Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-09 at 18:01

HEADLINES
- Israel warns US of Iranian Trump plot
- Trump Netanyahu call after Iran strikes
- Jerusalem Film Festival opens its 43rd edition

The time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, reports indicate Israel warned the United States about an Iranian attempt to target former president Donald Trump, a claim carried by the Wall Street Journal. At a fighter pilot graduation ceremony, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel is advancing a policy of independent armament. Authorities also announced the arrest of two senior figures and the seizure of weapons as the circle around the Hariri organization tightens. The region remained volatile as alarms were heard in Jordan, and a plane bound for Israel was ordered to circle over Greece. A Kuwaiti official said the balance of power is tilted in favor of America and Israel.

In US Military Role, President Trump spoke in a phone call with Prime Minister Netanyahu after renewed US strikes on Iran, with Trump updating him on American moves in the Gulf. Netanyahu warned against approving the F-35 deal with Turkey, and the conversation touched on Erdogan’s anti-Israel rhetoric and the need for security zones along Israel’s borders. No further details of the discussion were released, and a White House official said there are no plans for a meeting at this time. A US official emphasized that Washington remains committed to a resolution with Iran and that technical talks are ongoing. Separately, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee cautioned that any return to heavier fighting would depend on decisions by the president and CENTCOM, saying he has no current updates and that Tehran should not assume the new phase would favor it.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Avigdor Liberman told The Jerusalem Post that Netanyahu has dismantled much of the US-Israel relationship and has become a burden to President Trump, a dynamic Liberman says could affect the upcoming US midterms. Liberman, a long-time critic and former senior minister, argued Trump has come to feel Netanyahu gave too much. In another line, an American official said talks with Iran continue and the United States remains committed to a resolution. Netanyahu also told Trump that Erdogan’s anti-Israel rhetoric is reaching dangerous levels and urged that Israel must preserve air superiority as Washington weighs potential F-35 sales to Ankara.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an Egyptian pundit named Mohammed Nour released a video blaming Israel for Egypt’s World Cup defeat against Argentina, suggesting FIFA and Israel interfered and that Israel influenced the outcome. Nour alleged that Yair Netanyahu helped bring Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, claimed Messi has visited Israel and worn a kippah, and asserted the Argentine president is a close ally of Netanyahu. He further argued that Messi’s ties to Israel affected how the match was officiated and that Israel blocked the display of the Palestinian flag in front of a global audience.

In Uplifting News, the Jerusalem Film Festival opened its 43rd edition at Sultan’s Pool with about 6,000 guests in attendance. Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa was the festival’s guest of honor and will serve as chairman of the jury for the Israeli competition; the event will run through July 19 at the Jerusalem Cinematheque and the Lev Smadar theater and features more than 100 international films, alongside a strong slate of Israeli cinema. In Paris, a Moroccan goalkeeper saved a penalty and, in the process, helped prevent fires, an act celebrated as a notable moment of sportsmanship and composure.

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.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1342826
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902078
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902067
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902069
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1342825
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjn4iktqgg
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902065
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-902071
https://t.me/newssil/206333