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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 23, 2026, 05 PM Eastern · Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

• 0:08
  Speaker 1: You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report. I'm Noah Levi.
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  Speaker 1: We begin today with a significant development concerning regional security
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  Speaker 1: and potential partnerships. A Somaliland delegation is proposing a military
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  Speaker 1: partnership with Israel, which could include an Israeli military presence.
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  Speaker 1: Ahmed Diri, chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Israel
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  Speaker 1: and Somaliland Friendship Association, told the Jerusalem Post that such
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  Speaker 1: cooperation is vital to strengthen efforts against Houthi threats. Diri
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  Speaker 1: highlighted Somaliland's strategic location near the Bab al-Mandab Strait as
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  Speaker 1: crucial for combating the Houthis. While Israel trains Somaliland military
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  Speaker 1: and police personnel, and President Abdurrahman Mohamed Abdullahi has previously
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  Speaker 1: suggested an Israeli and American military presence could deter regional threats,
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  Speaker 1: discussions on an actual military base have been more reserved. Nevertheless,
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  Speaker 1: Deary described the Houthis as a direct threat to Somaliland.
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  Speaker 1: Turning to US policy, reports indicate that a draft statement
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  Speaker 1: from US officials, reportedly influenced by an aide to US
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  Speaker 1: Ambassador Mike Huckabee, proposed condemning the UK, France and Canada
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  Speaker 1: for blocking imports from Israeli settlements. This document prepared in
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  Speaker 1: early September allegedly labelled these actions as hostile and antisemitic. However,
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  Speaker 1: the draft was never released. According to sources familiar with
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  Speaker 1: the matter, the White House and senior State Department leadership
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  Speaker 1: did not support the statement. US Secretary of State Marco
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  Speaker 1: Rubio himself refrained from outright criticism of the country's decisions
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  Speaker 1: at the time. This situation illustrates internal policy divisions within
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  Speaker 1: the United States regarding Israel. In Israeli domestic politics with
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  Speaker 1: regional implications, Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on Wednesday that
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  Speaker 1: the Golan Heights will remain under Israeli sovereignty permanently. This
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  Speaker 1: firm statement was made in response to remarks by Syrian
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  Speaker 1: President Ahmed al-Sharrar at the United Nations General Assembly, who
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  Speaker 1: reaffirmed Syria's claim to the territory. Minister Katz rejected al-Sharrar's position,
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  Speaker 1: asserting that the Golan Heights is an integral part of
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  Speaker 1: Israel forever. He also issued a warning to Damascus against
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  Speaker 1: any attacks on Israeli forces or territory within Syria, stating
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  Speaker 1: that Israel would respond and any territory taken would remain
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  Speaker 1: its own. The IDF has recently entered Mount Hermon and
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  Speaker 1: a security zone in Syria following the fall of Assad,
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  Speaker 1: with the stated aim of preventing threats to Israel. Meanwhile,
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  Speaker 1: in the disputed territories and immediate security concerns, heads of
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  Speaker 1: the Benjamin and Samaria councils visited reservist Nerea later, who
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  Speaker 1: was seriously injured in a terror attack. They urged the
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  Speaker 1: government for a decisive response to improve the security situation.
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  Speaker 1: Warning against complacency, regarding the security status of areas A,
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  Speaker 1: B and C. Separately, a military exercise is scheduled for
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  Speaker 1: tomorrow morning in the Zikim Beach area, which is expected
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  Speaker 1: to involve heavy security force movement and audible explosions. Foreign
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  Speaker 1: Minister Gideon Saar acknowledged Israel's position as a diplomatic minority
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  Speaker 1: at the United Nations, but stated that policy should prioritise
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  Speaker 1: Israel's existential interests over international majority views. Speaking at the
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  Speaker 1: UN General Assembly, Saar noted that Israel has often found
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  Speaker 1: itself in a minority position for decades. He argued that
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  Speaker 1: past concessions, such as the Oslo Accords and the withdrawal
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  Speaker 1: from Gaza, had not yielded the expected diplomatic benefits, and
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  Speaker 1: Israel could no longer afford to make concessions solely due
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  Speaker 1: to international pressure. Saar also characterised Turkey's current policy towards
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  Speaker 1: Israel as hostile. On a more personal note, dozens gathered
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  Speaker 1: at the Western Wall Plaza for a prayer for the
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  Speaker 1: recovery of Nerea later, the reservist injured in the recent
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  Speaker 1: terror attack. In remembrance, the Jewish community is also marking
• 3:55
  Speaker 1: the passing of Rabbi Albert Axelrad, an 87-year-old Reform rabbi
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  Speaker 1: and community leader, recognised for his work in championing Jewish
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  Speaker 1: pluralism and social justice, and for co-founding the non-denominational Havirate Shalom.
• 4:08
  Speaker 1: For continuing coverage of antisemitism around the world, listen to
• 4:12
  Speaker 1: Antisemitism Watch from Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch.
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  Speaker 1: I'm Noah Levi, thank you for listening to Israel Today
• 4:20
  Speaker 1: ongoing war report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today
• 4:25
  Speaker 1: ongoing war report in your podcast app so you don't
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: miss the next update. Keep in mind that this AI
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources
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  Speaker 1: for a comprehensive view.