• Six IDF soldiers fell in Lebanon in last week
  • Disagreements between Israel and the US more pronounced
  • Israel edges closer to elections

Iran Agreement

  • As negotiations between the US and Iran continue, a new dispute over nuclear inspections has emerged as the central issue in the talks. US officials, including President Trump, have insisted that Iran has already agreed to allow international inspectors in, with Trump saying such access was essential and warning “there would be no further negotiations” otherwise. Iranian officials have directly contradicted this, stating that inspections have not been agreed to and would be discussed only in a final deal. The head of the IAEA said inspections “will indeed take place,” but acknowledged competing narratives and said timing, locations, and procedures are still being negotiated.
  • The dispute over inspectors is part of a broader pattern of contradictory messaging between the sides, with officials seemingly negotiating in public. The IAEA chief explicitly described a “war of words” over what the agreement actually requires, noting that disagreements extend beyond inspections to include sanctions relief and management of Iran’s nuclear stockpiles. The interim deal is now being interpreted differently by each side, with key provisions still undefined as technical talks continue behind the scenes.
  • Talks themselves are ongoing in Switzerland, with concrete but limited progress reported. Vice President JD Vance said recent meetings created a “good foundation for a successful final deal,” while negotiators established working groups on nuclear issues, sanctions, and monitoring mechanisms.
  • The US has issued a 60‑day sanctions waiver allowing Iranian oil exports that are explicitly linked to progress in negotiations. At the same time, discussions continue over billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets, with differing claims about what has already been agreed to or released.
  • Lack of clarity on the ground also remains over the Strait of Hormuz and regional security, despite reduced direct fighting. Limited shipping has resumed, with dozens of vessels transiting under provisional arrangements; Oman has even created a temporary maritime corridor to manage traffic. However, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned that only routes it authorizes are valid and cautioned that unauthorized passage would be “unacceptable and extremely dangerous.”
  • The US Senate advanced a war‑powers resolution aimed at restricting Trump’s ability to resume hostilities reflecting bipartisan skepticism about the deal. There are growing internal tensions within the Republican Party, with clashes between Trump and a group of Republican senators who are demanding oversight. Nevertheless, the administration continues to defend the negotiations and push forward.

Disagreement Between Israel and the United States

  • Israeli officials have continued to signal deep frustration in recent days over both the substance of the deal and the way it was negotiated. Media reports say that senior Israeli officials have privately described the agreement as “terrible for Israel,” warning that the 60‑day negotiating window risks “tying Israel’s hands” militarily while Iran’s nuclear program and other issues remain unresolved. Publicly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stressed that Israel “is not a signatory” and that the agreement is “the President of the United States’ decision.”
  • Israeli political leaders across the spectrum have also sharpened criticism. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the agreement “bad for Israel and for the entire free world. Period,” while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said explicitly that “Trump’s agreement does not bind us,” emphasizing Israel’s intention to retain freedom of action, particularly in Lebanon.
  • The disagreement has also played out in unusually public exchanges between Washington and Jerusalem. Vice President JD Vance directly rebuked Israeli criticism this week, saying President Trump is “the only powerful ally” Israel has left, and warning Israeli cabinet ministers against attacking the deal. US officials have also been critical of Israeli military actions in Lebanon, arguing that strikes there risk undermining negotiations; this has reinforced the perception in Jerusalem that US priorities have shifted toward de‑escalation at Israel’s expense.
  • Israeli leaders and commentators have pointed out these critical concerns over the deal:
    • The agreement leaves the Iranian regime not only intact but, in the view of many Israeli officials, significantly strengthened after months of war. Israeli commentators and policymakers have quietly expressed shock at statements from President Trump describing Iran’s leadership as “rational,” which they perceive as a shift toward legitimizing the regime rather than weakening it. Critics also argue that the deal abandons internal protest movements in Iran, despite Trump’s earlier promise that “help is on the way” for those brutalized by the regime.
    • Israeli officials have pointed out that the deal does not address Iran’s ballistic missile program at all, leaving a central pillar of Iran’s military capability and threat untouched. They view this omission as particularly problematic given that missiles remain the primary delivery system for any future nuclear weapon. Trump’s reported comments minimizing the issue—suggesting that “everyone has them” and Iran could as well—have reinforced concerns that the threat is being normalized rather than constrained.
    • Another major concern is the absence of any restrictions on Iran’s support for regional proxies, as well as their global terror network, including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other armed groups. Israeli officials stress that Iran’s ability to fund, arm, and direct these groups remains fully intact under the current framework. As a result, they argue, the deal does little to reduce the day‑to‑day security threat facing Israel and the Jewish world.
    • The agreement is also viewed as effectively rewarding Iran’s use of pressure tactics around the Strait of Hormuz. By linking sanctions relief and broader concessions to the reopening of the waterway, Israeli analysts argue that Iran has demonstrated it can extract gains through disruption of global energy routes. Some have suggested this could leave Iran in an even stronger strategic position than it was after the controversial 2015 JCPOA.
    • Israeli critics have warned that the economic components of the deal risk channeling significant funds to the Iranian regime, including to the Revolutionary Guards. These concerns focus particularly on the release of frozen assets and expanded oil revenues, which are seen as likely to strengthen Iran’s military and regional influence. The fear is that these financial gains will indirectly fuel further destabilizing activity rather than moderation. Some Israelis have pointed out that parts of the soon-to-be-released funds have been frozen in the West since the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979.
    • On the nuclear issue itself, Israeli officials emphasize that the agreement does not dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities, but rather postpones key decisions. With enrichment limits, stockpiles, and verification mechanisms all deferred to future talks, critics say Iran effectively retains a pathway to nuclear capability during the interim period. This is widely described in Israeli discourse as leaving Iran’s “nuclear option” alive rather than eliminating it.
    • Finally, Israeli leaders have raised serious concerns about the implications for Lebanon, arguing that the agreement will substantially restrict Israel’s military freedom of action against Hezbollah. The inclusion—explicit or implied—of Lebanon within the ceasefire framework is seen as potentially constraining Israeli operations or even pressuring it to withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon. Officials have stressed that this ambiguity creates immediate operational challenges, as clashes with Hezbollah continue despite the diplomatic track; any Israeli response to Hezbollah attacks can be portrayed as endangering the US-Iran deal.

