HEADLINES
Israel debates dual airfields amid Iran talks
East Jerusalem weapons smuggling foiled drone intercepted
Gag order cloaks security probe details

The time is now 2:01 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, local authorities in the north are opposing a government move to advance a decision to establish two supplementary airfields, one in the Negev and one in the north at Ramat David. The protests are led by regional councils including Emek Yizrael, Megiddo, Kiryat Tivon and Ramat Yishai, together with a residents’ committee who say the airfield should be built only in the Negev. A parallel framing of the week highlights the government’s consideration of two airfields in parallel as part of a broader security posture while diplomacy with Iran moves forward. At the same time, the United States appears to be intensifying its focus on Tehran as a second round of talks in Geneva looms, with Iran expected to present concessions; and Israel’s defense establishment is examining a wide range of scenarios, preparing both defensive and offensive options in case the regional posture shifts.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), a 36-year-old man from Sur Bahir was arrested by police after being caught smuggling a weapon into East Jerusalem; detectives, Border Police, and patrol officers located a loaded Carlo submachine gun in a vehicle, with prior intelligence indicating an attempt to smuggle weapons into East Jerusalem from the West Bank just days before Ramadan. The Israeli defense establishment also reported that IDF observation troops and the Aerial Control Center intercepted a drone attempting to smuggle three M-16 rifles into Israel on Friday; the drone entered from the west and the weapons were recovered and handed to security forces. Separately, the security apparatus is tightening Ramadan preparations, increasing West Bank security and tightening crossings; Ramadan begins this week, and a unique exercise will be conducted in the northern West Bank aboard the Eitan, an APC capable of carrying 12 soldiers and reaching about 90 km/h.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a gag order was approved by the Krayot Magistrates’ Court in a security investigation conducted by the Northern District’s anti-crime unit, prohibiting publication of any detail of the investigation and any detail that could identify suspects, with the order in effect through March 1, 2026. A separate review of social media activity by Scooper found no abnormal bot activity among ministers’ follower counts, with Benjamin Netanyahu leading the list with 147 new followers, followed by Bezalel Smotrich with 125 and Ran Eshel with 114, then Itamar Ben-Gvir with 69, Amichai Ohana with 45, Eli Cohen with 39, Yair Lapid with 39, Avigdor Liberman with 38, Gideon Saar with 31 and Tzvi Sukkot with 28; other ministers were not on the top list. A companion report noted no unusual activity in the broader ministerial ranks, with the leaders’ positions reflecting routine engagement rather than automated amplification. In the midst of ongoing political volatility, Netanyahu received a piece of good news this week as tensions between the Haredim and the coalition are expected to ease; the release of a detainee who had been prevented from placing tefillin in military prison renewed discussions about pushing for a conscription law alongside the budget, signaling potential alignment on domestic legislative priorities.

In uplifting news, Efrat’s new mechitza pool tests the balance between halacha and family life. The eight-lane pool features a middle mechitza that can open and close, allowing men and women to swim separately while preserving shared use for families. The project, inspired by the vision of founding rabbi Shlomo Riskin, reflects a community approach that integrates religious practice with modern recreation, offering a model not previously seen in this context.

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.

SOURCES
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