Episode Details

HEADLINES
US deploys emergent MOPs for Iran strike
LeBron James faces backlash praising Israel
Elderly Israeli-Jewish women expelled in Madrid

The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the question of whether the US can destroy the Pickaxe Mountain facility and end Iran's nuclear program remains an intelligence and capabilities assessment. Reports on Friday that Washington is ordering an additional round of 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker buster bombs on an emergent basis have renewed the debate over whether the American military could carry out such a strike if it were decided. Analysts point to two avenues for analysis: first, the fact that the United States ordered new mega bunker buster bombs for the first time in years, and on an emergent basis, without a standard competitive bidding process; second, differences between the defensive situation at Pickaxe Mountain, the largest remaining Iranian facility, which lies beneath a mountain, versus Fordow, the Islamic Republic's key facility under a different mountain that the US bombed with 12 MOPs in June 2025. Regarding the orders for bunker busters, the piece notes there are positive and negative points. Positive points include that the orders were issued for the same bombs and not for a new, larger weapon still in development; negative aspects reflect the emergency nature of the move. The analysis frames the question as one that hinges on intelligence, defense capabilities, and strategic considerations rather than a simple yes or no.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, LeBron James faced online backlash after praising Israeli player Deni Avdija and saying he had heard "nothing but great things" about Israel. The comments came ahead of the NBA All-Star Game in Inglewood, California, and sparked a social media backlash with critics questioning the remarks. A separate assessment noted the backlash to James's comments as jarring and predictable, framing the moment around Avdija’s milestone as the first Israeli to appear in an NBA All-Star Game and the ensuing reaction online. Separately, three elderly Israeli-Jewish women, wearing Stars of David and carrying an Israeli flag, were expelled from Madrid’s Reina Sofía National Museum of Art after some visitors shouted antisemitic slurs, including references to genocide and killers. The staff asked the women to leave, a move contested by witnesses who argued the display of symbols is legal, and the museum—publicly funded—became the focus of concern about antisemitic harassment in public spaces.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the IDF clashes with police over a Bnei Brak incident as military officials dispute a police claim that the female commanders who arrived there were distributing recruitment leaflets. The IDF spokesperson said the assertion was incorrect, explaining the soldiers came for a home visit to a pre-draft candidate prior to enlistment. The leaflets in the soldiers’ possession were described as an informational booklet provided to every recruit at the Havat Hashomer base, outlining the enlistment process and required equipment. A military source criticized the police response as disrespectful, and the IDF expressed frustration with the police’s attempt to justify the statement issued by the Tel Aviv District Commander.

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/international/article-886858

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