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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-13 at 07:02
Published 2 weeks, 4 days ago
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HEADLINES
Israel backs Iran freedom protests worldwide
Jenin militant Zidan arrested over Fondok attack
Netanyahu pardon request under legal review
The time is now 7:01 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, Israel voiced support for Iranians seeking freedom as they prepare for what Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi calls a Global Day of Action on February 14. The report notes that hundreds of thousands, and possibly millions, of Iranians around the world are expected to take to the streets to protest the Islamic Republic and its crackdown on nationwide unrest that has left thousands dead. Pahlavi issued the call last week for mass demonstrations across the globe, urging Iranians abroad to carry the voice of their nation to the world and to mobilize broader international support, while urging those inside Iran to participate from homes and rooftops on the evenings of February 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. The piece frames the day as a Global Day of Action and praises Iranians for their courage and resilience, while highlighting Israel’s perspective that a free Iran could bring peace to the region and end a regime that has long posed a threat to Israel.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Israeli security forces led by the Yamam and under the command of the Menashe Brigade, with Shin Bet guidance, arrested in Jenin a militant who had been involved in the Fondok attack on January 6, 2025. The individual, Mohammed Zidān, is described as having served as a facilitator for the attacker and as a former senior figure in Jenin’s terror network who financed and promoted terrorism against Israel. Reports add that Zidān was a resident of the Jenin refugee camp. Separately, Palestinian officials faced a different economic and political debate as Palestinian Finance Minister Astephan declared that his government would continue to provide financial support to the families of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs despite political pressure and an ongoing economic crisis. He noted reforms urged by European partners regarding salaries for prisoners and martyrs, stressing that commitments to all segments of the Palestinian population remain in place even as Israel withholds clearing funds—the tax revenues Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. In another development, World Israel News reported that the Palestinian Authority’s proposed constitution claims Jerusalem as the capital and restarts payments to families of prisoners and martyrs, with the document reportedly not referencing Jewish historical or religious ties to Jerusalem.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Office of President Isaac Herzog said Netanyahu’s request for a presidential pardon remains under legal review, following former US President Donald Trump’s renewed plea for clemency. Trump urged Herzog to pardon the prime minister, suggesting Israelis should be ashamed if he does not do so. Herzog clarified that the pardon request is being reviewed by the Ministry of Justice according to established procedures, and that only after that process is complete will the president consider the request in accordance with the law, the state’s best interests, and his own conscience, free from external or internal pressure. Separately, the Central Elections Committee ordered Likud to delete a doctored image depicting Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid joining hands with Arab party leaders, a manipulation created for campaign purposes. The committee also required Likud to cover Bennett’s NIS 8,500 fee associated with his complaint. Bennett’s Bennett 2026 faction called the development part of a broader “poison machine” and pledged to keep challenging what it described as misinformation.
In Uplifting News, Parashat Mishpatim is presented as a foundational exploration of freedom and responsibility, noting
Israel backs Iran freedom protests worldwide
Jenin militant Zidan arrested over Fondok attack
Netanyahu pardon request under legal review
The time is now 7:01 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, Israel voiced support for Iranians seeking freedom as they prepare for what Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi calls a Global Day of Action on February 14. The report notes that hundreds of thousands, and possibly millions, of Iranians around the world are expected to take to the streets to protest the Islamic Republic and its crackdown on nationwide unrest that has left thousands dead. Pahlavi issued the call last week for mass demonstrations across the globe, urging Iranians abroad to carry the voice of their nation to the world and to mobilize broader international support, while urging those inside Iran to participate from homes and rooftops on the evenings of February 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. The piece frames the day as a Global Day of Action and praises Iranians for their courage and resilience, while highlighting Israel’s perspective that a free Iran could bring peace to the region and end a regime that has long posed a threat to Israel.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Israeli security forces led by the Yamam and under the command of the Menashe Brigade, with Shin Bet guidance, arrested in Jenin a militant who had been involved in the Fondok attack on January 6, 2025. The individual, Mohammed Zidān, is described as having served as a facilitator for the attacker and as a former senior figure in Jenin’s terror network who financed and promoted terrorism against Israel. Reports add that Zidān was a resident of the Jenin refugee camp. Separately, Palestinian officials faced a different economic and political debate as Palestinian Finance Minister Astephan declared that his government would continue to provide financial support to the families of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs despite political pressure and an ongoing economic crisis. He noted reforms urged by European partners regarding salaries for prisoners and martyrs, stressing that commitments to all segments of the Palestinian population remain in place even as Israel withholds clearing funds—the tax revenues Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. In another development, World Israel News reported that the Palestinian Authority’s proposed constitution claims Jerusalem as the capital and restarts payments to families of prisoners and martyrs, with the document reportedly not referencing Jewish historical or religious ties to Jerusalem.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Office of President Isaac Herzog said Netanyahu’s request for a presidential pardon remains under legal review, following former US President Donald Trump’s renewed plea for clemency. Trump urged Herzog to pardon the prime minister, suggesting Israelis should be ashamed if he does not do so. Herzog clarified that the pardon request is being reviewed by the Ministry of Justice according to established procedures, and that only after that process is complete will the president consider the request in accordance with the law, the state’s best interests, and his own conscience, free from external or internal pressure. Separately, the Central Elections Committee ordered Likud to delete a doctored image depicting Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid joining hands with Arab party leaders, a manipulation created for campaign purposes. The committee also required Likud to cover Bennett’s NIS 8,500 fee associated with his complaint. Bennett’s Bennett 2026 faction called the development part of a broader “poison machine” and pledged to keep challenging what it described as misinformation.
In Uplifting News, Parashat Mishpatim is presented as a foundational exploration of freedom and responsibility, noting