Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-04 at 18:02 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-04 at 18:02

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-04 at 18:02

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 HEADLINESArab pressure sparks US Iran talks MuscatPA elections staged to woo the WestJerusalem embassies move wins broad supportThe time is now 6:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, negotiations between the United States and Iran are expected to proceed after Arab intervention. A report cited by Axios says talks will take place on Friday at 10:00 a.m. in Muscat, the capital of Oman, after a brief crisis that led to postponement. A US source told Axios that several Arab and Muslim leaders pressed Washington to hold the meeting, and a US official said the decision was made out of respect for US allies and to keep the diplomatic track moving. A second US official added that Washington was proceeding to listen to Tehran as encouraged by regional partners. Iranian news agency Tasnim described reports of a crisis in the talks as an American-Israeli media and psychological war designed to test Iran’s resolve and whether it would abandon its stance and discuss its defensive capabilities.In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), expert sees more mock democracy from PA elections, and a push to project legitimacy to the West. Professor Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at INSS, told The Jerusalem Post that the Palestinian National Council’s planned November elections are likely political theater meant to show reforms to the United States and the West, even as Abbas announced the PNC would hold elections on November 1. Michael said the PA would probably find a reason to cancel or postpone them, as has happened before, and that calling for elections serves to signal a path toward reform and democratization. He pointed to the PA’s reprise of the pay-for-slay fund, repackaged as a needs-based welfare program administered by the Palestinian National Economic Empowerment Institution, as a effort to bolster legitimacy and present an alternative to Hamas, which remains absent from the PA’s approach.In US Policy Concerning Israel, calls to move embassies to Jerusalem gain traction among Israeli and allied officials. Education Minister Yoav Kisch urged ministers to relocate their embassies to Jerusalem, calling the city “the eternal capital of the State of Israel” during remarks at the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, where international delegates attended the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Innovation in Education. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee was present and endorsed the idea, noting that the United States already moved its embassy in 2018 and that Jerusalem stands as the united capital of the Jewish people. While embassies are traditionally located in a country’s capital, many Israeli embassies remain in Tel Aviv; the 2018 relocation marked a significant shift championed by the Trump administration.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a New Jersey police officer sues over retaliation alleged after reporting antisemitic remarks. Lieutenant Christopher Wagner of the Livingston Police Department alleges that he faced discipline after raising concerns about comments from fellow officers during 2025 demonstrations, including remarks directed at Jewish protesters outside a temple. The lawsuit describes incidents such as a non-Jewish officer referring to himself as “a cheap Jew” in Wagner’s presence, and references a 2025 incident in which Wagner found a book titled “The Jew” atop his locker and reported it to a sergeant. Township officials are said to have taken no action, according to the suit filed in Essex County.In Israeli Domestic Politics, the IDF shifts its approach to haredi soldiers and elevates an Arab spokesperson. A recent IDF analysis notes a manpower shortage and concludes that enlisting haredim will require accommodation within service conditions. A viral clip from the Hasmonean Brigade showcased a shift in tradition as commanders encouraged continued study with chants of “A little more Torah,” signaling integration through cultural adaptation. Separately, Major Ella Waweya was named IDF’s next Arabic-language spokesperson, making her one of the service’s most senior Arab Muslim women and known publicly as Captain Ella. Her appointment reflects ongoing strides in language and outreach roles within the force.In Uplifting News, Melania Trump pursues efforts to reunite Ukrainian children with their families as talks continue with the Putin team. The former first lady said she remains in contact with Vladimir Putin’s representatives to secure the return of more Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, noting she is “working on it” and hopeful for success soon. An East Wing spokesperson said lines of communication have continued since she hand-delivered a letter to Putin via her husband, and fifteen children have been returned to Ukraine since she began advocacy. Ukraine continues to allege that Russia abducted as ...
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