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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-12 at 04:02
Published 2 weeks, 5 days ago
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HEADLINES
Tehran seeks deal; Washington wary of limits
Arab-Israeli killings trigger national emergency
Time with Dad helps reservists reconnect
The time is now 4:01 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, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the Financial Times that Tehran recognizes it must reach a deal with the Americans, and that the Americans understand that Iran has limits. He said it’s pointless to try to force them and that flexibility from the United States is key to a nuclear agreement, with Tehran potentially agreeing to restrictions on enrichment levels and tighter inspections. Fidan added that the Iranians now recognize the need for a deal, while Washington worries about Iran’s limits; he warned that pursuing all issues at once could derail talks and may risk triggering another regional war if the United States confronts Iran on both its ballistic missile arsenal and its support for regional proxies. He noted that although the United States remains deeply concerned about Iran’s nuclear capabilities, the broader regional issues are tied because missiles and proxies affect regional security. In the background of these tensions, a senior Israeli security official said that given the state of affairs with Iran, Israel must consider a pre-emptive strike. He emphasized that Israel benefits from its air defense, currently among the strongest in the world and continually improving, and that much of the defense has involved destroying launchers and missiles before they could fire.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in a meeting with President Donald Trump.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Australian President Isaac Herzog told anti-Israel demonstrators in Melbourne that their protest should be directed at Iran, not Israel, calling the gathering “obscure and odd” given the heavy police protection needed to allow Jews to assemble with the president. He urged the protesters to take their message to the Iranian embassy, and he described Iran as an “empire of evil” responsible for mass bloodshed, saying Israel is defending the free world by confronting that threat. Separately, a World Israel News report notes that an Olympics-related site is selling a T-shirt honoring the 1936 Berlin Games hosted by Nazi Germany.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, five Arab-Israelis were killed overnight in crime-related incidents, with the Rahat mayor calling it a black day for the Arab sector after his son was found dead in his car. One victim, Farid Abu Mubarak, was shot in Segev Shalom and was taken to hospital in critical condition; another, Hussein Abu Rakayek, was shot in Lod as he walked from the Old City toward a Dor Alon gas station, where police secured the scene and reviewed footage. Earlier, a 30-year-old Jerusalem resident was cited as having boarded a Beitar Illit bus with a bottle of a flammable substance, intending arson after considering kidnapping; the suspect told investigators of a troubled relationship with the victim’s father and was arrested after the episode. Police Commissioner Dany Levy declared a “national emergency” over the spike in killings in the Arab sector and said the police currently lack the capacity to stop the run of attacks. In security circles, former Rafael chair and finance minister Yuval Steinitz said there is an “orange-green” light for a major upgrade of Israel’s weapons array and discussed how Israel’s air defense would be ready to counter an Iranian attack, noting that he and the prime minister speak occasionally and share strategic assessments. He also described his relationship with the prime minister as, at times, precisely defined, with collaboration on security topics. Another account of Steinitz’s remarks underscored that the relationship with Netanyahu involves occasional consultations o
Tehran seeks deal; Washington wary of limits
Arab-Israeli killings trigger national emergency
Time with Dad helps reservists reconnect
The time is now 4:01 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, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the Financial Times that Tehran recognizes it must reach a deal with the Americans, and that the Americans understand that Iran has limits. He said it’s pointless to try to force them and that flexibility from the United States is key to a nuclear agreement, with Tehran potentially agreeing to restrictions on enrichment levels and tighter inspections. Fidan added that the Iranians now recognize the need for a deal, while Washington worries about Iran’s limits; he warned that pursuing all issues at once could derail talks and may risk triggering another regional war if the United States confronts Iran on both its ballistic missile arsenal and its support for regional proxies. He noted that although the United States remains deeply concerned about Iran’s nuclear capabilities, the broader regional issues are tied because missiles and proxies affect regional security. In the background of these tensions, a senior Israeli security official said that given the state of affairs with Iran, Israel must consider a pre-emptive strike. He emphasized that Israel benefits from its air defense, currently among the strongest in the world and continually improving, and that much of the defense has involved destroying launchers and missiles before they could fire.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in a meeting with President Donald Trump.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Australian President Isaac Herzog told anti-Israel demonstrators in Melbourne that their protest should be directed at Iran, not Israel, calling the gathering “obscure and odd” given the heavy police protection needed to allow Jews to assemble with the president. He urged the protesters to take their message to the Iranian embassy, and he described Iran as an “empire of evil” responsible for mass bloodshed, saying Israel is defending the free world by confronting that threat. Separately, a World Israel News report notes that an Olympics-related site is selling a T-shirt honoring the 1936 Berlin Games hosted by Nazi Germany.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, five Arab-Israelis were killed overnight in crime-related incidents, with the Rahat mayor calling it a black day for the Arab sector after his son was found dead in his car. One victim, Farid Abu Mubarak, was shot in Segev Shalom and was taken to hospital in critical condition; another, Hussein Abu Rakayek, was shot in Lod as he walked from the Old City toward a Dor Alon gas station, where police secured the scene and reviewed footage. Earlier, a 30-year-old Jerusalem resident was cited as having boarded a Beitar Illit bus with a bottle of a flammable substance, intending arson after considering kidnapping; the suspect told investigators of a troubled relationship with the victim’s father and was arrested after the episode. Police Commissioner Dany Levy declared a “national emergency” over the spike in killings in the Arab sector and said the police currently lack the capacity to stop the run of attacks. In security circles, former Rafael chair and finance minister Yuval Steinitz said there is an “orange-green” light for a major upgrade of Israel’s weapons array and discussed how Israel’s air defense would be ready to counter an Iranian attack, noting that he and the prime minister speak occasionally and share strategic assessments. He also described his relationship with the prime minister as, at times, precisely defined, with collaboration on security topics. Another account of Steinitz’s remarks underscored that the relationship with Netanyahu involves occasional consultations o