Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-26 at 01:01

HEADLINES
- Three anti-Israel candidates win in NYC
- Eisenkot's Yashar tops polls, Likud tied
- Albania endures antisemitic protests over Kushner

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

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the results of New York’s recent House primaries have been described as a warning sign for supporters of Israel within the Democratic Party. Three candidates with vocal animosity toward Israel, backed by New York City’s Israel-skeptical mayor Zohran Mamdani, won in key districts. Brad Lander defeated Representative Dan Goldman in a Lower Manhattan district; Claire Valdez beat Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in the open seat being vacated by retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez; and activist Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated five-term Representative Adriano Espaillat. Valdez, in her victory speech, said, “We will stand up to the genocide. We will refuse to abide by apartheid. And we will use our money to improve lives here instead of destroying them abroad.” Chevalier has condemned Israel as an “apartheid state,” accused it of committing a “genocide” against Gazans, and has denied Israel’s right to exist. Lander, who is Jewish and describes himself as a “liberal Zionist,” has frequently and publicly spoken on the issue.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Gadi Eisenkot is emerging as a leading opposition figure, with his Yashar party topping polls alongside Likud as debates over leadership, conscription, and political identity intensify ahead of upcoming elections. Eisenkot is seen as patient and deliberate, weighing his words carefully in a campaign that centers on his experiences in the war cabinet and personal sacrifice, including the deaths of his son Gal in Gaza and his nephew in the same conflict. A Maariv poll this week put Yashar level with Likud at 21 percent apiece, marking the first time an opposition party has matched Netanyahu in this Knesset, and signaling heightened attention to the contest.

Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, who is a member of Eisenkot’s Yashar! party, has threatened legal action against Channel 14 after it aired remarks he called inflammatory. Cohen filed a lawsuit against panelist Micha Kobi over claims that Cohen pushed for deceased Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s release as part of the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal and that he pressured Prime Minister Netanyahu while Sinwar was viewed as a future threat. Cohen rejected the allegations as “completely false” and demanded a correction, a public apology, and removal of broadcasts.

Ambassador Danon stated, “Those who believe they can silence Israel are mistaken. Truth will always prevail.”

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, antisemitic rhetoric has surfaced amid Albania’s anti-Kushner protests. Local observers say Russia, Iran, and Turkey are attempting to sow unrest as Albania pursues European Union membership, with some calling the protests a false flag. Posters depict Prime Minister Edi Rama as a Hasidic Jew, and maps show slogans alleging a Zionist influence rising in Albanian territory. Organizers say the demonstrations are not directed at Israel or Jews, but at Rama and longtime opposition leader Sali Berisha. Trolls have spread fake news headlines and AI-generated videos across social media platforms.

In Uplifting News, Israeli researchers at Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center have developed an AI-powered system that can detect anemia via a 10-second video scan of blood flow in the eye, eliminating the need for a blood draw. The non-invasive method analyzes tiny vessels in the eye’s conjunctiva and achieved more than 82% accuracy in initial studies, with larger clinical trials underway before routine use. The United States Mint will release 250,000 limited-edition Semiquincentennial quarters to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. The coins will circulate nationwide, featuring Thomas Jefferson on the obverse with “JULY 4th” and dual dates 1776-2026, paired with a Liberty Bell design on the reverse.

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/opinion/article-900581
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-900580
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-900595
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56314
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-900597
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56322
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56323