Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-07 at 10:03

HEADLINES
Macron pledges Syria banking aid after bombings
Israel unprepared to counter Iranian online meddling
First Israeli Arctic flight to Svalbard

The time is now 10:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, France says it is ready to help rebuild Syria's economy and banking system as President Emmanuel Macron presses a Damascus visit after two bombs exploded near a hotel where he had meetings. Macron told a news conference with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa that France wants to continue working on restructuring the banking sector and to assist the Syrian central bank. The blasts struck a busy area between the Tourism Ministry and the national museum, across from the Four Seasons hotel where Macron had spent the night and where he had met civil society groups earlier in the day. In a post on X, Macron said the visit would continue, adding that nothing can undermine the Syrians’ desire to live in a fully sovereign and secure Syria, and that he had met Syrians in all their diversity, with dignity, courage and determination. He was accompanied by business leaders, including the CEOs of TotalEnergies and CMA CGM. Separately, an elementary school in Gaza was turned into a base for Palestinian terrorists, who were filmed moving weapons through a tunnel shaft connected to Hamas' underground tunnel network. The world needs to see this.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel unprepared to counter Iranian election meddling on social media, gov't probe finds, as the country enters an election year described as a vulnerable period for attempts to manipulate public debate. Outgoing State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman said there is still no national policy or designated government body to coordinate a response to foreign influence campaigns online, nine years after the threat was first identified. The audit found that the threat of foreign influence in the digital sphere is worrying, with hostile actors, including Iran, covertly and systematically exploiting social media to deepen divisions, sow panic and shape perceptions. The report, based on work from July 2024 to January 2026, found that repeated attempts since 2017 to create an interagency response never translated into a functioning national framework, with various bodies identifying the danger at different points but lacking a unified approach. In a separate audit, police enforcement of Israel’s law prohibiting the purchase of prostitution services was found to be uneven, with enforcement concentrated in a handful of stations, and recognized trafficking victims facing residence-visa decisions that sometimes diverged from procedures. The constitutional duty to protect human dignity and liberty lies at the heart of the state’s obligations, and the audit described deep gaps in enforcing the law and was marked by a notable drop in fines from 2022 to subsequent years, though numbers partially rebounded in 2025.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, In Colorado, AP serves as definitive sanitizer of antisemitism - opinion, the piece argues as a commentary on how antisemitism is framed in public discourse. The Boulder firebomb attack on the Jewish community in late June 2025 left a community devastated, and a rising debate followed over whether the act should be labeled antisemitic. State Sen. Julie Gonzales, reacting to aspiring Colorado House representative Melat Kiros’s refusal to call the attack antisemitic, said the moment demanded a clear acknowledgement of hate and a path toward healing. The piece notes that Kiros’s stance drew sharp criticism even within her party, and it highlights that the Associated Press positions itself as a definitive source for independent journalism while covering such incidents and the surrounding debate.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Arkia Airlines makes history with a complex and challenging flight to the Arctic Circle, the first Israeli carrier to charter a flight to Svalbard Airport, the northernmost scheduled airport in the world. Arkia collaborated with Spirit World Productions and Phototeva Travel Expeditions to guide an Airbus A320 on a roughly 10-hour journey from Israel to the Norwegian-controlled island of Svalbard, with a refueling stop in Helsinki. The mission, described as potentially opening a new page in Israeli tourism, underscored Arkia’s high operational capability, according to Spirit World Productions’ Tali Yativ and Arkia’s Oz Berlowitz. Svalbard Airport lies about 1,300 kilometers from the North Pole, making it the closest Arctic airport with scheduled flights. In other developments, Dan Eilat Hotel has launched GALA, a premium hospitality package for guests in 69 rooms and suites. The program covers 38 executive rooms, 24 terrace rooms, four club suites, two deluxe suites and the presidential suite, offering a dedicated check-in, a private escort to rooms, VIP access to the pool deck and business lounge, wellness benefits, a welcome minibar, a lobby cocktail invitation, in-room gifts, a high-end coffee machine, upgraded bathroom amenities and a pillow menu. The GALA launch follows upgrades at Dan Eilat, including the JAH Spa Wellness Center, a two-floor, 700-square-meter complex with seven treatment rooms, a couples’ suite with a jacuzzi, a hammam, a sauna and more, part of a broader improvement for the Red Sea resort.

In Uplifting News, Israeli actress Evgenia Dodina triumphs in Or Sinai's Mama - review, the latest Israeli drama opening nationwide. The review lauds Dodina’s performance as Mila, a strong, independent Polish foreign worker who serves as the housekeeper for a wealthy Israeli family, noting the film's Cannes 2025 world premiere and Sinai’s direction. The piece highlights Dodina’s commanding presence and the film’s exploration of personal sacrifice, humanity and desire through scenes such as a choreographed opening dance with her character’s lover, a foreign worker from Africa who works as the family’s gardener.

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/middle-east/article-901748
https://t.me/hnaftali/23790
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901744
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-901746
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-901709
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901753
https://www.jpost.com/consumerism/article-901752
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-901755