Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-13 at 02:02

HEADLINES
Graham Praised as Unwavering US-Israel Ally
Lahav 433 Raids Hariri Network, Arrests Grow
Clavicular Spurs Pro-Israel Influencer Rift

The time is now 2:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, tributes poured in for Senator Lindsey Graham, who was described by Israeli leaders as a steadfast ally and true friend of the Jewish state. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Graham understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable, while President Isaac Herzog called him a beacon of moral clarity and a leader of the US-Israel partnership. Graham’s long friendship with Israel spanned decades and administrations, expressed through legislation, military assistance, repeated visits, and a willingness to defend Israel even when it proved politically uncomfortable. During a 2011 visit to Israel with a congressional delegation, Graham rejected the notion that Israel could safely return to the pre-1967 lines, saying he could never imagine such a move.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, dozens of suspects have been arrested as law enforcement forces launched a broad operation against illegal weapons and drugs across the country, led by Lahav 433. Authorities reported at least 34 arrests, including 20 significant targets familiar to the police. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir described the operation as a proactive, aggressive, and determined police effort, saying hundreds of officers and fighters were raiding multiple targets to confront arms and drug dealers and promising continued backing to strike crime with all our might. Last Thursday, a targeted operation by Lahav 433’s National Unit for Serious and International Crime Investigations targeted the Hariri crime network. Separately, a Bedouin undercover agent known as Nomad infiltrated criminal networks, carried out dozens of controlled deals, and implicated scores of suspects, including 20 major crime targets, before raids across southern Israel and east Jerusalem. In a related development, a new poll shows that 63% of Israeli Jewish likely voters oppose a Palestinian state alongside Israel, while 22% support it and 15% did not express a position. The Council for a Secure America poll surveyed 557 Israeli Jewish adults likely to vote from June 7-10, and the opposition to a two-state solution has remained consistently high in prior readings during the broader period of recent history.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Clavicular’s Tel Aviv visit has sparked a rift among pro-Israel influencers over his record of antisemitism. Braden Peters, known as Clavicular, has been linked to appearances with white supremacists and antisemitic figures, including association with Nick Fuentes. At the Lüllie beach club, staff identified him, and while some pro-Israel and Jewish influencers have filmed content with him, others expressed confusion or displeasure among his followers, who accused him of selling out and urged him to respect the community. In Paris, French anti-terrorist prosecutors opened an investigation after weapons were found in a car parked near a synagogue in Sarcelles, evacuating about 300 residents. The vehicle contained a military-grade weapon; authorities said motives were not yet identified and suspects had not been named as the probe examines possible ties to a terrorist organization, with no explosives found at the scene.

In Uplifting News, Israel’s Toto Equals finished fourth in the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup, marking the first Israeli team to participate. The squad consisted of nine Special Olympics athletes with disabilities and seven Unified partners without disabilities, and they competed against teams from 11 other nations. Striker Tomer Gini was the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals, earning the Golden Boot, even as four players, including Gini, were sidelined by injuries yet kept playing. Coach Ofir Haim said the team’s perseverance demonstrated that the heart is greater than any challenge, and Special Olympics Israel’s CEO Sharon Levy-Blanga praised the squad for representing the State of Israel with great honor and full commitment.

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-902285
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-902299
https://worldisraelnews.com/just-22-of-israelis-back-palestinian-statehood-but-majority-backs-expanding-abraham-accords/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyrhikzvzl
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902301
https://www.timesofisrael.com/weapons-found-in-car-parked-near-synagogue-in-paris-jewish-suburb-terror-probe-launched/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-902294