Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-06 at 15:01

HEADLINES
- Trump Iran deal or finish the job
- Lapid warns against election rigging
- Oct 7 inquiry bill advances after boycott

The time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump said in the Oval Office during an event marking the launch of Trump Accounts that the United States would either reach a deal with Iran or finish the job. He framed the choice around negotiations, saying, “We’re going to make a deal, or we’re going to finish the job.” He warned that if a deal is not reached, the United States “can knock down their bridges in one hour; we can knock out their energy supply, all of those big plants that they built—big, beautiful, modern plants; they had a lot of money. They don’t have any money now. We haven’t given them any money, but we can knock out their electricity and power-generating plants, I would say in the small part of an afternoon. Every plant will be gone, and they know that.” He added that oil is now at a level that’s lower than before, that concessions have been gained, and that there will be “no nuclear weapon.” He emphasized that he would prefer a deal to avoid affecting 91 million people and argued that the United States would “finish the job” if necessary, asserting, “we’re going to win one way or the other.”

In Israeli Domestic Politics, opposition leader Yair Lapid warned that the government’s unanimous decision to say it will not comply with a High Court ruling on the Second Authority Council’s composition signals a broader effort by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition to “steal” or “rig” the upcoming elections. Speaking at a Knesset press conference on behalf of the Together Party, Lapid argued the move could lead to a constitutional crisis and said the government wants to enter the elections without a court weighing in, a tactic he described as part of a long-running push to weaken judicial oversight. Separately, the government approved a joint proposal by the Minister of Aliyah and Integration and the Health Minister to streamline licensing for psychologists who make aliyah, broadening recognition of foreign degrees and training while maintaining Israel’s licensing standards. The plan would set new Health Ministry guidelines to better account for variations in psychology training abroad and would certify additional specializations to help immigrant psychologists integrate into Israel’s healthcare system without compromising patient safety. In another development, the Oct. 7 political inquiry bill passed first reading as the opposition boycotted and Prime Minister Netanyahu skipped the vote. The coalition-backed measure would allow continuity into the next Knesset and create a six-member committee to investigate the massacre, war, and events that preceded them, in place of a state commission of inquiry.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Israeli academic Dr. Ofek Riemer told The Jerusalem Post that the exclusion of Israeli scholars constitutes a “silent boycott,” a phenomenon in which invitations are not extended and talks are canceled for reasons described as bureaucratic. Riemer, an assistant professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, said academics are a last bastion of independent critical thinking in Israel and that such boycotts demoralize and silence researchers. He described a recent experience in which his paper was initially rejected from an academic conference despite fitting the theme, then re-invited after organizers acknowledged a sponsor policy misinterpretation, only to face further complications that he implied reflect a broader pattern of pressure on Israeli scholars.

In Uplifting News, Maccabiah 2026 is highlighted as a moment of pride, with Jews from more than 40 countries traveling thousands of miles to be in Israel for the Games at a time when such opportunities aren’t guaranteed. The piece describes a scene of national unity and joy, noting a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor proudly representing his country and carrying the flag, alongside Druze participants. Opening ceremonies reportedly include Yizkor, the memorial prayer honoring generations of Jewish suffering and those who defended Israel, underscoring a sense of shared history and resilience at a moment when antisemitism is on the rise globally.

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/american-politics/article-901646
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901651
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-901637
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1wo700kxgl
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-901652
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-901433