Hezbollah

  • Six IDF soldiers fell in Lebanon in the last week. They are:
    • Staff Sgt. Nir Ben Ari, 21, from Kerem Maharal
    • Staff Sgt. Nave Habshoosh, 20, from Geva Binyamin
    • Staff Sgt. Yoav Klein, 21, from Herzliya
    • Staff Sgt. Liav Kababia, 20, from Hod Hasharon
    • Master-Sgt. (Res.) Basel Sweid, 32, from Peki’in
    • Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben-Simhon, 32
  • Lebanon has, in many ways, emerged as the main test case for the US-Iran deal’s durability. A new US‑Iran‑linked mechanism is meant to manage ceasefire violations there. The “deconfliction” mechanism was set up to prevent incidents, especially in Lebanon and around maritime traffic; additional rounds of technical negotiations are expected in the coming days. Israel is not a part of the mechanism.
  • Fighting has continued in recent days despite the ceasefire, with repeated incidents along the Israel–Lebanon border. Following Hezbollah’s ongoing rocket, drone, and other attacks, Israeli forces carried out strikes in southern Lebanon yesterday, including one reported airstrike that killed at least two people. Other lower intensity clashes have also continued with ongoing exchanges of fire and sporadic incidents taking place.
  • Israel‑Lebanon talks in Washington are proceeding, with Lebanese officials pushing for a timetable for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, even though Israeli leaders have signaled they intend to keep forces in place and have prioritized dismantling Hezbollah’s capabilities. Some reports say that the talks have been strained and produced limited progress, with both sides frustrated and key issues unresolved.
  • A senior US official told the media that Israel has withdrawn from part of southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese army expected to deploy in those areas. A senior Israeli official described the move as a “goodwill gesture” toward the Lebanese government, although other officials deny the report. On the ground, the IDF says it has not yet received orders to withdraw, suggesting a decision could come in the coming days. If confirmed, the pullback would likely involve territory seized in recent days that is intended to be returned as an initial concession.
  • Israeli officials have continued to stress that they will act independently if necessary. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has reiterated that Israel will not withdraw from positions in southern Lebanon and will continue operations against Hezbollah regardless of the diplomatic track, while officials have indicated they do not view any Lebanon-related provisions in the US‑Iran framework as binding.

