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

HEADLINES
Israel withholds Jordan water until rhetoric softens
Reservists Party Tropper unite for election
Elta merged into IAI ahead of IPO

The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Jerusalem’s refusal to extend a water agreement with Amman until it changes its rhetoric on Israel will likely be interpreted by Amman as a "stab in the back" after the support Jordan gave to Israel during the Iran war, Dr. Ronen Yitzhak, an expert in Israeli-Jordanian relations from the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday. The 1994 peace treaty required Israel to supply Jordan with 50 million cubic meters of water annually, an amount doubled in a 2021 commitment that expired in 2025. After a series of extensions, Jerusalem conditioned the resumption of supply on Amman softening its rhetoric on Israel and on the thawing of relations, which grew increasingly hostile over the course of the Israel-Hamas war. Yitzhak said the disagreement "reflects the political crisis between the countries," but added that the issue was not surprising given Amman's fear of Israeli annexation of the West Bank and the potential imposition of sovereignty, including changes to the status quo on the Temple Mount. Jordan is furious about Israel’s continued refusal to renew a 2021 water agreement. The dispute underscores how regional ties hinge on security and shared resources.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Reservists Party, led by former communications minister Yoaz Hendel, announced on Tuesday that it had reached an agreement with Chili Tropper to run together in the upcoming elections, aiming to form a "broad Zionist government" and to create a significant new Zionist political force. Tropper had left the Blue and White Party earlier this year and said more details would be provided later. The alliance follows Tropper’s departure from Benny Gantz's Blue and White and comes after reports that a merger between Hendel and Gantz fell through over disagreements about forming a coalition with the haredi parties. Eisenkot’s Yashar party welcomed Tropper’s alliance. Separately, observers note the government's approach to the October 7 inquiry has become a point of political contention, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a compromise that would have had High Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg lead the state inquiry instead of the current arrangement. The Knesset on Monday night approved a first reading of the politicized probe, and debates over the leadership of the inquiry highlighted how political calculations are shaping moves toward accountability.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, photos of three women murdered on October 7 were vandalized at a hitchhiking spot near Yokne’am Junction, the municipality said on Monday. The pictures of Shani Gabay, Adi Landman, and Rotem Levi had been placed at the site alongside other victims’ photos, but none of the other photos were damaged. The municipality condemned the act as serious and ugly, said it would continue commemorations and cooperate with law enforcement to find the perpetrators, and heard from families expressing heartbreak over the desecration of memory. In Monaco, Ukrainian prosecutors confirmed the death of Anastasiia Berezovska, the main suspect in a bombing attack on a Jewish businessman in Monaco last week. Ukrainian authorities reported the woman was found shot near Kyiv, with a law enforcement source saying she was killed and her body located late Monday. Prosecutors also detained a military intelligence employee who said he killed Berezovska with another suspect. Berezovska, 39, was named in an Interpol Red Notice as a Ukrainian national sought for attempted murder, placing an explosive device, and criminal conspiracy.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Israeli defense-tech firm Axon Vision announced that its EDGE ClearSky system has been integrated with RETIA’s radar and Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary TSG’s command-and-control system in the Czech Republic, forming a multi-sensor capability for detecting and tracking drone threats. The trial demonstrated detection, tracking, and dynamic target movement with real-time information exchange, showing that radar and electro-optical sensing can work together to present drone targets on the C2 display under open-field conditions. Separately, the government approved the merger of Elta into Israel Aerospace Industries ahead of a potential massive IPO. IAI could be valued at about 100 billion shekels, reflecting strong 2025 sales of around $7.8 billion, net profit of about $415 million, and a backlog of $29 billion. Elta will become a division within IAI and cease to exist as a separate entity, a move intended to streamline operations and accelerate deal approvals. IAI Chairman Boaz Levy commented on the consolidation as a step toward greater efficiency as the company explores listings on Nasdaq and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

In Uplifting News, the German government agreed to provide Yad Vashem with €5 million per year through 2030 for Holocaust research and education, replacing a 2020 agreement that had provided €1 million annually through 2031. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is visiting Israel to sign the agreement with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, after which the accord will go to the Knesset for approval. The agreement aligns with Yad Vashem’s broader Plan to open an educational center in Munich and a satellite branch in Leipzig, the institution’s first permanent outposts outside Israel. Some observers, including Meron Mendel and Jens-Christian Wagner, have raised cautions about the expansion’s potential influence on framing in Germany, but officials said the signing reinforces shared memory and education efforts.

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/article-901731
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901733
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901722
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-901715
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-901725
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-901739
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-901695
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901735