Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-28 at 16:02

HEADLINES
- Slovenia relocates embassy to Jerusalem, revokes recognition
- US-backed Israel-Lebanon deal aims Hezbollah disarmament
- Judicial panel fills 68 posts, easing backlog

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said his government will move the Slovenian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and revoke Slovenia’s recognition of a Palestinian state, a move he describes as upholding the law and a condition of coalition negotiations. In an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom over the weekend, Jansa said the change will realign ties between Ljubljana and Jerusalem and that the previous decision to recognize a Palestinian state will be frozen. He noted that Israel and Slovenia face common challenges such as terrorism, extremism, erosion of national identity, and rising geopolitical pressures, adding that the two countries should increase cooperation. Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen welcomed the decision as the right and important move in revoking recognition of a Palestinian state. Separately, Israel’s military strategy is undergoing a shift. Despite a broad ceasefire across Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, the IDF announced attacks on all three fronts. In Lebanon near Nabatieh, several Hezbollah fighters were killed as forces targeted near- front positions, and the IDF said it destroyed a Hezbollah rocket launcher nearby to remove a threat. An IDF spokesman acknowledged that Hezbollah has not fired a rocket since last weekend, and observers questioned how the launcher could pose a threat given the lull in firing.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the new Israel-Lebanon agreement, backed by a US guarantee, makes clear that Israel will withdraw from southern Lebanon only after Hezbollah has been removed from the area. The deal follows days of regional diplomacy, including a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran and the US acknowledgment of Iran’s involvement in Lebanon. Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, led the Israeli delegation, joined by Brigadier-General Amichai Levin, representing IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir. Under the deal, Israel agreed to withdraw from two areas in southern Lebanon that will be taken over by the Lebanese Army as pilot zones where plans to disarm Hezbollah will be implemented within the next few weeks. The IDF presented maps outlining potential withdrawal, even as Iran has pressed for conditions tying future agreements with the US to a broader IDF pullout from southern Lebanon.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Judicial Selection Committee selected 68 officials for posts across the country’s court system after roughly a year and a half of backlog, political tension, and legal pressure. Fifty-three candidates were chosen for permanent judicial posts in magistrates, family, juvenile, traffic, and district courts, while 15 were selected as registrars and acting district-court judges in Beersheba, Haifa, Jerusalem, and Nof Hagalil-Nazareth. The move addresses a shortage that the High Court of Justice has said has harmed court services and the public, though it does not fully resolve the permanent district-court vacancy crisis. On May 31, a unanimous three-justice High Court panel ordered Justice Minister Yariv Levin to convene the Judicial Selection Committee and take steps to fill district-court vacancies, prioritizing the Beersheba and Haifa District Courts.

In Uplifting News, Picual fine dining: Serving the Land of Israel, one course at a time offers a portrait of a glatt kosher fine dining spot in Rishon Lezion founded by restaurateur Itzik Kadosh and chef Dor Benjamin. The restaurant centers on the Picual olive from the Achiya Farm in the Binyamin region, an ingredient that appears across the 10-course tasting menu. A living olive tree rises in the dining room, rough basalt floors evoke a Golan Heights trail, and the open kitchen lets guests watch the preparation. The experience is built around a fixed, 10-course journey with no menu and no substitutions, delivering a crafted celebration of the Land of Israel through flavor and atmosphere.

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/politics-and-diplomacy/article-900746
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-900745
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-900741
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-900747
https://www.jpost.com/food-recipes/article-900509