HEADLINES
Trump touts piracy profits from seized ship
Israel overhauls public diplomacy amid global backlash
Hadera man jailed for anti-Jewish desecration

The time is now 11:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump described the US Navy's blockade of Iranian ports as being like pirates, detailing the seizure of a ship and its cargo and oil as a profitable business. He said, "We took over the ship, we took over the cargo, we took over the oil. It's a very profitable business," and added, "We're like pirates. We're sort of like pirates but we are not playing games." The remarks come as Tehran has pursued seizures of vessels leaving Iranian ports and as some of Iran's ships and tankers have been blocked or targeted in Asian waters. The conflict has included US- and Israel-led strikes on Iran on February 28, with Iran replying with strikes on Israel and Gulf-state bases hosting US forces, actions that have helped push oil prices higher and sustained the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel confronts a need for a new hasbara playbook as polarization reshapes how the country is understood abroad. With the recent appointment of new public diplomacy chiefs in the Prime Minister’s Office and Foreign Ministry, commentators say it is time to rethink approaches to Israeli public diplomacy, especially after the war with Iran which has alienated large segments of global opinion, a controversial Congressional vote where most Democratic Senators blocked arms sales to Israel, renewed European boycotts, and what is described as rising antisemitic and anti-Israel violence. Proposals center on bringing influential figures to visit Israel, a strategy described as transformative for friendships with Israel, though organizers note the effort faces hurdles from anti-Israel campaigns abroad.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a Hadera court sentenced Mahmoud Sheikh Khalil, a 20-year-old from Arara, to 10 months in prison for religious insult offenses after urinating near a sacred station, tampering with sacred items, and looting charity boxes. He was also given a suspended prison term and a fine of 10,000 shekels. The judge, Alex Akhter, said the defendant acted knowingly and as one who is consumed by hatred toward Jews. The incident occurred in December 2023 in Harish around 2:00 a.m., when Khalil and a companion wandered along Derech Eretz Street, encountered a sacred cabinet containing Torah scrolls, tallitot, tefillin kits, and charity boxes, and Khalil urinated on the site, touched and rummaged through the items, tore pages from holy books, seized three charity boxes, kicked and crushed them, and took an unknown amount of money as well as the tefillin kit, ripping its straps from the boxes.

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.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/trump-says-us-navy-acting-pirates-carry-out-naval-blockade-iranian-ports
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20595
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894695
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-894862