Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-23 at 15:04

HEADLINES
Migrant workers face shelter gaps during war
Bennett warns US ties precarious rebuild image
Iran missiles excluded from US MOU

The time is now 3:03 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, a CIMI report on migrant workers during the June 2025 war with Iran shows access to shelter and information was uneven, with notable gaps in agriculture, construction, and live-in care. The July 2025 survey of 1,502 migrant workers from seven countries of origin and seven employment sectors examined physical safety, job security, and workers’ own sense of safety during the 12 Day War. At the time of the escalation, around 150,000 migrant workers were in Israel, largely in construction, agriculture, caregiving, and hospitality—sectors in which many workers rely on employer-provided housing and are tied to a particular employer through their visa status. The survey found that most workers reported access to a protected area at both home and work, but access to shelters, clear information, and support varied, and 69% of all respondents said they had a person or organization to turn to in an emergency, with levels differing significantly between groups.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Naftali Bennett warned that Israel’s relationship with the United States has entered a precarious period and said Jerusalem must rebuild its image in America, cautioning that support from a single president should not anchor the alliance. Speaking at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem, Bennett argued that Brand Israel is viewed negatively by many Americans for the first time since the state’s founding, calling the trend a disaster and urging that policy not depend on personal sympathy from any one president. He noted his role leading the Together list and his aim to challenge Prime Minister Netanyahu in the upcoming election. In Tehran, Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s missile program is not in the Memorandum of Understanding with the United States and will never be, stressing that regional peace can only be achieved through honest discussion and intraregional cooperation. He also asserted that Tehran will decide how unfrozen assets under a deal will be used, despite US sanctions waivers, with reports that about $12 billion in frozen assets may be released and could be spent on US commodities; an Iranian envoy has said Tehran alone will decide asset usage. A separate note from reporting on a new book about Gaza ceasefire negotiations says Trump and Netanyahu faced a tense exchange during talks, with a late strike in Doha on Hamas leaders described as fueling tensions and prompting concern among US officials that Israel acted contrary to understandings reached.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Naftali Bennett outlined his New Covenant plan to “build Israel from scratch” in every major area of life, describing it as a foundational effort to repair the state. He said the agreement between the state and its citizens has been broken and that the last government destroyed many state institutions, which cannot simply be repaired but must be dismantled and rebuilt, envisioning a founding government in the Ben-Gurion style. On education, Bennett called for public schooling at the level of private schools, noting that the state currently spends about NIS 50,000 per child, a cost associated with private education, while the public system would be reimagined to match that standard. He framed the plan as a comprehensive set of steps developed over two years with professionals across various sectors to address Israel’s core problems.

In Uplifting News, Israeli young adults show mental health recovery since October 7, though challenges persist. A nationwide survey conducted by Clalit Health Services and Myers JDC Brookdale Institute found that clinical levels of depression, anxiety, and PTSD declined from 51% to 34% over the past two years, while about a quarter of respondents reported severe impairment in daily functioning. About 20% of those aged 18-34 reported severe impairment in day-to-day tasks. The findings suggest extensive efforts by Israel’s healthcare system since October 7, including proactive mental health programs, are beginning to yield results, even as a substantial minority continue to struggle with daily functioning.

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/israel-news/article-900305
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-900306
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-900304
https://worldisraelnews.com/trump-reportedly-told-netanyahu-before-gaza-ceasefire-everyone-is-sick-of-you/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-900302
https://t.me/newssil/205115
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/mind-and-spirit/article-900295