Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-15 at 22:07

HEADLINES Shas MP Ben-Tzur mobbed as protesters clash Gaza plan eyed as path to statehood Saudi seeks nuclear facility amid security talks The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. At five o'clock this afternoon, tensions in Jerusalem remain high as the draft enlistment bill moves through parliament and ultra‑Orthodox protesters clashed with supporters of the government. Reports say a Shas member of parliament, Yoav Ben-Tzur, was surrounded by protesters who shattered a vehicle window and, according to some witnesses, caused injuries before security forces intervened. The incident underscores the volatility around the draft policy and the broader dispute over whether ultra‑Orthodox communities should be compelled to serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Police said they are reviewing the event and are intensifying efforts to safeguard lawmakers and the public as the debate continues. Across the political spectrum in Israel, right‑wing ministers have pressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reject any move toward Palestinian statehood, following a wave of international recognitions and a draft statement linked to a United States‑led initiative at the United Nations Security Council. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned what he called silence on the issue and urged a clear public declaration that a Palestinian state will not be established. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said there is no such thing as a Palestinian people and demanded that Netanyahu make explicit that Israel will not permit a Palestinian state. Culture Minister Miki Zohar said any agreement should proceed with normalization with Saudi Arabia and without recognizing a Palestinian state that would threaten Israel’s security. Netanyahu has faced intense pressure from coalition allies, while indicating that any final stance remains a matter of diplomacy and timing. On the international front, Washington and several allied capitals issued a joint statement asserting that the Gaza plan “offers a pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood” and urged swift adoption of a corresponding resolution at the Security Council. The group of countries includes Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan and Turkey. In parallel, Russia circulated a competing draft resolution that does not authorize the creation of a peacekeeping board or the immediate deployment of an international force in Gaza. In a separate development, President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss the Gaza situation, Iran’s nuclear program and related regional issues; the two leaders have been maintaining a steady ongoing exchange as the diplomacy surrounding Gaza evolves. In Washington and Jerusalem, reports suggest American officials are weighing an interim approach that would begin reconstruction in Gaza even as the question of Hamas disarmament remains unresolved. Israeli media describe these “interim solutions” as a potential concession that Israel would find unacceptable if it does not accompany credible steps toward disarmament of Hamas and a clear path to durable governance in Gaza. A United Nations Security Council resolution is being developed to authorize a temporary International Stabilization Force to operate through twenty twenty seven, with participating countries indicating willingness to contribute troops if the mandate is established. Israel’s government has signaled it will seek conditions that ensure any international participation strengthens security and does not undermine Israel’s strategic position. Saudi Arabia’s march toward normalization with Israel appears to be advancing in parallel with broader security and defense discussions. United States officials and advisors to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are reportedly working toward a framework that would include a defense pact with Riyadh and a pathway to partial normalization with Israel, with initial expectations that economic and security arrangements may precede full political normalization. Saudis reportedly seek a nuclear facility capable of uranium enrichment, a point of contention within the region and among Israel’s leadership, which has long warned against moves that could alter the strategic balance. Some discussions envision a civilian nuclear facility under American oversight, signaling the depth and sensitivity of the negotiations. In tandem, discussions over a major arms package, including potential sale of advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, reflect Washington’s aim to bind Saudi security interests to a broader regional architecture that includes Israel’s security concerns and the Israeli‑Saudi dynamic within the Abraham Accords framework. Within Israel’s domestic debates, the chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Boaz Bīs̄muth, outlined a version of the conscription bill intended to preserve exemptions for full