Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-05 at 13:02

HEADLINES
Sailor missing after Arabian Sea helicopter crash
Poll finds US wary of Iran war
Israel to live stream vote counting

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the US military suspended search efforts for a sailor missing since Wednesday after his MH-60S Seahawk helicopter went down in the Arabian Sea, the US Central Command's Naval Forces announced in an X post. The sailor was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 of the Bahrain-based US 5th Fleet. The helicopter conducted an emergency water landing after departing the USS George H.W. Bush, with the cause under investigation, though foul play is not suspected. The search, lasting more than 102 hours, covered over 14,000 square miles and involved multiple US naval ships and air force aircraft. The sailor's identity will be withheld for at least 24 hours as the family is notified. Three additional sailors were injured in the crash and are in stable condition. Helicopter water landings are particularly dangerous due to the tendency for top-heavy aircraft to flip upside down upon submersion.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a Financial Times poll found that most US voters think the war with Iran was not worth the cost, with 58% saying it was not economically worth it and 40% saying the war left the US in a weaker position than before; 31% believe Washington is stronger now. Voters are skeptical about the Iran Memorandum of Understanding, with 66% saying it will make little to no difference to achieving peace, and some saying it would bring more conflict. In terms of presidential approval, 36% of Americans approve of the Trump administration, a two-point drop. Democrats hold firmer footing heading into November’s midterms, with 44% backing the party compared with 38% for Republicans. Netanyahu, in an interview with Fox News, said there is an “excellent relationship” with US President Donald Trump and that the United States has no greater ally than Israel, insisting that while disagreements exist, they are openly discussed and shared goals include preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He argued that the two nations remain aligned on pressuring Tehran regardless of any memorandum of understanding, pointing to past operations like Roaring Lion and Epic Fury as examples of their joint approach.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel's Central Elections Committee is considering live-streaming the vote-counting process at the next national election in an effort to boost public confidence, with committee head Din Livne saying they aim for the most transparent elections ever and that large-scale election fraud is impossible. He said the plan could see the vote-counting operation broadcast live on the internet from the Knesset, and the secure storage vault containing ballot envelopes also streamed, noting that 600,000 to 700,000 double-envelope ballots would be accessible to observers online. Livne added that while the livestream would be boring, it could quell conspiracy theories before they form, and reiterated that elections in Israel are conducted with the highest integrity. Separately, the IDF plans to require soldiers to enter reserve duty immediately upon discharge from regular service, a move described as a response to manpower shortages; the reserve draft order would extend service by about two months, ahead of Israel’s planned reduction of mandatory service to 30 months in January 2027, a change that critics say would worsen shortages and place a heavier burden on the economy. In addition, the Hebrew-language entry titled הנשיא נגד הממשלה appears, signaling discussion of tensions between the president and the government, though specific details are not provided in the summary.

In Israeli Economy and Business, a new study by Hashomer Hachadash and the Rifman Institute for Negev Development estimates organized crime costs Israel’s economy about NIS 23 billion annually, with each household bearing roughly NIS 8,000 in added costs per year. The findings, based on data from the Finance Ministry, the Tax Authority, and the State Comptroller, attribute much of the rise in the cost of living to criminal activity across sectors such as agriculture, construction, housing, and vehicles. In construction, protection rackets can tally up to about 5% of a project’s budget, fueling higher apartment prices and rents, while extortion and threats are reported by a large share of farmers in the Galilee and Negev. Car insurance premiums have risen by as much as 56% due to increased break-ins and vandalism. Separately, Israel’s defense budget plan calls for a NIS 130 billion buildup in aircraft, munitions, and factories—including additional fighter jets, refueling aircraft, attack helicopters, naval vessels, armored vehicles, and a space project—to strengthen self-reliance amid embargos, though progress on funding has been hampered by budget-base disputes with the Finance Ministry. Finally, the rapid growth of Israel’s startup sector continues to rely on offshore talent, with ONE Offshore describing how startups hire overseas teams to scale quickly; more than 400,000 Israelis, about 11% of the workforce, are employed in high-tech, and Eastern Europe is being used to expand development capabilities while managing costs.

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/international/article-901502
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-901489
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-901224
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901501
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901497
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901487
https://t.me/newssil/205940
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-901490
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901498
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-901475