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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-03 at 10:03
Published 3 weeks, 6 days ago
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HEADLINES
Two Iranian diplomats seek asylum in Switzerland
Zini to face Gaza smuggling indictment
IBM and Norwest fund ORION AI DLP
The time is now 10:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran's Vienna chargé d’affaires Gholamreza Derikvand has left his post and is seeking asylum for himself and his family in Switzerland, according to Iran International, which cites sources familiar with the matter. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has not commented on Derikvand's actions and has reportedly avoided discussing the case amid concerns about intelligence agencies. Derikvand previously served as chargé d'affaires at Iran's embassy in the Czech Republic from 2011 to 2014. In mid-January, Iran International reported that Alireza Jeyrani Hokmabad, a senior official at Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva, also left his post to seek asylum in Switzerland; he previously held the rank of counsellor and minister plenipotentiary, effectively the deputy head of Iran’s mission to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva. In Washington, US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel to test red lines and assess what terms Jerusalem could tolerate in any potential Iran agreement, a move Israeli officials see as a step to close gaps in negotiations with Tehran. Analysts say the Trump administration’s approach to Iran centers on strategic unpredictability, a tactic intended to keep Tehran off balance as tensions rise.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Bezalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, is set to be indicted in a Gaza smuggling network case. A prosecutor's statement is expected to be filed in the coming days with the Ashkelon Magistrates' Court, and 13 other suspects are expected to face indictments as well. Because of the family connection, the Shin Bet chief has recused himself from involvement in the investigation, with the police handling that portion of the case. Zini himself is not suspected of involvement in the affair.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, a recent opinion piece argues that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest clashes with President Joe Biden reflect a deeper alignment with Trump-era rhetoric, a move that could widen rifts between the Israeli government and the Democratic Party at home. The piece notes that a Jerusalem conference on antisemitism framed this alignment and warned of consequences for Israel’s standing with liberal supporters around the world.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an anti-Zionist Jewish group has joined Hezbollah-linked bodies to oppose President Isaac Herzog’s upcoming visit to Australia. The Jewish Council of Australia teamed with the Australian National Imams Council and the Hind Rajab Foundation to urge the government to deny Herzog entry and to initiate a criminal investigation, saying war crimes must be arrested, not welcomed. Since its founding in 2024, the JCA has worked with the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network, whose leaders have described October 7 as an act of resistance, illustrating ties between groups critical of Israel and networks with broader regional links.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, Deni Avdija’s selection to the NBA All-Star Game Reserve has sparked online backlash after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly congratulated the player with a message praising his impact. Critics accused the post of conflating politics and sports and highlighted the IDF service background, with opponents calling Netanyahu’s praise a misstep in a polarized environment.
In Israeli Economy and Business, ORION Security announced a 32 million dollar Series A round with participation from IBM and Norwest, joining seed investors PICO Venture Partners and Lama Partners. ORION develops an AI-powered platform tha
Two Iranian diplomats seek asylum in Switzerland
Zini to face Gaza smuggling indictment
IBM and Norwest fund ORION AI DLP
The time is now 10:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran's Vienna chargé d’affaires Gholamreza Derikvand has left his post and is seeking asylum for himself and his family in Switzerland, according to Iran International, which cites sources familiar with the matter. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has not commented on Derikvand's actions and has reportedly avoided discussing the case amid concerns about intelligence agencies. Derikvand previously served as chargé d'affaires at Iran's embassy in the Czech Republic from 2011 to 2014. In mid-January, Iran International reported that Alireza Jeyrani Hokmabad, a senior official at Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva, also left his post to seek asylum in Switzerland; he previously held the rank of counsellor and minister plenipotentiary, effectively the deputy head of Iran’s mission to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva. In Washington, US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel to test red lines and assess what terms Jerusalem could tolerate in any potential Iran agreement, a move Israeli officials see as a step to close gaps in negotiations with Tehran. Analysts say the Trump administration’s approach to Iran centers on strategic unpredictability, a tactic intended to keep Tehran off balance as tensions rise.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Bezalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, is set to be indicted in a Gaza smuggling network case. A prosecutor's statement is expected to be filed in the coming days with the Ashkelon Magistrates' Court, and 13 other suspects are expected to face indictments as well. Because of the family connection, the Shin Bet chief has recused himself from involvement in the investigation, with the police handling that portion of the case. Zini himself is not suspected of involvement in the affair.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, a recent opinion piece argues that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest clashes with President Joe Biden reflect a deeper alignment with Trump-era rhetoric, a move that could widen rifts between the Israeli government and the Democratic Party at home. The piece notes that a Jerusalem conference on antisemitism framed this alignment and warned of consequences for Israel’s standing with liberal supporters around the world.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an anti-Zionist Jewish group has joined Hezbollah-linked bodies to oppose President Isaac Herzog’s upcoming visit to Australia. The Jewish Council of Australia teamed with the Australian National Imams Council and the Hind Rajab Foundation to urge the government to deny Herzog entry and to initiate a criminal investigation, saying war crimes must be arrested, not welcomed. Since its founding in 2024, the JCA has worked with the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network, whose leaders have described October 7 as an act of resistance, illustrating ties between groups critical of Israel and networks with broader regional links.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, Deni Avdija’s selection to the NBA All-Star Game Reserve has sparked online backlash after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly congratulated the player with a message praising his impact. Critics accused the post of conflating politics and sports and highlighted the IDF service background, with opponents calling Netanyahu’s praise a misstep in a polarized environment.
In Israeli Economy and Business, ORION Security announced a 32 million dollar Series A round with participation from IBM and Norwest, joining seed investors PICO Venture Partners and Lama Partners. ORION develops an AI-powered platform tha