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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-20 at 01:01
Published 1 week, 2 days ago
Description
HEADLINES
US poised to strike Iran this week
Saudi Crown Prince won't join Abraham Accords
Netanyahu leads as coalition hangs in doubt
The time is now 1:01 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 latest reporting centers on two developments. CNN reports that the US military would be ready by the end of the week to strike Iran, but sources familiar with operational planning say an attack is not expected in the near term. Separately, a look at open-source video and imagery shows Tehran streets where drivers pass billboards featuring Qasem Soleimani, the slain head of the Quds Force, with the song Am Israel Hai playing in the background.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), on the first Friday of Ramadan the Kalandiya and Rachel crossings were opened to permit the entry of Palestinians.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, Editor’s Notes argues that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will not join the Abraham Accords. The piece recalls how normalization seemed within reach before the October 7 attacks, but now progress hinges on the highly unlikely establishment of a Palestinian state, leaving the framework for a deal appearing to be in doubt.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Maariv poll shows Netanyahu leading in votes but lacking the power to form a coalition, with the bloc at about 50 seats to the opposition’s 60 and Hadash-Ta’al plus Ra’am around 10. The picture is unsettled as rival camps maneuver; former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! rises to 13 seats, while Democrats hold 11, Bennett sits at 20, Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beytenu each down to eight, and Likud at 26 with Otzma Yehudit at nine; several small parties fail to pass the electoral threshold. Separately, an editorial argues that if the political elite keep performing for cameras, Israelis may struggle to heal, noting internal clashes among opposition figures and a leaked recording in which Naftali Bennett floated a national unity government that could involve figures from across the spectrum, highlighting the fragility of consensus as elections approach.
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://t.me/newssil/192123
https://t.me/newssil/192120
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1287022
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-887309
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-887332
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-887306
US poised to strike Iran this week
Saudi Crown Prince won't join Abraham Accords
Netanyahu leads as coalition hangs in doubt
The time is now 1:01 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 latest reporting centers on two developments. CNN reports that the US military would be ready by the end of the week to strike Iran, but sources familiar with operational planning say an attack is not expected in the near term. Separately, a look at open-source video and imagery shows Tehran streets where drivers pass billboards featuring Qasem Soleimani, the slain head of the Quds Force, with the song Am Israel Hai playing in the background.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), on the first Friday of Ramadan the Kalandiya and Rachel crossings were opened to permit the entry of Palestinians.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, Editor’s Notes argues that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will not join the Abraham Accords. The piece recalls how normalization seemed within reach before the October 7 attacks, but now progress hinges on the highly unlikely establishment of a Palestinian state, leaving the framework for a deal appearing to be in doubt.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Maariv poll shows Netanyahu leading in votes but lacking the power to form a coalition, with the bloc at about 50 seats to the opposition’s 60 and Hadash-Ta’al plus Ra’am around 10. The picture is unsettled as rival camps maneuver; former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! rises to 13 seats, while Democrats hold 11, Bennett sits at 20, Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beytenu each down to eight, and Likud at 26 with Otzma Yehudit at nine; several small parties fail to pass the electoral threshold. Separately, an editorial argues that if the political elite keep performing for cameras, Israelis may struggle to heal, noting internal clashes among opposition figures and a leaked recording in which Naftali Bennett floated a national unity government that could involve figures from across the spectrum, highlighting the fragility of consensus as elections approach.
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://t.me/newssil/192123
https://t.me/newssil/192120
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1287022
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-887309
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-887332
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-887306