Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-22 at 04:07

HEADLINES - Greene resigns, reshaping MAGA and Israel policy - Lebanon seeks talks to end Israeli strikes - Ukraine rejects concessions in peace talks The time is now 11:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. Good evening. Here is the hour’s update on developments affecting Israel, its security considerations, and the wider Middle East, with relevant international context. In Washington, a dramatic shift unfolded as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene announced she will resign from the House, effective January 5, 2026. In a lengthy social media statement, Greene said loyalty should be a two‑way street and cited a desire to spare her family a painful primary against a president they once supported, amid a broader realignment within the MAGA circle. The timing and nature of the departure come as President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Greene, calling the development “great news for the country.” The resignation underscores ongoing tensions inside US political currents that have at times intersected with discussions about US policy toward Israel and broader Middle East concerns, even as lawmakers continue to navigate deeply partisan dynamics at home. On the regional security front, Lebanon’s president, Michel Aoun, signaled readiness for a constructive path to quiet tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. Aoun said talks would cover a potential agreement to end Israeli strikes, with reports indicating that the Lebanese army would manage several outposts slated for withdrawal. In the backdrop, Israeli Defense Forces have repeatedly stressed their security posture along the border and the importance of maintaining deterrence. While this development, if pursued, could alter the immediate security calculus, analysts say any agreement would require careful verification and a durable mechanism to prevent renewed escalation on multiple fronts. In Europe, anti-Israel demonstrations accompanied high-profile sports events this weekend. Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Bologna ahead of a EuroLeague match between Virtus Bologna and Maccabi Tel Aviv, clashing with police as security teams shielded players and spectators. The match proceeded under heavy security, with police using water cannons as demonstrators chanted and waved Palestinian flags. Italy’s Interior Minister noted that troublemakers were not going to dictate the schedule, while Bologna’s mayor urged restraint, framing violence as detrimental to the Palestinian cause and to peace. The episode reflects ongoing international sensitivity to Israel’s presence in international sports and public life, and the broader debate over how to balance free expression with security at high-profile events. In Ukraine, the diplomatic front line remains closely tied to global security dynamics that affect allied approaches to Israel and the region more broadly. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced that he spoke with European partners, including the foreign ministers of France, Britain, Poland, Finland, and other key actors, as well as the EU foreign policy chief and representatives of Italy and Germany. Sybiha said the call discussed the elements of peace proposals advanced by Washington and outlined steps toward a “doable path to a just peace.” Kyiv’s position remains that transatlantic pressure on Russia must continue, and President Zelensky has challenged aspects of the US plan that would require Kyiv to concede territory and alter defense posture. The Ukrainian side stressed the need for continued Western support as the war’s trajectory depends on sustained international resolve. On a separate media note linked to how information travels in political discourse, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a piece from an American, anti-Israel publication alleging close ties between Jeffrey Epstein and Israeli figures, including former prime minister Ehud Barak. The article, which also questioned Epstein’s alleged links to Israeli intelligence, has been described in some quarters as unsubstantiated. Netanyahu’s action drew attention in social media circles and prompted reflections on how such narratives circulate in public debate, especially when they touch on Israel’s security and history of alliances. It is important to note that there is no substantiated public evidence confirming Epstein’s involvement with Israeli intelligence, and the matter has been described by some observers as part of a broader, contested discourse around power, secrecy, and accountability. In US domestic education policy affecting Jewish communities, the National Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation in Oklahoma announced plans to pursue statewide virtual high school programming. The proposal aims to integrate Oklahoma academic standards with daily Jewish studies, reflecting ongoing efforts within American Jewish communities to combine secular education with religious instruction in innovative for