Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-17 at 16:02

HEADLINES
Lebanon near permanent agreements phase, Aoun says
Tennessee renames West Bank Judea and Samaria
Trump says Iran halts proxies; Iran denies

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Friday that his country was on the verge of a "new phase" of "permanent agreements" after the 10-day ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war went into force. In a speech addressing the Lebanese people and hinting at the Iran-backed Hezbollah, the day after the truce was announced, Aoun said Lebanon was no longer "an arena for anyone's wars." The conflict drew Lebanon in on March 2 when Tehran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel to avenge the death of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Israel responded with waves of strikes and a ground offensive, killing nearly 2,300 people and displacing more than a million. Aoun described the coming phase as a transition from a ceasefire to permanent agreements that preserve the rights of the Lebanese people, the unity of their land, and the sovereignty of their nation. He said the Lebanese government had reclaimed Lebanon's decision-making power for the first time in nearly half a century.

Trump says Iran agreed to stop supporting groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. The Iranians denied it.

In the US Policy Concerning Israel, Tennessee advanced the Judea and Samaria bill, sending the measure to the governor. The bill, titled the Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act, would prohibit Tennessee state agencies from using the term "West Bank" in official materials and require them to refer to the territory as "Judea and Samaria." It would bar the use of state funds to create material referring to the area as the West Bank, while allowing a waiver if the head of a state agency determines that doing so serves the state's interest and submits a written explanation to lawmakers. The push for the legislation was led by Republican lawmakers, including State Sen. Mark Pody and State Representative Chris Todd, alongside local Jewish and Christian activists. Among its most prominent backers was Laurie Cardoza-Moore, founder of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations, who testified in support of the bill and said the biblical names reflect what supporters describe as the area's historical and religious identity.

In Uplifting News, Victims of terror honored at President's Residence. President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal, hosted a presidential ceremony at the President's Residence in honor of terror victims. Herzog told the families, "You are all reluctant heroes. You have shown that despite this terrible tragedy, you have continued with your lives." The memorial recognition of terror victims dates to 1998, when a monument was erected on Mount Herzl, though the path to full recognition and the separate memorials for victims and fallen soldiers have involved bureaucratic obstacles. Abie Moses, founder and chairman of the National Organization of Terror Victims, attended the event. Earlier in the week, a similar ceremony was held for families of fallen soldiers. Behold Israel founder Amir Tsarfati announced an Alaska cruise this summer to celebrate America’s 250th birthday and to reflect on how God has been using America, its people and its leadership, to carry out His plans for Israel and for the world; Inspiration Travel is coordinating registration, with Behold Israel not handling registrations.

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.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/lebanon-president-says-working-permanent-agreements-after-israel-truce
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75186
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-893367
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-893376
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75188