Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-16 at 22:01

HEADLINES
GOP pushes $95B defense and voter ID
Herzog dreams Israel Saudi peace
Wood shifts on genocide label for Gaza

The time is now 10:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Republicans in the US Congress forged ahead on Thursday with a $95 billion budget plan to meet President Donald Trump's demands for new defense funding for the war in Iran, farm assistance, and a sweeping overhaul of voting requirements ahead of the November midterm elections. A Republican-controlled budget panel in the US House of Representatives approved the resolution on Thursday, clearing it for a full House vote as early as next week. If passed, it would pave the way for a special budget reconciliation bill intended to clear the Senate with a simple majority rather than the 60 votes needed for most legislation in that chamber. That could enable Republicans, who hold 53 of the Senate's 100 seats, to bypass Democratic opposition and advance legislation directing $60 billion for defense, $13 billion for intelligence, $12 billion for agriculture, and $10 billion to enact Trump’s signature voter ID bill, the SAVE America Act, over the next decade. But it was too early to say whether a House reconciliation bill would qualify under strict Senate rules or even garner a simple majority. Democrats have criticized Republicans for pushing for a $95 billion defense budget while failing to address soaring prices for gasoline, food, and other goods that voters say are their top issues. The debate comes as some Jewish Republicans grow skeptical of JD Vance over his handling of Iran-related matters, with many turning to Marco Rubio as a preferred candidate for 2028.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Herzog says Israel-Saudi peace is his dream, 'unsurprised' by renewed Iran conflict, in interview. President Isaac Herzog said his dream is to see peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia and spoke in a Thursday interview with Saudi Arabia's state-owned Al-Arabiya about the unfolding situation with Iran and the prospect of normalization in the region. He voiced great respect for Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and stressed that rapprochement between the nations is what he hopes to see most. Herzog said the dialogue between Jerusalem and Mecca should be the real gist of it, and he expressed a desire to meet Saudi leadership officially in due course. He also praised the US renewal of strikes against Iran, saying the firm response sends a message that Iran must return to a path that could lead to an exit from the war. Iran, in turn, launched strikes against several countries in the region, including Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, a development Herzog noted while underscoring the importance of regional stability and allied actions.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Contender to replace Graham Platner as Senate candidate changes mind on ‘genocide’. Jordan Wood, who vied last fall for the Democratic nomination for Maine’s US Senate seat, has reversed course on using the word genocide to describe Israeli actions in Gaza, saying on social media that the United States cannot fund what he calls Israel’s genocide in Gaza and arguing that taxpayer dollars should fund schools, healthcare, and childcare at home. Wood had previously avoided the term, citing concerns about rising antisemitism and telling a commentator that he believed Israel had committed war crimes but stopped short of labeling it genocide. He is running in the abbreviated primary to replace Graham Platner, who won the nomination but is out amid accusations of sexual assault. Wood’s shift reflects ongoing tensions within and around the debate over how to describe Israel’s actions and how US funding should be used.

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/american-politics/article-902809
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-902808
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902806
https://www.timesofisrael.com/contender-to-replace-graham-platner-as-senate-candidate-changes-mind-on-genocide/