Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 5, 2026, 08 PM Eastern

0:00You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report, I'm Noah Levi. We begin with concerning developments regarding antisemitism. Jewish politicians in the United States are reportedly facing a rise in harassment and attacks, primarily from far left activists. Jpost.com reports that figures like New York Congressman Brad Landre and California Senator Scott Weiner have been targets. Landre, for instance, was reportedly subjected to insults and aggressive language at Madison Square Garden following comments he made about Gaza and Israeli policies. The article suggests that for some on the far left, being Jewish has become a significant liability, fueling these confrontations. The trend raises concerns about the broader climate for Jewish public figures, turning to domestic Israeli politics. A notable shake-up is occurring within the ultra-orthodox United Torah Judaism party.

1:01Veteran lawmakers Moj Gaffney and Yuri Maklev will not be on the party's Knesset slate for the upcoming election. This decision, confirmed by the faction's leading rabbinic authority, Rabbi Dovlando, is framed as a necessity to refresh the party's representation. Gaffney, who has served in the Knesset since 1988, is expected to continue as chairman of the Dejel-Hartorah faction. The move comes after the party's unsuccessful attempt to pass legislation exempting Ha'ra'i Demen from military service, and appears to stem from internal party disputes over political direction, and its relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, with reports indicating a push for a more assertive stance from some within Rabbi Dovlando's circle. In other political news, a recent poll conducted by the Jewish People Policy Institute, or APPI, suggests that a majority of connected, American Jews surveyed, would prefer Israel's opposition parties to win the next election over the current coalition. However, J-post.com points out a significant limitation.

2:0592% of those polls are not Israeli citizens, and therefore cannot vote in Israeli elections. The polls findings reportedly aligned with the American political identities of the respondents. With liberal participants favoring the Israeli opposition, and conservatives leaning towards the coalition, this data raises questions about the political relevance of preferences expressed by a non-voting constituency. That's our report for today. I'm Noah Levi. Thank you for joining us on Israel Today, ongoing war report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today, ongoing war report in your podcast app so you don't miss the next update. Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view.