Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-12 at 09:02

HEADLINES
Iran vows to defend Hormuz, tensions spike
Germany criminalizes existential denial of Israel
Lindsey Graham dies, staunch Israel ally

The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran vows to defend the Strait of Hormuz, and Qatar says it reserves the right to respond. Iran’s stance comes as Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar condemned Iranian strikes on their territory, with Doha signaling it reserves the right to respond; a senior Iranian official described the Strait of Hormuz as more important than dozens of nuclear bombs and pledged to defend this strategic waterway.

In Regional Impacts, LGBTQ cruise denial and missiles condolence. An LGBTQ+ cruise ship, the Scarlet Lady chartered by Atlantis Events, was blocked from docking in Kuşadası, Turkey, and was later denied entry into Egyptian waters near Alexandria due to authorities citing a misalignment of moral values. Turkish authorities published a statement saying the cruise was chartered by groups whose behaviors do not align with the country’s moral values, and the ship was rerouted to Alexandria before being denied entry there. Rich Campbell, the CEO of Atlantis Events, called the move stunning as passengers woke to notices about port changes. Hours after Iran launched approximately 25 ballistic missiles at Qatar, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi expressed condolences on the death of Qatar’s former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Lindsey Graham’s voice for Israel has fallen silent. Senator Lindsey Graham, described as a true friend of Israel and a steadfast American patriot, died at 71. He spoke of unwavering support for Israel, saying, “I’ll stand with Israel until the day I die. It is our greatest ally,” and he criticized proposals to end US military aid to Israel as a serious mistake. He was known for hawkish views on Iran and for urging strong action, including backing earlier calls for a tough approach against the Iranian regime.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, kashrut license dispute and draft dodger bill. Tzohar asked the High Court of Justice to reject the state’s bid to void its newly issued kashrut license, arguing that revocation could affect hundreds of businesses that have relied on the authorization; the state contends the license was issued through a flawed process because the Chief Rabbinate Council was not consulted as required by law, and a November 2 hearing has been scheduled. Tzohar argues the petition should not become a challenge to the license's validity after it was lawfully granted. A separate development saw a Knesset committee advance a bill freezing arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers; legal advisers warn the measure would grant a sector-wide exemption without meaningful oversight or penalties, but coalition lawmakers expect final votes later this week.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Germany moves to criminalize existential denial of Israel. The German parliament advanced a bill that would make denying Israel’s right to exist or calling for its elimination a criminal offense, punishable by up to five years in prison. The legislation progresses to the Bundestag after backing from the Bundesrat and expands the criminal code beyond Holocaust denial to cover existential denial of Israel. The Bundesrat noted that antisemitic incidents have risen, citing increases from 1,957 in 2020 to 8,627 in 2024.

In Israeli Economy and Business, a defense of soft power in a new book. A review titled “A Daring Enterprise: Pragmatism, principles, and peace through prosperity” argues that American capital guided by American values can still foster peace through prosperity. It recounts how the US government helped create a venture capital initiative in Egypt following the 2011 revolution, detailing the journey and impact of the collaboration described by James A. Harmon, Cornelius Queen, and Mark Warren.

In Uplifting News, Israel to chair Arlosen Archives for a year in 2027. Israel is set to assume the one-year rotating chairmanship of the International Commission of the Arolsen Archives in June 2027, part of the International Tracing Service behind the Arolsen Archives. The IC, which includes 11 states, rotates chairmanship each year, with Israel as a long-standing member. The Arolsen Archives trace their origins to 1943, and Yad Vashem has held copies of ITS documents since the 1950s. In 2025, the Archives partnered with Israel’s Central Zionist Archive to digitize more than 1,300 child tracing files created for unaccompanied Jewish children after the war.

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.ynetnews.com/article/hjadqzw4fg
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902192
https://t.me/selena_updates/67027
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-902223
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902235
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkpr00xz4zg
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-902237
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-901961
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902106