Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-23 at 22:06 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-23 at 22:06

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-23 at 22:06

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 HEADLINESLibya's general killed in Turkish jet crashShin Bet deputy head resigns after clashesNetanyahu Trump to press Iran and GazaThe time is now 5:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This is your hourly news update. At five o’clock in the evening, we review the latest developments shaping Israel, the Jewish world, and the wider regional and international context.A first forum under the J50 network has taken place, aimed at improving communication among Jewish communities and policy groups worldwide. The network, created during the May International Conference Against Anti-Semitism, convened from Sunday through Tuesday, bringing together members of Jewish organizations and related ministries to strengthen lines of contact and collaboration across communities and with policymakers.Turning to the United Nations, a new report asserts that roughly one hundred million dollars annually is spent within UN structures to target Israel. The figure, described by Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations as reflecting a broad budget across UN bodies, is part of a continuing discussion in international circles about how the organization allocates resources among member states and agendas.In higher education, Georgetown University appears to have removed the UN special rapporteur on the Palestinians, Francesca Albanese, from its faculty listings amid criticism and sanctions surrounding her conduct and statements. The move prompted varied reactions, with UN Watch describing it as a signal that academic institutions must uphold standards of integrity and human dignity.In the Middle East and North Africa, Libya’s armed forces chief of staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, was killed when a private jet crashed after taking off from Ankara. Turkish authorities located the wreckage near Haymana, about 74 kilometers from the Turkish capital, and Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah expressed deep sorrow. The death comes as Libya remains divided between competing authorities, even as Turkey maintains ties with the government in Tripoli. Initial reports indicated a technical problem as the cause, and an investigation has been opened by Turkish authorities.In domestic security news, the deputy head of Shin Bet has resigned after a long career and a period of clashes with the agency’s new leadership under David Zini. The resignation follows reports of significant disagreements, including disputes over past disclosures to the High Court of Justice related to meetings involving Shin Bet personnel.On the diplomacy and defense front, the upcoming conversation between Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Trump is expected to center on Iran, including its ballistic missile development, air defense, and nuclear program. Israel seeks US acknowledgment that the regime in Tehran would continue to back regional militant groups as long as it remains in power, a stance seen as critical to coordinating a broader Middle East strategy. Gaza’s reconstruction is also likely to feature, with discussions about the transition to civilian governance and a new civilian authority to oversee reconstruction and other civilian functions, subject to security vetting of potential appointees.In Europe, Israeli tech firms have continued to expand their footprint, even amid diplomatic strains over the war in Gaza. A study indicates that Israeli companies employed more people in Europe, with total European staffing reaching about thirty-two thousand six hundred in early 2025 across roughly one thousand six hundred eighty-six firms. The United Kingdom leads with the largest European presence, followed by Germany and Ukraine, then France, Poland, and Spain. The data underscore a shift toward Europe as a strategic destination for research and development and services, even as European markets confront broader political headwinds related to Israel’s war with Hamas.France is also confronting antisemitic incidents, highlighted by a video in which a man harassed a Jewish child at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport. Investigations have been launched, and authorities have pledged that antisemitic acts will not go unpunished. The incident comes amid a troubling rise in antisemitism in Europe, with the representative body of French Jewish groups reporting a high number of incidents in the past year.In the United Kingdom, two individuals have been convicted of planning a mass shooting targeting Jewish people, with prosecutors detailing how the plan sought to kill as many Jews as possible after expressing admiration for past Islamic State attacks. The case is unfolding amid concerns about antisemitism and extremism in parts of Europe.Lebanon has disclosed the disappearance of a retired senior security officer with ties to the 1986 Ron Arad case. Investigations are underway, and there is speculation about possible Israeli involvement. The Arad case has long been a point of tension...
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