisemitism.
In sport and security news, Fenerbahce’s EuroLeague schedule has moved two home games against Israeli teams to Munich due to security concerns. The Turkish club says the matches, originally set for Istanbul, will be played at the SAP Garden arena on the same dates, following security measures approved by local authorities. This marks another instance of European competitions adjusting venues in response to regional security considerations, as clubs wrestle with travel and safety concerns in a volatile security climate.
Near the Gaza border, an internal IDF investigation into Ein Habesor’s October 7 attack finds that local residents and a civilian standby squad acted largely on their own, defending the moshav as the army scrambled to form a coherent response. The probe credits residents with repelling the attackers and evacuating the wounded, while noting that the community’s defenses were improvised and that the wider IDF faced communication breakdowns and a fragmented operational picture at the outset. The inquiry indicates the community suffered minimal casualties and damage, underscoring the vital, if improvised, role played by local residents during the initial onslaught.
A separate development cited by outlets including the Washington Post centers on a classified US ass
Published on 3 days, 4 hours ago