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

HEADLINES
Donahue retires last man out of Afghanistan
IDF fends Hezbollah attackers on bulldozer, motorcycle
Coalition seals yeshiva draft exemptions

The time is now 11:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, General Chris Donahue, the commander of US Army Europe and Africa, has submitted his retirement papers, according to multiple outlets citing people familiar with the matter. He is best known for being the “last man” out of Afghanistan during the 2021 pullout, a mission marked by complications, and he reportedly clashed with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Donahue previously led the CAG and the 82nd Airborne Division, and he is expected to depart in July.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, IDF soldiers identified four Hezbollah terrorists, operating under civilian cover, riding a bulldozer and a motorcycle, who had crossed into the security zone and approached the soldiers.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a poll by the Jewish People Policy Institute finds a majority of Israelis view the emerging US-Iran agreement negatively, with 55% expressing concern and 23% seeing it as beneficial for Israel. Among Jewish Israelis, 64% viewed the agreement as beneficial, while Arab Israelis showed a 61% positive view. The survey included 772 adults and was conducted from June 2 to 8. Separately, Israel's Foreign Minister Saar said it is good to meet with the leadership of AIPAC, and noted that talks hosted by the United States on the Israel-Lebanon track are important, with a shared interest in seeing Hezbollah disarmed.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Shin Bet has canceled its annual Pride Month event, along with a range of pride-related plans, under orders from Shin Bet head David Zini, according to N12. Organizers were told of the cancellation with no clear explanation, and plans for screensavers, banners, stickers, and pride flags were denied. The head of Human Resources at Shin Bet was told that the entire budget for pride-related events would be moved to the general organization budget, though the service said no official request had reached its office. Separately, a deal has been reached between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's ultra-Orthodox parties aimed at preserving the governing coalition and advancing legislation related to military conscription exemptions for yeshiva students, with national elections set for Oct. 20. Another development saw Deputy Supreme Court chief reportedly say a limited delay of elections could be justified in case of emergency.

In Uplifting News, KKL-JNF is preserving endangered species with the Jerusalem Botanical Garden and Eshtaol Nursery. The joint conservation effort has led to seeds production, flowering, and fruiting among several rare species, with seeds collected and stored at protected locations including the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Israel Plant Gene Bank. The project, led by KKL-JNF, Eshtaol Nursery, and the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, aims to cultivate endangered plant populations and strengthen their persistence in the wild, with species such as the nearly-endangered spiked fenugreek and the bristly cephalaria showing promising progress.

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/DefenderDome/21688
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56191
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-900327
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56190
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-900325
https://t.me/JewishNews24/56196
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-june-24-2026/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h17f4nofmg
https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/article-900326