HEADLINESSaudi F-35 Sale Threatens US-Israel TiesLebanon-Cyprus Maritime Deal Enables Energy ExplorationGaza Ceasefire Strains Amid Hamas RearmingThe time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.As of 7:00 a.m., the Middle East portfolio remains shaped by a mixture of security operations, strategic debates in Washington, and growing regional diplomacy, all framed for an international audience seeking clarity on Israeli security concerns and how US policy is evolving.First, the US-Israel security relationship is under renewed scrutiny. A former IDF intelligence chief warned that if Washington approves the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, it could pose a long-term risk to the stability of the US-Israel security relationship. The concern centers on broader regional dynamics, potential pressures on alliance cohesion, and how such weapons transfers might influence calculations by Israel and its partners.Turning to battlefield and battlefield-adjacent developments, Israeli health and technology sectors continue to draw attention alongside security matters. An Israeli startup’s copper-infused wound dressings won top recognition for innovation and commercial potential at an international summit in San Diego, highlighting how Israel’s tech sector remains a source of practical, noncombat impact with global reach.In Syria, Palestinian Islamic Jihad is reported to be expanding its armed presence with the Assad regime’s approval, focusing efforts in Palestinian refugee camps near Damascus. The shift is cited as part of broader regional maneuvering, and experts say it could affect future stability across the Levant, particularly if cross-border smuggling routes or external support networks intensify.On the political and civic front, debate continues over BDS-related activity and media coverage. The response to a Jewish pro-boycott journalist’s lecture in Tel Aviv has illustrated how public discourse can become a flashpoint for broader questions about advocacy, free expression, and national security concerns in a highly polarized environment.Within Israel’s security establishments, the latest operational briefings emphasize ongoing counterterrorism work in the Rafah area and in the northern West Bank. In Rafah, the Israeli military reported multiple encounters with militants who emerged from tunnels; in one operation, several militants were neutralized, and others were detained as part of a broader campaign to dismantle underground networks. In the northern West Bank, a significant incursion was described as a long-term operation around Tubas, with troops securing positions, evacuating civilians, and conducting arrests. The military has stressed that operations in these zones are aimed at degrading militant infrastructures and preventing attacks on Israeli civilians, a message echoed by Palestinian authorities who view the actions as coercive pressure and a destabilizing occupation.Across the region, two maritime developments are worth noting. Lebanon and Cyprus signed a long-awaited maritime demarcation deal, potentially enabling energy exploration and economic cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean. The agreement follows earlier delineations of sea borders between Lebanon and Israel and signals a continuing push toward regional energy collaboration, albeit tempered by broader political tensions. In the same circular of diplomacy, discussions around Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict persist, with international actors weighing a path to ceasefire, reconstruction, and governance that would address security needs alongside humanitarian concerns.In domestic policy, debate continues over economic and security trade-offs related to the Gaza ceasefire and regional stability. A government-influenced push to end certain VAT exemptions for tourism has sparked debate about the balance between revenue generation and growth in the tourism sector, which plays a role in the wider economy and regional resilience. The political dynamic inside Israel remains complex, with opposition leaders and coalition partners at odds over how to pursue security goals while managing domestic concerns and international perceptions.International diplomacy and symbolic acts also figure prominently. The Vatican is planning a high-profile visit by Pope Leo XIV to Turkey and Lebanon, a trip viewed as a potential moment of quiet diplomacy amid regional tensions. In Turkey, the pope will mark a significant ecumenical anniversary and meet with Orthodox and Catholic communities; in Lebanon, the visit is framed as support for a Christian community facing regional pressures, while observers note the security environment surrounding such visits, including the possibility of heightened scrutiny from various regional actors.Warning signals about conflict and humanitarian risk continue to surface. Reports from Gaza indicate ongoing challenges in humanitarian access and ...
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