Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-22 at 13:02

HEADLINES
- Iran Hormuz Toll Threat Signals Global Pattern
- Netherlands Bans Settlement Goods in West Bank
- Western Powers Urge Halt to Settlement Expansion

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 Regional Impacts, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that if Iran creates a tolling system in the Straits of Hormuz, it would set a pattern that could appear in five other places around the world. He noted the Strait's strategic importance to every country represented today, and to those not represented here, especially in the Indo-Pacific. The Netherlands has proposed sanctions to ban imports and sales of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Cabinet-proposed decree would bar Dutch nationals and legal entities, inside and outside the Netherlands, from importing, buying, or selling goods produced in settlements, and from providing intermediary services related to those goods. The move, submitted to the Council of State for expedited review, aims to ensure Dutch activity does not contribute to what the government calls an unlawful occupation, and to address concerns over settlement expansion and violence that it says complicates a two-state solution.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there has been some progress in talks with Iran, but we’re not there yet, noting ongoing, constant communication with Pakistani mediators. He described the progress as real but not to be exaggerated, emphasizing that more work remains, with the core aim of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and addressing issues around uranium enrichment and reopening the Straits of Hormuz. He added that President Trump would prefer a good deal, but he has warned there could be other options if necessary. The United States is pursuing a negotiated outcome while keeping channels open, and there was no specific request for NATO help on Friday. A Qatari negotiating team arrived in Tehran on Friday, coordinated with the United States, to help secure a deal to end the war with Iran and address outstanding issues, reflecting Doha’s long, trusted role as a back-channel in the region. The team’s arrival follows a period in which Pakistan has served as the official mediator, and the move signals Qatar’s re-engagement with Washington on this path. There is a shaky ceasefire in place, but no major breakthrough yet. Rubio also stressed that while an agreement that keeps the Straits open and halts Iran’s nuclear ambitions would be ideal, there must be a plan B if Iran refuses to open the Straits, and something would have to be done.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Western powers including the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s policies in the West Bank and the rise in settler violence. The statement argued that Israeli West Bank settlements are illegal under international law and warned that construction in the E1 area would divide the West Bank and potentially erode the prospects for a two-state solution. It urged Israel to halt settlement expansion and curb administrative powers, called for accountability for settler violence, and urged investigations into allegations against Israeli forces. The statement also urged respect for Hashemite custodianship over Jerusalem’s holy sites and the historic status quo arrangements, and called for lifting financial restrictions on the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian economy. An opinion piece accompanying the section reflects on sovereignty and the enduring question of what makes a nation legitimate, arguing that the future of Israel depends not only on borders but on remembering the core reasons for nationhood. It outlines that the Jewish people formed as a nation before the land was defined, citing the Torah and figures like Rashi, and argues that sovereignty derives from identity and faith as much as geography, a perspective offered during a time of war and international scrutiny.

In Uplifting News, the Lexden Lady, a high-status Roman woman buried in an ornate lead coffin, went on display at Colchester’s Roman Circus Visitor Centre in Colchester, England, as part of a temporary exhibition running through May 2027. The exhibit includes the woman’s remains and her coffin, and the display period was announced after the Colchester Archaeological Trust reported the burial likely occurred in the late Roman period, roughly the late third to early fifth centuries CE. The burial site was discovered in 2023 at the former Essex County Hospital site, and archaeologists say the woman was in her 20s or 30s and local to Colchester, buried with grave goods such as jet hairpins and rare glass flasks, indicating a carefully staged and richly furnished burial. Colchester Archaeological Trust described the burial as a sign of the care and esteem in which she was held by family and community. A second note in this section considers a reflection on scripture, arguing that the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament, citing Malachi 3:6 and James 1:17 to illustrate a continuity of divine nature across the testaments.

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://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76626
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-897017
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-897021
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897019
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76627
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-897020
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-896904
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-896983
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76630