Latest / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 17, 2026, 11 PM Eastern
Transcript
- 0:08Speaker 1: You're listening to Israel Today Ongoing War Report. I'm Noah Levi.
- 0:12Speaker 1: In Washington, the US State Department has approved a potential $ 24. 3
- 0:17Speaker 1: billion sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
- 0:21Speaker 1: Jonathan Roo, a national security expert for the Jewish Institute
- 0:25Speaker 1: for National Security of America, told the Jerusalem Post, which
- 0:29Speaker 1: published the report, that such a deal must safeguard Israel's
- 0:33Speaker 1: qualitative military edge, or QME, and integrate Riyadh into a
- 0:37Speaker 1: broader US-led regional security architecture. Rouh emphasised that America must
- 0:42Speaker 1: show leadership in this integration, and Saudi Arabia needs to
- 0:45Speaker 1: demonstrate its commitment as a partner. He also raised concerns
- 0:49Speaker 1: about potential Chinese access to sensitive F-35 technology through Saudi
- 0:54Speaker 1: Arabia's existing ties with Beijing, citing internal US intelligence warnings.
- 1:00Speaker 1: The State Department, however, stated that the proposed transaction, which
- 1:04Speaker 1: is not yet a completed contract and requires congressional review,
- 1:08Speaker 1: would strengthen Saudi Arabia's ability to deter threats and improve
- 1:11Speaker 1: interoperability with US forces, while asserting that it will not
- 1:15Speaker 1: alter the military balance in the region. This follows a
- 1:18Speaker 1: US law enacted in 2008 that obligates the government to
- 1:23Speaker 1: consider the impact of major regional arms sales on Israel's
- 1:26Speaker 1: military advantage. Meanwhile in Sweden, the centre-left coalition has secured
- 1:31Speaker 1: a victory in a tight election, unseating the incumbent Prime Minister.
- 1:36Speaker 1: The Times of Israel reports that the election was notably
- 1:39Speaker 1: marred by anti-Semitism allegations. These included promises to include a
- 1:43Speaker 1: far-right party with neo-Nazi roots in government ministries, and the
- 1:47Speaker 1: left party having to oust members who had spread anti-Semitic conspiracies.
- 1:52Speaker 1: And on a more personal note, former Gaza hostage Bar
- 1:55Speaker 1: Kuperstein marked one year since his release from Hamas captivity.
- 1:59Speaker 1: Reporting from jpost.com details how he led a slitchot prayer
- 2:03Speaker 1: service at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, an event attended
- 2:07Speaker 1: by other former hostages and families of those still held
- 2:10Speaker 1: or deceased. Kupashtin spoke movingly about the power of faith
- 2:13Speaker 1: and perseverance during his captivity, expressing profound gratitude to the
- 2:18Speaker 1: Israeli public for keeping hope alive for the hostages. He
- 2:22Speaker 1: stressed the ongoing duty to remember those who did not
- 2:24Speaker 1: return home and also called for continued efforts to find
- 2:27Speaker 1: Hamanat Kassar. an Ethiopian girl missing since February 2024, saying,
- 2:33Speaker 1: Heymanut is one of ours and we need her home.
- 2:35Speaker 1: Former hostage Rom Braslavsky echoed the thanks to the Israeli
- 2:39Speaker 1: public and paid tribute to the fallen. For continuing coverage
- 2:43Speaker 1: of antisemitism around the world, listen to Antisemitism, watch from
- 2:47Speaker 1: Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch. I'm Noah Levi,
- 2:52Speaker 1: thank you for listening to Israel Today ongoing war report.
- 2:55Speaker 1: Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today. ongoing war report
- 3:00Speaker 1: in your podcast app so you don't miss the next update.
- 3:03Speaker 1: Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies,
- 3:07Speaker 1: so consult multiple sources for a