HEADLINES- SA Jews Begin Aliyah Subsidized Netanya Housing- US Unveils Gaza Governance Plan Spurs Tension- Iran Unrest Expands as Authorities Crack DownThe time is now 1:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.From Tel Aviv to Netanya, to Gaza and beyond, the news today centers on security, governance, and the evolving calculations of national and diaspora communities as they respond to war, diplomacy, and shifting regional power.First, a story with deep human dimensions and strategic resonance: South African Jews are making aliyah in a defined, government-supported program aimed at older couples who have family in Israel and cannot afford housing here. In Netanya, a cluster of new arrivals is housed in a recently designated building that, while modest by the standards many of these families are leaving behind in Johannesburg or Cape Town, is designed to anchor them in the center of the country. The project offers travel assistance, subsidized rental at 350 shekels a month, and the possibility of living in close proximity to their Israeli relatives. Thirty couples have already moved, with ten more expected by March, and a companion plan in Beersheba seeks to attract singles. The program underscores a broader dynamic: for many olim, the draw is a mix of family, faith, and the sense of security and belonging that Israel represents, even as the pace of change in Israeli life—economic, social, and security-related—continues to test new residents adapting to a smaller living space, limited financial reserves, and the need to master Hebrew. Officials emphasize that such moves occur alongside ongoing questions about antisemitism and identity in other parts of the world, while pointing to the practical realities of life here, including employment and language acquisition.In a separate but related thread, Israeli political life continues to wrestle with questions of security, military service, and how to balance coalition priorities with long-standing Republican-style insistence on a strong national defense. A high-profile interview with an outspoken Likud member, a former city official now in the Knesset, highlights the tension between coalition discipline and the conviction that certain core values—security, sovereignty over Jerusalem, and a robust defense posture—must be preserved even amid political compromise. The discussion also foregrounds the role of ideology in a party that has evolved since its founding, the impact of the October 7 events on political credibility, and the ongoing push to translate broad principles into concrete legislation. The interview touches on debates surrounding the haredi draft and the broader question of how Israel can sustain a dynamic economy while maintaining a reliable military reserve structure. It also underscores the importance many voters attach to leadership that stays true to core beliefs even as the political landscape moves.In Washington’s orbit, the Biden administration’s path forward for Gaza is being reframed as a governance question as much as a security one. The White House unveiled an engineering of governance in Gaza through a two-tier framework: a Gaza Board of Peace, chaired by President Trump, with a roster that includes high-profile figures from the United States and allied countries, and a parallel technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. The Board of Peace is intended to coordinate governance, reconstruction, and economic development, while an accompanying Gaza Executive Board and the Office of the High Representative for Gaza are to coordinate day-to-day operations. In addition, the Palestinian technocratic NCAG, led by Dr. Ali Sha’ath, is designed to run health, education, land, and water matters in Gaza once Hamas’s current governance structure is rolled back. The plan envisions international participation, with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and others named as potential participants, and US officials outlining that the arrangement is meant to bring together diplomacy, development, infrastructure, and economic strategy. Israel’s government, however, published a cautious note that the composition of the Board of Peace did not originate in coordination with Jerusalem and could run counter to Israeli policy; Foreign Minister Gideon Saar was tasked with raising the concern with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The tension underscores a central debate in the region: how to secure a durable peace while managing the political realities of a wide coalition that includes allies and actors with divergent views on sovereignty, security, and governance in Gaza.Across the region and in relation to Iran, the broader geopolitical weather remains unsettled. In Iran, authorities report the discovery of a spying network and claim a number of suspects have been arrested or summoned for questioning in connection with protests and unrest ...
Show More
Show Less
8 mins