Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-03 at 09:02

HEADLINES
Skyhammer Tests Drones in Jordan
Lebanon Censors Hezbollah Angry Bird Video
Israel Expands Medical Cannabis Access Tightens Oversight

The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, the United Kingdom has successfully tested a new British-built interceptor missile system that can neutralize drones and low-speed missiles. The Skyhammer interceptor, produced by Cambridge Aerospace, a UK start-up founded by military veterans, is designed specifically to counter the Shahed family of drones and low-cost, explosive-laden missiles such as the Shahed 131, 136, and 236. It has a range of 30 kilometers and can reach speeds of up to 700 kilometers per hour before impacting its target. The front section features an X-band radar seeker with a blast-fragmentation warhead behind it. The trial took place in Jordan and comes amid a ceasefire that followed a month-long war by Israel and the United States against Iran. Cambridge Aerospace began development in January 2025, with the company founded in late 2024.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Lebanese authorities ordered LBCI to delete an animated video depicting Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem as an Angry Bird after a judicial order issued by Public Prosecutor Ahmad Rami al-Hajj. Hezbollah described the video as offensive and a cheap insult that degrades political discourse, while online responses from supporters included attacks on Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi. In related coverage, the Jerusalem Post’s must-listen news roundup, hosted by Shifra Jacobs, highlights top stories including mentions of UNWRA ties to Hamas and details surrounding the Global Sumud Flotilla.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel’s Health Ministry published a broad set of recommendations intended to change how medical cannabis is prescribed and used, covering indications, initial prescriptions, dosage, monitoring, addiction prevention, and discontinuation. Officials say cannabis may benefit some patients but carries risks, requiring strict medical oversight rather than treatment as a consumer product. The ministry notes Israel has become one of the world’s leading consumers of medical cannabis, with licenses increasing from about 33,000 to roughly 140,000 since the war, and argues that broader access must be matched with greater responsibility to ensure treatment effectiveness. Separately, the High Court of Justice pressed Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s lawyer over plans to convene only part of the Judicial Selection Committee, with questions about whether partial appointments suffice while Beersheba District Court faces staffing gaps, including the absence of a permanent president and seven judges. In a separate matter, two petitions filed with the High Court challenge government funding systems that Israel Hofsheet says favor the ultra-Orthodox sector, targeting housing-loan eligibility formulas and Education Ministry funding for haredi youth organizations. The court has ordered responses by June 11 and June 29, respectively, with housing loans reportedly able to reach about 250,000 shekels.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Swarthmore College reported hundreds of acts of vandalism across its campus on Friday, with anti-Israel slogans and symbols spray-painted on buildings, trees, fences, and walkways. The campus administration and the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter cited the scale of the damage, saying it could take days to remove in places and that some surfaces may remain affected for an extended period. The college pledged disciplinary action for anyone identified among the vandals, and imagery included the red inverted triangles associated with Hamas propaganda.

In Uplifting News, Eurovision 2026: Noam Betan’s look leaves no doubt.

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/defense-and-tech/article-894966
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-894946
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-headlines/article-894951
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894549
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-894947
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894945
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894943
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894959
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1316891