Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-23 at 18:02

HEADLINES
Bennett urges Israel to defend Lebanon
Senate backs limits on Trump Iran moves
Likud primaries set as Netanyahu influence dominates

The time is now 6:01 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, former Israeli Prime Minister Bennett says Israel, as an ally of the United States, must exercise our right and duty to defend ourselves in Lebanon right now.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the Republican-majority US Senate voted 50-48 to back a concurrent resolution intended to limit President Trump’s ability to resume combat operations against Iran. Four Republican senators—Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul—joined most Democrats in support, a move that passed the House earlier this month and is largely seen as symbolic under the War Powers Act, since it does not go to the White House for signature and the administration has dismissed it as unconstitutional. Legal experts say the question of enforcement would likely be resolved in the courts. Separately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a Gulf tour in the United Arab Emirates as part of a 60-day negotiating period with Iran, stressing the goal of ending Iran’s terror proxy network and securing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, with the hope that Iran could join the global community if it abandons its proxy operations. In a parallel framing of US policy, Washington says the resolution limits presidential authority, while the White House maintains it has no binding effect. President Trump’s team and Iranian officials also clash over the nuclear deal: Trump says Iran agreed to expanded UN nuclear inspections, while Tehran’s Masoud Pezeshkian says missiles are not part of the deal and never will be. A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows public opinion at home is mixed: 23% of Americans believe the United States is stronger than before the war, 63% doubt the deal will bring lasting peace, and Trump’s approval sits around the mid-30s.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Transportation Minister Miri Regev said Likud will hold democratic primaries with about 150,000 party members voting to determine the slate for the Knesset, and added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s voice will be heard in the process as the party moves toward selecting its lineup. Regev underscored that Netanyahu’s influence remains pivotal, and clarified that any reserved spots would be decided through joint discussion rather than a separate selection committee. In a separate development, former Hadash chairman and MK Mohammad Barakeh was arrested on allegations of inciting terrorism during a 2022 rally; police said he made statements praising terrorists and organizations, and a court ordered a 30-day ban from entering the West Bank. Barakeh’s defense argued that political speech is protected, while the judge noted reasonable suspicion of the offenses under investigation.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, authorities said the suspect in Monday’s fatal Montreal police officer shooting left behind a 104-page manifesto containing antisemitic and anti-Zionist conspiracy theories, along with praise for communism and grievances against women. Investigators said a motive has not yet been determined as the investigation continues.

In Uplifting News, a bird in Ukraine’s Donbas region was found building a nest partly from fiber-optic cables discarded from combat drones, a startling example of wildlife adapting to war debris. The nest appeared to blend grass with thin strands of optical fiber, reflective of material now scattered by drone operations across front-line areas. The report notes that the broader conflict has spurred innovative, sometimes risky, tactical deployments, including fiber-optic drones used in the region, and that efforts to counter such technologies are ongoing. In a separate note of human interest, former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, the longest-serving governor in US history, recently put on tefillin for the first time, reciting the blessings and the Shema at his Des Moines retirement community after being invited by Rabbi Yossi Jacobson, who has known him for decades.

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/JewishNews24/56186
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-900316
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-900310
https://t.me/DefenderDome/21687
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syuum00dgzx
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sj00vlpuzmx
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-900313
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-900311
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56185
https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-899730
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56183