Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-13 at 19:01

HEADLINES
China-Iran Arms Talks Fuel Nuclear Fears
Gazans Vow to Wage War, Regional Turmoil
Knesset Dissolution Bill Triggers Opposition

The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Trump’s China visit is marred by reports of Chinese weapons talks with Iran. China had discussed transferring weapons to Iran through third countries, the New York Times reports in the middle of the US president's historic visit; at the same time, Tehran's threat level toward Washington is rising, with officials signaling that Iran may enrich uranium to 90%.

In Regional Impacts, Gazans say they will not shrink from the conflict, declaring, “We are the ones who launched this war, and we will be the ones to end it. Until the last drop of our blood, we keep offering, and sacrificing until all of us die, for the sake of Allah.” Separately, Turkey’s Kurdish peace process stalls as the Iran war deepens regional instability, with Ankara and PKK figures hesitant to move forward, warnings of new Kurdish mobilizations in Iran and Iraq, and a reluctance to enact reforms or grant an amnesty for former fighters before the PKK’s disarmament demand is met.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a federal judge in Washington temporarily blocked US sanctions against Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, finding that the Trump administration likely violated her free-speech rights by sanctioning her after she criticized Israel. The sanctions would have barred her entry to the United States and banking access; Albanese’s husband and daughter have sued, arguing the measures debanked her and hindered daily life. The judge stressed that residency outside the United States does not remove First Amendment protections, and that the sanctions appear connected to the idea or message she expressed. In a separate development, the US Senate again rejected Democrats’ proposal to block President Trump from taking military action against Iran.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a soldier was sentenced to 30 days in military prison after the IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir, observed him wearing a “Messiah” patch during a West Bank visit; the platoon commander received a 14-day suspended detention, the company commander was reprimanded, and the battalion commander earned a formal mark on record. Some lawmakers criticized the punishment as grave and scandalous. Opposition leaders reacted to a bill to dissolve the Knesset, with Benny Gantz calling it “the beginning of the end of the worst government in the history of Israel,” while Yair Lapid signaled readiness to act and urged unity. President Herzog opened a conference dubbed Time to Talk to repair social cohesion and encourage dialogue as part of his shared Israeli future initiative.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Irish writer Graham Linehan condemned RTÉ over its decision not to air this year’s Eurovision due to Israel’s participation, calling the move “disgraceful antisemitism” and accusing the broadcaster of turning Father Ted into an antisemitic dogwhistle; he also petitioned for the resignation of RTÉ’s director-general. At Sarah Lawrence College, student senators rejected establishing a J Street U chapter, marking the first such rejection at a campus, amid debate over whether recognizing the group equates to endorsing certain pro-Israel stances and related controversy.

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/sjdd7vg1mg
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76274
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-896114
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-896122
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/federal-judge-blocks-us-sanctions-against-un-expert-palestinian-territories
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76272
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-896110
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-896117
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-896112
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-896123
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-896115