Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-05 at 08:07 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-05 at 08:07

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-05 at 08:07

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 HEADLINES- Israel demands Hezbollah disarmament under state control- Palo Alto plans to acquire Koi Security- Israel must fortify security with STEM reformThe time is now 3:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.At 3:00 a.m., a broad set of developments spanning security, technology, education, and geopolitics are shaping the region and its relations with allies abroad. Here is the latest, presented with clarity for an international audience.In Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar met with the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis, to discuss regional security and Lebanon’s future. The discussions centered on Hezbollah’s disarmament, a matter Saar described as essential to Israel’s security and to Lebanon’s stability. He noted that while the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces have taken steps toward disarmament, those efforts are far from sufficient, particularly in light of what he characterized as Hezbollah’s attempts to rearm with Iranian support. Israel’s position remains that Hezbollah’s weapons should be under state control in Lebanon, with the Lebanese government stressing its own stance that weapons should be surrendered to state authority and not transferred to Israel or left in private hands. The Israeli Defense Forces have continued operations targeting Hezbollah installations inside Lebanon as the group seeks to rebuild after recent clashes. The Lebanese government, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, has consistently called on Hezbollah to surrender its weapons to the state, underscoring the belief that weapons must be managed by Lebanese institutions for the benefit of all citizens.In the technology sector, Palo Alto Networks is reportedly in talks to acquire the Israeli cybersecurity company Koi Security for approximately four hundred million dollars. A preliminary memorandum of understanding has been signed, though the deal has not yet closed. Koi Security has developed an engine that leverages large language models and artificial intelligence agents to detect malware and vulnerabilities in applications and extensions that developers can download. Its technology is designed to scan marketplaces and stores including those for Visual Studio Code, Microsoft Edge, the Chrome Web Store, the Firefox add-ons repository, the Node Package Manager, and Homebrew. The acquisition would mark a notable first for an Israeli company since a recent leadership change at Palo Alto Networks, and it would likely expand the integration of advanced AI-driven security tools across corporate and government networks.An influential opinion piece argues that Israel’s security depends on education and a robust STEM pipeline. The author contends that the nation’s security rests on maintaining technological superiority, particularly in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and cyber capabilities, and links this to what students learn in eighth grade. The analysis highlights troubling trends: declines in mathematics and science achievement on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study assessments (TIMSS) and stagnation or decline in hi-tech employment. It calls for a sweeping reform of the education system, including a nationwide core curriculum in science and technology, expanded integrated highly technical tracks in high school, and decentralization of instruction with accountability for results on the ground. The piece argues that a strong, inclusive pipeline from middle school through higher education is essential to sustain Israel’s defense industry and research and development capacity, and warns that delays in educational reform threaten long-term national security.In northern Israel, the military announced a demolition order for the home of a terrorist who killed two people in a December attack. The action followed the sealing of the attacker’s residence and was presented as part of measures approved after operational and legal review. The assault began with the driver running down victims near Beit She’an and continued with stabbings and additional injuries before the attacker was neutralized. Emergency medical personnel described the scene and the rapid sequence of events at the moment help arrived. The demolition is intended to deter further attacks and is part of a broader set of security measures implemented by the state.In Tarabin, near a Bedouin community, a police raid led to the death of a suspect who opened the door during an operation that targeted crime, illegal immigration, and weapons possession. Local Bedouin leaders criticized the approach used by the police and called for the dismissal of a National Security Minister. They asked for an independent investigation and the prosecution of those responsible, arguing that force used in the raid was excessive and that civilians, including children, were exposed to danger. The incident has sparked debate about policing...
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