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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-12 at 00:02
Published 2 weeks, 5 days ago
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HEADLINES
France demands UN oust Albanese over remarks
Balint clashes with Bondi over Epstein ties
Palestinian protesters march as Herzog visits Australia
The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, France has called for the resignation of UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese after remarks at the Al Jazeera Forum in Qatar that critics say targeted Israel “as a people and as a nation,” crossing a red line and fueling accusations of anti-Jewish rhetoric, including references to a “Jewish lobby” and comparisons to the Third Reich. More than 20 French lawmakers signed a letter demanding Albanese be stripped of “all UN mandates with immediate effect.” The piece argues the United Nations must remove Albanese from her mandate promptly, noting that Special Procedures mandate-holders are presented as independent experts expected to uphold integrity, impartiality, honesty, and good faith. The column frames the call as a test of basic standards for how the UN treats Israel and Jewish concerns in the public sphere, and it connects the controversy to broader debates about accountability within UN human-rights mechanisms, including responses to alleged justifications of the October 7 massacre.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Becca Balint, a progressive Vermont Democrat, stormed out of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s House Judiciary Committee hearing after Bondi deflected questions about the Epstein case and criticized Balint’s record on antisemitism. Balint pressed Bondi on whether President Trump was aware of billionaire Howard Lutnick’s ties to Epstein when Lutnick was appointed as commerce secretary, noting recently released documents showing Lutnick’s interactions with Epstein after Epstein’s guilty plea. After Bondi refused to answer, Balint stated that the president “did know about his ties.” The exchange then centered on antisemitism allegations, with Bondi citing Balint’s voting record on related resolutions as part of the critique, and the hearing devolved into a pointed exchange marked by interruptions and heated remarks.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, pro-Palestine protesters are expected to rally in Melbourne on Thursday on the final day of President Isaac Herzog’s trip to Australia, following demonstrations in Canberra and violent clashes during the visit in Sydney. Herzog’s trip comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the wake of the December 14 Hanukkah attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that killed 15 people. Some Australians frame Herzog as complicit in civilian deaths in Gaza, and protesters cite a United Nations Commission of Inquiry report that last year claimed Israel committed genocide in Gaza and that top Israeli officials incited such acts. Jasmine Duff, a co-convener of Students for Palestine, urged Australians to march, emphasizing solidarity with Palestinians, and graffiti appeared at a Melbourne site as part of the demonstrations.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel faces a potential burial-space shortage driven by generous burial policies and ongoing population growth, with a study by Prof. Alex Weinreb of the Taub Center warning the shortage is worse than the 2024 state comptroller’s projection. The population has grown at about 1.9% to 2% annually, and 311,000 women aged 28 to 32 were recorded in 2023, a cohort expected to rise by about 23% by 2036. Even if fertility rates fall below 2.3 children per woman, about 195,000 babies are projected to be born in 2036. With continued natural growth and incoming migrants—roughly 7,700 new arrivals each year—the number of deaths is also expected to climb, pushing demand for burial space higher than previously anticipated.
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
France demands UN oust Albanese over remarks
Balint clashes with Bondi over Epstein ties
Palestinian protesters march as Herzog visits Australia
The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, France has called for the resignation of UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese after remarks at the Al Jazeera Forum in Qatar that critics say targeted Israel “as a people and as a nation,” crossing a red line and fueling accusations of anti-Jewish rhetoric, including references to a “Jewish lobby” and comparisons to the Third Reich. More than 20 French lawmakers signed a letter demanding Albanese be stripped of “all UN mandates with immediate effect.” The piece argues the United Nations must remove Albanese from her mandate promptly, noting that Special Procedures mandate-holders are presented as independent experts expected to uphold integrity, impartiality, honesty, and good faith. The column frames the call as a test of basic standards for how the UN treats Israel and Jewish concerns in the public sphere, and it connects the controversy to broader debates about accountability within UN human-rights mechanisms, including responses to alleged justifications of the October 7 massacre.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Becca Balint, a progressive Vermont Democrat, stormed out of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s House Judiciary Committee hearing after Bondi deflected questions about the Epstein case and criticized Balint’s record on antisemitism. Balint pressed Bondi on whether President Trump was aware of billionaire Howard Lutnick’s ties to Epstein when Lutnick was appointed as commerce secretary, noting recently released documents showing Lutnick’s interactions with Epstein after Epstein’s guilty plea. After Bondi refused to answer, Balint stated that the president “did know about his ties.” The exchange then centered on antisemitism allegations, with Bondi citing Balint’s voting record on related resolutions as part of the critique, and the hearing devolved into a pointed exchange marked by interruptions and heated remarks.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, pro-Palestine protesters are expected to rally in Melbourne on Thursday on the final day of President Isaac Herzog’s trip to Australia, following demonstrations in Canberra and violent clashes during the visit in Sydney. Herzog’s trip comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the wake of the December 14 Hanukkah attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that killed 15 people. Some Australians frame Herzog as complicit in civilian deaths in Gaza, and protesters cite a United Nations Commission of Inquiry report that last year claimed Israel committed genocide in Gaza and that top Israeli officials incited such acts. Jasmine Duff, a co-convener of Students for Palestine, urged Australians to march, emphasizing solidarity with Palestinians, and graffiti appeared at a Melbourne site as part of the demonstrations.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel faces a potential burial-space shortage driven by generous burial policies and ongoing population growth, with a study by Prof. Alex Weinreb of the Taub Center warning the shortage is worse than the 2024 state comptroller’s projection. The population has grown at about 1.9% to 2% annually, and 311,000 women aged 28 to 32 were recorded in 2023, a cohort expected to rise by about 23% by 2036. Even if fertility rates fall below 2.3 children per woman, about 195,000 babies are projected to be born in 2036. With continued natural growth and incoming migrants—roughly 7,700 new arrivals each year—the number of deaths is also expected to climb, pushing demand for burial space higher than previously anticipated.
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