Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-03 at 20:02

HEADLINES
France UK Oman Pact Reopens Hormuz Transit
America at 250: Power Versus Dysfunction
Antisemitism Surges as America Reclaims Jewish Story

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In France, UK agree to work with Oman to restore safe transit through Strait of Hormuz, the leaders say the joint effort will ensure that Oman’s sovereign territorial waters are safe for navigation. France and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement with Oman to work together to restore safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The joint statement, issued by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, says the effort will ensure Oman’s sovereign territorial waters are safe for navigation. Macron and Starmer say they are ready to deploy the broader Multinational Military Mission to support freedom of navigation through the waterway. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for the global economy, and restoring safe transit for ships of all nations is a matter of global concern, the statement emphasizes. The leaders reaffirm their commitment to regional stability in the Middle East and to cooperating with partner states to support freedom of navigation and international law. On Thursday, Starmer met with Oman’s Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik Al to discuss efforts in the Strait of Hormuz.

In At 250, Israel needs an angry America to rediscover its way - opinion, the author frames the United States at 250 as a nation of vast power grappling with deep political dysfunction. America marks its 250th anniversary amid paradoxes of modern democracy. The United States remains the world’s indispensable power, with companies dominating global markets, leading universities, a financial system that supports the world economy, and a military that plays a central role in the international order. Yet Americans express profound pessimism about their political future and democracy. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 38% don’t believe the US will still exist as a single country in another 250 years. Gallup shows fewer than half believe everyone has an equal shot at the American dream. The conventional explanation points to polarization, but the piece notes that not everyone is part of the polarization; the deeper problem lies in the political dynamic and its effect on how the country engages with its allies and global affairs.

In America at 250: Fighting antisemitism begins with reclaiming America's Jewish story - opinion, antisemitism is described as a security and moral problem, and a failure of memory, as the country marks its semiquincentennial. Amid the anniversary, antisemitism is rising across campuses, city streets, online platforms, and parts of politics. In New York City, hate crimes were up sharply in May, with Jews targeted in about 60% of the city’s hate crimes while making up roughly 10% of its population. Synagogues rely on armed guards, and many Jewish students hide their identity. The piece argues that antisemitism flourishes where history is forgotten or taught through a lens of oppression rather than gratitude and shared destiny, and it stresses the importance of remembering the Jews’ role in building America to counter such hatred. Separately, a new advocacy group EiGHT released a 63-page report alleging that some humanitarian and human rights NGOs pushed Gaza suffering to raise funds and sought to shape an anti-Israel narrative around the Gaza war. The report says NGOs faced bias and calls for transparency and accountability in the sector. Danielle Haas, a former editor at Human Rights Watch, describes the concerns as aligned with calls for openness about expression, and the group of about 70 staffers who shared experiences has pushed for reform.

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/international/article-901368
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-900933
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-901110
https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-alleges-ngos-pushed-gaza-suffering-to-raise-funds-dismissed-antisemitism-claims/