Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-22 at 16:02

HEADLINES- Lebanon deconfliction plan backed by Qatar Pakistan- Washington two track talks push Hezbollah disarmament- Montreal shooting underscores rising antisemitismThe time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Regional Impacts, Qatar and Pakistan unveiled a Lebanon deconfliction mechanism described as a direct US-Iranian track to end military operations in Lebanon. The plan reportedly involves the Lebanese government but not Israel and appears to exclude France and the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL. The mediators did not explain how the mechanism would operate or resolve the current hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, praised the move as major progress to end Lebanon War and highlighted a Lebanon deconfliction cell as a test. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said any negotiations to end the Israel-Lebanon conflict should be conducted by the two countries themselves and not by Iran.In US Policy Concerning Israel, Israel and Lebanon are set to meet in Washington for talks on Hezbollah disarmament and normalization. The discussions will run over three days on two parallel tracks, with Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, focusing on political and diplomatic issues while Brigadier-General Amichai Levin leads military talks. The Lebanese delegation is headed by Lebanon’s Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Maawad alongside former ambassador Simon Karam. A central focus is a proposed pilot program under which the Lebanese Armed Forces would deploy to selected areas in southern Lebanon and dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, with a dispute over where to begin. Separately, American allies of President Donald Trump defended him to Israelis anxious about a US interim deal with Iran, signaling concern that a new agreement could affect how the United States and Israel balance threats from Iran and Hezbollah. Proponents argued the US-Israel relationship remains strong, while Israelis note public unease about the direction of any deal, even as some American voices emphasize the bond between the two nations.In Israeli Domestic Politics, Beit Shemesh protesters blocked roads and caused damage to public property on Monday night, centered on the indictment of a resident accused of setting fire to plants near the police station; demonstrators burned dumpsters and damaged fences, and police reported heavy damage to a police vehicle as they moved to clear the area. When officers demanded dispersal, the crowd threw rocks and projectiles, and police said they would use all means to restore order. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned against a weak ceasefire in Lebanon amid the evolving US-Iran discussions, insisting that Israel should reject any deal that does not deliver a decisive victory. He spoke at a Knesset press conference as Vice President JD Vance said in Switzerland that progress was being made and that Israel’s security would be protected while Lebanon’s sovereignty should also be respected. Analysts note that Defense Minister Israel Katz has faced a difficult reality as Trump’s approach introduces limits on IDF actions, creating questions about when to act and how limits will influence policy. Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, head of the Bnei David pre-military academy, urged students to avoid Sayeret Matkal after a woman joined the unit, deepening the debate over women in combat roles.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Montreal-born MK Illouz writes that the Montreal she knew is gone and warns that warning signs are everywhere, describing the gunfire that struck Montreal’s Jewish community and reflecting on the sense of insecurity and the civic climate in Canada. The piece emphasizes the impact of violence on communal life and the urgent need to address antisemitism in a city once seen as a mosaic of coexistence. In Montreal, three people are dead, including a Jewish civilian, and one police officer is among the wounded; another officer is in critical condition after a shooting in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood, where a suspect was neutralized and a police response was mounted as residents sheltered indoors.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.jpost.com/middle-east/article-900175https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-900186https://www.jpost.com/international/article-900185https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-900188https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-900183https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-900181https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bywosbpzzehttps://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-900192https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-900180