Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-05 at 07:02

HEADLINES
Iran tests ceasefire with UAE strikes
Blue and White splits as lawmakers exit
London synagogue arson signals rising antisemitism

The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, a month of a shaky ceasefire has given Tehran space to gather its resources and test the limits of the pause. Tehran is now testing the ceasefire to see how far it can push, and it has already acted against Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq in limited moves. The recent attacks on the United Arab Emirates and threats to shipping signal rising confidence as time passes. The UAE says it intercepted numerous missiles and drones on Monday, and a key oil port in the UAE was attacked; CNN reported that the UAE used an Israeli air defense system in this round of attacks. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in the UAE and urged that the ceasefire be upheld to allow necessary diplomatic space for dialogue toward enduring regional peace and stability.

In Regional Impacts, tensions and responses ripple across the region and beyond. The Arab world, including Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority, lined up to strongly condemn Iran's unprovoked attacks yesterday on the United Arab Emirates. The European Union plans a programme of about €6 million to support Palestinian victims of settler violence in the West Bank, working with local and international NGOs to document attacks and provide protective measures. The EU project aims to support civil society with protective equipment and presence in affected communities. The EU move comes as attacks by extremist Jewish settlers against Palestinians and Israeli security forces in the West Bank rose by about 27% in 2025, according to figures presented by the IDF in January. Separately, severe GPS disruptions were reported in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said that about 44,000 Gazans have left the Gaza Strip for a third country via land crossings, with updates expected in the process and dual nationals and their families invited to contact relevant embassies. British Prime Minister Starmer said that Iran will not be allowed to destabilize British society. The Arab world condemnation of Iran’s actions continued to be echoed across regional capitals.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a new mural in Israel centers on the human cost of regional unrest linked to Iranian activity. The installation portrays Druze children in green and Iranian children in red as players in a symbolic football match, rather than adversaries, with Zahra Azadpour depicted as the referee. The scene also incorporates Nabi Shu’ayb in the Galilee and Tehran’s Azadi Tower, alongside the Lion and Sun symbol to convey resilience and identity. The Druze children named in the piece include Fajr Laith, Ameer Rabeea, Hazem Akram, Wadeea Ibrahim, Iseel Nashaat, Yazan Nayeif, Finis Adham, Alma Ayman, Naji Taher, Milad Muadad, and Nathem Fakher, highlighting how the conflict has touched diverse communities beyond official fronts.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, developments within parties and leadership contest continue to shape the electoral landscape. MK Eitan Ginzburg will leave the Blue and White Party and has held consultations about joining other parties, with Benny Gantz’s camp confirming the plan after an ultimatum about announcing his political future. The departure follows a sequence of exits by lawmakers now aligned with the Yesh Atid-affiliated group, and Chili Tropper also signaled he would leave to determine his next steps as polls show Blue and White struggling to clear the electoral threshold. Gantz summoned Ginzburg on Tuesday after reports of contacts with other parties emerged. In a separate reflection of the political moment, Mansour Abbas criticized Itamar Ben-Gvir ally Itamar Smotrich, saying Smotrich’s remarks show a disregard for the 2,100 Israelis killed and their families and calling the statement deplorable and immoral, even amid a bad day for the Change government; Abbas said human life is not valued in Smotrich’s view, underscoring continuing tensions in domestic political discourse.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, reports highlight both a sharp incident abroad and rising concerns at home. A former London synagogue was attacked in what police are treating as arson, with minor damage to gates and no injuries. Counter Terrorism Policing is coordinating with investigators to determine links to other attacks against Jewish, Israeli, and Iranian dissident sites, and residents can expect increased police presence as inquiries continue. In Canada, CSIS’s public annual report notes seven priority cases of violence motivated in part by the Gaza war and warns that the threat of religiously motivated violent extremism remains worrying, fueled by ISIS activity, the October 7 War, and rising youth radicalization. Antisemitism persisted in Canada largely through vandalism, propaganda, and bomb threats, even as most incidents did not threaten national security.

In Uplifting News, leadership and cross-faith collaboration are highlighted as a positive force in a difficult period. Yeshiva University president Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman spoke about a vision of Jewish leadership rooted in faith, values, and cooperation with Christian and Catholic institutions. He described the university’s Great Conversations series as bringing together global figures, from political leaders to intellectuals, to discuss meaning and leadership, noting appearances by figures such as Argentina’s president Javier Milei and author Douglas Murray. He emphasized the value of partnerships with faith-based universities and explained how such collaborations proved important after the October 7 attacks, helping to reinforce shared commitments and mutual support across communities.

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
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