Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-23 at 15:03

HEADLINES
US Green Light Sets Iran War Renewal
US Seizes Iranian Oil Tanker Majestic X
Russian Strikes Hit Dnipro Jewish Community

The time is now 3:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Israel is prepared to renew the war against Iran, awaiting the green light from the United States to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty. The Defense Minister said the IDF is prepared for both defense and attack, and the targets are marked. He described the Islamic regime’s practice of oppressing its people through the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij, and he accused Iran of energy extortion with the threat of raising global oil prices. He said its leaders are hiding in tunnels and have difficulty communicating and making decisions, its skies are wide open, and all its national infrastructure and strategic facilities are exposed to attacks, but it declares that it is victorious. He compared Iran to Hamas and Hezbollah, saying the country does not care about the heavy prices paid by the population. Turning to future IDF attack plans, Katz described them as “different and deadly.”

In US Military Role, The US military has seized an Iranian oil tanker Majestic X a few hours ago.

In Regional Impacts, a Russian strike fell near the home of Dnipro Jewish Community director Zelig Brez on Wednesday night, lightly wounding his child. The child is recovering, but the Jewish community and Dnipro’s other residents have been suffering under an unrelenting barrage of Russian drones and missile attacks over the last week. The Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine said recent weeks have seen Russian forces intensifying their bombardment of major cities and civilian populations, resulting in many casualties. The Russian strike in Dnipro was the second in a week, and last Thursday a drone was intercepted in Zaporizhzhia near the JDC Hesed Michael building, which also houses the Mazal Tov JCC. The Hesed reportedly resumed operations the next day after the damage was cleared, and the in-house trauma center invited people to address mental health issues. This episode is a stark reminder of the ongoing danger to civilian communities. Separately, an opinion piece argues that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is key to regional peace, noting that wars may end but the underlying conflicts remain. With the support of moderate Arab states, credible political-diplomatic solutions exist, and there is no purely military solution to Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. The roots of all three conflicts lie in the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian issue, and the Abraham Accords are part of the regional framework that could help shape a broader peace.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Avi Dabush, executive director of the Rabbis for Human Rights organization, announced on Thursday that he will run for a spot on the Democrats Party slate ahead of the party’s upcoming primaries. The left-wing Democrats Party is composed of the Labor and Meretz parties, which merged in 2024. Dabush is expected to run for one of the reserved Meretz slots on the party’s list. Dabush has led anti-government protests in the Negev and is a resident of Kibbutz Nirim in southern Israel, near the Gaza border. He heads a periphery-focused initiative alongside MK Naama Lazimi from the Democrats. During the October 7 attacks, Dabush said that he and his family spent more than 30 hours in their safe room and in shelters in Kibbutz Nirim. He was evacuated from his home for nearly two years before returning to the kibbutz this past August. Regarding running in the primaries, Dabush said he saw “up close what happens when a government chooses Kahanism and Jewish terror over real peace.” “This is not only a moral problem, but it is a strategy that costs lives,” he said. “Israel’s geographic and social peripheries are my home.” “I lived for 18 years in the Gaza border region, worked with Palestinians on the periphery.” In the same discourse on national politics, some observers noted Hungary’s recent election, where Viktor Orban’s defeat drew comparisons to Israel’s political scene. Critics highlight risks of democratic backsliding, while supporters suggest signals of possible change to come for Israel, with figures like Gilad Kariv noting a shift and urging unity among those who believe in a Jewish and democratic Israel.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the Mamdani office has no definition of antisemitism after dropping IHRA, czar confirms. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office has no codified definition for antisemitism and has no plans to introduce one, MOCA executive director Phylisa Wisdom testified at a Task Force to Combat Antisemitism hearing. Wisdom said there is no definition codified for any form of hate across city government, and MOCA’s mandate is to coordinate non-law-enforcement responses to antisemitic incidents, liaising with the Jewish community, law enforcement, and other agencies, while the office is still hiring staff. The administration indicated it would continue not to have any codified definition of hate, though MOCA might create a statute or formal policy in the future. Separately, Peter Beinart’s Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning has won the 2026 PEN America Literary Award for nonfiction. Beinart, a longtime critic of Israel and editor-at-large of Jewish Currents, argues that American Jewish discourse has obscured Palestinian suffering, with judges calling the book “a model for writing a new story when inherited narratives no longer hold.” The award reflects a broader shift in PEN America’s stance on Israel, as the organization navigates changes following leadership shifts in 2024 and subsequent debates about genocide accusations.

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/defense-news/article-894002
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75438
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-894013
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893741
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894016
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-894015
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894020
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894012