Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-05 at 12:02

HEADLINES
- Trump backed Israel Lebanon framework hits snag
- Beaufort Ridge IDF exposes Hezbollah tunnels
- Israel eyes livestreamed vote counting

The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement on June 26 outlining the principles for a final agreement, provided its conditions are implemented. The piece notes that President Donald Trump has embraced the concept of framework agreements; his Gaza plan was the first such framework, though it has not progressed beyond the initial phase. It is too early to judge the framework with Iran, which also has gaps and limited prospects for implementation. The Lebanon framework, while positive, carries numerous challenges. Its primary aim seems to be ending the war on the northern front. It also appears that the immediate political need of both Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to demonstrate some form of diplomatic achievement encouraged the United States to press for a quick agreement, while leaving many provisions ambiguous and many questions unanswered.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the area around Beaufort Ridge is saturated with Hezbollah terror infrastructure, the IDF chief says. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-Gen Eyal Zamir described Hezbollah as exhausted during a briefing with Israeli soldiers at the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon. He noted the significance of Israel having taken the Beaufort area from Hezbollah, saying it was saturated with terrorist infrastructure, and that the group now relies on its Iranian patron to save it. Zamir, who toured the region with several commanders, entered an Israeli-controlled Hezbollah tunnel as part of an operational assessment. He highlighted that Hezbollah, funded and directed by Iran, spent decades building underground tunnels to threaten northern Israeli communities, and said the IDF now holds control of the terrain both above ground and within the tunnels. He pointed to Lebanese commitments under the ceasefire framework arranged by the United States, noting their obligation to clear the area of Hezbollah terrorists and terrorist infrastructure.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Netanyahu says relationship with Trump is excellent, US has no greater ally than Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that the United States has no greater ally than Israel and that Israel has no greater ally than the United States, describing an excellent relationship with President Trump and acknowledging occasional disagreements as normal in any close partnership. He argued that in 99% of cases they are aligned, and said the disagreements do not reflect differing goals on Iran, stressing that both nations are committed to dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities and removing enriched material. Netanyahu claimed that as long as he serves as prime minister, Iran will not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, noting shared experiences from Israel’s Operation Roaring Lion and the United States’ Operation Epic Fury as demonstrations of their cooperative approach to pressuring Tehran.

In another interview, Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel protects Christians in the Middle East and asserted that some Lebanese Christian villages have even asked to be annexed by Israel, a point he highlighted to illustrate regional influence and protection of minority communities.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel's election panel floats live-streaming vote count amid concerns of fraud, AI misinformation. Speaking at the Israel Hayom Conference, Din Livne, head of the Central Elections Committee, said the panel is considering live-streaming the vote-counting process in the next national election to strengthen public confidence, aiming for the most transparent elections ever. He argued that large-scale election fraud is impossible in Israel and floated broadcasting the vote-counting operation from the Knesset on the internet, including a live stream of the secure storage vault with ballot envelopes. He noted there are between 600,000 and 700,000 double-envelope ballots, and that watchers could view how they are handled online. Livne acknowledged the broadcast would be dull, but said it could quell conspiracy theories before they take root, emphasizing that Israeli elections are conducted with the highest level of integrity, though he also suggested safeguards against misinterpretation.

Haredi protesters break into Jerusalem Light Rail construction sites, assault workers. Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators resumed protests against Jerusalem’s light-rail project on Bar-Ilan Street, including footage of protesters entering work zones and damaging construction, and clashes with workers. Police said one person was arrested and described the incident as a public disorder situation, urging protesters to evacuate the route. The demonstrations follow weeks of protests in June, with multiple arrests for violations of public order after road blockades and interference with construction sites.

IDF soldiers to enter reserve duty immediately following mandatory service. A senior IDF official told N12 that the army plans to require soldiers to enter reserve duty immediately after discharge from regular service as a temporary measure to cope with manpower shortages. The plan would extend a soldier’s total service by about two months, even as mandatory service is set to shrink to 30 months in January 2027. If the Knesset does not extend mandatory service, the move would worsen the manpower shortage and burden the economy, observers say, with estimates of higher costs per soldier. The official described the proposal as illogical and unfair in a democratic country, noting the added strain on national resources and the broader economy while Shai Taib’s division heads signaled continued contingency planning.

In Israeli Economy and Business, shekel squeeze: how offshore talent is keeping Israel's startup nation scaling upwards. A company told The Jerusalem Post that many startups are expanding by hiring offshore personnel, with One Offshore connecting Israeli firms to capable teams abroad. The sector employs more than 400,000 Israelis in high tech, about 11% of the workforce, according to authorities. The offshore arrangement, centered in Eastern Europe, is presented as a way to reduce costs while enabling rapid team expansion, particularly as startups seek to accelerate growth and scale their engineering and development capabilities with reliable external talent.

In Uplifting News, Daughter of former prisoners now serves in Israel Prison Service uniform to support at-risk youth. Sari Shriki, 19, who grew up in a family touched by addiction and incarceration, now serves daily in uniform as a national service volunteer with the Israel Prison Service. She participates in the Temura, or Transformation, track for youths from at‑risk backgrounds, reflecting a personal journey from a difficult family history to public service and youth support through the IPS. Shriki, originally from Eilat, spent much of her childhood away from home in residential facilities after her father’s repeated detentions, and she has aimed to forge a path that helps others facing similar challenges.

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/opinion/article-901073
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901482
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901501
https://t.me/ILtoday/19487
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901497
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901495
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901487
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-901475
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-901485