Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-03 at 16:01

HEADLINES
- Decisive strike on Iran fails to materialize
- Smotrich ally named Finance Ministry chief
- Ha’ari siddur to display ahead Lag Ba’omer

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, an opinion piece questions whether Israel’s uneasy Iran ceasefire may be better than it looks, suggesting the US and Israeli capital markets could be getting used to the hold pattern with Iran. The piece frames the moment with biblical imagery from the seventh night of Passover in 2026, describing expectations of a decisive strike on Iran that did not materialize and noting that the world’s course did not visibly change. Separately, a report from Jerusalem notes that Israel is bracing for escalation and doubts the US blockade strategy on Iran, saying Jerusalem is watching talks between Washington and Tehran but believes the chances of a deal are very low because Iran has refused to meet Trump’s demand to give up its enriched uranium in the first stage of any agreement.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the government approved the appointment of Israel Malachi as director-general of the Finance Ministry, following his selection by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Malachi, 49, has served as deputy director-general for the past three and a half years and is a close associate of Smotrich, a circumstance that drew criticism. He previously served as the council’s treasurer for Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, which governs more than 40 West Bank settlements. Ilan Rom, who previously held the post, resigned in March after the 2026 state budget was passed in the Knesset. The budget included large increases for defense and haredi education, a funding mix that drew criticism. The Finance Ministry said Malachi brings wide experience in government, local government, and the nonprofit sector, with deep familiarity with complex governmental and parliamentary processes, and noted that he led rehabilitation efforts for communities in Gaza.

In Uplifting News, an 18th-century prayer book based on the teachings of Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as Ha'ari, is set to go on display at the ANU – Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv ahead of Lag Ba’omer. The exhibit will mark the holiday, traditionally linked to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and the world of Kabbalah, with the unveiling of a siddur containing the kavanot, or mystical intentions, from Ha'ari. The siddur was copied by hand in 1749 in Satanov, then in Poland and now in Ukraine, by the scribe Israel ben Raphael Segal. Written in ink on paper and bound in leather with colored leather panels and gold leaf, the book reflects a practice in which prayer is not only recited but believed to carry spiritual power. Ha’ari lived and taught in Safed in the 16th century, and Lag Ba’omer is observed this year starting May 4.

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/opinion/article-894961
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjf4bqbabx
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894996
https://www.jpost.com/history/article-894997