HEADLINES
Israeli Rescued in Kalkilya Area A
Randy Fine Backlash Over Muslim Dog Tweet
Arab Communities Safer as Crime HQ Launches

The time is now 11:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), an Israeli was rescued from the Kalkilya area in the West Bank by Civil Administration officers, the administration said in a Tuesday statement. After receiving reports of an Israeli citizen wandering the area, the administration said it sent officers to provide protection to the Israeli and transfer them to the appropriate security forces. The incident has been forwarded to Israel Police for further handling, and the circumstances of the Israeli's entry to Kalkilya are under investigation. The security establishment reiterates that entry into Area A is life-threatening and is prohibited by law. In a related note, reports indicate similar episodes in Jericho, where in late January an Israeli civilian was rescued after wandering through Area A and was transferred to Israeli security forces, and a separate incident on December 31 involved a 22-year-old Israeli woman rescued from Jericho after being seen wandering in the city, which is under the Palestinian Authority.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Jewish officials rebuke Representative Randy Fine over post allegedly comparing Muslims to dogs. Since taking office last year, Florida Republican Representative Randy Fine has drawn regular pushback over his comments about Muslims and Palestinians. This week, anger over a new tweet spilled into a broader rebuke from Jews and pro-Israel figures on the other side of the aisle, with some calling for Fine’s censure or resignation. The clash centers on Fine’s tweet stating, “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one,” which he said was a response to a post by Nerdeen Kiswani, co-founder of the radical pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime. Kiswani had written, “Finally, NYC is coming to Islam. Dogs definitely have a place in society, just not as indoor pets. Like we’ve said all along, they are unclean.” Kiswani later said her remark was satire. The backlash was led by many pro-Israel Jews, and some calls for censure or resignation have emerged from across the community and political spectrum.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, National Headquarters for Combating Crime in Arab Society launches to tackle rising violence. The National Headquarters for Combating Crime in Arab Society announced its establishment on Tuesday, as violent crime continues to plague Arab Israelis across the country. The headquarters was created in response to what its founder described as a deliberate state failure in the government and police’s handling of the wave of crime. Set to operate in cooperation with the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee and both Jewish and Arab civil bodies, the headquarters aims to make clear that organized crime is not a cultural fate, but rather the result of political policy that diverts the police from fighting crime. The headquarters issued a list of demands, including restoring government funding for civilian crime prevention tools and programs, and called for measures toward restoring security in Arab-majority areas, including efforts to collect illegal weapons, solve murder cases, and dismantle organized crime organizations. The establishment comes after violent crime in the Arab-Israeli sector reached a record high in 2025, with over 250 Arabs murdered, according to state statistics.

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
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-887022
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-887024
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-887020