Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-24 at 20:07 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-24 at 20:07

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-24 at 20:07

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 HEADLINESEpstein probe stalls after million docs foundIsrael approves planned operation against IranWest Bank settlement surge draws global condemnationThe time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.At 3:00 PM, here is your on‑the‑hour briefing on the Middle East and related matters affecting Israeli security, Jewish communities worldwide, and the broader international landscape.First, in Washington and across the justice system, investigators disclosed a new factor in the Jeffrey Epstein case: more than a million potentially relevant documents were identified, delaying further releases. The development comes with newly surfaced details about President Trump’s flights on Epstein’s jet, underscoring the ongoing questions surrounding the network and the handling of sensitive information. Officials stressed that the review will take time and that releases will proceed when appropriate, with the department maintaining a careful balance between transparency and safeguarding legitimate interests.Turn now to Israel’s security posture and regional diplomacy. The Israeli leadership was briefed on a high‑stakes decision after a charged cabinet meeting, with the defense team reporting that the cabinet approved a planned operation against Iran, to be executed with caution and the aim of limiting regional threat possibilities. The discussion underscored the seriousness with which security ministers view Iran’s military capabilities and its ambitions, and it highlighted the continued priority placed on protecting Israeli civilians and security forces. In the same vein, defense and intelligence officials have been monitoring a broad array of threats from Iran and its regional proxies, reinforcing a posture of readiness across multiple theaters.In the West Bank, the government announced the demolition of the home of one Palestinian militant involved in a deadly July attack near Gush Etzion, a step the army says is intended to deter future violence. The operation followed a subsequent round of condemnations from local authorities and observers who describe demolition as a controversial tool with political and humanitarian implications. Separately, new settlement approvals drew sharp international reactions: fourteen countries, including France, Britain, and Germany, condemned the authorization of nineteen new settlements in the occupied West Bank, arguing such unilateral moves complicate prospects for a two‑state solution and threaten a fragile Gaza ceasefire framework. The United Nations has noted that settlement activity in recent months has reached levels not seen in years, while Israel argues that some settlements are vital for security and historical connections to the land.Amid rising tension, there were violent incidents on the ground. In al‑Mazraa al‑Sharqiya, a Palestinian home was burned and vandalized with “price tag” graffiti in an apparent settler attack. Community leaders and municipal officials accused elements within the Israeli system of enabling extremist actions, calling for international scrutiny and accountability. Security agencies have been focused on reducing the number of such incidents, though prosecutions and convictions of those involved have remained comparatively rare.Off the battlefield, diplomacy and diplomacy‑adjacent events unfold. A diplomatic incident at the Western Wall saw Ukraine’s ambassador stand and walk out of a Hanukkah event after learning that a Russian envoy was present. The moment reflected ongoing strains in the region as states balance their relationships with Kyiv and Moscow during a time of heightened tension across Europe and the Middle East. Meanwhile, a separate narrative around Saudi diplomacy gained attention: Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, noted that his links to American and Israeli citizenship helped him gain entry despite a border policy generally restrictive of Israeli passport holders, a reminder of evolving, if uneven, regional normalization pressures.On the regional security beat, Turkey’s leadership described Israel as the number one threat in the wake of a regional summit, a posture that mirrors increasingly polarized alignments as Ankara moves closer to Tehran in some dossiers while Israel builds cooperation with Greece and Cyprus. Analysts say such rhetoric signals a broader contest for influence in the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea corridors, with implications for shipping routes and alliance dynamics.In related security records, the FBI is probing a Quds Force official tied to attacks on US, European, and Israeli targets, a reminder that transnational terrorism remains a shared concern among allies. Israel continues to push for coordinated counterterrorism vigilance and international cooperation to disrupt plots before they unfold.Within the world of public diplomacy and religious freedom, President Herzog’s visit to Christian communities in ...
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.