Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-05 at 05:07 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-05 at 05:07

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-05 at 05:07

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 HEADLINESLast October 7 hostage fuels Gaza crisisUS AG orders tougher extremism probeIsrael Lebanon hold rare border talksThe time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Good evening. Here is the hour’s news update from the Middle East and global developments that bear on security, diplomacy, and public policy.The fate of Ran Gvili remains a central concern as the last known hostage taken on October 7 continues to be held in Gaza. An editorial published in the press calls on Israeli authorities and international partners to secure his return, emphasizing a moral imperative to bring him home. The situation underscores the continuing human dimension of the conflict and the pressures on political leaders to balance security, negotiations, and humanitarian considerations.Meanwhile, questions about security leadership in Israel echo across discussions of regional risk. A prominent commentator who was released from detention years ago warns against appointing a figure connected to past intelligence operations within the Mossad. The warning highlights anxieties about trust, operational oversight, and the potential impact on intelligence-sharing and deterrence if personnel with controversial histories are placed in sensitive roles.Across the Atlantic, US policy makers are moving to strengthen domestic security apparatus. The US Attorney General directed federal agencies to step up investigations of extremist groups and to identify entities that may pose domestic terrorism risks. The directive reflects ongoing concern in Washington about violent extremism and its domestic manifestations, including actions that can inflame international tensions or fuel foreign‑policy consequences.In Washington, a US appeals court has allowed President Trump’s National Guard deployment in the capital to continue, preserving a deployment at the heart of a legal dispute over policing powers and rights to public order. The decision keeps intact a security posture in the nation’s capital as debates over protest management and federal authority continue.On the domestic security front, federal authorities in several cities announced immigration operations resulting in multiple arrests, including in the Minneapolis area and in New Orleans. Officials describe these actions as part of ongoing enforcement efforts tied to immigration and national security priorities, a reminder of the interplay between domestic policy and international concerns about asylum, border control, and criminal activity.In New York, a large solidarity rally drew more than a thousand participants in support of the Park East Synagogue, which was the target of a vitriolic protest at the entrance to a school hosting an immigration information event. Attendees heard speakers emphasize resilience and unity, with community leaders and elected officials calling for safety and protection of places of worship. The event featured performances by artists and an uplifting appeal for civic solidarity, while law enforcement maintained perimeter security. Organizers and participants stressed that anti‑Zionism and antisemitism must be addressed within the bounds of the law, and they called on legislators to consider measures to prevent harassment at houses of worship. The gathering reflected a broader conversation about security, political expression, and the safety of Jewish communities in major urban centers.In the United Nations arena, a broad majority urged Russia to release Ukrainian children who were taken during the war. Russia, along with a few other governments, opposed the measure, and several countries abstained from voting. The vote underscores the stark divisions in international diplomacy over the war and the treatment of civilians, including the most vulnerable, in ongoing hostilities.On the domestic political front in the United States, President Trump has publicly noted a request by Prime Minister Netanyahu for a presidential pardon, a reference that ties together political narratives in Washington and Jerusalem as both governments navigate allied commitments and electoral pressures. The exchange highlights how personal and political loyalties intersect with questions about governance, accountability, and the use of clemency in close partnerships.There were also developments at sea and in the field related to security and crime. US forces conducted operations against a drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, part of a broader effort to disrupt illicit trafficking and associated violence that often crosses international borders and affects regional stability and security assistance.In Israel, forces engaged a terrorist who crossed a designated line and posed a threat near the front lines. The military reported that soldiers from the 7th Brigade opened fire to neutralize the threat, an operation consistent with ongoing measures to deter cross-border incursions and to protect troops on the ...
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.