Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-07 at 12:02

HEADLINES
Israel Lacks Online Influence Shield, Worries Grow
Tankers Attacked in Hormuz Spark Global Alarm
Barak Warns Gov’t Ignores High Court Rulings

The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Israel still has no national policy or designated government body to coordinate its response to foreign influence campaigns online, nine years after the threat was first identified, according to outgoing State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman. The audit, conducted between July 2024 and January 2026, found that repeated attempts since 2017 to create an interagency response were never translated into a functioning national framework. The National Security Council, the National Cyber Directorate, the now-defunct Intelligence Ministry, the Shin Bet and other bodies each identified the danger at different points, yet initiatives to coordinate their work were not realized. Englman warned that the threat of foreign influence in the digital sphere is worrying, noting that hostile actors, including Iran, exploit social media covertly and systematically to deepen divisions and to shape the Israeli public’s perception of reality.

In Regional Impacts, two tankers were attacked off the coast of Qatar in the Strait of Hormuz, with UKMTO reporting that one ship was struck by an unknown projectile and the second was hit by a drone of unknown origin. Both vessels sustained structural damage, though there were no reported casualties or environmental impact, and the incidents remain under investigation. Earlier reports cited a US official saying Iran fired at least two missiles at commercial ships transiting the strait, and Reuters quoted the captain of the Qatari Al Rekayyat LNG tanker as saying the engine room was on fire with heavy smoke after a Mayday call.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, former US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel met President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, saying afterward that Israel’s security needs, the Arab world’s push for regional stability, and the Palestinian people’s aspiration for self-determination could be combined in a historic agreement. Herzog hosted Emanuel at the President’s Residence, where the two discussed the strategic relationship between Israel and the United States, continued cooperation, and Israel’s standing in the international arena. Emanuel, who has held roles including White House chief of staff and mayor of Chicago, visited as the United States marked the 250th anniversary of its independence. Herzog said he stressed the importance of maintaining broad bipartisan support in the United States for the US-Israel relationship.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Ehud Barak warned on Tuesday that the government’s decision not to comply with High Court rulings signals worse to come and urged the opposition to lead a public campaign. In an interview on 103FM, Barak argued that the move signaled a view of government supremacy over the other branches and warned that the Knesset’s authority had been eroded. He signed a letter with former heads of the security establishment calling on opposition leaders to rally against the government’s latest steps, while clarifying that he was not necessarily seeking full political unity but a common front to oppose the government’s direction.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the Bene Israel community in Jabalpur, India, says the city’s historic Jewish cemetery faces encroachment by local land mafias and has been repeatedly damaged, with the case now before India’s High Court. The cemetery, the only known Jewish burial ground in Madhya Pradesh and surrounding regions, covers about 5,000 square feet and holds more than 100 graves. Once a thriving community, most Jewish families left for Israel after independence, leaving only a handful still in the area. The site has seen vandalism and boundary damage, and a petition filed by Daniel Abraham alleges encroachment by Lakhan Kevat, with authorities confirming concerns after an official inquiry.

Also in Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an Israeli tourist canceled a hotel booking in Italy after receiving an automated No Room for Genocide email from BDS Italy. The traveler said she did not feel safe and that the experience dampened the trip, while the Decumani Hotel De Charme replied that the property endorses the No Room for Genocide campaign and supports human rights for communities suffering oppression. BDS Italy describes the campaign as aiming to pressure countries to prosecute Israelis it accuses of war crimes and genocide, and the toolkit for campaign communications was referenced in the hotel’s reply.

In Uplifting News, Israel Police and the IDF said two mountain gazelle fawns were found during a weapons raid in the Deheisheh area of the West Bank. Forces recovered the fawns, one of which was injured, and also seized several pets kept in poor conditions. The animals were transferred to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and later taken to the Wildlife Hospital at the Ramat Gan Safari, while the suspect, a 39-year-old resident, was questioned and admitted to offenses involving harming and illegally possessing protected natural assets. In a separate note of pride, the crest worn by Argentina and its star Lionel Messi has its origins in Jewish circles. Norberto “Toto” Rud designed the emblem in 1976 for Club Náutico Hacoaj, a Jewish club in Buenos Aires, and the crest's distinctive branding helped it become one of the most recognizable symbols in world soccer.

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-901744
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https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901766
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-901762
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-901743
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-901760
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-901761