Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-11 at 17:01

HEADLINES
Voters doubt Trump rationale for Iran war
Lapid pushes mergers to unite blocs
Netanyahu touts Iran nuclear program disruption

The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, two out of three Americans say President Donald Trump has not clearly explained why the United States has gone to war with Iran, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday. The four-day survey also highlighted worries about surging gasoline prices and suggested many voters are blaming Trump’s Republican allies for their troubles as they defend their congressional majorities in the November midterm elections. About 66% of respondents feel Trump has not clearly explained the goals of US military involvement in Iran, with roughly one in three Republicans and nearly all Democrats sharing that view. The poll also shows 63% say their household finances have been hit by higher gas prices, up from 55% in a prior Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted March 17-19. Trump’s approval stands at 36%, up two points since a late April poll, the lowest level of his term at that time. The questions come as a conflict that began February 28 with a US-Israeli bombing campaign continues to influence domestic political calculations and public sentiment.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Lapid said on Monday that additional party mergers are likely before the upcoming elections, describing his newly formed Together party, led by former prime minister Naftali Bennett, as a necessary step to promote national unity. He spoke at the Guidelines for Jewish-Democratic Policy conference in Jerusalem, an event also attended by Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman. Lapid said there will be more mergers, emphasizing that in a democracy people who disagree can still unite around a goal greater than themselves, even as he noted he cannot unite with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir because the disagreements are too deep. Bennett remains a right-leaning figure while Lapid’s Yesh Atid is viewed as centrist, and the talk of mergers centers on uniting blocs ahead of the vote.

Also in this bloc, the full 80-minute interview CBS posted online with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn new attention after CBS aired a 14-minute excerpt on 60 Minutes. The network’s longer conversation touched on broader topics, including Netanyahu’s view that Israel should wean itself from US military aid, the assertion that the Iran conflict is not over, and the idea that Iran serves as scaffolding for groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Israel has fought two rounds with Iran since last summer and, with the United States, has damaged Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. Netanyahu highlighted what he called a significant operational achievement: the disruption of Iran’s nuclear program by striking the brain trust behind it, including top nuclear scientists, an emphasis he underscored in the broader interview beyond the aired excerpts.

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/american-politics/article-895833
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895832
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895831