Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-17 at 12:01

HEADLINESTrump: NATO won't join Iran operationUN: 36000 Palestinians displaced in West BankHouthis pull back from Israel Iran clashThe time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In US Military Role, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States had been informed by most of its NATO allies that they did not want to get involved with the United States’ military operation in Iran, writing that “Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer 'need,' or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance.” He singled out Japan, Australia and South Korea in his post.In Regional Impacts, authorities describe ongoing air-raid alerts in central and northern parts of the country, with residents told to stay in protected spaces and to heed Home Front Command instructions. Central-area buildings were damaged by shrapnel, and a rail station in Holon was damaged and closed. Officials note growing public fatigue with repeated warnings. Separately, a Ukrainian-made interceptor drone developed by Wild Hornets, known as STING, is being demonstrated as a low-cost option to counter drones and is gaining interest from Middle East clients, though export contracts are contingent on Ukrainian government approval. The United Nations also reports that more than 36,000 Palestinians in the West Bank were forcibly displaced over the past year due to Israeli settlement expansion and related violence, with the UN noting acceleration of settlement activity and annexation in parts of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; Israel disputes prior UN findings and maintains its own position on settlements. The West Bank is home to about 2.7 million Palestinians and more than half a million Israeli settlers.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an expert cautions that the Houthis have limited their involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict compared with other proxies, explaining that their relationship with Tehran differs from that of Hezbollah. The Houthis have signaled a focus on Yemen and have backtracked from a broader role, though some experts say they could face pressure to take symbolic actions against Israel or American interests as the conflict persists.In Israeli Domestic Politics, new data from the Central Bureau of Statistics shows a continued shift in housing: as of July 2025, about 69.8% of Israeli homes were owner-occupied, down from 75.2% in 2013, while rental housing accounted for about 29.6% of dwellings, nearly one-third, reflecting a growing rental market.Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.I'm Noa 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.SOURCEShttps://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/nato-countries-dont-want-get-involved-iran-operation-trump-sayshttps://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297604https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297599https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297598https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/inside-ukrainian-interceptor-drones-wanted-around-gulfhttps://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/un-says-more-36000-palestinians-displaced-israeli-settlement-drivehttps://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-890293https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-890286https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297597