Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-27 at 18:01

HEADLINES
Netanyahu hails Lebanon-US pact, weakens Hezbollah
Trump congratulates Lebanon president on trilateral pact
Arab-Jewish voices challenge Zionist label

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, Netanyahu hails trilateral agreement with Lebanon, says it weakens Hezbollah, Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the new trilateral framework with Lebanon and the United States as strengthening Israel and Lebanon while weakening Iran and Hezbollah, describing it as a sign of things to come. He pledged to continue operations to restore security to residents of the north, praising the fighters and commanders and the resilience of northern communities. Netanyahu highlighted the Israeli military’s claims of progress against the Hezbollah threat, noting eight Radwan Force commanders killed and more than 200 terrorists eliminated in the past two weeks, bringing Hezbollah fatalities since the war began to over 9,000. He said the IDF continues to hold key positions, including the Beaufort Fortress, along with Hezbollah bunkers, tunnels, and other infrastructure, and he stressed that the north remains under vigilant protection as operations continue against explosive threats and other dangers.

In the US Policy Concerning Israel, ترامب שוחח בטלפון עם נשיא לבנון ובירך אותו על חתימת הסכם עם ישראל. Former US President Donald Trump spoke by telephone with Lebanon’s president and congratulated him on the signing of the agreement with Israel. The report notes the conversation was conducted in Hebrew and centers on the congratulatory message following the trilateral agreement, with no additional details provided in this brief.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, There is no distinction between Jews and Zionists - ask Jews from Arab countries - opinion. An opinion piece argues that Jews from Arab and Middle Eastern backgrounds now making up a large portion of Israel’s Jewish population cannot be characterized as settler colonialists. The author cites the ongoing reflections around antisemitism and displacement, referencing Bondi Beach in Sydney where six months earlier a gun attack prompted a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. The Commission has received more than 16,000 submissions, and Harif, the UK Association of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa, submitted on behalf of Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews, noting their experiences from the MENA region and suggesting their perspective offers essential insight into the causes of antisemitism seen in the West. The piece also reminds readers that nearly a million Jews were ethnically cleansed from MENA, and that, today, most Jews live outside the Arab world, a reality tied to how governments historically conflated Jews with Zionists and how victims of that history continue to contend with discrimination.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, The irony behind telling Jews to 'go back where they belong' - opinion. An opinion column reflects on antisemitic rhetoric, recounting an incident in New Haven where a man told Jewish men to “go back where you belong” and used a rolled-up paper to dislodge a kippah from a wearer’s head. The writer notes that such hostility is part of a broader pattern of antisemitism, with references to protests where phrases like “Go back to Poland” have circulated, underscoring the long, painful history of Jewish displacement and the enduring bond to the land of Israel, while drawing on historical context offered by scholars such as Rusi Jaspal.

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-900404
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-900259
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-900568
https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-brands-eisenkot-as-too-cautious-in-direct-attack-on-key-election-rival/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-900651
https://t.me/newssil/205375
https://t.me/newssil/205371