Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-23 at 12:04 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-23 at 12:04

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-23 at 12:04

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 HEADLINESNetanyahu vows unimaginable force against IranShin Bet Iran espionage surge in IsraelFord carrier docks boosting US-Israel resolveThe time is now 12:03 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, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned at a Knesset debate that Israel would respond with unimaginable force if Iran’s Islamic regime attacks the country, saying he has made it clear to the Ayatollah regime that an attack would invite a force they cannot imagine. He framed the moment as a test of resolve amid very complex and challenging days and praised the closeness of Israel’s alliance with the United States as a source of strength. The same period has seen a sustained focus on Iran’s covert activities inside Israel, with security officials describing 2024–2025 as an extraordinary era of Iranian espionage. The Shin Bet’s 2025 annual report notes about 25 Israelis and foreign residents were indicted in 2025 for espionage on behalf of Iran, with more than 35 indictments filed and 120 Iranian espionage incidents thwarted that year. Recruitment attempts surged by about 400% from 2024, which had already seen a 400% rise from 2023, signaling a shift from episodic to systemic activity. Suspects span a wide range of backgrounds, including active‑duty IDF soldiers, reservists, ultra‑Orthodox students, immigrants from the former Soviet Union, married couples, and teenagers, underscoring a broad societal vulnerability to recruitment. Meanwhile, a mass Farsi SMS campaign circulated among Iranian protesters claiming that US President Donald Trump is “a man of action,” framing it as outside support for the demonstrations and urging restraint at times. Reports say Trump is weighing options that could include a larger attack against Iran should Tehran reject pressure over its nuclear program, with discussions described by sources as potentially ranging from a weeklong campaign to a more limited strike. In parallel, Western security officials have warned of Iran‑linked plots against Israeli and American interests abroad, with an Israeli source on Saudi television signaling an extremely high threat level for Israeli diplomatic missions overseas, including possible evacuations of several embassies. Officials said they are monitoring signs that Iran may direct proxies to target American interests in Europe and the Middle East, though no concrete attack plans have been identified; chatter has intensified as authorities assess risk.In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), an Israeli police officer was injured when a Palestinian driver crashed a truck into a police vehicle at Tapuach Junction in the West Bank on Monday afternoon. The driver attempted to flee but was pursued by backup police and arrested along with a passenger. Paramedics treated an approximately 40-year-old man for light injuries as investigators from Ariel Police Station began to reconstruct the incident.In US Policy Concerning Israel, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is expected to dock in Haifa as part of broader American reinforcements in the Middle East amid rising tensions over Iran. The Ford carrier strike group entered the Mediterranean after transiting the Strait of Gibraltar, while US tankers and transport planes have arrived at Israeli airports and docks as part of a widened posture. The timing of the docking has not been formally confirmed by the US Navy. Haifa previously sustained damage during the June war with Iran, with ongoing efforts to bolster Israeli defense capabilities as Washington expands its Middle East arsenal. A Hebrew-language digest circulating alongside the report also notes Trump’s remarks questioning a deal with Iran, the Ford’s arrival in Crete, a third strategic reconnaissance aircraft, the evacuation of American troops and embassy staff from Lebanon, continuing protests in Iran, Netanyahu’s unusually forceful warnings, Lapid’s calls for national unity, and the conclusion of the Winter Olympics.Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate is the focus of two developments. The BBC cut the words “free Palestine” from BAFTA winner Akinola Davies Jr.’s acceptance speech, editing out the portion that read “To the economic migrant, the conflict migrant, those under occupation, dictatorship, persecution, and those experiencing genocide, you matter, and your stories matter more than ever. Your dreams are an act of resistance. To those watching at home, archive your loved ones, archive your stories yesterday, today, and forever. For Nigeria, for London, Congo, Sudan, free Palestine. Thank you.” The edited broadcast aired two hours after the ceremony, omitting the final lines of solidarity that had been spoken.An opinion piece by Hamish Falconer argues that Britain has failed to protect its Jewish community, describing a sense of vulnerability...
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