HEADLINES
- Golan Signals Haredi Coalition With Guardrails
- Blakeman Trails Hochul Attends Jerusalem Expo
- Netanyahu's Three-Decade Grip On Israel

The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, as Israel enters election season, Netanyahu's opponents face a math problem. A Channel 14 recording shows Yair Golan, the head of the Democratic Party, saying he does not rule out forming a coalition with haredi parties, and that if the fate of a government depends on a haredi party joining, he would vote in favor on condition that the Likud, Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionist party, and Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit are not part of the government. Golan also argued that pushing for rapid mass haredi conscription amounts to populism, calling the draft debate tainted by that perception. The tape underscores the coalition math facing candidates as they weigh red lines and potential partnerships ahead of the elections. Separately, an opinion piece looks back at Benjamin Netanyahu’s three-decade influence on Israeli politics. It notes his rise to power, including dethroning Shimon Peres and his early political moves as Ariel Sharon’s finance minister, where he pursued a bold agenda of fiscal reform. The article describes a era defined by sharp messaging, self-promotion, and lasting consequences, highlighting massive social spending cuts, substantial tax reductions, privatizations, and financial reforms that helped propel the Israeli economy onto the world stage. It also prompts reflection on the costs and benefits of that approach and what should follow as the era mature.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Bruce Blakeman attends an Israeli real estate expo in Midtown Manhattan to show support for Israel and investment. Blakeman, the New York GOP gubernatorial candidate and a Trump endorsee, was among hundreds at the day-long event, and protesters gathered in the evening as is common at similar events in the five boroughs. He was asked about concerns that New Yorkers joining him at the Jerusalem Real Estate Expo might move to Israel, and he quipped, “Not when I’m governor. They’ll have two places. They’ll want to live in both.” Throughout the day, representatives from dozens of Israeli real estate companies handed out pamphlets and information about properties, including some in eastern Jerusalem, a point of dispute for many countries. The event coincides with polling showing Blakeman trailing Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul by 16 points in Siena College’s late-April survey, a reflection of local politics shaping the cross-border business dialogue. Hochul, meanwhile, has pushed statewide buffer zone legislation.

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/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897701
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-897704
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-897748