Elections in Israel

  • The coalition crisis driven by ultra-Orthodox demands over military draft exemptions has intensified, with Haredi parties continuing a boycott of coalition legislation and warning they will not support government activity without a resolution, effectively stalling much of the Knesset agenda. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering advancing the dissolution of the Knesset within days, amid the ongoing standoff with Haredi partners and growing dysfunction inside the coalition. The move would allow the government to control the timing of early elections rather than risk losing that initiative to coalition partners or the opposition.
  • New polling indicates continued political fragmentation ahead of expected elections, with opposition parties struggling to reach a stable 61-seat majority despite some surveys showing gains, while Netanyahu’s bloc also remains below a governing threshold. Additional polling updates show shifts within the opposition camp, including declining support for the Bennett–Lapid alliance alongside rising strength for Gadi Eisenkot’s party.
  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week concluded his testimony in his ongoing corruption trial, ending nearly 18 months on the witness stand that included 98 separate hearing days since December 2024. The proceedings now move forward with remaining defense witnesses, after a lengthy evidentiary phase that saw extended direct testimony, cross-examination, and limited re-examination.

Other Developments 

  • The Government of Israel has approved the final $1.95 billion of a broader $4.1 billion initiative aimed at rehabilitating northern Israel, following months of sustained conflict that has affected approximately 300,000 Jewish, Arab, and Druze residents. The funding is intended to address damage to local economies, mental health strain among residents, and increased pressure on social services across the region. (See more under JDC, below).
  • Haredi protests intensified this week across multiple locations, with demonstrators blocking major roads and disrupting traffic as part of ongoing opposition to the enforcement of military draft orders. Police reported arrests in connection with incidents tied to the protests, including two suspects accused of threatening demonstrators with a firearm. The demonstrations follow a series of enforcement actions targeting ultra-Orthodox men who failed to report for conscription, prompting renewed mobilization by Haredi political and rabbinic leadership. Protest tactics have included extended road closures, attempts to block access to military facilities, and mass gatherings that have at times lasted several hours.
  • Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi visited Israel last week in the first-ever state visit by a leader of the breakaway territory following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent state in December 2025. He was formally welcomed in Jerusalem by President Isaac Herzog, and held meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials. The visit included the opening of a Somaliland embassy in Jerusalem and the signing of a cooperation framework, with both sides discussing expanded ties in areas including security, agriculture, water management, and economic development.  Somaliland officials framed the visit as a step toward broader international recognition, while the move drew criticism from Somalia and other regional actors since they view the territory as part of Somalia.
  • A Defense Ministry civilian contractor was killed in Gaza after a building collapse, becoming the first civilian contractor fatality in the Strip since the ceasefire began last October. The incident occurred during ongoing Israeli operations.
  • A soldier was located and rescued after being found handcuffed in a West Bank town, in what the military said appears to be a criminal incident rather than terror-related. The soldier was reportedly unarmed at the time, and the circumstances of the abduction are under investigation.
  • El Al suspended flights between Tel Aviv and Moscow following Ukrainian strikes that disrupted Russian oil infrastructure and affected aviation conditions. The airline said the move was a response to operational considerations tied to the regional security situation.

Jewish Federations Partner: The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)

  • JDC, working in partnership with the Tenufa Government Agency, local municipalities, the business sector, and Federation partners, is playing a central role in implementing the Government’s recovery plan in the north (see above). The organization is coordinating with regional stakeholders to identify priority needs, direct funding, and expand service delivery in areas that experienced prolonged disruption due to attacks.
  • The new funding will support the expansion of Benefits Centers that assist residents in accessing government entitlements and services, with plans to increase beyond the 14 existing locations and broaden reach across diverse populations, including Arab and Druze communities.
  • MACHAR is a JDC initiative that increases emergency social service staffing and strengthens municipal welfare systems, enabling local authorities to deliver expanded and more resilient human services during and after periods of sustained crisis. The initiative will expand in the north, adding five new municipalities to the seven already participating, with a focus on increasing social-service staffing and strengthening municipal capacity to respond to crisis conditions.
  • Economic recovery efforts will include programs aimed at attracting and retaining medical professionals and social service staff in underserved northern communities, alongside support for the agricultural sector through financial assistance and the introduction of new technologies and business tools.
  • Nahariya will be added to the Muni100 program, expanding services and infrastructure for elderly residents, who make up close to one-fifth of the city’s population.
  • JDC is also increasing the scope of its Northern Initiative Coordinators program across 24 of the hardest-hit communities in which pre-existing vulnerabilities were compounded by the conflict. The coordinators are responsible for integrating local service delivery, ensuring continuity of care, and aligning municipal and national recovery planning in areas with elevated social and economic needs.