Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-26 at 11:02

HEADLINES
Iron Dome deployed to UAE, intercepts missiles
Bennett Lapid Unite Under Together Party
Hungary Pushes Term Limits, Will Israel Follow

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

In Regional Impacts, Israel sent an Iron Dome system and dozens of IDF troops to the United Arab Emirates during the recent war with Iran, according to foreign sources. The decision to deploy the battery and interceptors came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. Dozens of Iranian missiles fired toward the UAE were intercepted by the system, according to foreign sources. This is the first instance of the Iron Dome being used operationally outside the United States or Israel, though Singapore has reportedly purchased and received Iron Dome, and Romania is expected to do so as well. Military, security, and intelligence cooperation between Israel and the UAE has been on the rise since the Abraham Accords in September 2020, but reached new heights during the recent Iran war. Iran fired around 560 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,250 drones at the UAE during the war. Although the vast majority of missiles and drones were shot down, some penetrated the defense shield and struck a mix of military and civilian targets in the country.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, More from Lebanon. The entry in this block provides no additional details beyond the heading.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Hungary's incoming PM set to introduce term limits - will Israel follow suit? - opinion. Hungary’s incoming Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, declared his intention to amend the constitution to limit the prime minister’s tenure to two terms. That would cap a tenure at eight years, with retroactive application that would prevent Viktor Orbán, who has served 16 consecutive years, from running again. Term limits are described as an institutional mechanism to restrict the duration of public office. While common in presidential systems, they are highly unusual in parliamentary systems like Israel, where prime ministers are not directly elected by the public and power-sharing dynamics differ.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Former PMs Bennett, Lapid join forces under unified party ahead of next Israeli elections. Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid will announce a plan to form a united political party for the upcoming Israeli elections. Lapid's Yesh Atid Party and Bennett 2026 will form a joint list called "Together," led by Bennett. The agreement was signed on Saturday evening, with space left for Yeshar! leader Gadi Eisenkot to join the merger. Eisenkot had previously declined an offer to join Bennett's party because he did not want to serve as second-in-command. The pair emphasize unifying the opposition to pursue their electoral goals.

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/middle-east/article-894195
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75581
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893800
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894194