Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-14 at 12:02

HEADLINES
Netanyahu warns Iran: harsher retaliation coming
Iran opens new front at Bab el-Mandeb
Sharren Haskel resigns over draft bill

The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran on Tuesday against launching future attacks on Israel, saying Tehran would face a far harsher response than in previous confrontations. Speaking at the Negev Conference in Dimona, he declared, “Do not count on it being quiet if you attack us. Do not count on a rerun; this will be a different event, much more powerful.” He noted Hezbollah now has only 7% to 8% of the missiles it possessed at the start of the war. Netanyahu linked the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon to the rehabilitation of Gaza border communities, saying the Tekuma region is growing faster than anywhere else and that border towns are returning to prewar population levels. He also said he is working to eliminate the country’s geographic and economic periphery in Dimona, noting there are no available apartments in the city and recalling that there were many empty apartments with cockroaches before he came to power. His remarks drew little applause in Dimona, a city with a strong Likud base.

In Regional Impacts, analysts say escalation in the Strait of Hormuz is pushing Iran to press harder for gains. Ben Sabti, an Iran expert at the Institute for National Security Studies, told 103FM that the US should accelerate military strikes and target additional senior Iranian officials to push toward a resolution. He described a combative leadership despite severe blows and mounting domestic hardship, arguing that military pressure is driving Tehran to escalate. He cited an Iranian parliament member’s tweet calling for the immediate acquisition of a nuclear bomb to protect assets in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an example of the regime’s hubris. Sabti said the regime’s survival is reinforced by functioning central power structures, and that as long as two Revolutionary Guard generals stand, the regime remains in place and is unlikely to back down.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, after Strait of Hormuz, Iran turns to Bab el-Mandeb as a new pressure point. Having choked off shipping through Hormuz, Iran is signaling it could deploy the Houthis to shut the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea, opening a new front against Washington and putting two of the world’s most vital energy arteries at risk. As US strikes deepen inside Iran and Houthi attacks escalate in tandem, analysts say Tehran is widening the conflict and seeking to increase pressure on Washington by extending the threat to global trade and energy supplies beyond the Gulf. Iran has already demonstrated its ability to disrupt Hormuz; a senior Yemeni official warned that the armed forces were prepared to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if Saudi Arabia continued to attack Yemen, a threat carried by state media.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Trump wants to impose fees for Strait of Hormuz transit just like Iran: Is that legal? - explainer. President Donald Trump said the United States would charge 20% on cargoes using the Strait of Hormuz after a ceasefire with Iran broke down over Tehran’s efforts to maintain control of the waterway. Iran had previously shut the strait, prompting a global energy shock, and the piece outlines how Trump’s stance contrasts with previous positions. Rubio, speaking with Gulf states, argued that no country has a right to charge for the use of international waterways and that shipping fees would not be part of any deal. Trump has floated tolls if negotiations fail, and he said there would be no tolls for 60 days during the cease-fire period, with no tolls afterward unless imposed by the United States.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Sharren Haskel resigns as Israel’s deputy foreign minister over a bill halting arrests of haredi draft dodgers. The New Hope member announced her resignation after the approval of legislation that suspends arrests of draft evaders from the ultra-Orthodox community. This is a developing story. In another profile of political shifts, Gadi Taub, a prominent historian and podcaster, explains his move from the Labor establishment to the Right, saying he still backs Netanyahu and criticizing what he calls the Left’s “license to fabricate narratives.” Taub grew up in a Jerusalem backdrop of academia, art, and politics and describes his path as a reflection of broader realignments in Israeli society. Israel also unveiled a budget plan for West Bank settlements, with the Security Cabinet approving NIS 1.3 million to establish 34 new settlements across Samaria, Binyamin, Hebron, the Jordan Valley, Gush Etzion, and Megilot. The move brings the current government’s settlements total to 103, with ministers Smotrich and Strock emphasizing on-the-ground implementation and continued expansion.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Irish music festival bans IDF veteran from attending in name of safe, welcoming, inclusive space. The Rewild Festival said it would not allow a former member of the Israeli Occupation Forces to attend, citing its commitment to its community’s values. The decision drew condemnation from figures including former Irish defense minister Alan Shatter, who argued the policy targets individuals based on identity. The incident has intensified debate over what constitutes fair spaces and stereotypes in cultural events.

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/israel-news/benjamin-netanyahu/article-902497
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902486
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https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902504
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902514
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-sits-down-with/article-902511
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902506
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-902482