HEADLINES
Mecca Hajj Surges Amid Iran War Fears
Trump Demands Gulf States Join Abraham Accords
Lockheed Martin Breaks Ground on THAAD Facility

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

In Regional Impacts, about 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims are performing the Hajj in Mecca as Saudi Arabia hosts the annual pilgrimage amid fears of renewed war with Iran and possible missile attacks, with many ignoring travel warnings and saying they are in the 'safest place in the world'. Separately, reports describe the leaders of Qatar and Saudi Arabia as being in shock.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Gulf states remain cautious about joining the Abraham Accords, valuing protocol, respect, and ceremony, and they do not want to feel used, preferring to be seen as partners. President Trump has demanded that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Pakistan join the Abraham Accords as part of the Iran talks, calling the signing of these countries onto the accords mandatory and suggesting that Iran joining would be an historic development.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israeli police raided a cannabis nursery in Rehovot, arresting two suspects and seizing hundreds of plants, about 7.3 kilograms of plant matter suspected to be cannabis, over 400 marijuana seedlings, and around 1 kilogram of hashish, along with approximately NIS 25,000 in cash. The suspects, aged 39 and 42, are residents of Yehud and Kiryat Ono, and they were interrogated and jailed with a likely extension sought in court. Last week, Bat Yam police and detectives seized cocaine, crystal meth, ecstasy, ketamine, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and tens of thousands of shekels in separate operations.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Lockheed Martin has broken ground for a new THAAD missile production facility in Troy, Alabama, as part of a broader $9 billion investment plan to grow munitions production and modernize more than 20 facilities nationwide. The THAAD system is designed to intercept threats outside and inside the atmosphere, using hit-to-kill technology, with the new facility adding 87,000 square feet of production space for THAAD interceptors and future work on the Next Generation Interceptor program. Jewish CEO Kirill Rubinski of NEQSOL Holding is expanding ties with Israel as the Azerbaijan-based conglomerate grows across 11 countries, including telecommunications and energy ventures; NEQSOL has replaced one telecom billing system with Israel’s Amdocs technology and seeks further partnerships in technology, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

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.ynetnews.com/article/hk0mpnzezl
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76793
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/abraham-accords/article-897252
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-897249
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-897225
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-897250
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-897248