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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-18 at 08:02
Published 1 week, 4 days ago
Description
HEADLINES
- US-Iran clash risk as talks falter
- EU considers backing Gaza governance committee
- Lod court upholds raw interview footage order
The time is now 8:02 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, the United States is closer to military conflict with Iran than most Americans realize, with Axios reporting that a weeks-long campaign could begin very soon if talks fail. The plan would likely be a joint US-Israeli operation with a broader scope than last year’s 12-day engagement. The second round of talks between the United States and Iran ended recently, with officials saying progress was made, though sources describe significant gaps. In Washington, Vice President JD Vance indicated that while diplomacy is preferred, all options remain on the table. The United States has been steadily building up its forces in the region as tensions rise.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), the European Union is exploring possible support for a new committee established to take over the civil administration of Gaza, according to a document from the bloc's diplomatic arm. The EU is engaging with the newly established transitional governance structures for Gaza and considering support to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. European foreign ministers are set to discuss the Gaza situation at a meeting in Brussels on February 23.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, over the last 48 hours there has been a concentrated deployment of American air power to the Middle East, including 48 F-16 fighter jets, 12 F-22s, 18 F-35s, 6 E-3G Sentry AWACS, about 40 refueling aircraft, and at least one RC-135V Rivet Joint, signaling peak readiness ahead of the arrival of the Gerald Ford carrier. Separately, documentation shows a US AWACS aircraft taking off from a base in Britain toward the Middle East yesterday.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Lod District Court on Wednesday upheld an order requiring Omri Assenheim to hand over raw interview footage to police in connection with the Bild leak and midnight meeting investigations, ruling that the needs of criminal probes outweigh journalistic privilege. Assenheim can challenge the ruling, but the court stressed the public interest in criminal investigations. In a separate development, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the IDF is not a place for women and that he would not advise his daughter to enlist, while also taking aim at Economy Minister Nir Barkat and commenting on crime in Arab communities, saying there is a culture of murder, killing, and jihad.
In Uplifting News, Jewish communities in Ukraine are preparing Purim aid distributions, with 24,000 mishloach manot packages planned for 25 major cities and regions, along with deliveries to smaller towns. Local rabbis described ongoing power cuts and winter hardship as they organize meals and events for Purim, including a Purim seudah with hundreds of participants. In Kryvyi Rih, Rabbi Liron Edri said residents have faced months of limited electricity and damage to communal facilities, but registrations for Purim activities were filling quickly; in Chernivtsi, volunteers organized a Purim feast for hundreds in a heated venue as blackouts persisted, and volunteers planned further outreach to isolated seniors.
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/middle-east/article-887083
- US-Iran clash risk as talks falter
- EU considers backing Gaza governance committee
- Lod court upholds raw interview footage order
The time is now 8:02 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, the United States is closer to military conflict with Iran than most Americans realize, with Axios reporting that a weeks-long campaign could begin very soon if talks fail. The plan would likely be a joint US-Israeli operation with a broader scope than last year’s 12-day engagement. The second round of talks between the United States and Iran ended recently, with officials saying progress was made, though sources describe significant gaps. In Washington, Vice President JD Vance indicated that while diplomacy is preferred, all options remain on the table. The United States has been steadily building up its forces in the region as tensions rise.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), the European Union is exploring possible support for a new committee established to take over the civil administration of Gaza, according to a document from the bloc's diplomatic arm. The EU is engaging with the newly established transitional governance structures for Gaza and considering support to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. European foreign ministers are set to discuss the Gaza situation at a meeting in Brussels on February 23.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, over the last 48 hours there has been a concentrated deployment of American air power to the Middle East, including 48 F-16 fighter jets, 12 F-22s, 18 F-35s, 6 E-3G Sentry AWACS, about 40 refueling aircraft, and at least one RC-135V Rivet Joint, signaling peak readiness ahead of the arrival of the Gerald Ford carrier. Separately, documentation shows a US AWACS aircraft taking off from a base in Britain toward the Middle East yesterday.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Lod District Court on Wednesday upheld an order requiring Omri Assenheim to hand over raw interview footage to police in connection with the Bild leak and midnight meeting investigations, ruling that the needs of criminal probes outweigh journalistic privilege. Assenheim can challenge the ruling, but the court stressed the public interest in criminal investigations. In a separate development, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the IDF is not a place for women and that he would not advise his daughter to enlist, while also taking aim at Economy Minister Nir Barkat and commenting on crime in Arab communities, saying there is a culture of murder, killing, and jihad.
In Uplifting News, Jewish communities in Ukraine are preparing Purim aid distributions, with 24,000 mishloach manot packages planned for 25 major cities and regions, along with deliveries to smaller towns. Local rabbis described ongoing power cuts and winter hardship as they organize meals and events for Purim, including a Purim seudah with hundreds of participants. In Kryvyi Rih, Rabbi Liron Edri said residents have faced months of limited electricity and damage to communal facilities, but registrations for Purim activities were filling quickly; in Chernivtsi, volunteers organized a Purim feast for hundreds in a heated venue as blackouts persisted, and volunteers planned further outreach to isolated seniors.
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/middle-east/article-887083
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