Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-22 at 19:01

HEADLINES
- Iran restricts western airspace through May 25
- Trump cancels trip amid Iran talks
- Temple Mount 13 arrested for bread sacrifice

The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran has issued a NOTAM restricting Iranian airspace in the western portion of the Tehran Flight Information Region (OIIX), with only a handful of airports remaining open for commercial flights from sunrise to sunset. The NOTAM is in effect from May 22, 2026 to May 25, 2026, and all flight operators must obtain permission from Iran’s Civil Aviation Authority for any flights over or into Iran. A separate report in Hebrew notes the same restriction extending into Monday morning, underscoring a continued constraint on western airspace.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Donald Trump canceled his agenda, including attending his son’s wedding, and returned to Washington due to “circumstances pertaining to the government,” saying he very much wanted to be with his son and his future daughter-in-law but could not because it was vital to stay in the capital during “these historic moments.” His itinerary had included a Suffern, New York speech, a stop at Bedminster, and a plan to go to the Bahamas for the wedding, with a return to the White House after the remarks. Axios reported that Trump met with members of his security cabinet before traveling to Suffern to brief on diplomatic and military options regarding Iran, as he prepared for ongoing negotiations; he asserted the conflict with Iran “will be over soon” and that oil prices would go down, without detailing negotiation specifics. Separately, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told IRNA that US demands to discuss Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium are unreasonable and excessive, arguing the talks should focus on ending the war and noting that the differences between Iran and the United States remain wide. He also indicated senior Pakistani officials had arrived in Tehran to aid mediation efforts.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, an opinion piece argues that politicians must prioritize hasbara as Israel’s global image crisis deepens, citing rising antisemitism and eroding US support and urging leaders to engage English-speaking audiences and shape platforms accordingly in the election context. The same topic block also covers legal and security tensions around pro-Palestinian activism: a federal appeals court declined to rehear Mahmoud Khalil’s case, preserving a ruling that could allow his re-arrest and deportation after involvement in pro-Palestinian activism; Khalil’s lawyers plan to take the matter to the US Supreme Court to avoid re-arrest. Separately, police arrested 13 people for attempting to carry out a sacrifice on the Temple Mount to mark Shavuot; the suspects allegedly brought loaves of bread rather than animals, and the site remains restricted, with ongoing debate about prayer rights at the holy site, a issue amplified by statements from security figures including Itamar Ben Gvir.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an opinion piece argues that Israel must push back against antisemitic bullying disguised as journalism, contending that biased reporting on Israel is shaping a dangerous narrative with broad consequences for Jews worldwide and criticizing recent coverage for crossing professional and moral lines.

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/DefenderDome/20883
https://t.me/abualiexpress/122828
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-897032
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897029
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-896793
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-897030
https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-arrest-13-for-trying-to-carry-out-sacrifice-on-temple-mount-to-mark-shavuot/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/pro-palestinian-activist-mahmoud-khalil-appeal-us-supreme-court-avoid-re-arrest
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-896822