Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-15 at 05:01

HEADLINES
Hezbollah widens fire range Israel at risk
US facilitated IDF Lebanon withdrawal deal
Most Israelis want Netanyahu out of politics

The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, alarms sounded in Avnei Menachem amid fears of a hostile aircraft incursion. The Israel Defense Forces launched a large surprise drill along the borders with Egypt and Jordan. In Ramallah, at age 90, Mahmoud Abbas is described as shaping the path for his son to the top of the leadership. Hezbollah has raised the threat by expanding its fire range, placing Israel in a more precarious position for the first time. The IDF announced the evacuation of several villages as part of security measures. Critics say the education system has neglected to prepare citizens, and Israeli society is paying the price.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israel and Lebanon are expected to reach an agreement for an IDF withdrawal from Lebanese territory in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament, according to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN News. The report also said the CIA has prepared a plan to disarm the Iran-backed group, with delegations from both sides due to meet for continued US-facilitated peace talks. Thursday’s discussions were described as productive and positive by a State Department official, and the broader context includes ongoing IDF strikes in southern Lebanon, including the destruction of a rocket launcher that fired into Kiryat Shmona and other terror infrastructure overnight. Honduras declared Hamas and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as terrorist organizations.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Maariv poll found that 55% of Israelis want Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to retire from politics and not run in the upcoming Knesset elections, while 38% want him to run; 7% were undecided. The survey also projected that the coalition would drop to 49 seats, with the opposition holding a majority of 61 seats, as both Likud and Otzma Yehudit lost one seat each and Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! Party gained a seat to 16. In a separate finding, a Tel Aviv University survey reported broad support among Israeli Arabs for voluntary non-military civic service across age groups and genders, including nearly 70% of those aged 18 to 34. The poll also showed strong backing for Arab high school graduates serving civically and a large majority believing Arab political parties should join the next governing coalition.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, roughly 200 Jews and supporters demonstrated outside The New York Times in Manhattan in a protest over coverage of the war, sparked by a controversial op-ed by Nick Kristof about alleged abuses of Palestinian prisoners. The demonstrations, organized by groups opposing antisemitism and bias in reporting, denounced the paper’s coverage and timing. Protesters carried signs linking to historical charges from the Dreyfus era and other examples they cited as anti-Jewish bias, while calling for accountability.

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.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1321731
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-896310
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76343
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-896302
https://worldisraelnews.com/most-israeli-arabs-support-civic-service-and-coalition-participation-poll-shows/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1321730