Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-17 at 12:02

HEADLINES
Drone strike near Barakah plant sparks alarm
Israel counters Hezbollah FPV drones
Ending US aid to Israel risks disaster

The time is now 12:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Amid rumors of renewed war, Iran may escalate attacks on United Arab Emirates - analysis. A drone strike sparked a fire near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates after striking an electrical generator outside the plant’s inner perimeter in the Al Dhafra Region. There were no reports of injuries or radiological release, but the incident highlighted the risk of renewed conflict as the Iran ceasefire remains tenuous. There was no claim of responsibility, but it is considered plausible that Iran or its proxies carried out the attack. The episode comes as rumors of renewed conflict with Iran circulate and attention turns to the UAE’s role in the region. The United Nations watchdog has expressed grave concern over a drone strike near the UAE’s nuclear facility on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, and Emirati authorities responded to the fire near the Barakah plant’s perimeter.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, PM: IDF combating drones for six years, unlimited budget team formed for Hezbollah's FPV threat. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israel Defense Forces have been countering drone threats for six years at his direction, noting measures such as canopies installed on tanks and saying the defense establishment has thwarted hundreds, if not thousands, of drone and unmanned aerial vehicle attempts against Israeli forces. He announced the formation of a dedicated team to confront First-Person View drones used by Hezbollah, calling them a specific type of threat. The team brings together personnel from the Defense Ministry, defense industries, and the civilian sector, and Netanyahu said he has met with them three times in the past two weeks.

In the US Policy Concerning Israel, Cutting US aid to Israel would be a strategic disaster for America - opinion. The piece argues that American assistance has never been unconditional and has given Washington real sway over Israeli decisions in Judea and Samaria or Gaza when those choices ripple across the region. It contends that moving to end military support would strip the United States of its most effective lever and could reduce Israel’s alignment with American concerns, potentially weakening the strategic balance established by the Camp David Accords, which linked aid to Israel with aid to Egypt.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel to ban cell phones in middle schools, Education Ministry confirms. The Education Ministry announced plans to ban cell phones in middle schools at the start of the next school year, following a February ban in elementary schools. Education Minister Yoav Kisch said the move addresses not only technology but educational and values-based concerns, noting studies from Israel and abroad and consultations with educators, principals, parents, and students. Deputy Director Ina Salzman cited that about 60% of Israeli teenagers are addicted to social media, and that increased phone use correlates with lower achievement; officials said the goal is to foster social activities and skills and to involve parents in reducing phone use.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, After almost two years in office, the Prime Minister of Britain is planning to resign according to the Daily Mail. Under his premiership, anti-Semitism surged across Britain while Starmer’s government offered little more than empty words and photo-ops, and there was critique that he failed to protect Jewish communities, confront hatred on streets and campuses, or stand against those who imported extremism. Britain now faces calls for a leader with a backbone.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Israeli private equity firm David Group launches to invest in mature businesses. David Group Capital Management Ltd., founded by Stella Cohen and chaired by former Goldman Sachs partner Raanan Agus, plans to invest in Israeli-founded or Israel-related companies or those with significant Israeli activity or assets, focusing on financial services, defense, industrials, and tech-enabled business services. The firm said it had secured substantial capital ahead of launch and aims to apply international private equity experience to parts of the Israeli economy beyond the high-tech sector. Cohen said private equity investments can help non-tech Israeli businesses upscale, transform, expand internationally, and create long-term value.

In Uplifting News, The miracle that shaped Israel Prize winner Avi Rivkind’s life and career - opinion. In Beersheba, a mother prepares holiday meals as a trauma surgeon’s life and career are traced through a pivotal moment. The report follows how a split-second decision during a violent flare of the Second Intifada in Jerusalem placed a young soldier’s life at the center of the narrative. Shimon Ohana, then a new Border Police recruit, pushed a mother out of the line of fire and took three bullets himself, with medics working to save lives as the story unfolds, illustrating how that moment helped shape Avi Rivkind’s path and the recognition he would receive.

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/iran-news/article-896470
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-896472
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-896148
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-896474
https://t.me/hnaftali/23029
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-896477
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-896004