HEADLINES
Ultra-Orthodox draft exemption stalls budget
Iran internet blackout fuels protests, costs rise
Gaza hostage hunt intensifies amid Hezbollah strikes

The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good morning. Here is the hourly briefing on the Middle East and related global developments as they bear on Israel and the Jewish world.

Israel’s government is facing a coalition hurdle as ultra-Orthodox parties threaten to block the state budget vote. Shas and United Torah Judaism have signaled they will withhold support unless a draft law exempting some ultra-Orthodox men from military service is resolved to their satisfaction. The first reading of Israel’s 2026 budget has been postponed from Monday to Wednesday as negotiations continue. If the budget does not pass in all three readings by the end of March, the Knesset will dissolve and elections could be called. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has led a government struggling to maintain a stable majority since July, after talks over the conscription bill collapsed and the haredi parties exited the coalition. Opposition leader Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid argued that the delay reflects the haredi parties’ belief that the draft-evasion bill cannot pass, while critics say the current draft bill does not effectively enforce conscription and would primarily appease political interests. The budget vote is a key step in a high-stakes process that could precipitate an early election if progress stalls.

In Tehran, authorities have maintained a nationwide internet blackout for a second week in connection with protests that began late last year and intensified in early January. Two weeks into the blackout, hidden costs are mounting. Iran’s government says the shutdown is necessary to prevent the spread of protest imagery, but rights groups and observers warn of a widening gap between authorities and the public as medical services and the economy feel the pinch. Tehran’s crackdown has been described by rights groups as severe, with thousands detained and a toll in the thousands of deaths reported by external monitors. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, appearing as a public adapter of change within constraints, called for the restoration of internet access on social media channel, warning that prolonged disconnection risks greater instability than immediate unrest. In parallel, Western governments and industry observers note online disruption complicates humanitarian communications and limits independent verification of casualty figures. The internet interruption has reverberated through daily life and economic activity, with estimates of daily losses ranging well into tens of millions of dollars according to monitoring groups.

Meanwhile, in the United States, Washington has signaled readiness to respond in various ways if Iran’s internal crisis escalates, and it has shown its capacity to project power in the region. The presence of American naval forces and allied arrangements feature in the broader calculus of a region already tense from ongoing exchanges between Iran, its allies, and Israel. Israel continues to monitor Iranian activity and the potential for wider regional spillover, including discussions about defensive postures and readiness in case of escalation.

Beyond security concerns, there are developments on the diplomatic and political front. In Israel, former prime minister Naftali Bennett’s party filed a police complaint against Likud over a forged image that appeared to show Bennett celebrating with Arab party leaders during a signing connected to reestablishing the Joint List bloc. Bennett’s party said a petition would also be filed with the Central Elections Committee. The image was altered to feature opposition leader Yair Lapid on Bennett’s side, a move the party characterized as an attempt to poison political discourse ahead of elections. These events underscore the ongoing fragility of political lines in Israel as parties position themselves around security and governance issues.

In the arena of human rights and domestic policy, a Times of Israel briefing highlighted a major domestic concern: a joint Knesset committee session disclosed that 79 percent of Jerusalem’s children under three are in unsupervised daycares. The figures emerged after the deaths of two infants in an unlicensed Jerusalem daycare. Lawmakers from across the spectrum pressed for stronger enforcement and licensing, while acknowledging manpower shortages and the complexity of coordinating across multiple government agencies. The incident has intensified debate over how to balance social welfare subsidies with security considerations in a city facing broader pressures.

In Gaza and the wider theater, the Israeli military continues operations linked to locating the remains of Master Sergeant Ran Gvili, the last remaining Israeli hostage in Gaza. The IDF reported focused efforts to exhaust intelligence sources before the Rafah Crossing is reopened, in line with security assurances and coordination with the United States. At the same time, the IDF said airstrikes targeted Hezbollah facilities and infrastructure in Lebanon as part of ongoing efforts to deter attacks and degrade military capabilities in the area. The broader security picture remains unsettled, with the potential for rapid shifts if hostilities escalate or if hostage-related progress accelerates at Rafah.

On the diplomatic and regional front, Israel’s foreign ministry and security cooperation have continued to shape outreach. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met in Baku with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to discuss expanded cooperation in energy, artificial intelligence, agriculture, water management, defense, and tourism, with a large accompanying business delegation. The visit also touched on cultural and community ties within Azerbaijan’s Jewish community, signaling continued diversification of Israel’s regional relationships. In addition, a Brazilian political figure, Flávio Bolsonaro, visited the West Bank to signal support for Israeli governance of the territory, aligning with a broader regional push to secure international backing for Israeli positions on sovereignty in the West Bank and related security arrangements.

There were also notable developments in the broader security landscape. Reports from regional and international outlets describe ongoing concerns about the strategic balance in the Middle East: amid a potential reconfiguration of militias in Gaza and evolving external support dynamics, analysts emphasize the risk of miscalculation if diplomacy stalls or external powers pursue aggressive postures that could draw smaller actors into a wider confrontation. In other corners of the region, Turkey’s media environment has been noted by observers as susceptible to antisemitic tropes while positions toward Hamas have drawn scrutiny, illustrating how information landscapes intersect with security and diplomacy.

On the human side of conflict, authorities in Israel confirmed an incident near Nablus in which shots were fired at an Israeli vehicle. There were no injuries, and the driver escaped after making a U-turn to rejoin the main road. The incident underscores the persistent volatility of the West Bank dynamic and the constant need for secure mobility and credible threat assessments in affected communities.

Within the broader international milieu, reports continue to track the intersection of conflict, diplomacy, and domestic politics. In Europe, a high-profile court case in Paris concerning the 2020 beheading of a schoolteacher underlines ongoing debates about freedom of expression, extremism, and public safety across democracies. In Washington, lawmakers have begun to debate the fiscal and political implications of immigration enforcement and national security policy, signaling ongoing domestic contest over security tools and governance methods.

Looking ahead, the budget passage in Israel remains a critical milestone with potential implications for early elections. In the region, the possibility of escalation in Iran remains a central concern for Israel and its allies, with diplomatic engagement and military readiness continuing in parallel. Gaza and Lebanon likewise demand constant attention as the IDF pursues hostage remains and counter-strikes while monitoring Hezbollah’s posture. International partners in energy, technology, and security cooperation continue to explore deeper ties, as leaders weigh security needs against economic and political realities.

That is the latest. We will monitor the budget process, Tehran’s response to the internet blackout, and the evolving security calculations across Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank, along with the ongoing diplomatic exchanges shaping the region’s trajectory. We’ll return with more details as events warrant.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

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