Latest / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 18, 2026, 12 AM Eastern

Transcript

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 18, 2026, 12 AM Eastern · Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

• 0:08
  Speaker 1: You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report, I'm Noah Levi.
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: We begin with developments in US foreign policy regarding regional security.
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: The US State Department has approved a potential sale of
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: 48 F, A fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, valued at
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: approximately $ 24. 3 billion. This approval is a significant step, but
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: according to Jonathan Roo, a national security expert at the
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: Jewish Institute for National Security of America. Any such sale
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: must carefully consider Israel's qualitative military edge, or QME, and
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: Saudi Arabia's integration into a US-led regional security framework. Ruh
• 0:46
  Speaker 1: emphasized to the Jerusalem Post that preserving Israel's QME is
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: a key factor in this regional integration. The US government
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: is legally obligated by Congress to consider the impact of
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: major arms sales on Israel's defensive capabilities. While the State
• 1:01
  Speaker 1: Department stated the deal would not alter the military balance,
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: it's important to note this is a potential sale, not
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: a completed contract, and it still requires congressional review. Concerns
• 1:12
  Speaker 1: also linger regarding Saudi Arabia's defence and technology ties with China.
• 1:17
  Speaker 1: Turning to acts of antisemitism, a disturbing incident occurred in
• 1:21
  Speaker 1: Germany this week. German police arrested a 37-year-old Afghan national
• 1:26
  Speaker 1: suspected of attempting to set fire to the Burjish synagogue
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: in Wuppertal. The incident took place just three days before
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: the Jewish High Holy Day of Yom Kippur, with the
• 1:35
  Speaker 1: suspect allegedly igniting flammable liquid at an entrance before fleeing.
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: Community members quickly extinguished the flames, preventing serious damage. Jewish
• 1:45
  Speaker 1: leaders have voiced deep concern, with Joseph Schuster, head of
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: Germany's Central Council of Jews, warning that the incident reflects
• 1:52
  Speaker 1: an increasingly threatening atmosphere and the normalisation of antisemitism. This
• 1:57
  Speaker 1: comes as the state of North Rhine-Westphalia reported a 17%
• 2:01
  Speaker 1: rise in anti-Semitic incidents in 2025. Police have not yet
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: officially classified the motive behind Thursday's event. In international diplomacy,
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: Israel is signalling a potential shift in its relationship with
• 2:15
  Speaker 1: Austria's far-right Freedom Party, known as the FPIR. This comes
• 2:19
  Speaker 1: after FPIR leader Herbert Kickl issued an apology for Austria's
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: role in the Holocaust, unequivocally condemned the Hamas' October 7 massacre.
• 2:27
  Speaker 1: and pledged to stand with Israel and Austria's Jewish community.
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: Kickl also expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself,
• 2:35
  Speaker 1: and indicated a willingness to move Austria's embassy to Jerusalem.
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the speech as an important
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: and positive development that could open dialogue, but stressed that
• 2:46
  Speaker 1: rebuilding trust will require actions to follow words. This potential
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: engagement is notable given the FPR historical ties, to former
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: Nazis and Israel's long-standing policy of distancing itself from the party. Domestically,
• 2:59
  Speaker 1: a story emerged that sheds light on aspects of Israel's
• 3:02
  Speaker 1: healthcare system. A journalist shared an account of how her uncle,
• 3:06
  Speaker 1: suffering from a serious illness, received an urgent radiation therapy
• 3:10
  Speaker 1: appointment only after she personally contacted health minister Haim Katz.
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: While intended as praise for the minister's intervention, the story
• 3:18
  Speaker 1: has been interpreted as highlighting a systemic reliance on proxia,
• 3:23
  Speaker 1: or personal connections, and significant access gaps for patients without
• 3:27
  Speaker 1: such influence. The account suggests that for those lacking connections
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: to government officials or powerful individuals, navigating the healthcare system
• 3:35
  Speaker 1: for essential treatments can involve long waits and limited recourse,
• 3:39
  Speaker 1: raising questions about equitable access to care. For continuing coverage
• 3:43
  Speaker 1: of antisemitism around the world, listen to Antisemitism Watch from
• 3:47
  Speaker 1: Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch. I'm Noah Levi,
• 3:53
  Speaker 1: thank you for listening to Israel Today ongoing war report.
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today ongoing war report
• 4:00
  Speaker 1: in your podcast app so you don't miss the next update.
• 4:03
  Speaker 1: Keep in mind that this AI generated report may contain
• 4:06
  Speaker 1: occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view.