HEADLINES- Netanyahu to NYC despite ICC arrest warrants- Saint Catherine megaproject nears completion heritage risk- Russia summit ends with no breakthroughThe time is now 10:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Good evening. Here is the latest hourly update on the Middle East and related regional developments.Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he remains committed to traveling to New York City, despite warnings from Zohran Mamdani, the incoming mayor of New York, about enforcing arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against leaders accused of war crimes. In a virtual appearance, Netanyahu reaffirmed, Yes, I’ll come to New York. He said that if Mamdani changes course and acknowledges Israel’s right to exist, that could open a pathway for dialogue. Mamdani, who will be New York’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor, has said he supports Israel’s right to exist but has declined to declare Israel’s right to be a Jewish state, arguing against a hierarchy of citizenship based on religion. The mayor-elect has vowed to use city police resources to enforce ICC warrants against leaders including Netanyahu and others.The Israeli leader is facing a long-running fraud, bribery and breach-of-trust case at home and has requested a presidential pardon, which he frames as a means to free government time for the country’s needs rather than an admission of guilt. Netanyahu has insisted the charges are baseless and has stressed his confidence in broad public support, saying his two main priorities ahead are advancing technology, including artificial intelligence, and pursuing a broader peace in the region. He has suggested another wave of peace agreements could unfold with multiple partners, including states outside the region, provided security remains uncompromised. On the domestic front, Netanyahu rejected the notion that the trial will determine Israel’s future and argued that the public backs his leadership as he seeks to steer a period of rapid change in technology and diplomacy.On the question of normalization with Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu said there is strong interest in moving forward, but that progress must be anchored in security. Saudi officials have repeatedly linked any advancement to a credible pathway toward Palestinian statehood, a standard Washington and many in the region say remains a prerequisite for broader normalization. Netanyahu cautioned that security demands must be met but emphasized Israel’s willingness to sign peace accords with multiple countries, including Islamic states beyond the region, if a durable framework for peaceful coexistence is achieved.Across Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, a state-led megaproject near Saint Catherine known as the Great Transfiguration or Revelation of Saint Catherine is reshaping the landscape around the ancient monastery and its Bedouin communities. Government officials tout economic benefits from new hotels, a conference center and housing, while heritage groups and locals warn the development risks damaging a UNESCO World Heritage site and displacing long-standing communities. The Saint Catherine Monastery and nearby Bedouin guides say the project encroaches on heritage and ancestral land, with a 2023 UNESCO request urging Egypt to pause further development, conduct an impact evaluation and craft a conservation plan. Despite such warnings, construction has progressed, and by early this year the project was reported to be about 90 percent complete. For many locals, the tension between growth and preservation is acute: some fear displacement and loss of cultural identity, while others hope tourism will bring much-needed prosperity amid rising prices and economic strain.On the wider international front, the summit between Russian and allied envoys from the United States and allied circles ended without a concrete breakthrough, with Western officials noting that Moscow shows no intent to halt its campaign in Ukraine. In Brussels, a dispute has emerged between Belgium and the European Union over the use of frozen Russian assets, estimated at roughly two hundred billion euros, underscoring ongoing tensions that influence global security and economic dynamics.Looking ahead, observers will watch for any shifts in Israeli security policy and diplomacy in light of high-level talks and international pressures, as well as ongoing debates over the Palestinian question and regional partnerships. In Egypt, the Saint Catherine development will continue to draw scrutiny from heritage groups, local communities and international organizations seeking a balance between investment and preservation. In the broader arena, global actors remain engaged in a dynamic and evolving set of relations that shape the security and stability of the region.That is the latest. We will continue to monitor these developments and report with clarity and balance as events unfold.Thank you for ...
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