HEADLINESJericho Rescue Highlights PA-Israel Security CooperationAustralia Tightens Gun Controls After Hanukkah AttackUS Warns IRGC Drills Could Signal AttackThe time is now 10:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This is the 10:00 PM update. In the Middle East, the war in Israel and Gaza remains the central and defining security concern for the region, with international attention focused on how Israel will defend its citizens while seeking to minimize civilian suffering and maintain regional deterrence. Day 808 of the current phase of the Gaza conflict underscores a hard reality: Israel continues to emphasize the need for security, while the orbit of international diplomacy and domestic debates in allied countries continue to shape the broader crisis.In Israel, authorities say operational momentum persists as military and intelligence efforts adapt to shifting threats along multiple fronts. One notable development described in recent reporting is a rescue operation in Jericho that highlighted coordination between the Palestinian Authority and Israeli security forces, illustrating how moments of cooperation can emerge even within a contested security environment. Such episodes are frequently cited by Israeli officials as examples of practical collaboration that can save lives and stabilize tense situations, even as overall hostilities and security measures remain robust.Among Israel’s international concerns is the safety of Jewish communities abroad and the role of diaspora voices in shaping perceptions of the conflict. A broader conversation among pro-Israel influencers and Jewish educators abroad has grown more prominent in recent months. Reporters describe a landscape in which online harassment and real-world threats have intensified since October 7, alongside renewed expressions of support for Israel. The diaspora story underscores how activists, educators, and community leaders seek to humanize Jewish life, explain Israel’s security needs, and counter misinformation, even as they acknowledge the personal risks involved in speaking out.Beyond the immediate conflict zone, the violence and antisemitism crisis has spurred political responses in allied countries. In Australia, the Bondi Beach mass shooting has reverberated through Canberra and state capitals. Parliament in New South Wales was recalled to advance a package of gun-control measures designed to curb firearm ownership, ban symbols associated with extremism, and regulate protests. The proposed laws would cap firearm ownership, expand powers to remove face coverings during demonstrations, and target symbols or rhetoric that incites violence. The attack, which targeted a Hanukkah celebration, has driven calls from Jewish and other community leaders for a formal inquiry into antisemitism and security, with some politicians urging a royal commission to review the national response to antisemitism and security threats.In the United States, political and security conversations touch on the Middle East from several angles. A cautious note from an Israeli source in Washington raised the prospect that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps might be conducting missile drills that could serve as cover for a future surprise attack. Officials stress that while the overall likelihood of an attack is not a certainty, the risk environment remains high enough to warrant vigilance and continued coordination with allies. Separately, the domestic political arena continues to wrestle with questions of rhetoric, platforming, and responsibility as part of a larger debate within the conservative and broader American political world about antisemitism, security commitments, and how to address dangerous tropes without silencing legitimate debate.Global security alerts also feature from the broader region and beyond. In Krasnodar, Russia, Ukrainian drone activity reportedly struck ships and infrastructure, provoking government statements about battlefield risks and cross-border tensions. In Latin America, political polarization and regional governance debates continue, with leaders weighing how events in one hemisphere intersect with broader themes of governance, security, and democratic norms, including the credibility of leadership narratives across the Americas.Diaspora voices and online culture remain a telling strand of the story. Pro-Israel influencers traveling in Israel and hosting audiences abroad describe both the endurance of their communities and the intensity of online vitriol. They report daily encounters with hateful comments and even threats, yet many say their work—sharing culture, religion, and firsthand context about Israel—has an enduring, positive impact on students and communities who encounter Jewish life for the first time. Several participants describe their purpose as helping younger Jews feel connected to a broader story of cultural and religious belonging, even as they acknowledge ...
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