Episode Details

HEADLINES
Israel strikes PIJ in Lebanon Hezbollah warned
Indonesia to deploy Gaza Stabilization Force April
Netanyahu skeptical about any Iran deal

The time is now 3:02 PM 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, the IDF struck Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Majdal Anjar area in eastern Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. The strike followed a day after the IDF targeted Hezbollah weapons depots and infrastructure in southern Lebanon as part of ongoing efforts to thwart attempts by the terrorist organization to rebuild its capabilities. Lebanese sources claimed the attack was carried out by an Israeli combat helicopter along the Lebanon-Syria border near the border crossing. The IDF also confirmed that a short while earlier it struck Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Majdal Anjar area.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Indonesia's contribution to the International Stabilization Force to Gaza will begin deploying in April, with about 1,000 troops then and around 8,000 by June. Indonesia said that if conditions in Gaza are not ripe for deployment, the force might not travel to Gaza even if ready. Indonesia would be the first segment of the ISF, with other possible contributors including the UAE, Egypt, Italy, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, among others, but no country has moved from general discussions. There are increasing signs that there will be no major progress toward Trump's Gaza Ceasefire Phase II before late February at the earliest. Israeli officials say the Palestinian technocratic committee’s concrete impact could take months, and Mladenov has said there is currently no basis for action until the current ceasefire disruptions stop. He warned that attempting to start work in Gaza while fighting continues would undermine the effort. Western and Arab nations have criticized what they call a de facto annexation of West Bank lands as Israel moves to have the Justice Ministry oversee formal registration of extensive state lands, backed by a dedicated budget and new staffing allocations.

In the US Policy Concerning Israel, Netanyahu said he is "very skeptical" about any future deal with Iran and that "the Iranians are lying." He described essential components in any agreement to ensure security for Israel, the US, the region, and the world, including removal of all enriched uranium from Iran’s territory, and he stressed that reducing uranium enrichment to zero is not on the table. Netanyahu spoke after a recent trip to Washington for a meeting with President Trump focused on Iran. Separately, American and Israeli officials have said there is little chance of a deal between the US and Iran, with Iran’s Majid Takht-Ravanchi saying Iran is willing to consider concessions if Washington is ready to discuss lifting sanctions, while warning against zero enrichment as a condition. He told the BBC that the ball is in the American court to prove sincerity, and if they are, they’ll be on the path to an agreement. Reports also indicate that Trump told Netanyahu in December that he would support Israeli strikes on Iran’s ballistic missile program if no deal could be reached.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the government approved the establishment of a new international airport in southern Israel at Ziklag, alongside an additional international airport in northern Ramat David. Officials cited congestion at Ben-Gurion Airport as the main driver, noting it is nearing its maximum capacity of about 40 million passengers per year. The plan calls for accelerating planning of the southern airport to match the pace of the northern project, with the aim of spurring economic growth in Israel’s peripheral areas. Without new civilian airports, officials warn of an aviation crisis that could limit flights and drive up ticket prices.