HEADLINES
Hezbollah shoots down Israeli drone in Lebanon
US offers $10M for al-Saraji info
Netanyahu cancer-free after early-stage treatment

The time is now 8:01 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, a Israeli military drone was shot down in southern Lebanon. The drone, operated remotely, was downed by a small surface-to-air missile fired by Hezbollah, and the incident is under investigation. In the same topic, the US State Department is offering up to $10 million for information on Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji, also known as Abu Ala al-Walai, the leader and Secretary-General of the Iran-backed Iraqi group Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the article argues that Israel must stop pretending the bond with the United States is unbreakable and urges renewed engagement to better explain Washington’s approach. It notes alarm over shifting support in the United States, citing Senate votes to block the sale of bulldozers and bombs to Israel and polling data: a Pew Research Center survey showing 60% of American adults hold an unfavorable view of Israel, and Gallup data indicating more Americans sympathize with Palestinians than with Israelis. The piece frames these developments as a historic shift that could alter the nature of the US-Israel relationship.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been declared cancer-free following treatment for early-stage prostate cancer, the result of a medical report released by the Prime Minister’s Office. The report, dated April 20, 2026, notes that Netanyahu, 76, underwent surgery on December 29, 2024 to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia; a routine MRI later found a minuscule lesion under one millimeter in the prostate, and further tests confirmed early-stage cancer with no metastases. Netanyahu said the report was delayed by two months to avoid Iran using the news for propaganda during the war, and he affirmed that he remains in good health and excellent physical condition after the treatment. The section also includes an opinion piece arguing that IDF soldiers who damaged a statue in southern Lebanon reflect a broader issue of fundamentalism, and it calls for teaching harmony as a core Zionist value. The author condemns the act and notes the soldiers were court-martialed, with the photographer removed from combat service, while drawing historical parallels to the Taliban’s destruction of Buddhist statues to illuminate concerns about religious extremism.

In Uplifting News, Shabbat candle lighting times for Israel and the United States vary by locale. The published schedule shows multiple instances: light candles at 7:27 p.m. with Shabbat ending at 8:30 p.m.; 7:30 p.m. to 8:25 p.m.; 7:14 p.m. to 8:12 p.m.; 6:34 p.m. to 7:53 p.m.; 6:58 p.m. to 7:55 p.m.; 6:46 p.m. to 7:56 p.m.; 6:57 p.m. to 7:54 p.m.; and 6:54 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. The times shown illustrate how candle lighting and end times shift across locations.

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.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1313446
https://t.me/selena_updates/62503
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893996
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-894069
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894019
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/article-894062