Episode Details

HEADLINES
Graham warns Iran regime near collapse
Indonesia to lead Gaza Stabilization Force
Smotrich says daughter won't enlist in IDF

The time is now 3:01 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, Senator Lindsey Graham said the Iranian regime is on the verge of collapse and that the United States must follow through on aid to the Iranian people to avert a catastrophe worse than Afghanistan, warning that survival of the Islamic Republic could unravel the Abraham Accords and shake trust in the United States. He described a historic window of opportunity that could reshape the Middle East for years to come. The remarks came after meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu and opposition leader Lapid, and after he participated in a large rally of anti-regime protesters, linking Iran’s vulnerability to Israel’s response to the October 7 attacks.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Morocco and Albania will join Greece in the International Stabilization Force in Gaza, augmenting Indonesia which will lead the operation. Indonesia will begin deployments in April, with about 1,000 troops, and a broader force of around 8,000 by June. Timing for Morocco, Albania, and Greece has not been fully announced, though Greece is reported to join, and Morocco and Albania are expected to become among the larger contingents by mid-January per early reports. The ISF is tasked with overseeing ceasefire lines and addressing border-related issues as part of Phase II of the ceasefire arrangement. In related developments, the IDF’s international law division and reservists provided ongoing legal advice to commanders across multiple fronts during the Gaza campaign, with dozens of full-time lawyers and a large number of reservists helping guide rules of engagement and potentially shielding soldiers from war crimes charges. Israel is also planning to extend Jerusalem for the first time since the Six Day War, with a housing plan advancing in the Adam settlement in the Binyamin region.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he does not want his daughter to enlist in the IDF, stating this is the ruling of his rabbis and that he respects other views; he also argued for passing a draft law to ensure haredi enlistment and burden-sharing, while noting his broader aims to cut living costs and curb monopolies. The government is fast-tracking a haredi conscription bill, and a recent protest in Bnei Brak against enlistment turned violent, with two female IDF soldiers attacked before police intervened. A separate analysis notes that while violence by a fringe minority in any community is condemned, the public conversation often frames such acts as not representative of the wider group, a pattern seen in Israel and elsewhere as authorities seek to set boundaries.

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/israel-news/article-886871
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-886877
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-886872
https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-plans-to-extend-jerusalem-for-first-time-since-six-day-war/

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