Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-18 at 22:02

HEADLINES
Iran talks stall as Swiss venue unclear
US sanctions Hezbollah-linked Lebanese officials
Avi Halevy resigns as Likud legal adviser

The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the White House says the first round of technical talks with Iran under the memorandum of understanding signed this week will not take place on Friday, with plans not finalized and the US delegation prepared to depart at the first available opportunity. Officials say the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now, the vice president indicated the talks were not finalized, and a White House spokesperson said they would provide a concrete update on next steps as soon as possible. After initial notices that the talks would be held in Switzerland on Friday, the secretary of state’s representative, identified as Vance, said the meeting was not yet finalized because Iranian officials face travel constraints, and he expected to travel to Switzerland at some point this weekend.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said that withdrawing beyond the yellow line in Lebanon would be a failure and that Israel must hold strategically important points inside Lebanese territory, including the Tebnin area and the outskirts of Nabatieh, while cautioning against returning to the blue line. He drew a comparison to the Gaza Strip, argued that Israel’s military and strategic position remains stronger than Iran’s, and asserted that achievements would not be erased even if an agreement is reached. Separately, former Navy commander Major General (Reserve) Eliezer Marom warned that Israel should expect repeated rounds of fighting with Iran and that diplomacy may not guarantee stability, calling for readiness for operations lasting days or weeks. He criticized the leadership around the prime minister as not having a cohesive inner circle and suggested that, in his view, decision-making was concentrated in too few hands; he urged that even former ambassador Ron Dermer be called up for reserve duty as part of broader regional considerations, including moves around Lebanon.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States issued new sanctions targeting two Hezbollah-aligned Lebanese officials and a Hezbollah-operated business network, adding Sleiman Antoine Frangie and Mahmoud Qamati to the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s Specially Designated Nationals list under Executive Order 13224. Frangie leads Lebanon’s Marada Movement and has held various government posts, while Qamati has long been a senior Hezbollah member and, in early 2026, called for overthrowing the Lebanese government and likened the situation to Vichy France in an Al Jazeera interview. American individuals and businesses are barred from dealing with SDN-listed figures or groups, and those designated face the full scope of US sanctions. In Washington, a public opinion poll published this week found broad skepticism among Israelis regarding the US-Iran deal: 71% say they do not trust Trump to look out for Israeli interests, and just 11% say Israel won the war. The Channel 12 survey also shows 52% believe Netanyahu’s conduct harmed Israeli interests in the agreement, 24% think it helped, and 24% are unsure, underscoring concern about the US role in matters related to Iran.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Likud legal adviser Avi Halevy announced his immediate resignation in a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that effective June 19, 2026, he would end his term as Legal Council of the Likud Party and thanking Netanyahu for the trust placed in him over the years. Halevy described it as a privilege to serve the Likud under Netanyahu’s leadership. The resignation follows a broader pattern of officials stepping down from government roles, with in-late May remarks by Likud MK Galit Distel-Atbaryan that she would not run in the upcoming primaries and that she supported minister Shlomo Karhi’s controversial media reform bill.

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.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-june-19-2026/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-899904
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-899906
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-899909
https://www.timesofisrael.com/poll-71-of-israelis-dont-trust-trump-to-look-out-for-them-in-iran-deal-just-11-say-israel-won-war/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-899908