HEADLINES
IDF strikes 550 Hezbollah targets this week
Knesset dissolution bill advances in committee
Texas antisemitism candidate defeated in primary

The time is now 4:01 PM 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, across Lebanon, the Israel-Hezbollah confrontation intensified on Wednesday as the IDF said it struck more than 150 targets in Tyre, Nabatieh, the Bekaa Valley and other parts of southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah launched drones toward Rosh Hanikra and Shlomi and sirens were heard in Kiryat Shmona. Hezbollah continued drone attacks on IDF troops in southern Lebanon, and the Israeli security forces prepared to strike Hezbollah locations, with residents urged to evacuate north of the Zahrani River or away from Hezbollah sites as the IAF prepared strikes. The IDF said it had struck over 550 Hezbollah targets over the course of the week, and there was no new update on a deeper invasion beyond what had been disclosed on Tuesday. The report notes the IDF may have destroyed more than 10,000 Lebanese homes that were storing weapons belonging to Hezbollah since operations began. Separately, Lahav 433 questioned a police officer on suspicion of contact with a foreign agent linked to Iran; the officer was sent home under a restraining order as the investigation continues.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Knesset dissolution bill is set for its first reading on Monday, coalition whip Ofir Katz announced, advancing efforts to potentially adjust the election date away from October 27. The first discussion on the dissolution bill will take place in the House Committee ahead of the plenum’s first reading. The coalition's own dissolution bill had not moved forward since passing a preliminary reading last week by a vote of 110 in favor with none against. Opposition coordinator Meirav Ben-Ari of Yesh Atid pressed for progress, urging Katz to place the legislation on the House Committee's agenda. The bill would require three more readings in the plenum to take effect and is seen in the context of Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition crisis with ultra-Orthodox parties over the draft bill.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the climate around antisemitism drew renewed debate. In Texas, Maureen Galindo, an antisemitic candidate who argued that American Zionists should be castrated and imprisoned and trafficked in conspiratorial rhetoric about Israel, was defeated in a Democratic primary, but she still won 7,291 votes, or 36%. Party leadership, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, condemned her rhetoric, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also spoke out, signaling concern that antisemitic language has gained footholds in broader political discourse. The piece argues that the current climate allows such rhetoric to gain traction and asks what this says about political culture. In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would skip the Israel Parade this year, becoming the first city leader to miss the event since 1964. The Israel Day Parade theme is "Proud Americans, Proud Zionists." Mamdani said his absence should not be read as a lack of support for security or permitting arrangements, and he emphasized a commitment to equal rights for all people. The decision sparked controversy and protests surrounding antisemitism and policy.

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/defense-news/article-897556
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-897552
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897558
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-897557
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-897551