Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-24 at 18:02

HEADLINES
Oil fears slow Trump on Iran strike
Hezbollah Leader Rejects Disarmament, Praises FPV Drones
Ra'am urged to join Joint List revival

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 Gulf states couldn't bear cost of another war, pressure Trump to avoid attacking Iran - analysis, by mid last week senior Israeli officials and Gulf counterparts were divided over what Trump would decide regarding the war with Iran. In Israel, the prevailing view was that a strike was likely, while Gulf leaders argued Trump would threaten but avoid attack and seek an agreement to prevent an energy crisis. They argued he would not want oil prices to spike ahead of the November midterm elections. By Sunday, Gulf officials appeared to be right: Trump showed little desire to launch a military attack, and Jerusalem’s assessment was that negotiations would continue.

In Hezbollah chief downplays calls to disarm terror group, praises success of FPV drone attacks, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem rejected the idea of disarming, saying there is no exclusivity of weapons and that disarmament would remove Lebanon’s defensive capability and amount to extermination. He called Israel’s withdrawal the “first liberation” in the Arab region without an agreement with the Israeli entity and praised Hezbollah’s FPV drones, saying they made Israel dizzy and listing attacks on IDF soldiers, though the IDF indicated there were injuries rather than confirmed fatalities in some cases. Qassem also denounced the United States as a mediator and criticized Washington’s sanctions, while voicing support for Iran and Gaza and denouncing Bahrain’s crackdown on the IRGC.

In US President Donald Trump on Sunday told his representatives not to rush into any deal with Iran, as his administration played down hopes of an imminent breakthrough in the three-month-old war that had been raised just yesterday during public statements and calls with allies in the Middle East, according to Reuters. The report said Trump urged patience and that officials tempered expectations for a quick deal, with no immediate breakthrough in sight as talks continued.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Arab parties urge Ra’am to join efforts to revive Joint List ahead of elections, three Arab-majority parties said they would form a joint electoral list and urged the Islamist Ra’am to join, even as Ra’am officials declined to participate in recent consultations. Hadash, Ta’al, and Balad acknowledged significant gaps between their positions and Ra’am’s, but stressed the need for unity in the face of what they described as existential dangers to the Arab public. The statement reflected months of deadlock in reviving the four-party Joint List, which previously united four Arab parties before Ra’am left the coalition. Separately, Liberman warned that any Iran deal would be a catastrophe and criticized Netanyahu for allowing Trump to control issues concerning Iran and Lebanon without pushing Israel’s stance, saying the prime minister’s approach risked undermining Israel’s independence on key questions and alleging that Netanyahu had turned Israel into a banana republic. Liberman also suggested Israel would refrain from striking in Lebanon because the United States had prohibited it.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, authorities said a suspect was arrested after months-long antisemitic and threatening graffiti spree at San José State University, where messages targeting Jewish, Muslim, Black, and Asian students have appeared since fall 2025, causing real harm to the campus community. Incidents began in October with discriminatory messages in student housing and on bulletin boards, followed by antisemitic graffiti in MacQuarrie Hall and heightened patrols; university leaders condemned the acts and pledged solidarity with affected communities. Separately, The Times reported that an intelligence operation believed to be run by the Iranian regime used Telegram to recruit British citizens to organize anti-Israel protests and publish antisemitic posters, with an undercover reporter posing as a pro-regime sympathizer and being approached by a suspected Iranian agent who offered money for planning demonstrations and recruitment, while indicating coordination with operatives in Israel.

In Uplifting News, significant award inspired by tragedy: Herzog presents Jerusalem Unity Prize 2026, the award honoring individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing mutual respect and tolerance and working to create harmony in their communities. The piece traces the 2014 abduction and murder of Eyal Yifrah, Naftali Fraenkel, and Gil-Ad Shaer, and notes the global wave of grief and national outpouring that followed, including powerful public solidarity and sustained efforts to foster unity. The prize recognizes the ongoing commitment of people and groups who strive to build more tolerant, cohesive societies in the wake of tragedy.

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-897180
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-897173
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20926
https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-parties-urge-raam-to-join-efforts-to-revive-joint-list-ahead-of-elections/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897179
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-897178
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897132
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-897177