Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-10 at 03:02

HEADLINES
- Yashar Overtakes Likud in Maariv Poll
- Antisemitic Threats Target Governor Shapiro
- Israeli Defense Tech Startup Nets $36M Seed

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

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party overtook Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud for the first time in a Maariv poll released Friday, as the coalition pushes ahead of the Knesset’s dissolution. Yashar leads with 22 seats, up two from the prior poll and 10 more than after the April merger between Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Likud remains at 21 seats, while Bennett and Lapid’s Together party drops by one to 18. The new party led by Chili Tropper and Reservist leader Yoaz Hendel received 2.9% of the vote and did not cross the electoral threshold; however, it drew support from Religious Zionist Party voters, pushing that party down to four seats and reducing the Netanyahu bloc to 49 seats. The Arab parties maintain 11 seats. When asked which party they would vote for if elections were held today, respondents give Yashar 22 seats, Likud 21, Yisrael Beytenu and the Democrats 10 each, Otzma Yehudit, Shas, and United Torah Judaism eight each, Hadash-Ta’al six, Ra’am five, and Religious Zionist Party four, down from the previous reading.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, authorities report a Pennsylvania man was arrested after directing antisemitic slurs toward Governor Josh Shapiro and threatening arson at the governor’s mansion. Richard John Franklin, 65, was taken into custody after the district-office incident and charged with terrorist threats, ethnic intimidation, harassment, and disorderly conduct; he is held in Delaware County Prison. In a separate case, Jamey Carney, a New York group mother, was reportedly murdered by her boyfriend, Ahmad Alsaqer, whom she met at an anti-Israel protest. Alsaqer, 28, is described as a person of interest in the homicide; Carney had posted photos with him and the couple had been living in Ireland, where she was found dead in a rented home in Killarney. Alsaqer moved to Ireland in 2024 seeking asylum, and authorities say the investigation into her death continues.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Skapion, an Israeli defense-tech company developing a Native Counter Swarm system to detect, engage, and neutralize drone swarms, announced a $36 million Seed round led by UP.Partners and Khosla Ventures, with participation from Fusion VC, Stratos Ventures, TBD VC and q Fund. The system is designed to operate end-to-end in the scale and conditions of swarm drone threats, able to work alongside maneuvering forces, fixed installations, and critical infrastructure even in limited-communication environments. Separately, data on funding and exports highlight ongoing strength in the sector: IVC estimates 205 funding rounds in the first half of the year, raising about $4.9 billion, underscoring continued investor interest despite war and conscription. The Central Bureau of Statistics reports exports of high-tech services at $66.1 billion through April, up from $58.7 billion the year before and $50.9 billion in the pre-war year, a roughly 30% rise over three years that reflects the sector’s resilience and its role in the broader economy.

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/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902098
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1342882
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1342875
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-902101
https://www.israellycool.com/2026/07/10/jamey-carney-allegedly-murdered-by-boyfriend-she-met-at-anti-israel-protest/
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-902100
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1342879
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1342878
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1342876