Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-12 at 09:02

HEADLINES
Iran weighs 90% enrichment for weapons
Hamas faces its gravest Gaza challenge
Hezbollah missile misses Israeli jet IDF responds

The time is now 9:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran has signaled a potential move to enrich uranium to weapons-grade in the event of further attacks, with a spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee indicating 90% enrichment could be considered and would be reviewed by lawmakers. Israel has sent Iron Dome air defense batteries to the United Arab Emirates. Israeli citizens have received recruitment and intimidation text messages attributed to Iranian intelligence, including offers to buy videos of the Iran war and invitations to contact Iranian embassies to work with Iranian intelligence; some messages threatened military action. The Israel Police described the messages as attempts by Iranian intelligence elements to recruit Israeli citizens in Israel and abroad, and urged recipients to ignore all links and files and to block the numbers.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hamas’s grip on Gaza appears to be weakening, with analysts saying Hamas may be facing its most serious internal challenge since taking control in 2007. Local testimonies describe growing rifts between Hamas and Gaza’s population as war, economic collapse, and humanitarian hardship deepen; footage from the funeral of Khalil al-Hayya’s son circulated showing unusually low attendance. Hezbollah fired a surface-to-air missile at an Israeli Air Force fighter jet; the missile missed, and the IDF described it as a primitive weapon. The Israeli military said it followed up by firing at the attacker, who fled on a motorcycle, and it remained unclear whether the assailant was killed.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Degel HaTorah’s spiritual leader Rabbi Dov Lando gave the green light to pursue the dissolution of the Knesset over the haredi conscription bill. The move comes after reports that United Torah Judaism threatened to dissolve the Knesset, prompting tensions with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office and within the party; Lando’s office later said lawmakers were meeting with him. In Netanyahu’s trial, cross-examination in Case 4000 ended, and prosecutors have moved to Case 2000, the Mozes bribery case; Netanyahu has testified for more than 80 hearing days and remains in the process, with several additional days anticipated, and he has not responded to President Herzog’s offer to mediate plea bargain talks. NGO Monitor founder Gerald M. Steinberg will step down from day-to-day management, becoming president emeritus; Olga Deutsch will become CEO and president in the organization’s first leadership transition, effective January 1, 2027. Israel’s Foreign Ministry denounced the New York Times op-ed for its timing and noted that the Times had not published the Civil Commission’s findings into Hamas’s systemic violence, calling the piece biased.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Noam Bettan shines in Eurovision rehearsal as Israel faces antisemitism campaign. Israel’s Eurovision representative delivered a confident, emotional rendition of “Michelle” during a jury rehearsal in Vienna, performed inside a large rotating structure with dancer Lihi Freud; the staging created a dynamic visual effect with mirrors. Jurors in 15 countries watched in real time, and the real-time scoring from this rehearsal will contribute to the final result. Viewers in the Eurovision press room praised Bettan, and observers noted he delivered one of his strongest performances to date, with Finland and Greece among the favorites.

In Uplifting News, a study presented at Tel Aviv University finds that a supermajority of Israeli Arab 12th-grade students support volunteering for non-security national service. The survey shows 75.8% in favor, with 46.9% expressing strong support. Among men, 75.3% support, and among women, 77.2% support the idea. Among Israeli Arabs aged 18-34, 69.1% also support the concept. A large majority, 77.2%, support Arab parties joining the next coalition, and 43.3% believe the parties should join a coalition led by parties across the political spectrum.

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
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