Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-01 at 02:02

HEADLINES
Trump touts Epic Fury against Iran nukes
Voters favor Bennett Eisenkot over Netanyahu
Police fire on stolen car at checkpoint

The time is now 2:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, Trump insists Iran would use a nuclear weapon if it had one, and praises Epic Fury's military successes. President Trump told Newsmax that Iran would deploy a nuclear weapon if it possessed one and said the United States must secure guarantees that Tehran will never develop such weapons. He rejected proposals to provide Iran with civilian nuclear material, stating he would not give them anything and that they would be “in big trouble” if they acquired a nuclear capacity. Trump also highlighted the achievements of Operation Epic Fury, saying the campaign destroyed Iran’s navy, air force, anti-aircraft equipment, radar, and leadership, and that while Iran has been weakened, the aim is to win by a larger margin. Separately, a senior US official said that for War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on February 28 have terminated, noting there has been no exchange of fire since the fragile ceasefire took hold several weeks ago and that Congress may review extensions or authorizations as the deadline approaches. In addition, a replenishment mission to Israel delivered about 6,500 tons of weapons and equipment within 24 hours, including ammunition, military trucks, and JLTV armored vehicles.

In Regional Impacts, Uniforms, hospital visits and diplomacy: Inside Bahrain king’s wartime strategy. As Bahrain faced hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa emerged as an active and at times colorful figure, frequently appearing in varied public guises, while a Bahraini analyst said his calm image reflects a strategy to project stability without confronting major powers.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israeli public believes Bennett, Eisenkot are more suitable as prime minister than Netanyahu - poll. A Lazar Research poll conducted with Panel4All shows former prime minister Naftali Bennett preferred as suitable for prime minister by 46% of respondents, with Gadi Eisenkot at 44% and Benjamin Netanyahu at 41%. In head-to-head matchups, Eisenkot leads Bennett 33% to 32%, with 35% undecided. The Together Party, formed by Bennett and Yesh Atid leader Lapid, remains the largest bloc but trails Likud in current projections, dropping from 31 seats last week to 28 seats in the latest reading, while Eisenkot's party, Yashar, trails behind. The public remains divided on whether Eisenkot should join Together, and about a third of respondents were unsure who they would support for prime minister. Police fire at the wheels of a stolen car after checkpoint breach in West Bank: Police opened fire at the wheels of a vehicle stolen from central Israel after the driver refused to pull over, crashed through a checkpoint, and collided with a patrol car while attempting to cross into the West Bank. The suspect is receiving medical treatment, and authorities have opened an investigation to clarify the circumstances. This incident follows a series of checkpoint breaches in recent months, including an April occurrence when about 20 Palestinians breached military checkpoints to enter Jenin refugee camp and at least 11 were detained. Editor's Notes: Israel turned right after Oct. 7, Bennett turned left - comment. The note argues the cultural shift in Israel has outpaced the political class, with Bennett’s merger of his party to form the Together list seen as a strategic move to unite opposition forces, though polling suggests the combined anti-Netanyahu bloc remains deadlocked at around 55 seats even as Together trails Likud in several scenarios. The piece notes the merged bloc’s arithmetic is evolving, and Bennett has indicated his strategy to navigate the new political landscape.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-894818
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-894814
https://t.me/newssil/200565
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hk00zm3bczg
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894817
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-894816
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894790