Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-17 at 20:02

0:00Nobody does it better than Regent Seventh C's creases. Enjoy all-inclusive unrivaled luxury with unlimited sure excursions, indulgent cuisine, personalized service, and more aboard spacious all-sweet ships. Visit rssc.com to experience the unrivaled. The time is now 8.01 pm in New York. I'm Noah Levi and this is the latest Israel today. In regional impacts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Friday for joint efforts to establish an effective mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, saying security challenges there cannot be addressed by political decisions alone. He noted Kiev's water experience in the Black Sea could help, pointing to Ukraine's four years of war during which Moscow tried to blockade its sea, and highlighting the country's growing capability in escorting merchant vessels, demining, defending against

1:00air attacks, and coordinating complex operations. Zelensky warned that decisions made about Hormuz now will shape how other aggressive actors perceive the possibility of creating problems in other straits and on other fronts, and urged concrete steps so that in six months the region does not find itself in a situation like Gaza, where much remains to be done. In Hormuz, there are security challenges that cannot be addressed by political decisions alone. He said, underscoring the need for concrete action and collaboration. In the conflict with Iran and its regional proxies, Lebanon's president says ceasefire should move to permanent agreements. In a televised address, President Joseph Ayrun said that the ceasefire brokered to end six weeks of fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah should be transformed into permanent agreements. And he thanked US President Donald Trump and regional partners for their role in securing the pause. He described a transition from a ceasefire to permanent arrangements that preserve the rights of the people, the unity of the land, and Lebanon's sovereignty.

2:02While noting Hezbollah opposes direct talks with Israel and that the government's direction is not a concession, he did not name Israel, but indicated that the goal is to halt Israeli attacks on Lebanon. In the same topic, Hezbollah threatens Lebanon's president. He will lose his status if he meets Netanyahu. As senior Hezbollah official now off Al-Malsawi, urged President Ayrun not to submit to what he called Trump's dictates amid the prospect of a white house, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Ayrun denounced voices of betrayal and vowed to save the country. In the conflict with Iran and its regional proxies, a new round of us Iran talks is set for Monday in Islamabad Pakistan. According to Iranian officials, the reports indicate that discussions between the United States and Iran are slated to resume in Islamabad on Monday. Reflecting ongoing efforts to address broader regional tensions and nuclear concerns through diplomacy. In anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish hate, Trump's anti-Semitism

3:03envoy says US will bar World Cup attendees tied to anti-Semitism abroad. Rabbi Yehuda Kaplan, the US special envoy for monitoring and combating anti-Semitism, said the United States will bar individuals from attending the World Cup, who are accused of fostering anti-Semitism in their home countries. The President and the Secretary of State have made it perfectly clear that people who want to so discord in this country are not welcome here. Kaplan told the Jewish telegraphic agency, adding that bringing hate to the United States is a privilege, not a right. He later dismissed Eurictives' report that the ban would target European politicians specifically, insisting that everybody is judged as an individual. If there is a minister that is promoting anti-Semitism, there are people who promote right-wing anti-Semitism or left-wing anti-Semitism. And they are not welcome, he said. In anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish hate, a new information center in the Polish town Jedwobni denies murders of Jews by local Poles in 1941.

4:04The information center, housed in two shipping containers taller than the memorial site, was installed earlier this month, and celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony shared by right-wing activist Wasich Simlinsky. Critics, including Abraham Wacestine, have called it a denial museum that further desecrates the remnants of the Jewish community left there, arguing that exhumation and memorials must confront the town's past rather than deny it. Wacestine said the containers promote a narrative that erases responsibility for the massacre of Jewish residents in 1941. In anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish hate, Pete Hegseth compares media to Pharisees, ancient Jewish sect derided by Christians, the commentary drew attention for invoking the term in a modern political context, equing a 2019 incident involving other political figures, and provoking criticism from scholars and liberal Jewish leaders, who object to such language and its historical implications. In Israeli economy and business, Jerusalem raises Eli Weasel Plaza for NIS 73 million underground

5:08passage to Shah Zedek. The destruction of the Eli Weasel Plaza near Mount Herzl, along with the adjacent sidewalk, cleared the way for a 130-meter underground pedestrian passage that will connect to Shah Zedek Medical Center's new entrance above its underground parking lot. The plaza and its garden, a long-time memorial to the Auschwitz and Buchenwald survivor, were removed this week, and the project is designed to funnel foot traffic to the hospital. S. Z. M. C. C. S. Director General Proff, Ofa Merin said the plaza and its garden would be restored once construction is complete, preserving the memory while accommodating the new route. In uplifting news, answering the call, the overlooked Jewish role in America's revolution opinion. The author recalls that Jewish merchants, artisans and professionals in colonial port cities, provided supplies, raised funds, and joined local militias as the American revolution took shape, even with a small presence, about 25 zero Jews across the 13 colonies.

6:08The community's participation in towns like New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, and Newport helped sustain the fight for independence. As the nation nears its 250th birthday, the peace argues for recognizing the broader spectrum of contributions that aided the revolutionary effort. Thank you for tuning in to this Israel today. On-going war report update, I'm Noah 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.