Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-21 at 16:02

HEADLINES
Trump Threatens Hit Pickaxe Mountain Near Natanz
US Strikes Iran Eleventh Day, 1,000 Targets
Israeli Election Integrity Feared Amid Strife

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified underground site tied to Iran's nuclear program. The target sits about 220 kilometers south of Tehran and roughly 2 kilometers from the Natanz complex, with the peak rising around 1,600 meters above sea level. The tunnel facility under construction at Pickaxe Mountain was not targeted in prior conflicts, according to the Institute for Science and International Security. Natanz previously housed two uranium enrichment plants and was bombed in the war that began on February 28, and again during last year's 12-day clash. The threat comes as Tehran and Washington exchange fire in the Gulf, complicating efforts to end the broader confrontation.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Israeli officials say President Donald Trump is preparing to significantly escalate the American campaign against Iran, likely targeting Iranian infrastructure and senior regime figures, a move they believe would trigger Tehran to retaliate directly against Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a six-hour security consultation with ministers and senior defense officials to assess the evolving situation. US Central Command has entered its 11th straight day of strikes against Iran, with a source telling The Jerusalem Post that roughly 1,000 targets have been hit in the past ten days. During a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Trump described Tehran as desperate to hold talks and warned that the United States will be hitting the Pickaxe Mountain area near Natanz.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, President Isaac Herzog said Shin Bet warned him of threats to the integrity of Israel's elections, both internal and external. He urged the public to remember that elections are not a civil war and called on law enforcement authorities to stand firmly against threats, noting the dangers of social media and asking citizens to be thoughtful and responsible with the content they consume and broadcast. Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote Prime Minister Netanyahu to demand the immediate dismissal of Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara as a precondition for his party to join the next government, citing concerns over the attorney-general’s authority and a series of policy disputes. Democrats Party leader Yair Golan outlined plans to advance legislation to bar politicians with criminal records from serving as prime minister or in the next government, insisting there will be zero criminals in office. Israel First Party figure Sharren Haskel launched a campaign calling on right-wing figures to join a broad Zionist government, naming Yuli Edelstein and noting discussions with other potentialRight-wing entrants, saying she would consider joining a government after the elections with parties from across the aisle. Analysts also warn that Netanyahu’s strategy of making concessions to haredi parties could become a political liability, as the cost to his base over the draft exemption issue compounds with recent criticisms tied to the coalition’s handling of ultra-Orthodox matters.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a Swedish Jewish consultant, Gregory-Zvi Wirschubsky, 69, says he suffered antisemitic abuse from a colleague at a Meliva health clinic in Stockholm, and that his contract was ended after he complained. In an interview with Expressen, Wirschubsky described a colleague of Middle Eastern descent asking if he was Jewish and accusing him of “killing Palestinian children,” followed by the remark, “Go to hell, you damn Jew.” He said management promised to handle the matter, but he was informed that he could no longer stay.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-903221
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903231
https://t.me/ILtoday/19601
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903229
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903225
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903224
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903222
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903220
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-903219