Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-11 at 16:01

HEADLINES
Oman presses dual Hormuz routes amid talks
Illouz quits Likud sparks party realignment
Iran-backed online bots target Nova survivors

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Oman has proposed a two-route system to manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, with an agreement that is not yet finalized but would keep both the northern and southern corridors open. In the southern corridor, within Omani territorial waters, ships would move freely under pre-war conditions. In the northern corridor, in Iranian territorial waters, vessels would need to request passage from Tehran, and no tolls would be imposed under the deal. The talks also touched on a possible statement to open a “median lane” for free and full movement. Iran’s foreign ministers and Omani officials discussed appropriate mechanisms for safe passage under Article 5 of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding. This comes as US President Donald Trump has demanded that Iran publicly acknowledge that it fired at ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, MK Dan Illouz is expected to announce soon that he is leaving Likud, a development that has not yet been officially confirmed by his office but is described as highly likely by multiple reports. The move would follow MK Yuli Edelstein’s July 3 departure from Likud, after which he is expected to start a new political party. Both Illouz and Edelstein have been critics of legislation advanced by the coalition’s haredi parties, including the Basic Law: Torah Study and a separate bill aimed at changing Israel’s daycare subsidy system.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a new report indicates Iran-linked harm online campaigns targeting Nova massacre survivors. Thousands of coordinated fake accounts are spreading denial of October 7 and alleging that Israel staged the Nova massacre, while abusing survivors including Noa Argamani and Romi Gonen.

In Uplifting News, Theodor Herzl and American Jews: The untold story of a Zionist bond that changed history notes that July 20 will mark the 102nd yahrzeit of Theodor Herzl, founder of the World Zionist movement. In seven intense years, Herzl built the foundations for a Jewish state by uniting secular and religious Jews with world leaders and committed Christians, proving that “if you will it, it is no dream.” The piece also reflects on Herzl’s relationship with American Jewry, including moments such as Barack Obama’s visits to Herzl’s grave, and recounts the involvement of Oscar Lifshutz, a Jewish US Army chaplain, in the disinterment of Herzl and his parents so their remains could be brought to Israel.

Also in Uplifting News, Why American Jews don't have to choose between the US and Israel offers a personal reflection on enduring ties between American roots and an Israeli home. The author, after fifty years in Israel, writes about dual identity and the sense that Americans and Israelis share a connected fate, tracing experiences from language and accents to daily life and family history, including stories of grandparents who left pogroms to seek a future.

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-902171
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902173
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r13i8fgnze
https://www.jpost.com/history/article-901899
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-901930