Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-13 at 13:01

HEADLINES
Iran-US peace deal nears signing amid Hormuz
Netanyahu skips G7 bilateral as Trump negotiates
Torah study law backlash rocks Israeli coalition

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Pakistan’s prime minister said on Saturday that the United States and Iran have agreed to a framework for a peace deal to end the months-long conflict in the Middle East, with the final text reached and electronic signing expected within 24 hours, followed by technical-level talks next week. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei denied that the Islamabad memorandum would be signed on Sunday, though he did not rule out a signing in the coming days and cautioned against commenting on a signing date amid the other side’s hesitations. Baghaei also said that Iran will charge for services provided in the Strait of Hormuz and that steps to manage safe traffic in the strait align with national security and the common good of the world, adding that the release of Iran’s frozen funds is an integral part of the pending agreement. Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a parallel reminder that commitments made must be kept, with no excuses as the close deal approaches. Last night Iran struck a tanker about six nautical miles east of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, an act that has raised tensions in a volatile corridor. In response to a separate incident, a Israeli Arkia passenger flight en route from Tel Aviv to Prague briefly lost radio contact while traversing Hungarian airspace; NATO troops scrambled two fighter jets to identify and escort the aircraft, which was then guided through Hungarian airspace and continued toward Austria after visual contact was reestablished; officials cited a likely frequency fluctuation rather than a security breach. In Washington, statements from President Donald Trump and allied reports have circulated about the timing of a memorandum of understanding with Iran, with Trump saying the deal will be signed tomorrow or Sunday and remarks suggesting Hormuz would reopen and that the agreement would involve no payments to Tehran; other notes indicate mediators are pushing to finalize the arrangements as part of a broader regional security framework.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a senior United States official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend a forthcoming G7 bilateral meeting in France next week involving President Trump and Middle East leaders, as Trump is expected to meet with figures from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and others and to hold additional talks with leaders from France and India. The official described the United States as believing it has secured a strong deal with Iran and said the United States would participate in de-mining operations in the Strait of Hormuz when the waterway opens, with G7 partners potentially joining in the effort. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson reiterated that Iran has no plans to send a negotiating team to Geneva or elsewhere in the near term. At the G7 summit, Trump is also expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss issues of shared importance with other leaders.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, public backlash over proposed legislation to define Torah study as a form of national service equal to IDF service prompted revision after objections from within the governing coalition, underscoring tensions around how Israel defines service, sacrifice and equality. The piece notes that Torah study is central to Jewish identity and survival, arguing that no new law is necessary to acknowledge its importance even as lawmakers sought to elevate its status in relation to national service. A separate analysis argues that discussions about Israel’s future should move beyond hollow slogans and confront the deeper question of how policy translates into concrete strategic goals, warning that the language of “strategy” has become muddled and that a clearer distinction between policy aims and military means is needed. In a separate case, Haifa resident Amir Maron, 37, was arrested on suspicion of incitement to violence against the LGBTQ community after comments posted in response to Pride events; the Haifa Magistrate’s Court ordered his release after determining there was reasonable suspicion but no basis for extended detention, with defense counsel describing the remark as a one-time mistake and expressing regret.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Bigger Picture, an Israeli startup, is using artificial intelligence to transform cinemas into social experiences beyond just moviegoing, helping theaters build digital profiles of customers and tailor services to driving social engagement and potentially widening margins. In another venture, Chana Koenig relocated from New York to Israel and founded Cacao HaGalil near Kibbutz Evron, a boutique chocolate shop focusing on goat-milk chocolates for dairy-sensitive customers; Koenig, a former NYC pastry chef, trained at the Institute of Culinary Education and previously worked at Jacques Torres Chocolate before making aliyah in 2019, with some products continuing to feature Belgian chocolate.

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/iran-news/article-899262
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-899261
https://t.me/abualiexpress/124465
https://t.me/selena_updates/65625
https://t.me/selena_updates/65624
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s100r5bobmg
https://t.me/DefenderDome/21507
https://t.me/selena_updates/65622
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-899260
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-899086
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-899097
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-899256
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-899079
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-899138