Friday, September 18, 2026

What You Need to Know:

Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors held what officials described as a “positive” meeting in Washington this week, discussing the ongoing US-brokered framework between the two countries, as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun traveled to Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and Jordanian King Abdullah II. Aoun said he would raise “ongoing Israeli attacks” in southern Lebanon, the future of the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL and prospects for direct negotiations with Israel, as international partners work to build support for the Lebanese army’s deployment across the country. 

Behind the scenes, military cooperation with Arab states also advanced. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir met with counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain and Kuwait at a closed conference in Germany hosted by US Central Command (CENTCOM), updating them on the state of Israel’s operations across several fronts, as the region continues to grapple with the fallout from the Iran conflict. 

At home, six weeks before Israel’s October 27 election, the political picture remains deadlocked. Recent polls show neither the governing coalition nor the opposition “change bloc” reaching the 61 seats needed for a majority, prompting both sides to consider unconventional alliances and legal challenges against rival parties as they prepare for the possibility of another inconclusive vote.

Dig Deeper:

Lebanese and Israeli Envoys Hold “Positive” Meeting in DC as Aoun Arrives in Paris

CENTCOM, IDF, Arab Militaries Held Military Summit on Middle East, Iran

IDF Chief Met Army Heads of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, other Arab States to Discuss Iran 

Deadlock Deepens as Post-deadline Polls Leave Both Blocs Short of 61 Knesset Seats – Analysis

What You Need to Know:

Lebanon: The IDF revealed that Hezbollah has been attempting to establish footholds in gaps within the Yellow Line, areas Israel never formally entered in southern Lebanon. For weeks, Israel has been pushing back using warplanes, artillery and engineering units. Prime Minister Netanyahu warned Hezbollah of “even heavier blows” if it attacks again, pointing to the recent capture of Hezbollah positions on the Beaufort and Ali al-Taher ridges as a “massive victory.” 

Gaza: In Israeli communities near Gaza, the IDF has overhauled local defenses in the three years since October 7. Reservists now serve alongside civilian first-response teams under the “Hagmar” regional defense framework, with frontline communities gaining stronger fences, cameras, command centers and drones. The Magen 48 program, named for the 48 local defenders killed on October 7, increased security-squad training from twice to eight times yearly, giving communities far greater confidence in their defenses. 

Within Gaza, Israeli assessments show Hamas severely weakened but not eliminated. The IDF now controls more than 64% of the Strip, limiting Hamas’s ability to rearm, and the group’s fighting formations have been degraded by sustained targeted killings. Still, Hamas continues working to rebuild: recruiting members, restoring local governance and exploiting delays in the ceasefire plan to postpone disarmament. 

Judea/Samaria: In Judea, IDF soldiers, guided by Shin Bet (Israeli internal security organization) intelligence, arrested a terrorist planning a Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year) shooting attack against Israeli civilians in the Hebron area. The military noted that “IDF soldiers continue to operate to thwart terrorism throughout Judea and Samaria.”

Dig Deeper:

Hezbollah Trying to Establish Footholds within Gaps in Southern Lebanon’s Yellow Line

“Hamas Has Been Defeated”: IDF Chief Delivers Stark Assessment in Closed Gaza Briefing

Three Years after Oct. 7, Israel Has Overhauled the Defense of Gaza Border Communities

Judea: IDF Arrests Terrorist who Planned Rosh Hashanah Shooting

What You Need to Know:

A new documentary, “NAZA,” which won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival, has ignited fierce backlash in Israel after alleging that the IDF uses AI to make targeting decisions in Gaza with minimal human oversight. The IDF firmly rejected the claims, saying targeting decisions are made by “highly trained air force” and “legal military officials,” not artificial intelligence, and that the military has in some cases redirected missiles mid-strike when civilians unexpectedly appeared near a target. Israeli leaders across the political spectrum condemned the film as a distortion, with Member of the Knesset (Parliament) Avigdor Lieberman calling it a “spectacle of slander and blood libels.” Former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz also defended the military, stating that the IDF “upholds itself to the highest moral and legal standard.” 

Meanwhile, IDF soldiers continue securing Gaza on the ground. This week, Israeli and Shin Bet forces killed several senior Hamas figures, including the commander of Hamas’s Jabaliya Battalion, who had been resupplying weapons to terrorists in violation of the ceasefire; the commander of Hamas’s Rafah Brigade; and a Nukhba commander involved in the October 7 killing and abduction of Israeli soldiers. Troops also finished destroying an extensive tunnel network beneath Beit Hanun, described as a “terror town” in northeastern Gaza.

Dig Deeper:

“Blood Libel”: Israeli Politicians Assail Israeli Film Alleging AI-powered Killing in Gaza

IDF Targeting Decision Made by Highly Trained Human Operatives, not AI

IDF, Shin Bet Slay Head of Hamas’s Khan Yunis Brigade

IDF Kills Hamas Battalion Commander in Northern Gaza Strike

IDF Kills Hamas Nukhba Commander Involved in October 7 Hostage Abductions

What You Need to Know:

Nearly three years after October 7, Israel continues reckoning with its trauma. Over 500 survivors and bereaved family members of the Nova and other festival massacres gathered in Tel Aviv this month for a first-of-its-kind conference addressing PTSD and substance abuse in survivors. Researcher Prof. Shauli Lev-Ran shared data showing that 54% of Israelis with PTSD symptoms report problematic substance abuse, stressing that “it is impossible to treat trauma without also addressing substance abuse.” Organizers hope the open conversation will reduce shame and help survivors find real support. 

