Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-15 at 09:02

HEADLINES
- Sofer exits reelection bid as government shakes
- High Court halts haredi draft law showdown
- Ultra Orthodox protesters blockade IDF recruitment centers

The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Aliyah and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer said he will not run for re-election and will remain in his post through the end of his term, thanking supporters in a statement released on Wednesday. Sofer’s decision drew a reaction from Religious Zionist Party head and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who posted on X/Twitter that he respects the decision and is confident Sofer will find another way to serve Israel outside of politics. The development follows the resignation announced by Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren from the government on Tuesday, with she saying she could no longer stand behind the government’s decisions. On the legal front, the High Court of Justice temporarily froze a Knesset law that would halt arrests, investigations, and enforcement proceedings against qualifying haredi yeshiva students who failed to report for military service. Justice Ofer Grosskopf issued a provisional order delaying the law’s entry into force and set a hearing on petitions challenging its validity to be heard by an expanded panel. The court cited longstanding rulings on yeshiva enlistment and concerns about enforcement that would affect only a portion of the population, with petitions filed by Israel Hofsheet and Yesh Atid lawmakers among others. In central Israel, ultra-Orthodox protesters gathered around IDF recruitment centers, blocking roads as part of demonstrations against haredi recruitment, and some signs urged US President Donald Trump to “save” the haredis from recruitment. Police were deployed to regain control at the Tel Hashomer site and to manage disturbances at a recruitment center in Jerusalem as this remains a developing story.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, French President Emmanuel Macron honored Captain Alfred Dreyfus with a statue outside France’s highest court, saying that the “demons of antisemitism” remain and urging vigilance to protect people targeted for who they are. Macron and Dreyfus’s 99-year-old grandson Charles attended the ceremony, which marked 120 years since Dreyfus was exonerated of treason charges. The statue depicts Dreyfus in uniform and wielding a sword. The event followed the discovery of a military-grade assault rifle found in a vehicle parked outside a synagogue in Sarcelles, underscoring continuing concerns about antisemitic threats in the country.

In Israeli Economy and Business, the British Embassy in Israel and the UK Department for Business and Trade hosted the Distilling Excellence: UK Gin Showcase in Tel Aviv to expand commercial ties between British distilleries and the Israeli market. More than 75% of gin imported into Israel comes from British producers, and UK gin exports to Israel in bottles up to two liters were valued at £3.99 million in 2024, about NIS 16 million, while Israel’s gin market is estimated at about £9.73 million annually. The event featured brands such as Brighton Gin, Shortcross Gin, Sky Wave Signature London Dry Gin, and Cotswolds Dry Gin, with Milk & Honey participating from the Israeli side and tastings and meetings arranged with local distributors and retailers.

In Uplifting News, the government approved Masa Diplomacy, a Masa program proposed by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Affairs Minister Sa’ar, to equip Jewish youth in the Diaspora with the knowledge and tools for Israel advocacy and public diplomacy. The program responds to rising antisemitism and disinformation surrounding Israel and includes a government commitment of roughly NIS 1 million to sponsor scholarships for about 70 participants in the 2026-2027 academic year. Masa Diplomacy will run for approximately six weeks, offering content days on online advocacy, workshops to develop public speaking, educational tours, seminars led by active diplomats and other experts, and a capstone project evaluated by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, with the goal of strengthening participants’ connection to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.

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-902601
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902598
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902572
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-902556
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-902587
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902580