Episode Details

HEADLINES
Iran warns UN of retaliation targets
Rafah fighting draws 100x more media attention
Democrat withdraws endorsement over AIPAC ties

The time is now 3:01 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, life in Israel goes on with routine activity even as questions loom about a potential US strike and the risk of escalation. The departure hall at Ben-Gurion Airport looked unremarkable, with flights arriving from Bucharest, New Delhi, and Naples and departures to Athens, Krasnodar, and Berlin; coffee stands were busy and security lines moved at their usual pace. Supermarkets were stocked, and there was no rush on goods. In conversations, Israelis weighed when Washington could act and whether trips might be disrupted, while President Herzog, during a visit to Australia, said he had no inside information about any war plans and that he would not discuss pardons in a way that would disrupt travel. Israel remains watchful. Meanwhile, Iran sent a letter to the UN secretary-general warning it would respond to any attack, declaring that bases, facilities and assets of the hostile force would be legitimate targets, while insisting it does not seek to start a war.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), media coverage and on-the-ground actions show a contrast in focus. A Jewish People Policy Institute study found Rafah fighting drew roughly 100 times more media attention and protests than Iranian protests, highlighting a perception that Israel's defensive war against armed groups is judged more harshly than actions that devastate domestic protesters. The study noted gaps in international media coverage and in US protests for both issues. Separately, the IDF's operations in the West Bank, aimed at curbing incitement, have arrested 17 key inciters in the past two weeks and more than 420 inciters since the war began, with authorities focusing on social media and coordination with Palestinian officials to prevent flare-ups, as Ramadan begins.

In the US Policy Concerning Israel, a Democratic representative has withdrawn her endorsement in a neighboring Illinois district, citing AIPAC ties. Representative Jan Schakowsky said Illinois deserves leaders who put voters first, not AIPAC or outside donors, and that she cannot support a candidate funded by these interests. The candidate has received contributions from AIPAC-affiliated donors, and local groups tied to AIPAC have run ads. AIPAC has not endorsed the candidate, nor has its affiliated super PAC, and the incident reflects ongoing tensions inside the Democratic Party over the lobby's role in races.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, ultra-Orthodox parties say the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's legal adviser, Miri Frenkel-Shor, is stalling the passage of the long-delayed conscription bill. Senior officials say some of her conditions are not purely legal and reflect ideological views, with demands to maintain sanctions on individuals who do not enlist even if recruitment targets are met. They argued that Frenkel-Shor would prefer the law not pass and said the issue is complicated even without coalition politics. The remarks came as the bill's passage remains unsettled.

In Uplifting News, there is a call to support the Iranian people. The people of Iran need our support.

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-887294

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