Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-28 at 21:02

HEADLINES
Iran-US MoU Talks Continue, Hormuz Quiet
Venezuela quake leaves 68,000 missing
Hezbollah-backed Berri blocks trilateral Israel deal

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iranian state news outlets say technical talks set for today were not attended by the Iranian team, citing the recent US retaliatory strikes as the reason for not attending. However, US officials have told news outlets that technical talks on all facets of the US-Iran MOU continue. Axios reports that both sides have agreed to cease reciprocal strikes, which resumed following Iran's rejection of a joint International Maritime Organization-Omani transit framework for the Strait of Hormuz.

In Regional Impacts, high-resolution satellite imagery released this week shows extensive quake damage in La Guaira, Venezuela, with about 68,000 people still reported missing. The images highlight the collapse of high-rise buildings in the Playa Grande neighborhood and significant damage to surrounding structures and infrastructure, providing a current assessment to guide emergency response and monitoring recovery efforts. Separately, Lebanon’s framework with Israel and the United States remains under scrutiny as a Lebanese diplomat described as preliminary and not yet finalized the broader regional diplomacy, noting that arrangements aimed at stabilizing the area hinge on multiple moving parts, including how regional actors view disarmament and sovereignty. Meanwhile, reports that the United States and Iran have halted attacks and will hold talks about the Strait of Hormuz in Qatar this week have circulated, with officials saying kinetic activity has paused and that technical talks on all areas of the MoU are continuing. A separate briefing from officials indicated Iran did not attend Sunday technical talks due to recent attacks and unfulfilled conditions of the MoU, while US officials stressed that nothing had been canceled and that talks remain on track, with vessels allowed to move freely for now.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah-allied Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri says the trilateral deal with Israel will not pass in its current form, arguing it does not guarantee Lebanon's rights and stressing Hezbollah’s right to defend its homeland.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a new Israel Democracy Institute analysis finds that religious identity remains Israel's strongest political divider, with voting patterns closely tracking respondents’ religious self-identification. The study of responses from more than 12,000 Jewish adults across 20 surveys shows that 97% of haredi voters backed parties that went on to form the governing coalition, about 80% of national-religious voters, and 66.5% of traditional voters supported coalition-aligned parties, while 74% of secular voters backed the opposition. The most notable shift since 2021 was the expansion of the Religious Zionist-Otzma Yehudit alliance, increasing its appeal among voters.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has secured the largest contract in its history as Romania pursues a more than €2 billion air defense program, signing an initial agreement for the SPYDER air defense system. The deal will bolster Romania’s defenses against drones, cruise missiles, and other low-flying threats and marks a significant export milestone for Israel’s defense industry.

In Uplifting News, Venezuela’s Jewish communities have launched an emergency fundraising campaign to aid earthquake victims, aiming for $2 million and reporting $176,000 raised by Sunday evening. The appeal notes about 80 Jewish families lost homes and another 200 fear returning home, with GoFundMe efforts and calls for international support to bolster relief efforts. Also in this section, Israeli President Isaac Herzog began a state visit to Romania, leading commemorations for the 85th anniversary of the Iași Pogrom, where thousands of Romanian Jews were killed or deported. Herzog attended a memorial ceremony, oversaw the reburial of identified victims, visited the Iași Holocaust Museum, and underscored the duty to remember in the face of rising antisemitism worldwide.

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
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