Friday, February 6, 2026

What You Need to Know:

Prime Minister Netanyahu met with President Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, on Tuesday for about three hours. Senior Israeli officials including Defense Minister Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Zamir as well as heads of the Mossad, Israel Air Force and IDF Intelligence Directorate (AMAN) were also present, revealing the importance of the US–Iran meeting in Oman to the State of Israel. The prime minister continued to stress “that Israel will not compromise on its war aims in the Gaza Strip,” and cautioned the US against trusting Iranian promises.

After a security briefing with the prime minister, Yair Lapid, leader of the Opposition, issued a strong statement of support. “There are no disagreements between us [himself and the prime minister] about the importance of confronting this threat. It is important that Tehran knows that the State of Israel stands united against the terror of the regime,” he said.

Last week’s update contained information on the state budget and the importance that it be approved by March 31 or the government would automatically be dissolved and early elections held. This week, the Coalition Government faced a setback when the haredim (ultra-Orthodox) made their support of the budget contingent on “progress in the Draft Law,” a bill which reduces the number of conditions for exemption from military service in order to study Torah (Gen.–Deut.). The budget vote has been rescheduled for Monday.

Dig Deeper:

PM Netanyahu Tells Witkoff the Gaza must be Demilitarized  

Opposition Leader: Israel Is United against Iran  

Vote on the Budget Postponed until Next Week  

What You Need to Know:

Iran: US Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Iranian representatives on February 6 in Oman. At Tehran’s insistence, the talks will address Iran’s nuclear program and not the build-up of the nation’s stockpile of ballistic missiles which, at the moment, is a bigger threat to Israel’s security. Israel’s Security Cabinet held its regularly scheduled meeting several days earlier than planned in order to discuss the US–Iran talks and their implications for Israel’s security.

Gaza: In spite of the ceasefire, Gaza remains an active battle zone for the IDF. A reserve officer was seriously wounded in close combat on February 5, the latest Hamas violation of the ceasefire. In addition, the IDF located a “huge haul of around 110 mortar rounds, as well as some rockets and other military items, concealed within UNRWA blankets and humanitarian aid.” At the same time, Israel continues to find tunnels and hidden weapons beneath the 53% of the Gaza Strip under their control.

Hezbollah: The IDF’s Northern Command, responsible for Israel’s security along the border with Lebanon, believes that Hezbollah will actively enter the fighting if war breaks out between the US and Iran. That will threaten Israeli communities in the north. Although Hezbollah has been trying to rebuild its forces, the IDF has been undermining this effort with “targeted killings, enforcement operations and raids along the first line of the border.”

Dig Deeper:

US–Iran Confirm Nuclear-Only Talks in Oman

Huge Stash of Weapons Found with UNRWA Humanitarian Aid

IDF Assessment: Hezbollah Likely to Join US–Iran Conflict   

What You Need to Know:

The World Health Organization (WHO) is an agency of the United Nations formed to “coordinate responses to international public health issues and emergencies.” It was founded in 1948 and has dedicated staff working in 152 countries. Although Israel is currently a member, the Knesset’s Israeli Health Committee is seriously considering withdrawing because of the WHO’s anti-Israel bias. MK Tally Gotliv called the WHO “an organization that falsely accuses Israel of genocide, while it remains completely silent on the atrocities committed on October 7.” Israel has also accused the agency of “providing false information to the UN regarding the number of casualties in Gaza.” Ambassador Mike Huckabee has given Israel assurance that the United States would share medical data or critical information in the event of another global pandemic. The decision to withdraw or stay has not yet been made.

The UN’s Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was established in 1975 to promote Palestinian rights. The agency held its first meeting of 2026 on February 3. Speaking at the session, UN Secretary-General António Guterres “underscored that the two-state solution remains the only viable path to resolving the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.” However, when questioned recently about the two-state proposal, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated emphatically, “It will not happen.” The prime minister’s words reflected the fact that public support in Israel for the two-state solution has become almost non-existent.

Dig Deeper:

US Will Share Medical Data if Israel withdraws from World Health Organization  

Renewed Calls for Two-State Solution at the UN  

What You Need to Know:

One of the thorniest issues facing the IDF is how to include the ultra-Orthodox men in the military with its mixed-gender units and training programs, many led by women instructors. After more than a year of planning, the IDF issued a General Staff order to address those concerns. Three enlistment tracks are open to the new recruits, which include “fully gender-segregated units along with separate command courses and an external rabbinical body to oversee compliance.” The rabbinical body will operate under the Defense Ministry and ensure that “anyone who enters the IDF as ultra-Orthodox will leave as ultra-Orthodox.” The IDF says it is lacking 10,000 combat soldiers “due to prolonged fighting, casualties and injuries.” Enlistment by the ultra-Orthodox will help to offset the shortage.

