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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-02 at 05:04
HEADLINES
Saudi grants PA $90m to meet payroll
US approves $1B helicopter sale to Saudi
Gaza taps VR therapy for traumatized children
The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Jewish groups across New York are planning a solidarity rally near Park East Synagogue weeks after an anti-Israel protest targeted an Aliyah event, a reminder of ongoing concerns about antisemitism and security for Jewish communities abroad. In the Middle East and the wider region, the United States has reportedly expressed frustration with Prime Minister Netanyahu over a pattern of Israeli strikes in Syria, illustrating the delicate balance Washington seeks between regional pressure and avoiding broader confrontation.
Saudi Arabia has transferred a 90 million dollar grant to the Palestinian Authority to help the cash‑strapped government meet payroll and operating costs, at a time when Israel has withheld funds in retaliation for PA payments to the families of attackers. Separately, the US State Department has approved the potential sale of helicopter support and related training to Saudi Arabia for about one billion dollars, reflecting ongoing security cooperation between Washington and Riyadh.
International donors are stepping in to shore up the PA fiscal gap, with Saudi Arabia joined by Norway, France and Spain in a fundraising push aimed at preventing a collapse of the Palestinian budget. In Israel, former defense minister Yoav Gallant has been living for about a year in a private compound owned by billionaire Morris Kahn after security warnings forced him from his own home; the arrangement was confirmed by Hebrew media outlets.
On the cultural front, Hollywood actor Guy Pearce apologized for social media posts that claimed Jews own major pornography companies and linked Israel to the 9/11 attacks, saying he inadvertently shared misinformation and will step back from social platforms to reflect and verify.
In the Americas, Bolivia has decided to lift the visa requirement for Israelis, a step announced by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and tied to the new government in La Paz, potentially facilitating travel and people-to-people ties.
Israel’s legal system is also in focus as Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara criticized proposed legislation that would split the attorney general’s role into three government-controlled positions, arguing the change would politicize the office and weaken the rule of law.
In education and conflict reporting, a study by IMPACT-se finds Palestinian textbooks for 2025–26 continue to glorify violence, including Arabic lessons built around grotesque depictions of suicide bombers, despite reform pledges. Separately, a mental health program in Gaza is turning to virtual reality therapy to help traumatized children, with operators describing faster progress than traditional therapy and UNICEF estimating that about one million Gaza children need mental health and psychosocial support after years of conflict.
These are the latest developments shaping security, diplomacy and daily life as the region and its communities navigate renewed tensions and humanitarian challenges.
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/diaspora/article-876917
https://t.me/StandWithUsBreakingNews/7101
https://www.timesofis
Published on 1 week, 4 days ago