Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - August 29, 2026, 12 AM Eastern

Hezbollah's chief has rejected a US-backed framework agreement for a deal with Lebanon, vowing the group will not surrender, amid continued sporadic fighting on the northern border. Domestically, new data reveals a sharp decline in Muslim police recruits during National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's term, with officials attributing the trend to stricter recruitment standards that reportedly abolished an affirmative action policy. Separately, the Supreme Court has temporarily frozen legal proceedings against a former IDF legal chief regarding the leak of a video alleging prisoner abuse at Sde Teman. The Ra'am party is also noted for backing a strategy to broaden its appeal and seek deeper cooperation with Jewish parties for future coalition influence.

Sources:
- The Times of Israel: https://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-chief-vows-no-surrender-as-he-again-rejects-israel-lebanon-deal/
- JPost.com - Homepage: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-906935
- JPost.com - Homepage: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-906932
- ynet - English: https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/syezkpkufe

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