Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-07 at 05:06 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-07 at 05:06

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-07 at 05:06

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 HEADLINESRa'am splits from Shura, upends coalitionHamas rejects disarmament and external oversightIDF soldier wears far-right Kach patchThe time is now 12:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.A new row in the Middle East’s political map is taking shape as Israel’s Arab parties signal shifts in alignment and as regional and international actors weigh how to constrain conflict while preserving security. In Israel, Ra’am’s leadership has announced it will separate from the Shura Council and from the Muslim Brotherhood, a move that could recalibrate the balance within the governing coalition at a time of heightened attention to extremist violence and political risk. The move follows US moves against the Islamist organization, underscoring how Washington’s policies are increasingly shaping conversations inside Israeli politics and the broader regional stance toward political Islam abroad.Across the Atlantic, an editorial stance echoed by several commentators argues that US support for Israel should be viewed not as a concession of past favors but as an investment in regional stability and a buffer against wider chaos. The piece frames continued American backing as essential to keeping a fragile balance in a region where war has historically spilled across borders and where security guarantees influence domestic political calculations inside Israel and among its neighbors.On the Gaza front, Hamas’s leadership has reinforced its posture: Khaled Mashaal said the group will not disarm, will not accept external oversight in Gaza, and will not relinquish control there. The position highlights the gulf between Hamas’s aims and the expectations of international mediators who seek durable governance and accountability mechanisms in the territory. Israeli officials have responded by reiterating their demand for security guarantees and an end to rocket and incendiary activity, arguing that any long-term arrangement must address sovereign security concerns.Within the Israeli defense establishment, a reminder of the fragility of public life surfaced when an IDF soldier was photographed wearing a patch associated with the far-right Kach movement, rooted in the ideology of Rabbi Meir Kahane. The incident has fed wider discussions about extremism and loyalty within security forces, a topic that has drawn scrutiny from policymakers and the public alike as the country confronts persistent threats beyond its immediate borders.In Bethlehem, Christmas has made a cautious return to the city that sits at the spiritual heart of the season and the economic lifeblood of the West Bank. After years of conflict and the Gaza war, the tree is back on Manger Square, lit amid crowds of locals and visitors from Israel and beyond. The scene offers a symbol of resilience but also a reminder of the economic strain that conflict has imposed. Local officials note that tourism—once the city’s primary income source—still faces volatility, with unemployment spiking during the most intense years of fighting and thousands of residents relocating in search of work. Bethlehem’s mayor says the community sees Christmas as a moment to project hope to the world, even as pilgrims and pilgrims’ guides acknowledge lingering anxieties about security and the absence of a clear, lasting end to the broader conflict.In the West Bank, a report circulated this week that Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the evacuation of 14 illegal settlement outposts, aimed at curbing violence and removing what officials described as a network of extremist activity. A spokesperson for the prime minister flatly denied the report, stressing the absence of any order to evacuate. The episode underscored the ongoing tension surrounding settlements, settler violence, and the broader question of how to curb intimidation and clash dynamics in areas near Palestinian communities. US and international concern about escalating settler attacks remains a recurring theme, with some lawmakers and analysts warning that unchecked violence could complicate any plans for postwar arrangements in Gaza.Meanwhile, domestic politics in Israel are testing coalition dynamics. Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu has published a five-point pledge designed to shape the policy agenda ahead of elections, calling for an equal burden across the population, public transportation on Shabbat, and reforms in religious governance. The document signals a readiness to press for changes that could strain cooperation with ultra-Orthodox factions and reflects broader debates about how to balance security needs with religious and social policy in a diverse country.On the international stage, Moscow’s position in Washington’s updated strategic framework drew curious attention. The Kremlin welcomed the revision that dropped language labeling Russia a direct threat, calling for measured cooperation on strategic stability. The shift comes as global ...
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