Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-19 at 01:07 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-19 at 01:07

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-19 at 01:07

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 HEADLINESTariffs Threaten NATO Unity Over GreenlandIran Faces Global Pressure Amid Internet ShutdownMississippi Synagogue Arson Tests Community ResilienceThe time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.At 8:00 PM, we bring you a briefing on the latest developments shaping security and diplomacy across the Middle East, Europe, and the wider Atlantic alliance.First, on Greenland and NATO diplomacy: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with President Donald Trump on Sunday about Greenland. Starmer reiterated that Greenland’s future must remain with Denmark and the Greenlandic people, and he pressed against any use of tariffs as a tool against allies who participate in a broader security framework. In describing the tariffs’ potential impact, the Prime Minister’s office said Starmer argued that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing collective security is wrong. Ahead of his call with Trump, Starmer had spoken with the Danish prime minister, the President of the European Commission, and the NATO secretary-general. A joint statement from the United Kingdom and allied European partners—Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden—declared solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland and warned that tariff threats risk undermining transatlantic relations while affirming sovereignty.In Washington, the Trump administration’s position on Greenland drew pushback from lawmakers and a controversial frame from the Treasury secretary. Scott Bessent argued on NBC that European weakness underscores a need for strong US influence in Greenland as part of a broader strategic calculus against Russia and China. He asserted that the United States remains the strongest country in the world, while European leaders would eventually come to understand the logic of the US approach. Bessent did not indicate that emergency powers to seize Greenland were being discussed; other lawmakers, including Rand Paul, cautioned that invoking emergencies to justify force would be improper in the absence of an emergency in Greenland. Several senators and representatives weighed in, with some lawmakers warning that tariff threats could strain NATO alliances, while others suggested that diplomacy and a deal could be possible with the right incentives.Turning to the region near Israel, Israeli authorities reported the death of a man in his mid-20s after a police pursuit in the Negev near the Ar’ara Bedouin encampments. The suspect, identified by police as involved in weapons smuggling, fled a vehicle identified as carrying contraband; shots were fired during the pursuit, a weapon was discarded, and the driver lost control of the vehicle. Medical responders declared the man dead after arrival. The incident prompted support from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for the officers involved, while stressing that operations against organized crime in the Negev would continue under the administration’s security initiatives.In Mississippi, at Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, the community marked its first Shabbat service since an arson attack last week that damaged the synagogue’s library and destroyed two Torah scrolls. About 170 congregants gathered in a nearby church that opened its doors to host the service, underscoring the resilience of a small Jewish community in the South. The service featured a strong emphasis on continuity and belonging, with leaders noting that while the building has suffered damage, the community’s life endures in people and in practice. Congregants described how regional Jewish communities and institutions offered support, including Torahs and prayer books from congregations across the region, and a sense that Jewish life in Jackson remains a public and communal presence.In Iran, the authorities faced international attention as the security situation and digital controls continued to shape the domestic landscape. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that any attack on the country or on its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would invite a harsh response and a full-scale confrontation with the Iranian nation. Meanwhile, the judiciary signaled the possibility of executions among those detained during the protests that followed economic and political grievances, even as internet access periodically fluctuated. Reports from various outlets described widespread disruption to communications, with the government dismissing a high-profile corporate executive for failing to comply with the shutdown and indicating plans to restore services gradually. International reporting suggested that the United States was weighing options for a response, including diplomatic and potentially military pressure, while discussions involving Israeli and Gulf partners indicated a measured approach to regional constraints and deterrence. Observers noted that protests have cooled in many cities, though chants and expressions of ...
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