Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-07 at 09:01

HEADLINES
Lebanon jails exiles 15 years for incitement
Sharon attack leaves one dead, five wounded
Shmuel Ben Ezra named NSC head

The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Lebanon sentences anti-Hezbollah activists to 15 years in absentia for ‘inciting’ IDF action. A Lebanese court sentenced two citizens living outside Lebanon to 15 years in absentia after a long trial that began in November 2024, accusing them of collaborating with Israel and inciting it to continue its military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Ahmad Yassine, a Paris-based professor, was accused of inciting the Israeli army to bomb the Baalbek Citadel by disseminating information claiming it housed Hezbollah weapons depots. Joumana Gebara was said to have praised IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee and thanked him for striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, in addition to calling for normalization. Yassine, who runs a popular YouTube channel, criticized Hezbollah and predicted that the leadership would be responsible for his death.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel must overhaul trauma care for 50,000 former IDF soldiers, defense committee urges. A government committee led by Professor Shlomo Mor Yosef recommended radical changes to how trauma and PTSD cases among 50,000 former IDF soldiers are handled, proposing a new, nearly independent authority to manage the issue under the Defense and Finance Ministries. The Mor Yosef committee, which began operating in November 2025, said the changes already implemented are not enough to meet rising needs. Officials have warned that the total number of wounded could reach 100,000 around 2030, but the projection has been moved forward to 2028. The committee urged establishing an independent body to oversee financial benefits and emotional treatment for veterans, arguing the current framework falls short of needs.

Lahav 433 to question government ministry director, two senior officials over fraud, police say. Police said Lahav 433 investigators arrived to question the director general of an undisclosed government ministry and two other senior officials in a case involving suspicion of fraud, breach of trust, abuse of office, and threats. No names or positions were provided by police, and the investigation is described as a developing story.

It's time for Israel to end Temple Mount appeasement for good - opinion. An opinion piece argues that Israel must finish its shift away from what the author calls Temple Mount appeasement, detailing a history of restrictions on prayer and protest at the site and recounting personal visits to illustrate perceived changes in policy. The author discusses two visits with a child to the Temple Mount, separated by more than a decade, and describes past and present policing practices and the implications for religious access and security.

'A bloody wake-up call': Israeli politicians, officials condemn deadly Sharon terror attack. After a terror attack in the Sharon area left one person dead and five wounded, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is fighting a war on all fronts and praised emergency forces for swift action. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said the terrorists, if captured alive, will be executed under Israel’s death penalty framework. Statements from other officials highlighted the ongoing fight against violence and the importance of security cooperation, while local leaders noted the attack’s impact on the community.

Ultra-Orthodox protesters block Jerusalem's Tunnel Checkpoint after draft dodger arrested. Dozens of Ultra-Orthodox protesters blocked the Tunnel Checkpoint, prompting a police response with Border Police and Jerusalem District officers at the scene. The demonstrations follow recent mass arrests outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg and reflect pressure around drafting policy and the broader political stake in preventing a dissolution of the Knesset. Police detained dozens for disorderly conduct as protests disrupted traffic and checkpoint operations.

Gov't unanimously approves Shmuel Ben Ezra's appointment to National Security Council. The government approved Shmuel Ben Ezra as head of the National Security Council and national security adviser to the prime minister. Ben Ezra brings more than 30 years of experience in security, technology, and cyber, including leadership of the Arrow-3 air defense program and a tenure heading the Shin Bet’s operational technology and cyber department. He holds degrees in physics, an MBA, and political science, and is a graduate of the National Security College. Former NSC head Tzachi Hanegbi was informed in October 2025 that he would be replaced.

In Uplifting News, Painting through the ashes: Ronen Siman-Tov turns Jerusalem’s wounds into art - interview. Ronen Siman-Tov, an artist, architect, and Bezalel Academy lecturer based in Jerusalem, is set to open his solo exhibition The Dread of Isaac at the Jerusalem Artists’ House. His work blends landscape, myth, politics, and memory of Jerusalem, created across canvas, walls, paper, wooden panels, and sacks sourced from the Mahaneh Yehuda market. The palette leans toward gray and pink tones as he leads viewers through images of ash toward a sense of repair. Siman-Tov describes himself as a believer and discusses how his experiences, including the First Lebanon War, influence his art and his teaching about how to create spaces that connect people to place and to one another, including reflections on his decision to cancel a previous exhibition.

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-898595
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-898609
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-898608
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-897996
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-898602
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-898600
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-898599
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-898306