Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-13 at 06:01

HEADLINES
EU warns flights to Israel amid peril
Iran demands five terms before restart talks
US returns two ancient coins to Israel

The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Europe’s aviation regulator extended its warning advising European airlines to avoid flying to Israel until at least May 27, citing ongoing security concerns despite a current ceasefire between the United States and Iran. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said European carriers should exercise caution and take potential risks into account when operating within the airspace of Israel. While the truce between the US and Iran is holding, the sustainability of the ceasefire remains uncertain in the longer term, with a possibility of rapid escalation. The regulator added that close monitoring and up-to-date risk assessments remain essential to ensure the safety of flights and said it would continue to closely monitor the situation to determine whether risks to European aircraft operators increase or decrease in the coming weeks. Since the outbreak of Operation Epic Fury in late February, nearly all foreign airlines have canceled flights to and from Israel.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran demands Israel halt operations against Hezbollah before nuclear talks resume. Iran has set five conditions for entering a new round of negotiations with the United States, saying they are the minimum guarantees needed to rebuild trust after the US-Israeli war. The five demands include an end to fighting on all fronts, particularly in Lebanon; the lifting of sanctions; the release of frozen Iranian assets; compensation for war damage; and recognition of Iranian sovereignty rights over the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran conveyed the position after receiving a 14-point US proposal that Tehran viewed as unilateral and designed to secure negotiating objectives Washington could not achieve militarily, according to Fars News Agency.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Trump heads to China, says no need for Xi's help on Iran war. US President Donald Trump headed to China for a high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping, saying he did not expect Beijing’s help to end the war with Iran or ease Tehran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz. “I don’t think we need any help with Iran. We’ll win it one way or the other,” he told reporters. More than a month after a tenuous ceasefire took effect, Washington and Tehran remain far apart on terms to end the war, with the United States calling for Tehran to scrap its nuclear program and lift its chokehold on the Strait, while Iran demands compensation for war damage, an end to the US blockade, and a halt to fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Trump dismissed those positions as “garbage,” as Iran has appeared to firm up its control over the Strait of Hormuz.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Diaspora Ministry criticized the New York Times for relying on a Hamas-linked group in its IDF sexual violence report. The paper’s columnist alleged sexual violence against Palestinians and cited Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, a Geneva-based organization Israel links to Hamas.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, What is the future for Jews in the UK? Jerusalem Dispatch. The latest episode examines security concerns for British Jews, political polarization in the UK, and challenges faced by Jewish authors amid rising anti-Israel sentiment. Co-host Ruth Marks Eglash, returning from London, shared insights into a heightened sense of vulnerability among British Jews, tighter security around Jewish institutions, and a sense of alienation in the country. The discussion also touches on the Green Party’s stance on Israel and notes protests outside a synagogue in New York, reflecting broader tensions impacting Jewish communities.

In Uplifting News, US returns two rare ancient coins to Israel following joint antiquities theft investigation. The two coins, one depicting the Temple’s seven-branched menorah and minted during the Hasmonean era in Jerusalem under a Hasmonean king, and the other the second of its kind ever found, minted in ancient Ashkelon, were repatriated in a ceremony in New York City. The return followed an operation by the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Theft Prevention Unit in cooperation with Homeland Security and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. The coins had been illicitly excavated and smuggled, placed for auction, and then recovered after an intelligence tip led to seizures and the eventual handover to Israel.

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://worldisraelnews.com/eu-regulator-extends-israel-no-fly-warning-through-may-27/
https://worldisraelnews.com/iran-demands-israel-halt-operations-against-hezbollah-before-nuclear-talks-resume/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/trump-heads-china-says-no-need-xis-help-iran-war
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1b5ht11yge
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-podcast/article-896006
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-896001