Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-09-04 at 23:01

HEADLINES
Pentagon leak probe polygraphs 50 Joint Staff
Houthis push toward Mocha block Red Sea
Hollywood Jews defend Ruffalo amid antisemitism row

The time is now 11:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, according to the New York Times, citing officials briefed on the matter, approximately 50 members of the Joint Staff were polygraphed during investigation efforts to get to the bottom of the swathe of leaks from the Pentagon in recent months. Members of the Joint Staff were asked during polygraph sessions if they disclosed classified products to the press in August, following leaks to the press on munitions shortages as a result of operations against Iran.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, fighting has intensified around western Taiz as the Houthis sought to reach Mocha, a port city less than 50 miles from the Bab al-Mandab Strait, Colonel Abdul Basit al-Baher told the NYT. The Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi oil tankers passing through the Red Sea in July and have since launched missile and drone attacks at passing ships and Saudi facilities from northern Yemen. Access to Mocha would enable the Houthis to exert greater control over ships transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the NYT cited Yemeni analysts as saying. Heavy clashes in the area were confirmed to the NYT by an anonymous second security official in Taiz, who added that the Houthis were attempting to cut off supply routes to Mocha.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, an opinion piece argues that antisemitism has become an organizing target for left grievance coalitions after the October 7 Hamas attacks. Ruth Wisse, citing her 1992 book If I Am Not for Myself, says antisemitism functions as the organizing target and describes it as “the politics of the pointing finger,” a mechanism by which Jews are singled out amid broader grievance movements.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Hollywood’s Jews take sides in Mark Ruffalo-Paramount antisemitism row. An open letter signed by about 170 Jewish figures defended actor Mark Ruffalo against charges of antisemitism over his comments on Paramount Skydance’s pending merger, with signatories including George Clooney, Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer, Joel Coen, Jonathan Glazer, Todd Haynes, Tony Kushner, Hannah Einbinder, Joaquin Phoenix, Debra Winger and others. Separately, IMPACT's Digital Defender 102 workshop was held at Congregation Etz Hayim in Queens for about sixty participants aged 55 and up, aiming to empower community members to confront online antisemitism and amplify Jewish pride through artificial intelligence and social media; Digital Defender 102 is the second of three workshops in the program.

In Uplifting News, John Malkovich to return to Israel with satirical theatrical-musical show. The two-time Oscar nominee is set to appear in The Music Critic in Tel Aviv on April 13, at the Charles Bronfman Auditorium, a production blending classical music with sharp historical critique, featuring a live ensemble that pushes back against his onstage persona. The show, created by Aleksey Igudesman, has toured Europe and the United States previously. What to watch this week: Gal Gadot speeds through The Runner, Hearsay delivers gripping thriller. Gal Gadot stars in The Runner, now streaming on Prime Video, a high-octane thriller in which Maia, a London-based lawyer and single mother, learns her son has been kidnapped and faces a race against time as a menacing caller pressures her to act. The week’s entertainment picks also spotlight a gripping Israeli drama and Hanoch Daum’s return.

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://t.me/DefenderDome/22974
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-907616
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-907492
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907619
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907618
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-907548
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-907546