HEADLINES
- Iran-China CM-302 Deal Nears Completion
- Global Chorus Denounces Israel Judea Samaria Annexation
- Draft Dodger Benefits Unchanged Officials Say

The time is now 6:01 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, Iran is nearing a deal with China to purchase CM-302 anti-ship missiles, a move that could raise the stakes for naval operations near the Iranian coast. The Chinese‑made missiles are supersonic, with a range of about 290 kilometers, and are designed to fly low and fast to evade ship defenses. The agreement is said to be close to completion, though no delivery date has been set. Sources familiar with the talks say negotiations began at least two years ago and accelerated after the 12‑day conflict between Israel and Iran in June, with senior Iranian officials traveling to China during the process. The development would significantly augment Iran’s strike capabilities and could pose a heightened challenge to US naval forces in the region, according to weapons experts.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), 18 countries and the Palestinian Authority issued a joint statement condemning what they called Israel’s de facto annexation of Judea and Samaria, arguing that Israeli administrative steps amount to an irreversible change on the ground. Separately, Vanderbilt University said a math question presented by a lecturer—asking at what rate Israel is occupying Palestine and noting Palestinian land decreasing by 250 square kilometers a year due to the occupation—has been removed and is under review amid backlash.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the government’s legal adviser, Gali Behar‑Miara, told the Supreme Court that the government has not developed a plan to strip personal economic benefits from draft dodgers, even though sanctions against draft evaders in the ultra‑Orthodox community have shown effectiveness. The adviser’s remarks come as the court examines questions tied to military service and equity in the burden of national service, highlighting tensions over policy design and implementation.

In Israeli Economy and Business, the overnight removal of the VAT exemption for shipments up to 150 dollars has brought the threshold back to 75 dollars, resulting in immediate charges on thousands of packages already en route to Israel and prompting warnings from shipping firms about confusion, bottlenecks, and unexpected fees. Separately, the Association of Foreign Workforce Agencies in Construction has urged Transport Minister Miri Regev to block direct recruitment by unlicensed contractors, warning that bringing in about 20,000 foreign workers for the Tel Aviv metro project without proper oversight could cause operational chaos, undermine workers’ rights, and delay schedules. The industry notes that the metro project is one of the country’s largest and most complex undertakings in coming years, and its success hinges on professional, well‑regulated management of tens of thousands of workers.

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-887739
https://worldisraelnews.com/muslim-european-countries-condemn-israels-de-facto-annexation-of-judea-samaria/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hy1111wsubl
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1288580
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1288578
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1288577