Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-23 at 19:01

HEADLINESIsrael Iran clashes deepen amid Lebanon strikeIranian-backed militias launch missiles toward HasakahWhite House eyes Ghalibaf as partnerThe time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the report stitches together a mosaic of developments described as direct clashes between Israel and Iran and its proxies. It notes four landing zones in Kiryat Shmona with a seriously injured person reported in one location, a domestic debate over a government nursery compensation plan with caregivers saying the government is “spitting in our faces,” and an Israeli strike in Lebanon. The piece cites Avihy Adari and Captain Ella as dismantling what they call the lies of the terror axis. It also references a figure about India and a NATO deal described as the weapon Israel wants now, and argues that the IDF has not presented the full, big picture.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iranian-backed militias fired rockets from areas north of Mosul in Iraq toward a Syrian Arab Army base near al-Yarubiyah in Hasakah province, according to Syrian state media SANA. SANA said five missiles were launched from the vicinity of Tal al-Hawa inside Iraqi territory, and that coordination with Iraqi authorities has led to Iraqi forces launching searches to identify those responsible. The Syrian Army said it remains on full alert to defend Syrian territory, while Iraqi militias have carried out many such attacks over the last decade as part of the broader conflict with Iran.In US Policy Concerning Israel, the White House is quietly weighing Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as a potential partner and even a future leader, according to Politico, with two administration officials cited. Some in the White House view him as a workable partner who could lead Iran and negotiate with the United States in the war’s next phase.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the Broadway play Giant is described as a provocative and unsettling exploration of Jews, Israel, and diaspora responsibility, built around Roald Dahl’s controversial antisemitic remarks. The production revisits the controversy over a highly critical 1983 book review Dahl wrote for a UK literary journal, which critics say reflected bigotry that distorts his argument. The play asks urgent questions about Israel, Jewish solidarity, and the duties of the Diaspora, even as it centers on a figure whose comments are cited as steeped in prejudice. John Lithgow stars as the author at the center of the controversy.In Uplifting News, Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican to discuss Holocaust remembrance, documentation, and education, including potential Vatican-Yad Vashem collaborations to address Holocaust distortion and rising antisemitism. Dayan presented the Pope with a reproduction of Where Art Thou? by Carol Deutsch as a tribute to Pope Francis, echoing past meetings and the long-standing dialogue between the institutions. Also in uplifting news, Israeli sports leagues are preparing to resume under safety guidelines with matches played behind closed doors and without spectators to protect participants. Home Front Command guidelines govern the return to play, with stadiums inspected and confirmed as secured spaces before hosting events, including venues such as Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem and Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv.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.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1300328https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-890986https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/white-house-eyes-irans-parliament-speaker-ghalibaf-potential-us-backed-leaderhttps://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-890984https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-890985https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-890983