Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-03 at 18:02

HEADLINES
Netanyahu plea talks advance after AG meeting
Portland athletic club incendiary attack kills driver
US to shepherd ships out of Hormuz

The time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Netanyahu's trial, the attorney-general, Gali Baharav-Miara, agreed to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's defense team after an invitation from President Isaac Herzog last week, with Herzog's aim to begin preliminary discussions on a possible plea bargain in the long-running criminal case against Netanyahu across cases 1000 to 4000. Baharav-Miara said she would consent to the meeting only if there were no preconditions and if the trial would continue to progress, and she noted she wasn’t addressing issues of the meeting’s format or location at this time. Netanyahu, indicted in 2019 in three cases on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, has testified since December 2024 and faced cross-examination beginning in June 2025, maintaining his denial of all charges. Herzog’s legal adviser, Michal Tsuk-Shafir, wrote last week to both sides inviting them to meet at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem to begin discussions on a potential plea agreement.

In Portland athletics club, a man drove a vehicle packed with incendiary devices into the Multnomah Athletic Club shortly before 3 a.m., setting the building alight before it was brought under control. The driver was found dead in the car as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, and authorities said the explosives had not all fully detonated. The scene required the explosive disposal squad to continue the investigation, described by its leader, Officer Jim DeFrain, as the most complex he had handled in more than 13 years on the job. Police Chief Bob Day said the incident appeared isolated and not an act of domestic terrorism, and investigators have not yet determined the driver’s identity due to danger posed by the unresolved devices.

In Trump says US to begin escorting ships out of Persian Gulf through Strait of Hormuz, Project Freedom will begin Monday morning, Middle East time, President Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social post. The operation centers on guiding neutral ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, with nations asking for American assistance to free their vessels trapped in the Strait, according to the statement. Trump said the ships will not return until the area is safe for navigation and framed the mission as a humanitarian effort to spare crews, adding that US representatives have been engaged in constructive discussions with Iran that could yield positive outcomes. He warned that any interference would be dealt with forcefully.

In Ronny Deila taxi driver sexual harassment case, Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Ronny Deila is reported as a suspect in a case involving a Tel Aviv taxi driver, with alleged crass comments made to the driver after a night out. Israeli police questioned a 50-year-old foreign national residing in Israel and released him under restrictive conditions. The complaint was filed by the taxi driver, with reports indicating the incident occurred late Thursday night or overnight between Wednesday and Thursday as the coach was leaving a nightlife venue in central Tel Aviv.

In Online shopping carts abandonment, Tel Aviv University researchers report that about 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned before payment, costing retailers billions in lost revenue. The study, titled How E-commerce loses billions due to psychological considerations, argues the loss comes not only from price or shipping but from shoppers’ feelings about the contents of their carts. Professor Liat Hadar notes that when carts contain more indulgent items, shoppers experience guilt and wastefulness, increasing the likelihood of abandoning the purchase. The findings highlight the hidden costs of online advertising, operations and user experience when a sale does not close.

In Beitar defeats Maccabi Tel Aviv, Beitar Jerusalem stayed in first place with six matches left in the Championship Playoffs after beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-2 at Teddy Stadium, with four different scorers contributing to the win. Ido Shachar opened the scoring, Yarden Shua equalized, Johnbosco Kalu and Brayan Carabali extended Beitar’s lead, while Tyrese Asante pulled Tel Aviv within one before halftime. Omer Atzily added a late goal for Beitar in the second half as coach Barak Itzhaki praised the team’s character and urged continued effort in upcoming fixtures, including a date with Hapoel Tel Aviv.

In Hapoel Tel Aviv Euroleague, Hapoel Tel Aviv fell 102-75 to Real Madrid in the Euroleague quarterfinals, with Dan Oturu scoring 19 points, Elijah Bryant 11 and Chris Jones 10 for the Israeli club, while Facundo Campazzo, Usman Garuba, Mario Hezonja and Theo Maledon led Madrid’s attack. Real Madrid built a commanding second half to take a 2-0 series lead, with Itoudis acknowledging a strong start from his side before Madrid pulled away. Game 3 is set for Tuesday, with potential Game 4 on Thursday in Bulgaria and a possible decisive Game 5 the following week if needed.

In Lag Ba'omer display, an 18th-century prayer book associated with Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as Ha'ari, will go on display at the ANU – Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv ahead of Lag Ba'omer. The siddur, copied by Israel ben Raphael Segal in 1749 in Satanov, presents the kavanot, or mystical intentions, of Luria’s teachings and is bound in leather with gold leaf. Lag Ba'omer, observed this year starting May 4, marks a highlight of Jewish mysticism and will be celebrated as the exhibit opens, offering a window into a profound spiritual tradition.

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
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