Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-14 at 21:01

HEADLINES
Xi Trump Forge Hormuz Peace Pact
Israel Lebanon Talks Productive Mediation Advances
House Rejects Iran War Powers Restriction

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Sec. Marco Rubio just CONFIMRED that Chinese President Xi Jinping has come into total agreement with President Trump: - NO militarizing the Strait of Hormuz - NO Iranian tolls in the Strait "It's good we have alliance or agreement on that point.... Now, what are we gonna do about it? We have a resolution at the UN...we are pushing very hard on it. We hope the Chinese will vote for it."

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Third round of Israel-Lebanon peace talks 'productive, positive' so far, US official says, the first day of negotiations concluded after eight hours at the US State Department in Washington. Delegations from both countries are set to meet again on Friday for further discussion. A State Department official described the talks as productive and positive and said they will continue tomorrow with the goal of discussing a framework for a deeper agreement. This round was the first to be attended by military representatives and comes ahead of the expiration of a three-week extension to the ceasefire deal announced by US President Donald Trump on April 23. US mediation was led by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Secretary of State Rubio’s adviser Michael Needham, and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michael Issa. Israel’s delegation was led by the Israeli ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, joined by the IDF Head of Strategy Brigadier-General Amichai Levin and other representatives.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, US House narrowly rejects bid to rein in Trump Iran war powers. The House voted 212-212 on the war powers resolution, meaning it failed because it needed a majority to pass, despite more Republicans backing the effort. Three Republican lawmakers supported the measure—Tom Barrett, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Thomas Massie—and one Democrat, Jared Golden, opposed it. It marked the third House vote this year on an Iran war powers resolution and follows a 60-day deadline for Trump to brief Congress on the war. Secretary Rubio: "What the president's making clear is if the Iranians think that they are going to use our domestic politics to pressure him into a bad deal, that's not going to happen." SECRETARY RUBIO: "I don’t know that there is a country on the planet that is in favor of Iran having a nuclear weapon. I think the difference is we actually are trying to do something about it."

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Spotify playlists reportedly linked to New York City First Lady Rama Duwaji included songs with explicit anti-Israel lyrics and titles referencing pro-Palestinian activism, according to a report published by the New York Post. The report said one playlist carried a title referencing Palestine and included songs with lyrics hostile toward Israel. Another playlist was reportedly connected to a 2024 pro-Palestinian protest in Washington, DC

In Uplifting News, Why keep the Sabbath? - opinion. On May 4, US President Donald Trump issued a proclamation declaring May Jewish American Heritage Month and called on Americans to observe a national Sabbath during the weekend of May 15-16. He urged friends, families, and communities of all backgrounds to join in gratitude for the nation and to celebrate faith and freedom throughout the year, highlighting the sacred Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection, and gratitude.

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/beholdisraelchannel/76317
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-896291
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-896293
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76320
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76319
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54393
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-896289