HEADLINES
Netanyahu Says Iran Uranium Must Be Removed
Rerouted Shipping Heightens South Africa Whale Risk
Ukraine Jews Wed Amid Ceasefire

The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war with Iran is not over and that enriched uranium must be removed from the country. He told CBS News' 60 Minutes that “there is still nuclear material, enriched uranium, that has to be taken out of Iran,” and that “there are still enrichment sites which have to be dismantled. There are still proxies that Iran supports. There are ballistic missiles they want to produce.” He added that, should there be an agreement, “you go in, and you take it out. If you have an agreement, and you go in and you take it out, why not? That's the best way.” In the same period, President Trump said the United States has Iran’s enriched uranium surveilled and is prepared to take action if intelligence indicates activity at the site, noting that the Space Force is involved. A separate account of Netanyahu’s remarks emphasizes the same aim: enriched uranium must be removed before the conflict can be deemed over, with Netanyahu describing removal as the direct path forward and noting alignment with statements attributed to President Trump. Trump’s public posture, saying Iran was militarily defeated and that uranium could be removed “whenever we want,” appears at odds with Netanyahu’s more explicit and action-oriented phrasing, according to the reporting on those remarks.

In Regional Impacts, scientists warn that Middle East conflicts are increasing dangers for whales off South Africa by redirecting sea traffic into their habitats and raising collision risks. The rerouting of shipping away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal since late 2023 has substantially increased the chances of ship strikes in this globally significant whale habitat along South Africa’s southwestern coast, according to researchers presenting at an International Whaling Commission meeting. The new routes create an extensive overlap between busy shipping corridors and whale populations, said Els Vermeulen of the University of Pretoria. The shifts follow the November 2023 hijacking of a cargo vessel near Yemen and subsequent attacks linked to regional conflict, along with broader disruption to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting more traffic to skirt the Cape of Good Hope.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump rejected Iran’s response to a US peace proposal as “unacceptable,” sending oil prices higher amid concerns the conflict could drag on. Reuters reports that Iran’s reply focused on ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, compensation for war damages, and Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, plus demands to lift sanctions and end a naval blockade. Washington had proposed ending the fighting before resuming talks on broader issues, including Iran’s nuclear program. Trump dismissed the Iranian proposal on Truth Social, writing that it was “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,” without providing further detail. The administration had hoped to re-open negotiations with conditions, while Iran pressed for concessions and guarantees regarding regional conflicts and access to oil sales.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, authorities report a Lag Ba’omer bonfire tragedy in which a dog was burned to death, with two hotel employees arrested on suspicion of involvement. Police say one suspect carried out the act while the other recorded it; both were brought before the Eilat Magistrate’s Court as detention extensions were requested, on charges of killing or harming an animal. Separately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Druze and Circassian community leaders at a Dead Sea summit and stressed the primacy of protecting life. He said he wants to convey a clear mission—“to ensure life”—and noted that he is coordinating with President Trump on this effort. The meeting included local authorities’ figures such as Haim Bibas, Sheik Mowafaq Tarif, and Yasser Gdeban, and Netanyahu affirmed his commitment to using all state power to achieve this goal, adding that he had spoken with Trump on Sunday night about the matter.

In Uplifting News, Jewish couples from Ukraine were able to wed peacefully for the first time in years thanks to a weekend ceasefire. The Jewish Community Center Beit Menachem in Kyiv held a mass wedding ceremony over the weekend, including couples of all ages, with one pair aged 92. Many had lived together for years, and the ceremony amid the ceasefire marked a poignant moment for preserving tradition and building a Jewish home despite ongoing conflict and threats. Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch, Kyiv’s Chief Rabbi, described the event as among the most moving experiences in recent years, noting the community’s resolve to continue generations before them even as war continues around them.

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/benjamin-netanyahu/article-895739
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/iran-war-not-over-uranium-must-be-removed-netanyahu
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/middle-east-conflicts-danger-whales-safrica-study
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/trump-rejects-irans-response-us-peace-proposal-unacceptable
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-895740
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895741
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-895742