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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-23 at 18:08
Published 1 month ago
Description
HEADLINES
EU rejects Trump's peace board
Zamir pledges to bring Ran Gvili home
US sanctions Iran's shadow fleet
The time is now 1:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
The following is your hourly news update.
The European Union signals deep questions about President Donald Trump’s new Board of Peace, warning that its charter concentrates power and may clash with EU constitutional principles and the autonomy of the EU legal order. An internal analysis from the European External Action Service dated January 19 lays out concerns that the board departs from the UN Security Council mandate it is intended to implement and that the plan risks expanding the authority of its chair beyond what international law and established processes would permit. The document notes that the board’s remit begins with Gaza but could extend to other conflicts, and it warns that member states are limited to three-year terms unless they contribute fully to funding. EU officials stress that any participation must respect collective and constitutional norms, and they caution that governance and scope need alignment with the United Nations framework. European Council President Antonio Costa summarized doubts about governance, scope, and UN compatibility, while stressing readiness to cooperate with the United States on Gaza when framed within UN Security Council resolutions. Several EU members, including France and Spain, have indicated they would not join the board in its current form. The EU analysis argues that a provision requiring a member state's participation level to be approved by the board’s chair constitutes interference with the autonomy of each member’s decision-making. In Europe, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he would be willing to engage with the peace effort if it serves Gaza, but cannot accept the current governance structures for constitutional reasons, indicating openness to alternative formats that broaden peace efforts beyond Gaza, potentially including Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pressed for amendments to address constitutional issues that have blocked Italy’s participation; Italy’s constitution requires equal terms with other states for international participation, a constraint she says the current statute does not meet. The board is led by a lifetime chair and is intended to be expanded after initial Gaza-focused work, with a plan to fund operations through member contributions and to operate in coordination with the United Nations.
In other regional headlines, Israel’s push in quantum technology continues to draw attention as a strategic edge in a high-stakes global race. Israeli officials describe quantum research as a battlefield for the next generation of defense, security, and economic power. Israel has built a robust national program since 2018, and by aligning with European and American partners, it seeks to maintain leadership in quantum sensing, encryption, and computing. The country’s collaboration through Horizon Europe has brought significant EU engagement, while the United States has backed several joint initiatives, including a stated push to deepen cooperation with the US Department of Energy, DARPA, and NIST. Yet there is awareness of competing regional dynamics: the UAE and Saudi Arabia are advancing their own quantum and AI programs with substantial regional investment, and questions linger about how Israel can sustain a talent pool and infrastructure at scale within a broader ecosystem. Officials point to a 2025 milestone in which the United States and Gulf partners appeared to outpace Israel in some joint ventures, emphasizing the importance of keeping talent within Israel and expanding international partnerships. As Israel moves to secure long-term funding and deepen collaborations, analysts say the country must balance its strategic edges with the realities of global compe
EU rejects Trump's peace board
Zamir pledges to bring Ran Gvili home
US sanctions Iran's shadow fleet
The time is now 1:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
The following is your hourly news update.
The European Union signals deep questions about President Donald Trump’s new Board of Peace, warning that its charter concentrates power and may clash with EU constitutional principles and the autonomy of the EU legal order. An internal analysis from the European External Action Service dated January 19 lays out concerns that the board departs from the UN Security Council mandate it is intended to implement and that the plan risks expanding the authority of its chair beyond what international law and established processes would permit. The document notes that the board’s remit begins with Gaza but could extend to other conflicts, and it warns that member states are limited to three-year terms unless they contribute fully to funding. EU officials stress that any participation must respect collective and constitutional norms, and they caution that governance and scope need alignment with the United Nations framework. European Council President Antonio Costa summarized doubts about governance, scope, and UN compatibility, while stressing readiness to cooperate with the United States on Gaza when framed within UN Security Council resolutions. Several EU members, including France and Spain, have indicated they would not join the board in its current form. The EU analysis argues that a provision requiring a member state's participation level to be approved by the board’s chair constitutes interference with the autonomy of each member’s decision-making. In Europe, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he would be willing to engage with the peace effort if it serves Gaza, but cannot accept the current governance structures for constitutional reasons, indicating openness to alternative formats that broaden peace efforts beyond Gaza, potentially including Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pressed for amendments to address constitutional issues that have blocked Italy’s participation; Italy’s constitution requires equal terms with other states for international participation, a constraint she says the current statute does not meet. The board is led by a lifetime chair and is intended to be expanded after initial Gaza-focused work, with a plan to fund operations through member contributions and to operate in coordination with the United Nations.
In other regional headlines, Israel’s push in quantum technology continues to draw attention as a strategic edge in a high-stakes global race. Israeli officials describe quantum research as a battlefield for the next generation of defense, security, and economic power. Israel has built a robust national program since 2018, and by aligning with European and American partners, it seeks to maintain leadership in quantum sensing, encryption, and computing. The country’s collaboration through Horizon Europe has brought significant EU engagement, while the United States has backed several joint initiatives, including a stated push to deepen cooperation with the US Department of Energy, DARPA, and NIST. Yet there is awareness of competing regional dynamics: the UAE and Saudi Arabia are advancing their own quantum and AI programs with substantial regional investment, and questions linger about how Israel can sustain a talent pool and infrastructure at scale within a broader ecosystem. Officials point to a 2025 milestone in which the United States and Gulf partners appeared to outpace Israel in some joint ventures, emphasizing the importance of keeping talent within Israel and expanding international partnerships. As Israel moves to secure long-term funding and deepen collaborations, analysts say the country must balance its strategic edges with the realities of global compe