Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-17 at 11:02
Published 1 week, 5 days ago
Description
HEADLINES
Iran Threatens US Amid Smart Control Drill
Palestinian Child Killed in Tirza Live Fire
Bennett Rejects Netanyahu Calls for New Leadership
The time is now 11:02 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 is watching the Geneva talks closely as Tehran presses ahead with its own moves. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards said they will continue the “Smart Control” drill, during which Iran temporarily closed several strategic straits for a number of hours. At the same time, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued direct threats to strike American forces in the Persian Gulf.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), a four-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical condition after a road incident in Umm al-Fahm; medics performed CPR and transported him to HaEmek Hospital. In Ramallah, units of the Duvdevan special forces, under the coordination of Shin Bet, arrested a man described as a weapons dealer involved in a terror network in the city; the suspect was transferred to Shin Bet for interrogation. In the Jordan Valley Tirza area, a Palestinian child was killed and two others were critically injured by an explosive device in a live-fire zone; the IDF dispatched to the scene and said it would investigate the incident; the area is designated as dangerous and entry is restricted.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Berlinale head Tricia Tuttle defended the festival's jury for refusing to condemn Israel for genocide, saying there are many forms of art and many ways of being political, and free speech is happening at the Berlinale. The issue followed statements by jury president Wim Wenders that filmmakers should stay out of politics. Separately, Swiss broadcaster RTS pulled from its website a commentary on an Olympic bobsleigh run in which a reporter questioned the presence of an Israeli athlete in the Games over his alleged support for Israel's actions in Gaza; RTS said the segment was removed for length, while the IOC noted questions about individual comments should be directed to broadcasters.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, former prime minister Naftali Bennett said he will not form a government with Benjamin Netanyahu after the elections, calling for new leadership and warning about threats from Turkey; he spoke at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem and said, “The next chapter must be written by new leadership,” adding that Israel cannot continue with the same leadership. New tefillin were presented to a police officer whose equipment was burned in a Haredi riot in Bnei Brak; investigators are seeking those involved, and police say they take the incident seriously, noting the riot followed a visit by two female IDF soldiers to the city. Police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir blamed the attorney general for a surge in killings in the Arab community, saying there have been about 50 murders this year and accusing Gali Baharav-Miara of tying police hands due to legal restrictions on administrative detention and surveillance.
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.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1286018
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-headlines/article-886975
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/a
Iran Threatens US Amid Smart Control Drill
Palestinian Child Killed in Tirza Live Fire
Bennett Rejects Netanyahu Calls for New Leadership
The time is now 11:02 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 is watching the Geneva talks closely as Tehran presses ahead with its own moves. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards said they will continue the “Smart Control” drill, during which Iran temporarily closed several strategic straits for a number of hours. At the same time, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued direct threats to strike American forces in the Persian Gulf.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), a four-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical condition after a road incident in Umm al-Fahm; medics performed CPR and transported him to HaEmek Hospital. In Ramallah, units of the Duvdevan special forces, under the coordination of Shin Bet, arrested a man described as a weapons dealer involved in a terror network in the city; the suspect was transferred to Shin Bet for interrogation. In the Jordan Valley Tirza area, a Palestinian child was killed and two others were critically injured by an explosive device in a live-fire zone; the IDF dispatched to the scene and said it would investigate the incident; the area is designated as dangerous and entry is restricted.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Berlinale head Tricia Tuttle defended the festival's jury for refusing to condemn Israel for genocide, saying there are many forms of art and many ways of being political, and free speech is happening at the Berlinale. The issue followed statements by jury president Wim Wenders that filmmakers should stay out of politics. Separately, Swiss broadcaster RTS pulled from its website a commentary on an Olympic bobsleigh run in which a reporter questioned the presence of an Israeli athlete in the Games over his alleged support for Israel's actions in Gaza; RTS said the segment was removed for length, while the IOC noted questions about individual comments should be directed to broadcasters.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, former prime minister Naftali Bennett said he will not form a government with Benjamin Netanyahu after the elections, calling for new leadership and warning about threats from Turkey; he spoke at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem and said, “The next chapter must be written by new leadership,” adding that Israel cannot continue with the same leadership. New tefillin were presented to a police officer whose equipment was burned in a Haredi riot in Bnei Brak; investigators are seeking those involved, and police say they take the incident seriously, noting the riot followed a visit by two female IDF soldiers to the city. Police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir blamed the attorney general for a surge in killings in the Arab community, saying there have been about 50 murders this year and accusing Gali Baharav-Miara of tying police hands due to legal restrictions on administrative detention and surveillance.
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.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1286018
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-headlines/article-886975
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/a