Episode Details

HEADLINES
US Targets Iran's IRGC to Protect Americans
US Smuggles 6,000 Starlink Terminals to Iran
Ford Warship Heads Toward Iranian Coast

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 the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an opinion piece argues the United States must confront Iran’s ongoing aggression, calling for an America First policy that targets Iran’s IRGC and disrupts its global operations to protect American interests. The author frames the current Middle East tensions around questions of potential US or Israeli action against Iran and suggests that Israel’s leadership and editorial boards have long urged taking strong steps against Tehran, emphasizing that addressing the IRGC is central to safeguarding American interests.

The same topic also carries a report on US efforts to expand internet access inside Iran. The Wall Street Journal notes that the United States smuggled around 6,000 Starlink satellite terminals into Iran in January to help anti-regime protesters bypass internet shutdowns during a harsh crackdown. Officials cited say the majority of nearly 7,000 terminals purchased were funded from similar internet-freedom initiatives, with Starlink and VPNs described as tools in a broader effort to protect Iranian access to uncensored information. Officials remain divided on whether Starlink or VPN approaches offer stronger protection for protesters.

Rounding out this topic, a Hebrew-language report notes the warship Gerald R. Ford received orders to move from Venezuela toward the Middle East, placing it off the Iranian coast as part of regional military posture.

In the US Policy Concerning Israel, a Republican senator from Utah said he would oppose Donald Trump’s nominee for the post of assistant secretary of state for international organizations over remarks he characterizes as anti-Israel and insensitive toward Jewish people, including an instance of minimizing the Holocaust. A White House official said the nominee, Jeremy Carl, remains in consideration, and at the confirmation hearing Curtis pressed him on past comments about Jewish people.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, an editorial argues that removing the word “massacre” from the title of a bill establishing a national day of commemoration for October 7, 2023 undermines the gravity of the attacks and memory of those affected. The piece contends that while the title was altered to neutral terms, the body of the bill still references the event with seriousness, and it criticizes the decision as erasing memory. A relative of a victim voices outrage, insisting that memory must reflect what happened. The editorial asserts that October 7 represented a massacre of Jews on a scale unseen since the Holocaust.

A separate Hebrew report covers polling in the opposition camp, indicating Netanyahu leads Bennet by a narrow margin for prime minister (41% to 40%) and noting that Eisenkot is gaining strength in the opposition’s standing.

Finally, the section notes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just landed in Israel.

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-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-886537
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-886555
https://t.me/newssil/191235

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