Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-19 at 21:08 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-19 at 21:08

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-19 at 21:08

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 HEADLINESSaudi lifts Almadi travel ban amid diplomacyUS-Saudi pact: AI, nukes, F-35 talksIsrael maps Hizballah sites near Beit L’IfThe time is now 4:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Here is the latest hourly news update.Saudi authorities have lifted the travel ban on Saad Almadi, a United States citizen of Saudi origin who had been barred from leaving the kingdom after tweets that criticized Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and referenced the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. Almadi’s family said he is on his way back to the United States. The development comes as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Washington to meet President Donald Trump, who welcomed him with a high-profile reception. The case underscores how Washington’s diplomacy with Riyadh intersects with human rights concerns and how travel restrictions have been used in the past as a means of signaling political control while detention alone is avoided.In Washington, the week’s diplomacy was shaped by a broader package of US–Saudi cooperation. Officials described a nuclear cooperation framework designed to meet strict nonproliferation standards, with enrichment and reprocessing not permitted. Saudi Aramco signaled collaboration with American firms, and a minerals framework was announced to diversify supply chains. An artificial intelligence accord would give Riyadh access to US expertise in a sector central to global growth. A new strategic defense relationship was outlined, and the administration signaled continued American support for Saudi leadership as a regional partner. On military hardware, the United States outlined potential future F-35 sales to Saudi Arabia, but officials stressed the jets would not include the most advanced Israeli-configured features, part of a long-running policy intended to preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge. Israel’s government has long urged careful stewardship of security advantages in the region, and defense analysts note that Israel routinely assesses how such transfers affect regional balance.On the Israeli frontier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continually stressed the importance of Israel’s strategic position, including its posture in Syria and along the Lebanon border. In the south, Israeli forces are operating under ongoing pressure from regional instability and hostile groups allied with Iran. In parallel, Israel’s military and security establishment have monitored moves by Hizballah in southern Lebanon, including public Israeli mapping of what it says are Hizballah terror infrastructure sites near the Beit L’if area. The Lebanese army was reported to have arrived in the area in response to the dissemination of the map, and observers described heightened security alertness in border communities as the exchanges underscored how northern front dynamics remain volatile.Back in domestic Israeli politics, the Knesset approved a bill expanding monthly financial benefits for reservists, with larger credits for those who serve longer and who earn less under the income-tax threshold. The measure, designed to recognize the contribution of reserve service, will take effect for 2025 service and be fully implemented in 2026, with a 2028 adjustment tied to changing reserve requirements. Supporters framed the move as a matter of simple justice for those who shoulder a heavy obligation, while critics warned about budgetary implications and equity within the broader social safety net.In a related security development, Channel 13’s offices were vandalized with a threatening message linking to “the blood of the traitors.” Channel 13 filed a police complaint, and media organizations warned that threats against journalists have intensified as tensions around reporting and political disputes grow more acute. The Israel Channels Forum condemned the incident as part of a broader pattern of incitement against journalists and media independence.In regional news, Washington signaled renewed involvement in Sudan, with President Trump pledging to curb the fighting and to help stabilize the country at the request of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The statement followed a period in which the conflict between the army and the RSF has caused enormous humanitarian suffering, drawing international attention to the region’s volatility. Regional partners were urged to support a ceasefire and humanitarian access as part of broader efforts to reduce human suffering.In other US state and city developments with international resonance, New York City’s mayor-elect announced he will keep Jewish NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in place, a decision welcomed by many centrist and pro-Israel voices who see continuity in public safety leadership as important for community resilience. Supporters say Tisch’s track record helps reassure communities wary of rising antisemitism and hate crimes, while critics warn that policing policy must adapt to ...
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