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Trump to End US Aid to Israel Amid Iran War Debate · Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

• 0:08
  Speaker 1: You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report. I'm Noah Levi.
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: Following the US midterm elections, there's a significant discussion underway
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: about the future of the Iran war, with a growing
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  Speaker 1: consensus among commentators and newly elected officials that the war
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  Speaker 1: should wind down. However, winding down any conflict is complex,
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  Speaker 1: a lesson drawn from historical US involvements. The mission in Iran,
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  Speaker 1: unlike earlier focus strikes on its nuclear programme, has evolved,
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: leading to naval engagements due to Iran's attacks on shipping,
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  Speaker 1: a development described by some as mission creep. While President
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  Speaker 1: Trump's administration states its goal is to prevent Iran from
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  Speaker 1: obtaining nuclear weapons, Israel's prime minister has set a more
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: ambitious objective to topple the Iranian regime. On the policy front,
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: President Trump made a surprise announcement that US aid to
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  Speaker 1: Israel will end at the close of 2026, a move
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  Speaker 1: that reportedly caught Jerusalem off guard. Analysts note that despite
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: concerns about a shift in the US-Israel relationship, fewer than
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  Speaker 1: 10% of incoming lawmakers are outspoken opponents of Israel, and
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  Speaker 1: President Trump holds veto power. There's also a view that
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  Speaker 1: Prime Minister Netanyahu may have relied too heavily on his
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  Speaker 1: relationship with President Trump. The urgency for action is underscored
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  Speaker 1: by the limited time Both leaders have to navigate these
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  Speaker 1: complex issues, with potential for further conflict in the near future.
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  Speaker 1: In Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli Security
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  Speaker 1: Agency have announced the elimination of Jamal Abu Seed, a
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  Speaker 1: senior Hamas terrorist who led the operations department in the
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  Speaker 1: terror group's military wing. Abu Seed was responsible for holding
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  Speaker 1: Israeli civilian Omer Shemtov hostage for 505 days after his abduction,
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  Speaker 1: on October 7. He had also held several senior positions
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  Speaker 1: within Hamas, overseeing training and commanding an anti-tank battalion, and
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  Speaker 1: was involved in advancing attacks and restoring the group's capabilities.
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  Speaker 1: This operation is part of ongoing Israeli efforts, which also
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  Speaker 1: included airstrikes near Khan Yunis eliminating six operatives from Hamas,
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  Speaker 1: Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Army of Islam, and strikes
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  Speaker 1: in northern Gaza eliminating four more Hamas terrorists. These operations
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  Speaker 1: aim to counter efforts to rebuild terrorist capabilities in violation
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  Speaker 1: of the ceasefire, with precision munitions and aerial surveillance employed
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  Speaker 1: to minimise civilian harm. Turning to the West Bank, Israeli
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  Speaker 1: authorities are proceeding with the demolition of the Bir al-Maskab
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  Speaker 1: Bedouin community to prepare for the E1 settlement plan near Jerusalem.
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  Speaker 1: NGOs like Bimcom, Er Amim and Peace Now report that
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  Speaker 1: nearly half of the community's structures have already been demolished,
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  Speaker 1: with the remainder slated for removal. The E1 project aims
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  Speaker 1: to build over 3,400 housing units in a sensitive area
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  Speaker 1: between Jerusalem and Mael Adumim. Critics argue that the community's
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  Speaker 1: distance from existing settlements undermines the government's justification for demolition.
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  Speaker 1: The E1 project faces legal challenges and international scrutiny, with
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  Speaker 1: the UK's Foreign Minister urging businesses not to engage in
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  Speaker 1: tenders due to potential breaches of international law. Separately, the
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  Speaker 1: IDF raided an illegal West Bank outpost known as Jefen Ami.
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  Speaker 1: This action followed reports of Jewish rioters originating from the
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  Speaker 1: outpost setting fire to Palestinian-owned vehicles in Beit Amr. Two
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  Speaker 1: Israeli citizens suspected of involvement were arrested. The military stated
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  Speaker 1: the raid was part of enforcement against illegal outposts and
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  Speaker 1: an economic campaign to address nationalist-motivated crime. Domestically, President Isaac
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  Speaker 1: Herzog has issued a strong warning about the far-reaching consequences
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  Speaker 1: of internal hostilities within Israel on Jewish communities worldwide. During
• 3:53
  Speaker 1: consultations with political parties regarding government formation, he called for
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  Speaker 1: a more welcoming and inclusive public discourse, noting that statements
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  Speaker 1: made in Israel significantly impact diaspora Jews and can influence Aliyah.
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  Speaker 1: The process of forming a new government remains uncertain. While
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  Speaker 1: Gadi Eizenkot has received more recommendations than Benjamin Netanyahu, President
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  Speaker 1: Herzog has delayed his decision until Sunday due to mutual
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  Speaker 1: party vetoes, indicating continued political complexities. In the United States,
• 4:24
  Speaker 1: the election of Abdel El-Sayed to the Michigan U.S. Senate
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  Speaker 1: race has highlighted divisions within the state's Jewish community. Over
• 4:32
  Speaker 1: 560 Jewish individuals signed a petition against El-Sayed, citing concerns
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  Speaker 1: over his rhetoric. This contrasts with the strong support from
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  Speaker 1: progressive Jewish groups like If Not Now, who heavily mobilised
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  Speaker 1: for his campaign, presenting a different perspective from more traditionally
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  Speaker 1: pro-Israel Jewish institutions that had voiced opposition. Finally, in a
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  Speaker 1: development focused on regional security, senior defence officials from Israel,
• 4:57
  Speaker 1: Greece and Cyprus met in Athens. They agreed to establish
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  Speaker 1: a joint working group for their defence industries and enhance
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  Speaker 1: maritime security cooperation. The three nations also jointly declared a
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: recently ratified maritime agreement between Turkey and Libya to be
• 5:12
  Speaker 1: legally void, asserting it infringes on sovereign rights and ignores
• 5:17
  Speaker 1: international norms. For continuing coverage of antisemitism around the world,
• 5:21
  Speaker 1: listen to Antisemitism Watch from Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org
• 5:26
  Speaker 1: slash watch. I'm Noah Levi, thank you for listening to
• 5:29
  Speaker 1: Israel Today ongoing war report. Stay safe and informed. Follow
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  Speaker 1: Israel Today. ongoing war report in your podcast app so
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  Speaker 1: you don't miss the next update. Keep in mind that
• 5:40
  Speaker 1: this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: sources for a