Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-18 at 02:01

HEADLINES
- Kuwaiti Defenses Halt Iranian Missile Drone Wave
- Sa’ar Ties Global Sumud Flotilla to Terror
- Lod Court Halts Likud Candidate List Vote

The time is now 2:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Kuwaiti air defenses are engaging another wave of Iranian missile and drone threats.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar described links between radical left-wing political movements in the West and Islamist terrorist organizations, stating that the alliance poses a real challenge to the values of democracy and freedom. He highlighted the Global Sumud Flotilla as an example of how terrorist groups may hide behind leftist activist movements. The flotilla allegedly attempted to breach Israel’s legal naval blockade on the Gaza Strip multiple times under the guise of delivering humanitarian aid, but carried no aid materials. Hamas documents seized by the IDF indicate financing, operational involvement, and covert ownership of the vessels through a Spanish shell company.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Lod District Court issued an injunction blocking a planned Likud vote after a petition filed by the Social Forum affiliated with the National Labor Federation. The vote was intended to determine new rules for selecting the Likud’s candidate list ahead of the election for the 26th Knesset. The party announced no vote would take place following the court order, and the Likud legal adviser requested postponement as legal proceedings continued. The Social Forum alleged the Likud administration had acted in direct violation of a party court ruling by preventing the proposed election rules from being brought to a vote. The proposal sought to ensure full participation by all Likud members, including people with disabilities.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani invoked Nelson Mandela to demand Palestinian freedom and questioned why the world waits to oppose injustice, drawing a parallel to concerns that opposing Israeli policies reflects hatred toward Jews and that action is needed before more civilians are harmed.

In Uplifting News, Avi Goldberger, a ninth-generation Jerusalemite and owner of Hataklit Pub in the Russian Compound, is highlighted as a unifier in the city. He runs Hataklit and two other pubs with partners Roy Bar-Tour and Haggai Sternheim. On June 8, 2026, amid renewed tensions with Iran, Hataklit was open and bustling, with diplomats, EU staff, journalists, locals, and visitors sharing drinks, conversation, and a sense that the moment could pause for a while as the world carried on.

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://t.me/DefenderDome/22250
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902865
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902863
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkg6xydefe
https://www.timesofisrael.com/avi-goldberger-pub-owner-who-brings-everyone-together/