Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-03 at 14:01

HEADLINES
Beirut School Shelters 1.1 Million Displaced
Nablus Clashes Kill Two as Troops Respond
Australia Opens Antisemitism Hearings After Bondi Beach

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

In Regional Impacts, Beirut’s Rafic Hariri Second High School hosted a sit-in by teachers, parents, and staff after displaced individuals temporarily housed on campus refused to leave. The school has been closed since March 2 and has housed hundreds of Shia families relocated from southern Lebanon. UNICEF data cited in the report place displacement at about 1.1 million people, roughly 20 percent of Lebanon’s population, linked to the broader conflict that followed regional tensions and a targeted assassination. Some sources reported that displaced families were received “by force and without the consent of the administration,” with armed elements guarding the entrance to prevent the school administration from accessing its grounds, though the report does not name Hezbollah explicitly. A parent on the school’s Facebook page urged immediate return to normal educational access and evacuation of the school from what was described as an occupation. In Nablus, West Bank, violence erupted on Sufian Street as Arabs threw stones at Israeli troops; forces used crowd-dispersal measures and, after the threat intensified, live fire to restore order. At least two attackers were killed and several others were wounded.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump said the administration examined Iran’s proposal and concluded it is not good for the United States.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the government approved the appointment of Israel Malachi as director-general of the Finance Ministry after selection by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Malachi, 49, has served as deputy director-general for over three and a half years and is described as a close associate of Smotrich. He previously served as treasurer of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, which governs more than 40 West Bank settlements. Ilan Rom, the previous Finance Ministry director-general, resigned in March after the 2026 state budget was passed in the Knesset, a budget that included increases for defense and ultra-Orthodox education. The Finance Ministry noted that Malachi brings broad experience in government service, local government, and the nonprofit sector, with deep familiarity with complex parliamentary processes, and that he led rehabilitation efforts for Gaza-area communities.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Australia to hold first antisemitism commission hearing after Bondi Beach interim report. The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is set to begin its first block of hearings on Monday, following the presentation of an interim report regarding the Bondi Beach Massacre. The commission will focus on defining antisemitism, its historical and contemporary manifestations, the experiences of Jewish Australians, and metrics for assessing levels of antisemitism in institutions and society. Several major Jewish organizations said in a joint statement that the hearings would be an opportunity for community members to be heard and hoped the commission would use testimonies to develop practical recommendations.

In Uplifting News, the French Film Festival returns to Israel with Huppert, Bardot tributes. The 23rd French Film Festival will run beginning May 6 at cinematheques across the country, including venues in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Herzliya, Sderot, and Holon, as well as the Anis Cultural Center in Jaffa and other locations. The festival will focus on women, opening with The World’s Richest Woman, starring Isabelle Huppert, Laurent Lafitte, Marina Fois, and Raphael Personnaz. Directed by Thierry Klifa, the film follows Marianne, the richest woman in the world, and her relationship with a younger writer; it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and is being distributed in Israel by New Cinema, with screenings planned in theaters soon. Lag Ba’omer reminds us to choose respect over division among Jews, an opinion piece reflecting on Rabbi Akiva’s students and the dangers of disrespectful speech, urging unity as a path to spiritual renewal and communal wellbeing.

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/article-894992
https://t.me/selena_updates/63162
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75824
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894996
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894995
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-894990
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894452