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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-17 at 20:02
Published 1 week, 5 days ago
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HEADLINES
80 stars urge Berlinale to speak out
US arms Israel with graphite bombs
Israelis attacked at Koh Samui bar
The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), more than 80 Berlin Film Festival alumni, including Tilda Swinton and Javier Bardem, signed an open letter to the Berlinale published on Tuesday calling for the festival to take a clear stance on the Israel-Hamas War. The letter asks the festival to fulfill its moral duty and clearly state its opposition to Israel's genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes against Palestinians, and says organizers have not met demands to issue a statement affirming Palestinians' right to life and committing to uphold artists' right to speak out on the issue. "This is the least it can - and should - do," the letter says, and it adds that Berlinale's institutional silence is appalling. The festival did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The Berlin Film Festival is described as the most political of its peers, Venice and Cannes, and prides itself on showing cinema from underrepresented communities and young talent.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States provides graphite bombs to Israel, and the report says that if attacks occur on Iran's power grid or suspicious power outages occur beforehand, that would be the reason. The article notes the graphite bombs and frames the situation in the broader context of US support and strategic calculations. Separately, officials say the United States is building up forces in the region as Iran threatens, with the vice president warning that all options are on the table as Washington sends a large military force to the region; talks remain uncertain, Israel voices pessimism, and the Knesset debates home front readiness. The discussion also frames Iran as not recognizing red lines in this environment.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, three Israelis were attacked at a bar in Koh Samui, Thailand, after they were overheard speaking Hebrew; French tourists reportedly chased them into the restroom, forced the door open, and demanded they turn over the contents of their pockets. Pictures shared on social media showed the Israelis' bleeding wounds. In a separate incident, an Israeli was arrested by Thai authorities after being caught with over 50 million baht (five million shekels) worth of drugs; the Israeli, Shai Alfasi (42), owned the Lola bar and restaurant in the Hat Hin Kong area of Ko Pha Ngan island. Tourist Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Saksira Phueak-um told the Bangkok Post that Alfasi was suspected of conducting his operation via WhatsApp. Customers would order through the app, and then be texted directions to a location where the drugs would be hidden inside black socks, Phueak-um explained to the Bangkok Post, adding that photos of the locations would also be sent. Alfasi was caught by police pretending to be Hebrew-speaking buyers, who arranged to purchase 6,000 baht worth of ketamine, and then followed...
In Uplifting News, Emery Lehman, a Jewish speedskater and four-time Olympian, captured a silver medal in the men’s team pursuit on Tuesday, his second career medal. Lehman, 29, and teammates Casey Dawson and Ethan Cepuran finished 4.51 seconds behind the host country Italy in what was considered an unexpected loss for the United States. Since the 2021-2022 season, Lehman’s team had set three world records and won five straight World Cup season titles, the 2022 Olympic bronze medal and a 2025 world championship. Lehman has said he plans to retire from speedskating after the 2026 Olympics. “Eight years ago, none of us had skated a team pursuit together,” Lehman said after the race. “Now, to be finishing off with two Olympic medals, I’m pretty proud of it.” Lehman, a Chicago native, took u
80 stars urge Berlinale to speak out
US arms Israel with graphite bombs
Israelis attacked at Koh Samui bar
The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), more than 80 Berlin Film Festival alumni, including Tilda Swinton and Javier Bardem, signed an open letter to the Berlinale published on Tuesday calling for the festival to take a clear stance on the Israel-Hamas War. The letter asks the festival to fulfill its moral duty and clearly state its opposition to Israel's genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes against Palestinians, and says organizers have not met demands to issue a statement affirming Palestinians' right to life and committing to uphold artists' right to speak out on the issue. "This is the least it can - and should - do," the letter says, and it adds that Berlinale's institutional silence is appalling. The festival did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The Berlin Film Festival is described as the most political of its peers, Venice and Cannes, and prides itself on showing cinema from underrepresented communities and young talent.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States provides graphite bombs to Israel, and the report says that if attacks occur on Iran's power grid or suspicious power outages occur beforehand, that would be the reason. The article notes the graphite bombs and frames the situation in the broader context of US support and strategic calculations. Separately, officials say the United States is building up forces in the region as Iran threatens, with the vice president warning that all options are on the table as Washington sends a large military force to the region; talks remain uncertain, Israel voices pessimism, and the Knesset debates home front readiness. The discussion also frames Iran as not recognizing red lines in this environment.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, three Israelis were attacked at a bar in Koh Samui, Thailand, after they were overheard speaking Hebrew; French tourists reportedly chased them into the restroom, forced the door open, and demanded they turn over the contents of their pockets. Pictures shared on social media showed the Israelis' bleeding wounds. In a separate incident, an Israeli was arrested by Thai authorities after being caught with over 50 million baht (five million shekels) worth of drugs; the Israeli, Shai Alfasi (42), owned the Lola bar and restaurant in the Hat Hin Kong area of Ko Pha Ngan island. Tourist Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Saksira Phueak-um told the Bangkok Post that Alfasi was suspected of conducting his operation via WhatsApp. Customers would order through the app, and then be texted directions to a location where the drugs would be hidden inside black socks, Phueak-um explained to the Bangkok Post, adding that photos of the locations would also be sent. Alfasi was caught by police pretending to be Hebrew-speaking buyers, who arranged to purchase 6,000 baht worth of ketamine, and then followed...
In Uplifting News, Emery Lehman, a Jewish speedskater and four-time Olympian, captured a silver medal in the men’s team pursuit on Tuesday, his second career medal. Lehman, 29, and teammates Casey Dawson and Ethan Cepuran finished 4.51 seconds behind the host country Italy in what was considered an unexpected loss for the United States. Since the 2021-2022 season, Lehman’s team had set three world records and won five straight World Cup season titles, the 2022 Olympic bronze medal and a 2025 world championship. Lehman has said he plans to retire from speedskating after the 2026 Olympics. “Eight years ago, none of us had skated a team pursuit together,” Lehman said after the race. “Now, to be finishing off with two Olympic medals, I’m pretty proud of it.” Lehman, a Chicago native, took u