Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-12 at 01:06 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-12 at 01:06

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-12 at 01:06

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 HEADLINES- LA U-Haul plows into pro-Iran crowd- Israel ultra-Orthodox draft protests escalate commander evacuated- Iran protests surge as US weighs optionsThe time is now 8:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This hour, a broad set of developments across the Middle East and the diaspora illuminate the ongoing fragility and shifting dynamics that define the region today. In Los Angeles, a U-Haul truck plowed into a crowd of people gathered to support Iranian protesters and oppose the regime. The incident occurred in Westwood, where several hundred demonstrators had assembled. Law enforcement has not publicly confirmed injuries, and the driver’s status is not fully clear at this hour. A video circulating on social media shows Arabic writing on the vehicle alongside a sign in English reading No Shah. No Regime. United States: Don’t Repeat 1953. No Mullah. The Los Angeles Police Department indicated that no ambulances were summoned at the scene, and local authorities have not released further details about the driver. This is a developing story.In Israel, tensions surfaced at a conference in Bnei Brak where ultra-Orthodox protesters disrupted an information meeting for parents of soldiers serving in an ultra-Orthodox brigade known as Hashmonaim. The confrontation required intervention by police and border police to restore order, and the brigade commander, Colonel Avinoam Emunah, was evacuated to safety. The Israel Defense Forces issued a strong condemnation of violence against its commanders and soldiers, noting that two soldiers sustained minor injuries. Separately, another protest occurred at the Beit Shemesh entrance on Highway 38, where traffic was blocked and police used force to disperse demonstrators; officials reported ongoing concerns about road safety. Official figures indicate a portion of ultra-Orthodox draftees remain detained in military prisons for draft evasion, underscoring the ongoing social and security strains surrounding Israel’s conscription debates.In other news, a prominent figure associated with the Bondi Beach mass shooting in Sydney, Ahmed al-Ahmed, paused his recovery plans due to a new period of pain while visiting New York. He had made appearances on US television and participated in memorial and fundraising events, including a gala where a notable figure presented a gold menorah. A video showed him resting in a hotel bed as supporters visited, and he described continuing his treatment journey. His public role has drawn attention to the broader shadow cast by the attack and its international repercussions within the Jewish community.Turning to Iran, President Donald Trump signaled that the United States is weighing a range of responses to escalating unrest, including possible military options, as large-scale protests challenge the regime. The comments reflect a continuing debate inside Washington about how to respond to demonstrations and the broader crisis in Tehran, a debate conducted against a backdrop of regional and international diplomacy and pressure.Across the region, Iran’s protests have intensified, with exiled opposition leaders asserting continued momentum. Among them, Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah, urged international support and declared that those who crack down on protests are legitimate targets. He called for embassies abroad to display flags associated with pre-revolution Iran, arguing that the movement has broad-based support and aims to reclaim the country from the regime. His statements reflect the ongoing divide among Iranians abroad over what form any transition should take and how to mobilize international backing.In parallel, the Palestinian arena remains subject to ongoing mediation dynamics. The militant group Hamas has said it has instructed its Gaza-based agencies to prepare to hand over authority to an independent technocratic committee as part of a broader ceasefire framework supported by US diplomacy. Egypt has been mediating discussions on the committee’s makeup, with talks involving Israel and Palestinian factions continuing in Cairo. Israel continues to emphasize that any lasting arrangement will require disarmament of militant groups and accountability for remains from earlier hostilities, including the case of a police officer killed in the early months of the current conflict. The broader backdrop remains the fragile, intermittent pause in fighting, with ceasefire terms tied to gains in the Gaza Strip and shifting political calculations in Jerusalem and Washington.In the realm of technology and policy, international attention also focused on social media regulation and youth safety. Australia has moved to enforce a world-first ban restricting under-16s from holding social media accounts, with penalties for noncompliance. Meta has acknowledged it removed tens of thousands of underage accounts across its platforms and urged Australian authorities to work with industry ...
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