Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-26 at 06:01

HEADLINES
Hormuz talks advance as Oman proposes consortium
Israel AG attacks discriminatory draft freeze
Israel rolls out NIS 1B startup funding

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

In Regional Impacts, Iran, Oman make 'some progress' in talks over Strait of Hormuz navigation, sources tell 'Post'. Talks between Iran and Oman have moved forward on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, though it remains unclear whether Iran will accept the proposal on the table. Oman has proposed establishing a regional consortium to oversee maritime security, search-and-rescue operations, and other forms of regional cooperation, with participation and payments to be voluntary. Iran has opposed the idea, insisting on mandatory payments and arguing that vessels would otherwise be barred from transiting the strait. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed several rounds of talks focusing on common principles and operational mechanisms for managing safe shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz while respecting the sovereign rights of both coastal states, and he described the discussions as productive with progress made.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, A-G asks High Court to strike down 'discriminatory' haredi draft enforcement freeze. Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara has asked the High Court of Justice to strike down a law suspending enforcement against ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students who fail to report for military service, arguing that it creates a discriminatory “group immunity mechanism” that protects one sector from arrest while leaving other draft evaders exposed to the full force of the law. The law passed the Knesset on July 14 and was frozen the following day by Justice Ofer Grosskopf; five petitions will be heard by an expanded nine-justice panel. The state contends that the law has no legal future. In a separate note from the political arena, Korin Gideon, a television presenter and social media figure, revealed that former cabinet minister and UN ambassador Gilad Erdan approached her about a possible move into politics ahead of Israel’s 2026 national election. She confirmed she was approached, met with Erdan, and said it was an initial examination, adding that the meeting was exploratory and that she has no ballot plan at this time, including the remark, “A ballot slip with Korin Gideon’s name? No. Absolutely not.”

In Israeli Economy and Business, Innovation Authority launches NIS 1 billion solution for companies hit by shekel-dollar crisis. Israel’s Innovation Authority announced a NIS 1 billion funding program to aid startups affected by the strengthening of the shekel against the dollar. The fund targets technology startups and early-stage projects with less than 12 months of runway, allowing up to six extra months to continue development, research, or growth plans, with grants provided through an accelerated review process to speed support. The program aims to give high-potential companies time and certainty to grow and reach milestones and to position them for the next funding round, according to Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority.

In Uplifting News, Infinite painting, boundless experience: How Leo Ray finds joy in an increasingly dark world. Leo Ray is a painter and visual artist born in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1950, who studied theoretical physics and art before making aliyah in 1991 and settling in Tel Aviv. For more than 30 years, up to the pandemic, he taught art at Art School, Ein Vered, and BASIS School of Sculpture in Beit Yanai, where he also led the painting program from 2006 to 2014. He continues to paint daily, exploring infinite painting as a chain of stories, linking everyday motifs like dogs, cats, birds, and people with Renaissance and classical art references in a modern, eclectic language. He has shown extensively in Israel and abroad, and the interview highlights his prolific output, including a collection of 99 paintings showcased as a continuous thread of narrative.

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-903647
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903654
https://www.jpost.com/consumerism/article-903649
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/banking-and-finance/article-903620
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-903498