HEADLINES
Iran Threatens Gulf States, War Fears Rise
Israel Sets Hamas Disarmament Deadline; Destruction Looms
Israel Leaves Open Government Partnership

The time is now 5:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran tells Gulf states response will come without warning, denies Trump ultimatum claim. With the US warning of a strike over a stalled deal, Iranian officials say any retaliation would be far deadlier than in the last conflict, ignite the region, and leave no American interests safe as Tehran denies the Trump ultimatum claim.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), 3AW’s Tom Elliott Blasts “Pro-Palestine” Hypocrisy. A radio host has criticized activists for their silence on Iran’s atrocities, accusing the so-called pro-Palestine crowd of hypocrisy when human rights concerns are raised only in certain contexts. Israel poised to give Hamas deadline for disarming – minister. Israel’s finance minister says Jerusalem will set a deadline for Hamas in the coming days, ordering disarmament within two months or face destruction.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel withdraws from Open Government Partnership, citing political bias. Israel has pulled out of the Open Government Partnership after the organization cited political bias; Spain had barred Israel from attending an OGP conference on its soil in September 2025, a move criticized by the OGP management. נתניהו חשף מול התובעת יהודית תירוש: "זה מה שקובע את הקצב". In court, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh that the pace is determined by factors in the case. מילה אחת חשפה הכל: איילה חסון היא כעת יעקב ברדוגו | מיקי לוין. Journalist Ayelet Hassan of Kan 11 reportedly crossed a red line on air and has aligned with Jacob Bardugo and Channel 14, according to Miki Levin. איילה חסון מצטרפת לקו של יעקב ברדוגו וערוץ 14 | מיקי לוין. נתניהו הימם את התובעת במשפט: "אתה יכולה לעשות סלטות באוויר - זה מה שקרה". In a courtroom exchange, Netanyahu stunned prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh with a remark about what happened in the case. נתניהו עקץ את התובעת יהודית תירוש: "קשה לך להבין כי את חלק". Netanyahu taunted the prosecutor, suggesting it’s hard for her to see her role. בית משפט השלום בחיפה האריך את מעצרו של דדי בן חיים עד סוף השבוע. A Haifa Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of the felon Dadi Ben Haim until the end of the week.

In Israeli Economy and Business, שיא של 8 שנים: תעשיית קרנות הנאמנות שומרת על מומנטום. The mutual funds industry opened 2026 with net inflows of 7.3 billion shekels in January, one of the strongest starts in a decade, driven by a shift into Israeli equities and active funds. תנודתיות חריגה בשוק ההון: הדולר מתחזק, המתכות צונחות. The week opened with notable volatility in currencies and commodities, as the dollar rose and precious metals fell, with a market expert noting sentiment shifting due to global developments.

In Uplifting News, KKL-JNF marks Tu Bishvat, highlighting tree-planting tradition with newly released archival photos. The Jewish National Fund released photographs from 1942 to 1959 documenting Tu Bishvat tree-planting events across Israel and in Jewish communities abroad; the images show a tradition that continues to connect generations and Jewish communities around the world, with director Efrat Sinai saying the archive captures how the land and people are linked through planting.

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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