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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 17, 2026, 09 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: The United States has imposed new sanctions targeting Iran's financial infrastructure,
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  Speaker 1: specifically an Iranian cryptocurrency exchange named Bitbank. According to the
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  Speaker 1: Treasury Department, this exchange is controlled by financier Babak Zanjani
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  Speaker 1: and has been instrumental in processing payments for ships transiting
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  Speaker 1: the Strait of Hormuz. The Treasury stated that Bitbank routed
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  Speaker 1: hundreds of millions of dollars to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,
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  Speaker 1: identifying it as a key component in Iran's digital asset-based
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  Speaker 1: sanctions evasion. This move is part of the US strategy,
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  Speaker 1: dubbed Operation Economic Outcast, aimed at isolating Iran economically and
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  Speaker 1: disrupting its global financial networks. Sanctions were also placed on
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  Speaker 1: the software developer behind Bitbank and several of Zanjani's associates.
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  Speaker 1: Turning to international diplomatic arenas, the United Nations General Assembly
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  Speaker 1: voted overwhelmingly to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other
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  Speaker 1: senior Palestinian officials to address UN meetings via video link
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  Speaker 1: for the coming year. This decision follows the United States'
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  Speaker 1: repeated denial of visas to these officials. Israeli Ambassador to
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  Speaker 1: the United Nations, Danny Danon, criticised the move, stating that
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  Speaker 1: Arbus cannot expect international support while continuing his policy of
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  Speaker 1: paying terrorists, the US Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Tammy Bruce,
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  Speaker 1: reiterated that the Palestinian Authority must stop subsidising terror to
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  Speaker 1: be treated as a partner. This comes as reports indicate
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  Speaker 1: that Iranian leaders have received visas to attend the UN
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  Speaker 1: General Assembly, highlighting a complex geopolitical dynamic regarding access to
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  Speaker 1: international forums. Domestically, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has framed the
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  Speaker 1: upcoming Knesset elections as a decisive struggle between the right
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  Speaker 1: and the left. Speaking at a Likud rally, Netanyahu sharply
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  Speaker 1: criticised opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party, dismissing
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  Speaker 1: the party's positioning as a bluff and warning against voting
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  Speaker 1: for parties that might not pass the electoral threshold. The
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  Speaker 1: Prime Minister also touched upon relations with the United States,
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  Speaker 1: emphasising the need for an Israeli leader to be a
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  Speaker 1: statesman capable of mobilising allies, while also knowing when to
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  Speaker 1: assert Israel's interests. He also announced a government bill, alongside
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  Speaker 1: Justice Minister Yarev Levin, aimed at financially penalising those who
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  Speaker 1: defame the IDF internationally. In economic news, Israel's Energy Committee
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  Speaker 1: is reportedly opposing an export limit for natural gas. This
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  Speaker 1: stance comes despite projections suggesting that domestic reserves may fall
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  Speaker 1: short of anticipated energy demand in the coming decade. prioritising
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  Speaker 1: instead further gas exploration and discoveries within Israel's maritime waters.
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  Speaker 1: And in a story of resilience and remembrance, former Gaza
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  Speaker 1: hostage Bar Kuperstein marked the one-year anniversary of his release
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  Speaker 1: from Hamas captivity. Kuperstein, a paramedic who was released in
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  Speaker 1: October 2025, led a prayer service in Tel Aviv. He
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  Speaker 1: shared reflections on his experience, emphasising the role of faith
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  Speaker 1: and the profound impact of public support from the people
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  Speaker 1: of Israel during his captivity. He also underscored the collective
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  Speaker 1: duty to remember those who did not return and specifically
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  Speaker 1: advocated for the safe return of Haymanat Kassou, an Ethiopian
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  Speaker 1: girl who has been missing since February 2024. For continuing
• 3:32
  Speaker 1: coverage of antisemitism around the world, listen to Antisemitism Watch
• 3:36
  Speaker 1: from Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch. I'm
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: Noah Levi, thank you for listening to Israel Today ongoing
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  Speaker 1: war report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today. ongoing
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  Speaker 1: war report in your podcast app so you don't miss
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: the next update. Keep in mind that this AI-generated report
• 3:55
  Speaker 1: may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a