Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-03 at 17:01

HEADLINES
US to guide Hormuz ships starting Monday
Israel study finds 70% online carts abandoned
Ha’ari siddur on display ahead Lag Ba’omer

The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the United States will begin guiding ships out of the Strait of Hormuz from Monday morning, Middle East time, according to a statement by President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social. The operation, named Project Freedom, is set to start Monday morning in the Middle East time. Trump said he is aware that his representatives are engaging in positive discussions with Iran that could lead to something positive for all. He added that the effort will focus on helping vessels leave the Persian Gulf, with countries asking the United States to assist in freeing ships that are held in the Strait. He described those ships as neutral and innocent bystanders and said that, for the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, the ships will be guided safely out so they can continue their business. This is a developing story.

In Regional Impacts, Trump is trying to break the Iranian blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, and the big question is how the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will respond.

In Israeli Economy and Business, a Tel Aviv University study from the Coller School of Management finds that the psychology behind abandoned online shopping carts drives billions in lost revenue. The study estimates that at least 70% of online carts are abandoned before payment, meaning retailers incur advertising, operations, and user-experience costs without the final sale. It suggests that carts containing more indulgent items trigger feelings of guilt and wastefulness in buyers, increasing the likelihood of abandonment. Professor Liat Hadar notes that when a cart is perceived as too indulgent, consumers may find it hard to justify the expense and decide not to buy.

In Uplifting News, an 18th-century prayer book based on the teachings of Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as Ha’ari, will go on display at the ANU – Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv ahead of Lag Ba’omer. The holiday will be marked at the museum with the display of a siddur containing the kavanot, or mystical intentions, from Ha’ari. Copied by hand in 1749 in Satanov, then in Poland and today in Ukraine, by scribe Israel ben Raphael Segal, the book is ink on paper and bound in leather decorated with colored leather panels and gold leaf. It reflects a tradition in which prayer is a practice in which every word is believed to influence both this world and the next. Ha’ari lived and taught in Safed in the 16th century. Lag Ba’omer begins the evening of May 4.

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/iran-news/article-895004
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75828
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-895001
https://www.jpost.com/history/article-894997