Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-28 at 21:06 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-28 at 21:06

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-28 at 21:06

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 HEADLINESIsrael braces for post-quantum cryptography shiftMasafer Yatta homes torched amid clashesEU moves to designate IRGC as terroristThe time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Good evening. This is a 4:00 PM briefing on the fast-moving developments shaping Israel, the region, and international security.In Tel Aviv, attention is sweeping from the cyber battlefield to practical steps for the future. At Cyberweek, experts warned that quantum threats to cryptography must be addressed in coming years. Ben Volkow, chief executive of Qiz Security, said organizations typically need five to ten years to cross the threshold to quantum safety, yet estimates place quantum computing capabilities arriving within three to five years. Dan Sadot cautioned that encrypted data is currently being harvested now and could be decrypted later once quantum decryption becomes feasible. Ido Shargil, head of product at AT&T Israel, highlighted the challenge of updating a vast network of users and systems some of which are decades old. He noted that by 2027 sensitive connections should begin switching to post-quantum cryptography, with broad finalization by 2030. Israel’s regulators are moving in step: the Bank of Israel has issued guidance on inventories and roadmaps, while banks say they will wait for formal regulations. Oren Butchmits, CTO of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, argued that regulation can create certainty and foster a common national approach, including the possibility of a national quantum key distribution network. The speakers stressed turning the quantum threat into an opportunity for national advantage through cooperation with academia and industry.In parallel in Tel Aviv, the public square echoed a separate and familiar pressure on democratic institutions. Extreme right-wing activists blocked the car of former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak as he left a conference, drawing sharp public backlash and calls for police action. The incident underscored a broader confrontation over judicial independence and the balance of powers as Israel’s judiciary faces heightened political scrutiny.Turning to the West Bank and Israel’s security environment, the aftermath of recent violence continues to reverberate. New footage from Masafer Yatta shows dozens of homes torched in several villages during a night of clashes, with medics reporting injuries amid what Palestinians describe as aggressive settler activity. Critics say nationalist violence by settlers is rising, citing data that show increased incidents in 2025 and more than a fifty percent rise in severe nationalist crimes. In parliamentary and public discourse, lawmakers pressed for accountability and urged security bodies to address what they describe as a pattern of impunity. The human toll is compounded by humanitarian hardship as families mourn and children live with the consequences of ongoing conflict.Demolition activity also drew attention this week. Israeli forces demolished the home of the sister of Youssef al-Ziadna, a Bedouin Israeli whose relatives say they were left grieving amid a wave of demolitions tied to security policies. Family members criticized the government’s timing and approach during mourning, arguing that demolitions add to the sense of grievance in communities already strained by violence.Across the region, the Iranian security equation remains central. Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, warned that any US military action would be met with an immediate and unprecedented response, including strikes on Tel Aviv and on supporters of the aggressor. The warning came as US lawmakers signaled continued deterrence and readiness in the region. Senator Marco Rubio indicated that US security guarantees and troop deployments—between 30,000 and 40,000 service members at eight regional sites—are intended to deter or respond to Iranian aggression, while leaving decision-making options to Washington’s president. The Obama-era and post-2018 security architecture in the region remains dynamic as policymakers weigh risk, defense needs, and diplomatic channels.In Europe, the matter of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps moved closer to a formal designation as a terrorist organization. France joined Italy and Germany in backing the move, signaling a tightening of Europe’s stance on Tehran’s regional activities and crackdown on protests that have drawn widespread international condemnation. EU foreign ministers were poised to approve the designation, a decision with potential diplomatic repercussions for ties with Iran but framed by supporters as a strong political signal in defense of human rights and regional security. The IRGC has long held sway over large parts of Iran’s economy and armed forces, and is closely tied to Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.In Washington, dialogue on US-Israel security ties continued to unfold. ...
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