Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-18 at 13:01

HEADLINES
- Netanyahu rejects pullout from Lebanon strip
- Trump poised to back Netanyahu, awaits challengers
- Prinok baby food tainted with sedatives

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the IDF will not withdraw from the security strip in southern Lebanon, arguing that restoring security to Israel’s north requires keeping forces in place for as long as security needs require it. He spoke during a ceremony marking the re-inauguration of Route 60 in the north, asserting that the ceasefire does not equate to a full pullout from the security zone, which runs about 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory. The stance comes as tensions rise between Jerusalem and Washington over a US-Iran agreement that envisions an end to hostilities in Lebanon and a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. The Israeli military has described the zone as essential for operational purposes, and no timetable for withdrawal or clear conditions were provided.

In the US Policy Concerning Israel, President Donald Trump said he will most likely endorse Benjamin Netanyahu in the next election but wants to see who is running first, noting he has a good relationship with Netanyahu and would be willing to meet him, provided the field is known and Netanyahu is “a little more rational.” He also referenced a “little dispute” over Lebanon and urged a softer approach rather than turning large targets into confrontations. US Vice President JD Vance criticized Israeli critics of the US–Iran Memorandum of Understanding, saying Israel must respect the peace process and that Washington’s framework remains important even as he pushed back on the premise that the United States is not aligned with Israeli security needs. Vance also defended the deal with Iran, challenging opponents to offer a concrete alternative proposal and highlighting that remaining aligned with Washington’s approach is essential, while cautioning that Beirut civilian deaths are not acceptable and stressing that final talks will decide next steps. A separate analysis described the US–Israel dynamic as a loyalty test at a time when Trump’s posture toward Israel blends public support with public admonitions, including claims from Trump that with the United States’s backing, Israel’s achievements would be more secure. In a related note, Vance reiterated that Israel must respect the Iran deal and that civilian harm in Beirut cannot be overlooked as the 60-day window with Iran proceeds toward whatever follows.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, police say the Health Ministry failed to request testing on tainted Prinok baby food in May, leading to a delayed investigation after toddlers were hospitalized. The case began when an anxious mother brought a jar of the fruit puree to hospital and asked for testing, but authorities did not test the product at that time. The Health Ministry reportedly did not require the police to test the jar, and the jar was kept as evidence by the police during an ongoing inquiry. The investigation expanded after additional children were hospitalized, and this week the jar was tested and found to be laced with sedatives, prompting further scrutiny of the handling and safety protocols surrounding the product and the ministry’s role in coordinating with investigators.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Azerbaijani-language social media posts have circulated questioning Albert Agarunov, a Jewish national hero of Azerbaijan, amid renewed Iranian and pro-Iranian claims that Azerbaijan is being used as a platform for Israeli operations against Iran. The posts describe Agarunov’s story as a forgery and include phrases such as the “Agarunov lie” alongside hashtags linked to Iran and Resistance networks. Some messages appear to come from accounts presenting themselves as opposition voices while adopting pro-Iranian rhetoric. Agarunov, a Mountain Jew from Baku who served as a tank commander in the First Karabakh War and was killed in 1992, is honored as a National Hero of Azerbaijan and is buried in Baku’s Alley of Martyrs beneath both Azerbaijani and Israeli flags. The spread of such narratives sits against a backdrop of tensions over Azerbaijan’s ties with Israel and broader regional narratives about Iran’s influence.

In Uplifting News, Van Jones told Genesis Prize listeners that humanity bears a special responsibility to defend Jews, arguing that the Jewish people remain one of the world’s smallest and most vulnerable minority groups. He noted that roughly half of the world’s Jews live in Israel and emphasized that when this community comes under attack, the world has a duty to respond. Jones spoke as he joined the Genesis Prize Foundation’s advisory board, framing Israel’s security and existence within a wider historical context and urging continued vigilance against anti-Jewish sentiment.

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/israel-news/defense-news/article-899856
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899871
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-899872
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-899868
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-899860
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syfkuqzgmg
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899864
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-899869
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-899865