Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-20 at 13:02

HEADLINES
Lebanon Drone Strike Wounds IDF Commander
Supreme Court Curbs Journalistic Privilege
Israel Could Soon Host Global Jewish Majority

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an explosive drone strike in southern Lebanon wounded three IDF soldiers during operations. The 401st Brigade Commander, Colonel Meir Biderman, was severely injured, one reserve officer was moderately injured, and another non-commissioned officer was lightly injured; the injured were evacuated to a hospital and their families were notified. As Biderman receives treatment, his post will be temporarily filled by the brigade’s current Chief of Staff, Colonel (Res.). Biderman’s predecessor, Colonel Ehsan Daxa, was killed in combat in northern Gaza in October 2024. In a separate development, Hezbollah reported tonight that there were exchanges of fire between its fighters and Israeli ground forces in the center of the village of Hadathah, located north of Bint Jbeil and north of Debel, about 12 kilometers from the border with Israel, marking what it described as ground activity by Israeli forces.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Donald Trump said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will “do whatever I want him to do” and called him a very good man while noting their coordination on Iran, including discussions about groundwork for negotiations. A source with knowledge of the matter told the Post that there has been progress in talks with Iran regarding that groundwork. Senator Lindsey Graham praised Trump for weakening the Iranian regime to its lowest point since 1979 and said a diplomatic solution is possible but must be comprehensive, real, and reliable; he also noted regional concerns and mentioned Pakistan’s Field Marshal possibly traveling to Iran as part of ongoing scrutiny of the situation. A separate Hebrew-language report quotes Trump discussing options on Iran, saying it might be necessary to strike Iran harder or perhaps not, depending on developments, with similar themes about the potential path forward.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted journalist Omri Assenheim’s appeal against lower court orders that would have required him to hand over all raw materials from his interview with Eli Feldstein, ruling that the police request was too sweeping and that journalistic privilege may extend beyond the identity of a source. The court held that police may not demand the entirety of a journalist’s raw materials and must instead submit a narrowed, concrete request by June 3, explaining at the level of headings what materials are sought and why they are necessary; Assenheim may respond by June 11. The dispute stems from Assenheim’s December interview on KAN 11 with Feldstein, which touched on the Bild case—the investigation into an alleged leak of classified information. Separately, the High Court of Justice pressed Justice Minister Yariv Levin over his refusal to cooperate with Supreme Court President Isaac Amit on judicial appointments, questioning whether the minister is effectively attempting to decide who heads the judiciary. The petitions seek a ruling to compel Levin to cooperate, or to have his powers transferred, in cases where appointments such as court presidents and vice presidents require ministerial agreement with the Supreme Court president.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, investigators say the two teenage gunmen who killed three people at the Islamic Center of San Diego left a manifesto that portrays Jews as a universal enemy and leans on the white replacement theory, commonly called the Great Replacement, to explain perceived global ills. The document asserts that “the Jews across all of time have been behind an extremely disproportionate amount of the world’s problems.” Separately, in Israel, Rabbi Gedaliahu Ben-Shimon recounted the moments after a terrorist attack in Ramat Gan, describing how he shouted prayers as he fought for his life and was saved by Hatzalah volunteers; he recalled the assailant shouting religious slogans during the attack, and the rescue efforts that followed as he faced a life-threatening confrontation.

In Uplifting News, a new global demographic study projects that Israel could become the majority home of the world’s Jews within a decade. The report notes that the world Jewish population stands at about 15.8 million, with nearly half living in Israel, and suggests that by growth patterns Israel could host the majority of Jews as early as the next decade, a shift highlighted as a defining development for the global Jewish community.

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/israel-news/defense-news/article-896855
https://t.me/abualiexpress/122723
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-896856
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76561
https://t.me/newssil/202037
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-896877
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-896872
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-896876
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-896840
https://worldisraelnews.com/epochal-report-projects-israel-to-become-majority-home-of-worlds-jews-within-a-decade/