Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-02 at 06:02

HEADLINES
Iran regime trembles after US-Israel strikes
Netanyahu trial nears end amid drama
Israel defense exports hit record $19B

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 Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said last week that the stability and future of the Iranian regime were shrouded in uncertainty following the joint US-Israeli military campaigns against it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at a farewell ceremony for outgoing Mossad Director David Barnea, said the foundations of this regime of terror in Iran have been shaken. It will never return to what it was, and I tell you—it will ultimately fall. Let anyone plotting evil against Israel know that their schemes will fail. The price they will pay will be extremely heavy.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the cross-examination phase of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's criminal trial is in its final stretch. After a delay request, the hearing began at 10 a.m., with Netanyahu informing the judges he would need to leave by 11:15 a.m. The defense sought significant delays on Tuesdays due to the transition of Netanyahu’s military secretary, Major-General Roman Gofman, to the post of Mossad chief; the High Court of Justice cleared Gofman’s appointment on Sunday. The prosecutions’ questions center on Case 2000, focusing on Netanyahu’s conversations with Yediot Aharonot publisher Arnon Mozes ahead of the 2015 election, while Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing and the situation unfolds amid Iran developments and a plea-bargain offer from President Isaac Herzog that remains on the table. In a separate development, the Housing Ministry announced that the southern regional planning committee approved depositing a plan to establish the new settlement Hanun (Ofer) in the Sdot Negev Regional Council. The plan envisions about 500 housing units across roughly 950 dunams, a regional education campus with a 12-class elementary school and an 18-class high school, a central mixed-use complex, a park-centered urban and employment hub, and a green space known as Park HaEmek to serve as a green lung and assist with stormwater management. The plan also includes smaller housing units up to 80 square meters to encourage young families and a diverse, multi-generational community.

In Israeli Economy and Business, defense sources say that after the Iran war Israel is expected to expand its influence among Arab states, even as regional trends remain mixed—some Arab states seek closer ties with Israel to counter Iran, while others worry about Iran or about Israel’s growing regional role. The full picture will become clearer once the Iran campaign ends, but officials note that Israel’s defense exports have reached a record of about USD 19 billion. Separately, Israeli police and the Tax Authority said they disrupted a cigarette smuggling operation off the coast of Ashdod, seizing about 4,000 cartons valued at roughly NIS 2 million that were loaded onto a speedboat. The captain and first officer, Azerbaijani nationals, were detained; as authorities approached, they dumped boxes overboard. Police recovered the abandoned goods and later located the vessel, recovering additional cigarettes for a total estimated value of about NIS 7 million. The investigation is ongoing.

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://worldisraelnews.com/netanyahu-downfall-of-iranian-regime-of-terror-inevitable/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-898074
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1328409
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-898095
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-898082