Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-09 at 00:02

HEADLINES
- Israel strikes Iran, avoids wider war
- Gaza border education boosted with 72,000 grants
- Sign Language officially recognized in Israel

The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, for a few hours on Sunday night, it seemed entirely possible that Israel would do what much of the international community wanted it to do, which is absorb an Iranian missile attack and move on. There were no casualties; the missiles triggered sirens across northern Israel and sent millions of Israelis to protected spaces. Just another exchange in the Middle East, and another mini-crisis to be managed. Yet by the early hours of Monday morning, the Israel Air Force had struck targets in western and central Iran, defying public American demands not to retaliate. It is not that Israel sought a wider war; the opposite. Israel struck selected targets and refrained from launching its full potential on Iran. The question is why. Israel is still dealing with the aftermath of October 7, fighting on multiple fronts, which increased yet again when the Houthis joined the fray on Monday. Reserve duty has stretched families and businesses to their limits.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the government is offering grants up to 72,000 NIS to new teachers and psychologists in the Gaza border area, announced by the Financial Ministry's Wages and Labor Agreements Department, the Education Ministry, and the Tekuma Administration. The Tekuma region grant is meant to strengthen the area's education system by encouraging new employment and promoting educational activities. Education Minister Yoav Kisch said the initiative strengthens schools in the region and helps build the layer of educational leadership that will accompany the children of the Gaza border area in the years to come. The professionals sought include those versed in English, computers, physics, biology, chemistry, technology, therapeutic professions, kindergarten teaching, and educational counseling, with exceptional cases made for additional subjects determined to have a unique need in the region. The highest grants will be awarded to professionals relocating to the region from a distance of at least 30 km and will be determined by the length of their service. The Knesset also moved forward on a separate but related measure, as a bill recognizing Israeli Sign Language passed its second and third readings in the plenum. Initiated by MKs Avichai Boaron and Chili Tropper, the bill passed with no opponents or abstentions. Israeli Sign Language is described as the main language for deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Israel and as a core element of identity, culture, and pride, with the aim of recognizing it as the natural language of deaf Israelis. Tropper noted the passage came through cooperation between the coalition and the opposition, and former MK Shirley Pinto called it a historic day for the State of Israel, while the law’s formal recognition marks a defining milestone.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Republican Representative Thomas Massie took to the House floor Monday to call for an investigation into Israel’s 1967 attack on the USS Liberty, giving new prominence to a decades-old conspiracy theory that has become a touchstone for critics of Israel. “It’s my great honor, maybe one of the biggest honors of my lifetime, to stand here on the floor and do something that’s 59 years overdue, to recognize the survivors and those who gave their lives on the USS Liberty,” Massie said. The attack occurred during the Six-Day War off the Sinai Peninsula, and multiple investigations determined that Israel mistakenly struck what it believed was an Egyptian ship; 34 crew members were killed and 171 injured. Israel later apologized and paid damages, but the incident remains a rallying point for critics of Israeli policy. Separately, the Tribeca Festival denounced jokes made on the red carpet alluding to allegations of rape against Israeli prison guards by comedian Elon Gold and pro-Israel influencer Lizzy Savetsky, with Savetsky saying the reel did not imply rape and Gold not responding to a request for comment. The discourse surrounding Israeli policy and conduct also drew attention as musician Dave Matthews pushed back on claims that his criticism of Israel amounts to antisemitism, telling audiences that his critique of policy should not be equated with bigotry and affirming his respect for Jewish people and their historical figures.

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/opinion/article-898773
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-898793
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-898785
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-898790
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-898791
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-898787