The IDF’s Arab Language Spokesperson has been one of the most public visible “faces” on social media during the last two years. Col. Avichay Adraee, who held the position for 20 years, is now headed for retirement. This week, Maj. Ella Waweya, a 36-year-old Muslim Arab, was named as his replacement. Waweya, who joined the IDF voluntarily, originally hid her service from her family. She has been with the Spokespersons Unit since 2013 and currently serves as Adraee’s deputy. The promotion would make her the highest ranking Muslim officer in the IDF. The date of the handover ceremony has not been set.

Dig Deeper:

Three New Enlistment Tracks for Ultra-Orthodox Recruits   

IDF’s New Arabic Language Spokesperson Appointed  

Highest Ranking Muslim becomes New Arabic Spokesperson

What You Need to Know:

Although it is approximately 20 – 25 km. (12 to 16 miles) from the Gaza border, the community of Ofakim was infiltrated by Hamas terrorists on October 7 and 55 of its residents were brutally murdered. Residents of the city, along with most of the nation, are still continuing to heal from the wounds of that day and many projects are being developed to help them in the process. One of those projects was developed by the Israeli Opera. As part of its 40th anniversary, the opera is implementing its vision that art is a tool for healing, especially in those communities affected by trauma.

With that in mind, the opera partnered with 250 residents of Ofakim—children, teenagers and adults—to perform Mozart’s The Magic Flute. It took months of planning, community meetings and then rehearsals, but on February 2, local residents, seven Israeli Opera soloists and a conductor performed the musical entirely in Hebrew. A number of distinguished guests attended, along with three women from Ofakim who demonstrated tremendous courage on October 7. “For one evening, the city’s local hall was transformed into a full-fledged opera house, offering audiences an emotional encounter between art, community and hope” as they watched the “performance dedicated to the themes of renewal, creativity and healing for the city and its residents.” Healing comes as communities gather together.

Dig Deeper:

Community of Ofakim and Israeli Opera Produce ‘The Magic Flute’  

Israeli Musicians Help Jews Worldwide Cope with Trauma of October 7

What You Need to Know:

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) is challenging the oldest general English encyclopedia—Encyclopaedia Britannica—for misrepresenting the history and geography of the Middle East. The accusation specifically names the Britannica Kids website as the perpetrator of misleading “materials [that] risk presenting modern political positions as historical fact.” For example, maps of the entire region between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean essentially erase Israel by naming the entire area Palestine. The UKLFI is “calling for an urgent review and correction” both of the maps and inaccurate textual entries.

Although the French interior minister pledged in November “not to compromise on protecting the Jewish community,” the nation continues to experience “a surge in antisemitic incidents.” This week, a Jewish elementary school in Paris was vandalized and “police have opened an investigation on suspicion of ‘serious property damage.’” Thankfully, no students or teachers were injured in the incident.

A new foundation has been launched to fight antisemitism in Catalonia, an area in northeastern Spain that includes the city of Barcelona. Significant increases in antisemitic acts in the region since October 7, 2023, prompted the initiative. The effort is supported by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain, former French Prime Minister Manual Valls and a former Barcelona mayor. The EMET–Truth Foundation intends to “raise awareness about antisemitism through education and cultural exchange initiatives.”Dig Deeper:

UK Lawyers Say Britannica Erased Israel from Content  

Jewish School Vandalized in Paris  

Antisemitism Foundation Launched in Spain

What You Need to Know:

It doesn’t take much space for a “dense micro-forest” to lower temperatures, absorb floodwater and improve the quality of life for city-dwellers. Israeli research has shown that a space as small as two parking spaces is enough, allowing the micro-forests to “act as natural air conditioners, cooling nearby streets through shade and water evaporation.”

This month, the National Sea Turtle Rescue Center opens its doors to visitors. The long journey began in 1999 when the center’s director Yaniv Levy, then a university student, discovered an injured sea turtle on a beach north of Netanya and nursed her back to health. Later that year, Levy “set up a ‘temporary’ turtle treatment center.” The center slowly grew to its current staff of 10, which includes “management, experts in emergency medicine and rehabilitation, and a research assistant.” Levy told the Times of Israel, “There are fewer than 20 rehabilitation centers like ours, but we have the world’s only breeding nucleus” for the endangered green sea turtle. Through their efforts, they have succeeded in moving this species from the “endangered” to “least concern” on the Red List of Threatened Species.

This week, we observed Tu Bishvat, the New Year for Trees, in Israel. Dates, the fruit of palm trees, are a healthy and compact snack. Israel is the largest producer of Medjool dates and exports them to over 60 countries in the world.

Dig Deeper:

Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Dates  

Tiny Urban Forests Can Help Cool Cities  

Israel’s New Sea Turtle Rescue Center Opens for Visitors