Latest / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 18, 2026, 01 AM Eastern

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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 18, 2026, 01 AM 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: In Washington, the US State Department has approved a potential $ 24. 3
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  Speaker 1: billion deal for Saudi Arabia to acquire 48 F-35 fighter jets,
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  Speaker 1: a move prompting calls for careful consideration of Israel's security.
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  Speaker 1: Jonathan Ruh, Fellow for American Strategy at the Jewish Institute
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  Speaker 1: for National Security of America, told the Jerusalem Post that
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  Speaker 1: any such sale must account for Israel's qualitative military edge,
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  Speaker 1: or QME, and Riyadh's integration into a broader US-led regional
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  Speaker 1: security architecture. Rouh emphasised that the US needs to show
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  Speaker 1: leadership in integrating Saudi Arabia, and Riyadh must prove itself
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  Speaker 1: a committed partner. He also raised concerns about Saudi Arabia's
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  Speaker 1: defence and technology ties with China, warning of potential espionage
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  Speaker 1: risks for F-35 technology. The State Department, however, stated that
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  Speaker 1: the proposed transaction is not yet a completed contract, and
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  Speaker 1: maintained that it will not alter the military balance in
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  Speaker 1: the region. Turning to Europe, Austria's far-right Freedom Party, known
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  Speaker 1: as the FPIR, is signalling a significant shift in its
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  Speaker 1: approach to Israel. Party leader Herbert Kickl has issued an
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  Speaker 1: apology for Austria's role in the Holocaust, unequivocally condemned Hamas's
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  Speaker 1: October 7 massacre, and pledged support for Israel's right to
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  Speaker 1: defend itself. Kickle also endorsed the IHRA definition of antisemitism
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  Speaker 1: and stated he would move Austria's embassy to Jerusalem if
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  Speaker 1: given the opportunity. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described Kickle's speech
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  Speaker 1: as an important and positive development that could pave the
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  Speaker 1: way for substantive dialogue, though he cautioned that rebuilding trust
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  Speaker 1: requires actions to match words. Israel has historically maintained a
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  Speaker 1: policy of distancing itself from the FPIR due to its
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  Speaker 1: controversial past, but contacts have reportedly expanded. Domestically, an editorial
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  Speaker 1: highlights a concerning aspect of Israel's healthcare system. Following an
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  Speaker 1: intervention by Health Minister Haim Katz to secure urgent radiation
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  Speaker 1: therapy for a relative, a journalist's praise inadvertently illustrated the
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  Speaker 1: widespread reliance on personal connections, or proxia, to navigate the system.
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  Speaker 1: The report describes how a sick individual, facing a three-week
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  Speaker 1: wait for a crucial appointment, received immediate treatment after the
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  Speaker 1: minister's intervention. This stands in stark contrast to the experience
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  Speaker 1: of most Israelis, who lack such connections and face significant
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  Speaker 1: delays and systemic gaps in accessing essential medical care. And
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  Speaker 1: in US domestic politics, a group called Michigan Jews for
• 2:41
  Speaker 1: Democracy has endorsed a pledge to vote for Democratic candidate
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: Abdel El-Said. According to the Times of Israel, this endorsement
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  Speaker 1: comes from a group critical of El-Said's anti-Israel stance, characterising
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  Speaker 1: their vote as a strategic political move. For continuing coverage
• 2:57
  Speaker 1: of antisemitism around the world, listen to Antisemitism Watch from
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch. I'm Noah Levi,
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  Speaker 1: thank you for listening to Israel Today Ongoing War Report.
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: Stay informed. Follow Israel Today Ongoing War Report in your
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  Speaker 1: podcast app so you don't miss the next update. Keep
• 3:17
  Speaker 1: in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies,
• 3:21
  Speaker 1: so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Thank you.