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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-23 at 19:06
Published 1 month ago
Description
HEADLINES
EU balks at US led Gaza Board
Israel Quantum Drive Faces Gulf Competition
Netanyahu Set to Push Gaza Hostage Recovery
The time is now 2:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good afternoon. Here is the hour’s briefing on the evolving Middle East and related global developments.
European leaders and the White House are contending over a new international body called the Board of Peace, created to oversee Gaza’s post-conflict governance with a broader reach later. An internal European External Action Service analysis obtained by Reuters raises questions about the concentration of authority in the hands of the board’s chairman, warning that the charter departs from the mandate authorized by the United Nations Security Council and could challenge the autonomy of the EU legal order. The analysis notes that participation terms, including a requirement that member states’ engagement levels be approved by the chairman, could constitute an undue interference with each member’s autonomy. The document also indicates the board began with Gaza as its focus, with plans to expand to other conflicts, and highlights that the board is chaired for life by the US president, with funding and membership mechanics tied to a three-year term only if a member contributes one billion dollars.
European leaders voiced concerns after a Thursday meeting about the board’s scope, governance, and compatibility with the UN charter. European Council President Charles Costa told reporters that serious doubts persist about the charter and that the EU stands ready to work with the United States on Gaza-related arrangements under a UN Security Council framework. Several EU states, including France and Spain, have said they would not join the board in its current form. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he could consider joining in a different format, but could not accept the current governance structures on constitutional grounds in Germany. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked Washington to amend the terms to address constitutional issues that have blocked Italy’s participation, noting that under Italy’s constitution, joining international bodies must occur on equal terms with other states. Italy’s position reflects a broader caution in the EU about the board’s design, even as leaders say they remain open to coordinating on Gaza peace efforts under UN authority.
In parallel, observers note a broader shift in regional alignments. A January 23 briefing highlighted that the Gaza plan may not become a stand-alone framework, and the board’s two-year interim scope is cited by some as a potential salvo toward broader regional governance if approved by UN channels. The discourse includes questions about how the World Bank or other international mechanisms would fund projects and how revenues, including possible resources tied to Gaza’s offshore gas fields, would be managed.
Turning to Israel’s science and technology landscape, Israel remains deeply engaged in the global quantum computing race. Since 2018, Tel Aviv has pursued a national quantum initiative, with substantial European support through Horizon Europe and continued collaboration within EuroHPC JU. Israeli officials describe quantum technology as essential to future security and intelligence, including post-quantum encryption, sensing, and communications. Israeli experts emphasize that the United States still provides critical defense-related funding and cooperation, but European and Gulf partners are increasingly important in scaling this research into usable capabilities. Israel’s INSS think tank and its Quantum Program, led by figures such as Hadas Lorber, are advocating for a broader US-Israel technology ecosystem that includes the Department of Energy, DARPA, and NIST, while aiming to keep Israel’s talent base and research infrastructure anchored domestically
EU balks at US led Gaza Board
Israel Quantum Drive Faces Gulf Competition
Netanyahu Set to Push Gaza Hostage Recovery
The time is now 2:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good afternoon. Here is the hour’s briefing on the evolving Middle East and related global developments.
European leaders and the White House are contending over a new international body called the Board of Peace, created to oversee Gaza’s post-conflict governance with a broader reach later. An internal European External Action Service analysis obtained by Reuters raises questions about the concentration of authority in the hands of the board’s chairman, warning that the charter departs from the mandate authorized by the United Nations Security Council and could challenge the autonomy of the EU legal order. The analysis notes that participation terms, including a requirement that member states’ engagement levels be approved by the chairman, could constitute an undue interference with each member’s autonomy. The document also indicates the board began with Gaza as its focus, with plans to expand to other conflicts, and highlights that the board is chaired for life by the US president, with funding and membership mechanics tied to a three-year term only if a member contributes one billion dollars.
European leaders voiced concerns after a Thursday meeting about the board’s scope, governance, and compatibility with the UN charter. European Council President Charles Costa told reporters that serious doubts persist about the charter and that the EU stands ready to work with the United States on Gaza-related arrangements under a UN Security Council framework. Several EU states, including France and Spain, have said they would not join the board in its current form. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he could consider joining in a different format, but could not accept the current governance structures on constitutional grounds in Germany. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked Washington to amend the terms to address constitutional issues that have blocked Italy’s participation, noting that under Italy’s constitution, joining international bodies must occur on equal terms with other states. Italy’s position reflects a broader caution in the EU about the board’s design, even as leaders say they remain open to coordinating on Gaza peace efforts under UN authority.
In parallel, observers note a broader shift in regional alignments. A January 23 briefing highlighted that the Gaza plan may not become a stand-alone framework, and the board’s two-year interim scope is cited by some as a potential salvo toward broader regional governance if approved by UN channels. The discourse includes questions about how the World Bank or other international mechanisms would fund projects and how revenues, including possible resources tied to Gaza’s offshore gas fields, would be managed.
Turning to Israel’s science and technology landscape, Israel remains deeply engaged in the global quantum computing race. Since 2018, Tel Aviv has pursued a national quantum initiative, with substantial European support through Horizon Europe and continued collaboration within EuroHPC JU. Israeli officials describe quantum technology as essential to future security and intelligence, including post-quantum encryption, sensing, and communications. Israeli experts emphasize that the United States still provides critical defense-related funding and cooperation, but European and Gulf partners are increasingly important in scaling this research into usable capabilities. Israel’s INSS think tank and its Quantum Program, led by figures such as Hadas Lorber, are advocating for a broader US-Israel technology ecosystem that includes the Department of Energy, DARPA, and NIST, while aiming to keep Israel’s talent base and research infrastructure anchored domestically