Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-24 at 15:09 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-24 at 15:09

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-24 at 15:09

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 HEADLINESIsrael Named Model Ally in US StrategyGaza Strikes Kill Teens Near CeasefireUS Strategy Recasts Middle East Burden SharingThe time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.At 10:00 AM, the global security conversation is shaped by a set of intertwined moves from Washington, Jerusalem, and regional partners, with reverberations reaching Europe, Africa, and Latin America. The centerpiece is a newly released US defense strategy that places Israel at the heart of American security planning in the Middle East while signaling a broader shift in how Washington intends to share burdens with allied nations.The Pentagon’s 2026 National Defense Strategy, signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, reaffirms a return to a “peace through strength” posture and elevates Israel to the status of a “model ally” in the region. The document contends that Israel can defend itself with US support and argues that a stable, capable Israel is a pillar of regional security. It explicitly criticizes the Biden administration for policies it describes as having “tied [Israel’s] hands” after the October 7 attacks, and it calls for removing bureaucratic and political obstacles to ensure Israeli military superiority. The strategy also asserts that Iran’s nuclear program has been “obliterated” and that Tehran’s axis of resistance—along with groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas—has been “severely degraded” after sustained Israeli operations backed by American support. In a notable strategic turn, the report says Tehran is at its weakest point in decades, enabling the United States to reduce its direct military footprint in the region in favor of a regional framework led by Israel and Saudi Arabia.Beyond the Middle East, the strategy reframes US defense priorities on a global scale. Homeland defense is elevated to the top of national security, with language linking border security to national resilience and extending counterterrorism and anti-drug efforts into the Western Hemisphere in a nod to enduring strategic concerns. In Europe, the United States signals that NATO partners must shoulder greater responsibility for conventional defense and that Washington will provide critical but more limited support. China remains identified as the central challenge, but the strategy advocates deterrence through strength rather than confrontation, aiming to prevent Beijing from consolidating dominance in the Indo-Pacific. A revitalized domestic defense industrial base and sustained investments in advanced technologies and munitions production are highlighted as prerequisites for competing with a rising great power. Perhaps the most symbolic shift is a return to the historic War Department nomenclature, framed as a reassertion of a warrior ethos and a sharper focus on victory in conflict.The document also points to a broader reshaping of regional security architecture, suggesting that Tehran’s weakness could allow for a more distributed approach to security in the Middle East, with Israel and Saudi Arabia taking a leading role alongside Washington. The rhetoric reflects a policy stance in which allied burden-sharing is a central objective, and it frames US commitments as contingent on effective regional cooperation and capable partners.In the cultural and cinematic sphere, Israel is hosting premieres such as The Secret Agent, a Brazilian-Italian-tinged thriller now in Israeli theaters. Reviewers describe it as a hybrid of political thriller, noir, and occasional horror, anchored by a compelling lead performance. The film’s reception underscores how cinematic storytelling can illuminate questions about corruption, power, and fear—issues that resonate with contemporary debates about governance and justice in the region.On the topic of antisemitism and Jewish life in Europe, reporting from The Jerusalem Post and related outlets highlights a complex, often tense dynamic. An opinion piece argues that political correctness has failed to stem antisemitism, contending that some government strategies have conflated legitimate criticism of policy with hostility toward Jewish people, while noting troubling incidents and rising violence linked to extremist ideologies on both the Right and the Left. In Ireland, a comprehensive feature details a rise in antisemitic incidents tied to anti-Israel rhetoric and a perceived lack of government acknowledgment or decisive action. Jewish community leaders describe a climate in which expressions of Jewish identity can be constrained by fear, even as many Irish citizens voice support for Jewish life and for Israel. The reporting suggests a need for clear policy measures, better protection for Jewish institutions, and a more direct confrontation of antisemitic rhetoric across public life.In a documentary project that traverses history and contemporary commentary, Sapiro v. Ford screens in New York and is planned for Israel. ...
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