Amid that heaviness shine moments of joy. Former hostage Eliya Cohen, held captive for 505 days in Gaza, married his longtime girlfriend and fellow October 7 survivor, Ziv Abud, in a ceremony rich with symbolism, including a wedding canopy made from the prayer shawl of Abud’s nephew, who was killed that day. “It’s a crazy miracle,” Cohen said, reflecting on their reunion after both had assumed the other was dead. 

Israel’s future also looks hopeful on another front: the Aliyah and Integration Ministry expects between 18,000 and 20,000 new immigrants this year, with notable growth from France, Britain, South Africa and Australia. Ministry Director-General Dganit Sankar-Langa, even as she acknowledged the ongoing challenges of cost of living and security, said, “Every Jew should know that they have a home here.”

Dig Deeper:

Music Festival Survivors, Victims’ Relatives Discuss PTSD, Substance Abuse, Mental Health Effects

Israel Preparing for New Wave of Jewish Immigration

Former Hostage Eliya Cohen and Longtime Girlfriend Wed

What You Need to Know:

Diplomatic pressure on Israel continues mounting as Norway announced it is weighing legislation that would ban trade with Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and eastern Jerusalem, with penalties of up to three years in prison for violators. Norway joins Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden in a joint statement backing similar measures, following the UK’s recent sanctions against Jewish communities in the biblical heartland. Israel’s embassy in Oslo condemned the proposal as further evidence of the Norwegian foreign minister’s “obsessive anti-Israel activism.” 

Hostility also greeted Prime Minister Netanyahu’s planned return to New York, where he is set to address the UN General Assembly on September 24. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and insisted he is “not welcome in New York City,” conceded in July that the city has no legal power to carry out the International Criminal Court warrant against him, clearing the way for the visit. 

Joel Lion, Israel’s newly appointed chargé d'affaires to Turkey, presented his credentials in Ankara this week. This was the first public Israeli diplomatic visit to Turkey since the embassy’s 2023 evacuation following the Hamas attacks. Relations have sharply deteriorated under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has accused Israel of genocide and, during a 2025 public prayer, asked Allah to “destroy and devastate Zionist Israel.” Netanyahu has responded in kind, calling Erdoğan “an antisemitic tyrant.” Whether Lion’s appointment signals a genuine diplomatic opening or simply a modest re-staffing remains to be seen.

Dig Deeper:

Norway Weighing Bill Imposing up to 3 Years in Prison for Trade with Settlements

Netanyahu Confirms New York Trip for UN General Assembly, to Address UN on September 24

Israel Taps New Point Man for Strained Turkey Relations

What You Need to Know:

In the United States, Seattle announced plans to expand its police force after antisemitic hate crimes more than doubled in the city in 2026, with nearly 20% of hate crimes in Seattle targeting Jews, who make up only about 1% of the metro area’s population. Mayor Katie Wilson pledged increased security for Jewish communities during the High Holidays. 

Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year) saw a broader uptick in antisemitic incidents worldwide. In Berlin, a 43-year-old woman was slashed with a broken glass bottle after two men spotted her Star of David necklace, one of 2,268 antisemitic incidents Berlin recorded in 2025, up roughly 24% from the year before. In London, police are investigating the assault of three Jewish teens on a bus the day before Rosh HaShanah, prompting the Board of Deputies of British Jews to say, “Jewish children must be able to go about their daily lives without fear of being targeted for who they are.” 

Meanwhile, a new peer-reviewed Yale study found the New York Times’ coverage of the Israel–Hamas war consistently portrayed Israel as the “sole aggressor” and Palestinians as “passive victims,” often omitting any mention of Israeli hostages. 

Amid this wave of global antisemitism, one bright spot: rapper Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour after his antisemitic “Free Palestine” outburst at a US concert, following an Israeli–American Council (IAC) petition with tens of thousands of signatures. “The Israeli–American community has proven that when it stands united, its voice is heard,” the IAC said.

Dig Deeper:  

Seattle to Expand Police Force, amid Surge in Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes

Berlin Woman Attacked with Broken Glass Bottle for Wearing Star of David Necklace, Police Say

London Police Seeks British Man Accused of Assaulting Three Jewish Teens on Bus

‘NYT’ Coverage Framed Israel as “Sole Aggressor,” Palestinians as “Passive Victims,” Study Finds

Macklemore Dropped from Ed Sheeran Tour after “Free Palestine” MetLife Set

What You Need to Know:

Israel marked a profound milestone this year: for the first time since October 7, 2023, the nation celebrated Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year) without a single hostage held in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement: “Last Rosh HaShanah eve . . . there was one simple, clear request above all: that all of our hostages would come home.” Among those celebrating freely this year was Matan Angrest, a former hostage who spent last year’s holiday in captivity. “Thank God, I’m here a year later, celebrating Rosh HaShanah with all my loved ones, for the first time. Free, happy,” he said. “Really, it’s our victory.” 

Even amid intensifying condemnation of Israel in the global arena, one Israeli veteran is being celebrated worldwide for extraordinary compassion. Dr. Galia Melman-Shalev returned to Gaza border communities beginning October 8, 2023, while armed terrorists were still believed to be in the area, to rescue animals left behind in the chaos. What began as improvised rescues under fire grew into a large-scale operation that treated and reunited hundreds of wounded and abandoned pets with their evacuated families. For her courage, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association awarded her its 2026 Companion Animal Welfare Award. “For families who have lost their homes and their sense of security, knowing that their beloved pet had been found . . . could mean an enormous amount,” she said.

Dig Deeper:

Israel Celebrates First Rosh Hashanah since Oct. 7 without Hostages in Gaza

Israeli Vet who Risked Her Life to Save Animals after Oct. 7 Wins Global Award