HEADLINES
- Iran inks €500m Verba deal with Russia
- Netanyahu trial hearing shortened by prosecutors
- NYC antisemitism surges; Paris acid attack

The time is now 2:01 PM 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 has agreed to a 500 million euro arms deal with Russia to acquire thousands of advanced Verba launch units and 9M336 missiles to rebuild its air defenses after Israeli airstrikes. Deliveries are scheduled in three phases from 2027 to 2029, with Tehran formally requesting the systems last July following the Israel-Iran confrontation. An analysis in World Israel News notes Iran’s aim to counter Israel’s missile-defense posture, while describing Israel’s approach as relying on preemptive disruption, regional coordination, and layered interception. At the same time, sources close to the president say he is likely to order a targeted strike against the ayatollah regime, as heavy pressure mounts at home and from regional partners ahead of last-ditch talks in Geneva on Iran’s nuclear program.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Israeli heritage minister raises the flag at Sartaba, also known as Alexandrium, an ancient Hasmonean fortress in the Jordan Valley. The site sits about 2,100 feet above sea level, between Beit She’an and Jerusalem, and was built by the Hasmoneans in the first century BCE. The act underscores ongoing questions over heritage sites in the area and their symbolic significance amid the broader conflict.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, reporting indicates Iran is pressing for a dramatic decision, including proposals for a large-scale missile attack on Israel. The coverage also notes assessments in Israel warning that an attack on Iran could ignite a war across four frontlines, and it touches on domestic political developments and security considerations surrounding the region.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, New York City has seen a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents since October 7, 2023, with harassment and threats targeting Jewish individuals and institutions. Last year’s tally recorded 976 reported incidents, and many incidents, particularly verbal harassment, go underreported. In Paris, a kosher restaurant in central the city, Kokoriko, was sprayed with acid, rendering tables, walls, and dishes unusable; authorities opened an anti-race or religion-based property-damage investigation, with the venue having suffered prior acid attacks on its facade. The investigation continues as authorities assess motive and enforce anti-hate protections.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, at the request of Prime Minister Netanyahu and with the prosecutors’ agreement, the hearing in the Netanyahu trial scheduled for tomorrow was shortened, and the session previously planned for Wednesday was canceled.

In Israeli Economy and Business, January 2026 data show a tight labor market with a 2.3% drop in the number of job seekers to 158,100. The vacancies-to-job-seekers ratio remains about 1-to-1, and income-support claimants total 35,700, the lowest on record. The share of non-Haredi Jews seeking work rose to roughly 66% from 60.9% in January 2023. Unemployment claims rose in 2025 even as income-support claimants declined; Employment Service CEO Inbal Mashash explains that January’s drop reflects a shift in the profile of those dismissed, with academics and managers making up 26% and 21%, respectively, of those dismissed.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-887621
https://worldisraelnews.com/how-iran-hopes-to-defeat-israels-missile-defense-system-analysis/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h13tmf9ubl
https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-heritage-minister-raises-flag-at-hasmonean-site-in-jordan-valley/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1288339
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-887613
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-887662
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1288340
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/all-news/article-887509