Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-22 at 16:07 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-22 at 16:07

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-22 at 16:07

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 HEADLINESIran Missile Drills Escalate Western TensionsBennet Calls Qatargate Treason Resignation DemandedIsrael Greece Cyprus Summit, Turkey Eyes DamascusThe time is now 11:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.At 11:00 AM, a round of developments across Israel, Iran, and the wider region is shaping a security and political landscape that remains tense and highly watched by international partners.In Tehran, Iran announced missile drills as part of a broad display of deterrence amid rising tensions with the West and Israel. Iranian state media and Nournews circulated video and claims of launches from multiple sites, while Tehran emphasized that missiles are for deterrence and not open to negotiation. Outside observers and allied officials have warned that such drills could mask preparations for a surprise strike or broader escalation, and reports have suggested Iran’s missile production could reach thousands of missiles annually. At the same time, Iranian outlets pushed back on social-media images of tests as inaccurate, insisting no exercises occurred on that day.Across the region, Israel remains focused on strategic concerns tied to its security and regional posture. In Tel Aviv, discussions continue about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the broader effort to prevent Iran from advancing capabilities that could threaten Israel’s security. Israeli officials have stressed the importance of maintaining credible defenses and international pressure to curb Iran’s program, while signaling that Israel will take necessary steps to defend itself if diplomacy stalls.Diplomatic advances in the region continue to unfold. In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as part of a Israel-Greece-Cyprus trilateral summit, with expanded talks featuring foreign ministers and senior officials. The discussions underscore regional alignment around security concerns and energy coordination, including shared interest in stabilizing the eastern Mediterranean and deterring aggression in the broader Middle East.Nearby in Ankara, Turkish diplomacy is active on multiple fronts. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan traveled to Damascus for an official visit, with accompanying discussions expected to focus on security risks in southern Syria that Turkey attributes to recent Israeli actions in the area. The Turkish government has repeatedly linked regional stability to its own policy stance, and observers note that such visits illustrate Ankara’s aim to shape regional security narratives in coordination with Washington and regional partners.In Washington’s orbit, the political scene in Israel remains deeply intertwined with US policy positions. Observers have highlighted that the Abraham Accords and the quest for a stable regional order continue to frame US engagement, even as scrutiny over how to advance a two-state framework persists. There is emphasis on maintaining support for Israel’s security needs while encouraging steps toward a peaceful resolution with the Palestinians through credible negotiations and international oversight.On the domestic front in Israel, there is evolving political contention over media and civil society. The cabinet voted to shutter Army Radio, with a March 2026 deadline to wind down operations. The move, defended by Defense Minister Israel Katz as correcting a democratic anomaly, drew sharp criticism from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and opposition leaders who warned it could harm freedom of expression. Civil society groups and unions have signaled they may challenge the decision in the High Court, arguing that public broadcasting should remain independent of political direction.The government is also weighing changes to non-governmental organization registration requirements that govern humanitarian work in Gaza and the West Bank. Officials say the new rules aim to prevent hostile actors or supporters of terrorism from operating in the Palestinian territories, but NGOs warn the framework could undermine the delivery of aid to Gaza, where services remain strained despite a ceasefire that paused major fighting. By year’s end, more than 100 registration requests had been filed, with roughly a dozen rejected; aid workers say the process threatens access to essential services and could force staff withdrawals if kept in place.Public sentiment inside Israel shows a nuanced and shifting picture. A major index tracking democracy and institutional trust published by the Israel Democracy Institute finds that trust in the government remains low among both Jews and Arab citizens, though faith in the Israeli Defense Forces remains high among Jews and more constrained among Arab respondents. The index also shows significant portions of the population feel no party fully represents their views, and perceptions about the country’s overall situation have improved from the previous year, even as ...
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